Where do I begin?

Typical first week back to school - overwhelming, exciting, exhausting, invigorating, and educating!! First I have to say that the children are beautiful and amazing. They are terribly polite and little rascals at the very same time! We have not missed a beat since the first introductions. We've already filled in our spelling words, written lists and journal entries, chosen books for DEAR time, created our Promise to Each Other, and met Scaredy Squirrel and the Pigeon who wants to drive the bus.

But let's say it is, indeed, two worlds colliding! USA: Recess at 10:15 a.m. AUS: Morning Tea at 11:20 a.m. USA: "Use finger space between words." AUS: "A sentence begins with a capital and ends with a Full Stop." USA: No Hood, No Play. AUS: No Hat, No Play. USA: DeNealian. AUS: NSW Standard. USA: heating system issues. AUS: Air conditioning issues. USA: Did I remember my umbrella today? AUS: Did I remember my bug spray today?

But we definitely share many things: State testing, schools evaluated based on scores, staff tensions, building repairs, laughs in the halls after school, teamwork with our special kids, frustrations over the copy machine, and schedules, schedules, schedules!!!

Our first science unit is Australian Animals. I'm studying all the non-fiction books I could get my hands on for marsupials, monotremes, and more. They don't realize how unique their animals are to this continent. Doesn't everyone in the world see kangaroos on the roadside when heading out to the beach and Water Dragons at the river?

Math is called "Maths." Addition and subtraction drill pages are called "mentals." Grade blends in classrooms are called "composites," with the accent on the first syllable. The alphabet contains letters A - Zed. Prep time is called RFF (Release from Face to Face). They sing the Australian National Anthem at their weekly assemblies. Okay, I was sentimental at that point. Maybe it's the music that got to me.

It's not all work and no play. I'm carpooling with a group of teachers. We meet in the evenings for Yoga, or at 7 a.m. for Boot Camp Swim Aerobics. Once out of the pool, we shower, dress, and get to the school in 20 minutes (Aussies in this area at least are less fussy about many things). My principal loaned us his extra surf board and offered to teach my husband this weekend. There is a lavish spread of yummy foods for Wednesday's Morning Tea. And someone has already asked for a Girls' Night at my home soon!

An Ibis saunters in the little courtyard outside. Blue Tongue Lizards are out and about. Silly Galahs romp in the trees.

The older students, 5th and 6th graders who have heard I'm from America gaze as I walk by and say hello to see what I'll say back. "Have you ever met anyone famous?" they ask. "Are there gangs in America? Have you seen them?" "Do you have earthquakes?" One teacher told me that a set of boys offers to bring any new books or supplies to the classroom so I'll have to tell them where to put it all and they can hear me talk! Of course, I'm loving their accents, and their child-versions of the expressions I've been hearing out and about.

I need to go now and mark-I mean grade-papers for awhile before bed. Teaching is teaching!