Last post from Newcastle

Hello everyone! I'm just about finished at Kotara South Public School. I leave in less than 48 hours for my two weeks of traveling. I officaily need to buy a suitcase for my way home. There's just no way, even with the vaccum bags, that I'll be able to fit it all. Oh well. Just as long as I can carry it!

I am really looking forward to New Zealand. We should have a great time looking at the glaciers and we're even doing some of the "LOTR" drive. I'll take heaps of photos. It'll be cold but I've got a pair of boots that will help keep my feet warm.

I've finally recovered from my bed bug fiasco. What a mess. I just hope the hostels we go to are clean!!!!!!!!

It's been nice getting mail and email from many of you! I love hearing all the exciting things that are going on in your lives :)

The three families all went out to dinner last night at a really nice place right on the Newcastle Harbour. We had great food and lots of fun. Tonight is the last night all three of us will be here. I'll be the last one to leave. But I get too sad when I think about it and I don't want to be sad yet.

Love you!

Long overdue report

I've got a lot to catch up on!

The Blue Mountains and the big storm. What a weekend. We managed to catch the last train out of Newcastle on my birthday. The weather was so bad tracks flooded and all train traffic stopped. We did some transport juggling: train for a while, bus, train, then off due to tree on the track, then back on another train, then another train. It took us seven hours to get there. It should have only taken four. And it was raining and wet.
The next day we went to the Jenolan Caves (www.jenolancaves.org.au). Crystal caves. So cool. We were delayed by a rockslide on the road but made it eventually. Saw two caves. There are lots of photos of these. Went out to eat that night at a great vegetarian restaurant (there are heaps of them all over the area).
The next day we did the tourist hop on/hop off a bus thing. Did a long boardwalk at Scenic World (www.scenicworld.com.au), saw lots of falls, hiked all over, did a little shopping in Leura (town next to Katoomba) and ended our night with dinner and a concert at a little hotel. At first it looked to be a lame show, but once it started we had a good time. Made friends with the musicians (one of whom had their roof cave in due to the storm) and chatted. Nice way to end the trip. Have posted photos.
Got back to Newcastle Monday afteroon and had a full week of solo teaching ahead of me. Busy busy. Went to the State of Origin Game 2 in Sydney with Lucie, Anthony and their host dads. Game was lame and apparently it was some of the worst reffing ever in this series. It wasn't the most exciting rugby game I've been to (and now I can say that because I've been to quite a few) but I was happy to have experienced it. Will post photos soon.

Spent last weekend in Melbourne. I stayed with my step-dad's uncle and had a wonderful time. We went out in Melbourne all day on Saturday and walked for about 7 hours. Saw the Melbourne Museum (melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au), walked to Federation Square (www.federationsquare.com.au), did a little shopping at the Queen Victoria Markets (www.qvm.com.au/home.php), and had a nice, relaxing time. Allan and Jan were kind and fun! I have photos to post soon from this weekend too.
Busy couple of weeks coming up! On Friday the teachers are having a dinner at our principal's house. Should be nice and relaxing. On Saturday I'm finally making it to an Aussie Rules Football game. Sydney Swans Vs. Collinwood. I plan to take many photos there.
June 29th my two weeks of non-stop travel begin. New Zealand for six days, Tasmania for five days, then two days in Airlie Beach (Sunshine! Yay!), one in Brisbane, and back to Kotara South July 15th for two days. I leave for home July 17th! I can't believe how fast it has gone. It's just begining to be normal to drive on the left side of the road. I know that when I come back, I'll have many places to stay and people to visit. Most of our families are planning a trip to the US in the next five years so they'll have places to visit too!
Love and miss you all so much.
-Jessica

Mother Nature was angry...

Most of you know that there was a hurricane (cyclone) that hit my area over the weekend. I think techinically it was 1 km/hr below or something but the damage is everywhere. Flooding, trees, power outages, and I think 10 people have died. There was a whole section of the highway that washed out and took a family with it. But all of my people are okay and safe (though one whole part of the neighborhood has been without power since Friday morning).

Here's a link to a slideshow my principal made of the photos of what the school looks like post-storm. Needless to say, we didn't have kids at school today.

http://eduleader.org/media/playstorm.htm

Note the music- very appropriate. It will probably only work with high-speed internet. It's about a minute long.

I've got lots to say about my time in the mountains but not enough time now to write it.

-Jessica

updates.

1) Photos of karaoke are up. Including video that I haven't watched yet.
2) Tonight we (the fam) were supposed to have dinner out for my bday (since I"m leaving tomorrow) and they surprised me with EVERYONE being there!! All the other host fams and the other fam who I've gotten to know well. It was so nice. There was cake! And Sandra spent all day looking for little teaching things to go on the cake. Apple, spelling test, and a chalk board. See photos. I added those too.
3) Off to the mountains tomorrow. Gotta bus and train cuz there is work being done on the tracks. So it'll take us about 6 hours instead of 4. Oh well.
4) Screen printing went well. I'll try to get the photos off the school camera to post.
5) bed!!!

Love you all!