A la Carte:
The cats have also adjusted very well to the new place and quickly got over any trauma they suffered from the flight over and being contained in
quarantine
for 30 days and then a cattery for another 30 days while we settled on the house. They LOVE their backyard. The fences are so high they can't escape so
that
makes me happy too.
The back yard is small but Chris has been busily gardening and landscaping anyway. He has torn out a couple of small trees that were already
there in order to make
room for a small vegetable garden and more flowering plants. We've got a small "orchard" started with three dwarf citrus trees - lemon, orange and lime.
Chris would also like to put in some apple trees. Apparently there is a type of apple tree that grows up instead of out...
Last March I began working part-time teaching grade 7 French at a private, all boys', Catholic school called Xavier College. It has been quite a
challenge as the class sizes are much larger than I would have
expected for a prestitious, private school and the boys are a bit unruly. It has been a huge adjustment after Singapore American School
which is a hard act to follow.
I had several interviews at the end of the year but found nothing else that was part-time. All the jobs were for teaching 4-5 levels of French.
On top of that teachers here do not get their own class room so they scurry from room to room carrying all of their supplies.
This is exhausting and chaotic. And in my book, an inefficient use of energy.
I did return this year though because part-time fits our lives at the moment for many reasons. I am teaching grades 7 and 8 this year. However, I will
continue to keep my eye out for either a new
teaching position or
a career shift.
The boys can be quite sweet and funny but they are hard work.
I've taken several classes at a continuing education school over the past year -
a two-day course on Aboriginal art, two-hour Spanish grammar class, Italian pantry (FUN!). Upcoming classes include travel writing, Spanish conversation
and a course on olive oils. I haven't used my Spanish in over 5 years so this will hopefully give me a jump start.
Spanish is not as big here as Italian though since there is a large, Italian immigrant base.
I wish I had started the travel writing thing back in the 80's before everyone and her dog had gone to Provence or Tuscany and written a book about it. This course is
really just for me to use in journal writing. If I ever find the time for that...
In July I spent two weeks with my family in Michigan and then attended the American Association of Teachers of French
(AATF) annual conference in Milwaukee. It was a good chance to catch up with colleagues and friends and to meet some new people.
I was pleasantly surprised by
the city of Milwaukee which I found to be very vibrant with a fantastic art museum and lost of downtown restaurants and bars.
Somehow Detroit missed the boat.
I'm still slowly adapting to life here in Australia and Melbourne is an exciting city but I just feel so far away. The distance feels oppressive to me here.
It took me 35 hours to get home from Milwaukee. I ache for Paris.
I just rewatched the final Sex and the City episode and could feel it all over again. The bridge where she and Big kiss is the Pont des Arts.
Our wedding reception boat is moored just below it.
Chris returns tomorrow from a two-week trip to Europe, most of which was spent in Paris. He called often with play-by-play accounts and I could actually see
exactly where he was.
Let's see...what else is new...we've joined the
National Gallery of Victoria .
Chris bought into a race horse a few months ago. He bought a 2% share so I think that means we own the ears. He is racing tomorrow but unfortunately not in Melbourne
so we'll have to go somewhere and watch him on t.v. His name is "Esprit de Danse", Dancing Spirit or Spirit of the Dance depending on how you want to
translate it.
Well, I suppose that's it. It has been a challenging year with a few curve balls but overall we're doing well and life is good.
We welcome your comments and messages. Keep in touch!
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This page was created by Cyndi Sauvage.
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Last update: 9 February 2007