So it has been a while since my last post, mostly because I'm working again... I have mixed feelings about work. I love my job, but I love spending time with my family more. I count myself very lucky that I love both. Regardless, it's been a busy couple weeks going through start of year meetings and social events (thank goodness they accompany meetings) and then the students arriving. Two start of years in 5 months is a bit much... I feel a bit like Stella looks in this picture.
The start of year meetings were a good way to meet a wide variety of the staff from all four campuses. Being terrible at names, I was lucky to come out with 3 or 4 new names memorized each day. Plus, seeing as Aussies change everyone's name into a nickname, and most of those nicknames are somewhat bastardized versions of people's normal last names, I can never match up the people who have formally introduced themselves to me by first name with the people who are always referred to by nickname. Examples:
Shem (Fitzgerald) would be Fitzy, a guy down the road named Rod (Steer) would be Steery or Steeroids, Andy (Beauchamps - pronounced Beacham) would be Beacho, Dean (Dell'Oro) is Deano, Charlie (Scudamore) is Scooters... it's all a bit wacky.
What I did come to fully realize at these meetings as well is how loved Shem (Fitzy) is at this school. Despite his absence I believe he was mentioned four times in the first meeting of the year. I was also told by a teacher, "It's not fair that people keep mentioning you as replacing Shem all the time. Don't feel like you have to measure up to him, he's a pretty incredible guy." Which means they've already recognized the fact that I am not incredible. Darn it, I was hoping I could at least keep the idea that "different is better going" for a month or two... what now!?!
The start of year meetings ended with an excellent dinner and dance. I felt extremely spoiled to have ended the year at Brentwood with a Christmas party and started the year here with a back to school bash. I was on my best behaviour, but I didn't want to let people down... Shem apparently loves to cut a rug at these events, so I did the same. We then had a Cameron Close (our street) BBQ the night before the kids arrived back to school. It was a great way to end the summer (weird to say that) and we feel so fortunate to live in the community we do (this year).
Shem (Fitzgerald) would be Fitzy, a guy down the road named Rod (Steer) would be Steery or Steeroids, Andy (Beauchamps - pronounced Beacham) would be Beacho, Dean (Dell'Oro) is Deano, Charlie (Scudamore) is Scooters... it's all a bit wacky.
What I did come to fully realize at these meetings as well is how loved Shem (Fitzy) is at this school. Despite his absence I believe he was mentioned four times in the first meeting of the year. I was also told by a teacher, "It's not fair that people keep mentioning you as replacing Shem all the time. Don't feel like you have to measure up to him, he's a pretty incredible guy." Which means they've already recognized the fact that I am not incredible. Darn it, I was hoping I could at least keep the idea that "different is better going" for a month or two... what now!?!
The start of year meetings ended with an excellent dinner and dance. I felt extremely spoiled to have ended the year at Brentwood with a Christmas party and started the year here with a back to school bash. I was on my best behaviour, but I didn't want to let people down... Shem apparently loves to cut a rug at these events, so I did the same. We then had a Cameron Close (our street) BBQ the night before the kids arrived back to school. It was a great way to end the summer (weird to say that) and we feel so fortunate to live in the community we do (this year).
Rowing has started and I am coaching the Year 10 girls with Andy Beauchamps and a whole whack of other coaches (10 coaches for the year 10 girls alone!!!). Andy worked and coached at Brentwood in the early 1990s and was good friends with some of the current faculty at Brentwood - Brian Carr being one of them. The strange thing is, he is a bit like the Australian version of Brian Carr. High energy, loves rowing and is incredibly warm and friendly. We went to his house for dinner last night and had a great time. Talked a lot about his days at Brentwood with many mentions of Brian Carr, Harold Backer and Marius Felix (who was at Shawnigan at the time). It was a fun night.
Around the house it's been a busy week as well. Cormac started Kinder last week and will be full on this week (by the end of it). Fiona's gardens are starting to produce large amounts of produce, so we are eating tasty little tomatoes and lots of yummy leafy greens etc. Cormac is going to be doing swimming lessons starting this week at the on campus pool (he's very much a beginner swimmer still but seems excited to get going) and Cormac and Stella have been building friendships up and down the block. Cormac has lots of play time with another new kid on campus - Teddy - who just moved back from England (he is 7 and was born there, though parents are Aussie) and Max Dell'Oro - who he played cricket with a few afternoons last week.
On Niall's end, he cannot sit up yet, but has figured out how to get around pretty quickly on his belly/hands and knees. Not a crawl, but he can spin around and move a couple of feet in just a few seconds. Kid knows what he wants! He has also insisted (through grunts of angst and wanting looks) that it is time he starts to eat. So far he seems to love peaches, pancakes, meat pie, bananas, crackers... well, basically anything we put in his hands or mouth. Hasn't had the choking issue that Cormac and Stella had when they started eating either. Again, the kid knows what he wants.
On Niall's end, he cannot sit up yet, but has figured out how to get around pretty quickly on his belly/hands and knees. Not a crawl, but he can spin around and move a couple of feet in just a few seconds. Kid knows what he wants! He has also insisted (through grunts of angst and wanting looks) that it is time he starts to eat. So far he seems to love peaches, pancakes, meat pie, bananas, crackers... well, basically anything we put in his hands or mouth. Hasn't had the choking issue that Cormac and Stella had when they started eating either. Again, the kid knows what he wants.
Lastly, we FaceTimed (what a verb that is) with Shem and Fiona (our exchange partners, Liam and Marilou (houseparents in Ellis House - where I work in Canada) and Simon and Ashley Beatty (friends at Brentwood) on Friday night and felt our first pangs of really missing people. We come more and more to the realization that as happy as we are to have Shem and Fiona as our exchange partners, it really is too bad we don't get to spend more time with them in person. They are such great people and we seem to get along so well - but I guess those are the facts of life.
Off to start another week. I think I'm finally getting a phone this week, so I'll take more on the job pictures. Classes are going well, and I am really having a good time getting to know my students.
Off to start another week. I think I'm finally getting a phone this week, so I'll take more on the job pictures. Classes are going well, and I am really having a good time getting to know my students.