Surfer's Paradise

(Laila and I...so sassy)


So school has been really fun.  The kids astound me with their level of academic success and their obedience.  They are adorable as well with their accents and uniforms.  The weeks fly by and before I know it, it's a weekend again.  

(A jelly fish on the beach by my house we found compared to my flip flop)

This weekend Mary Kate and I went to Surfer's Paradise.  It was VERY commercialized and reminded me of Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale.  Lots of hotels, bars, and people.  We stayed at a backpacker's hostel flat and had our own room but shared a lounge with two Swedish boys.  They were really nice and we hung out with them the whole time we were there practically.  It was funny to compare various perspectives with them and hear what they thought about certain issues.  They also were our protectors when we went out at night so no creeps would talk to us since they were so big. During the day we pretty much laid out on the beach or by our hostel pool.

(Mary Kate and I at one of the bars)                       (The two Swedish boys)

One of my favorite moments was waking up at 6am and walking down to get coffee and taking it on the beach.  I love waking up early and seeing the sunrise (esp. with my caffeine).  I watched all of the surfers catch their morning waves.  

It was really fun sharing the flat with the boys because we all looked after each other and it was fun to meet new people and have them to hang out with.  They left for Byron on Sunday to stay there for four weeks so we may meet up with them again there.  

It's already Monday tomorrow and school will come all too quickly. 

Australia!

OK I can't believe I am blogging...don't judge me...but everyone was hounding me about details and pictures so I decided to do this. 

I finally made it to the Gold Coast! The scenery is beautiful and full of lush vegetation with oceans that have gorgeous turquoise water and white sand.  My home is right on the beach which means amazing after school beach time and sunrise runs before school. Mary Kate lives literally 2 minutes from me and we walk to each other's houses all the time. She lives with my teacher, Leonie, and her husband Paul and 4 kids.

(Pic I took while running in the morning.)

I live with the most welcoming and lovely family. Angela and James (the principal of my school) have three children: Regan (an adorable quiet boy of 7), Juliet (a friendly and sweet girl of 6 who is ironically in the class I teach) and Laila (a sassy 4 year old who has insights a 24 year old would have.)

(Juliet on the left and Laila on the right)

The school is almost all outdoors and the day is broken up with 'morning tea' (snack outside), recess/lunch, a cross country run around the school grounds and other science activities outside.  I feel like I am teaching in a tropical rainforest but its sunny.  The students all wear uniforms even though its a public school.  They wear red hats (mandatory to go outside), girls wear white shirts and long red shorts and boys were khaki shorts and a red polo.  I teach year one and they are so adorable and obedient.  They thought my accent was so funny and for some reason at first thought I was French. Once they realized I was American, they started asking me if I personally knew every famous person from America.  Our accent is a big hit here because it is apparently like 'hearing TV in real life'.

 (the kids having a run at school)

We have visited Byron Bay this past weekend (which is hippie and full of backpackers from around the world). We met so many people, but primarily people from England.  We also went to a birthday party at Coolangatta Beach which was interesting and fun to meet people. We will be going to surfer's paradise this weekend which will be fun. 

(Mary Kate and I at Byron Bay)                          (The light house at Byron Bay)

I am still adjusting to the complete time change and not being able to talk to someone at 8pm here because it's only 5am the day before in the States.