Koalas and Things

Up the two-lane main highway a bit is an overpass built specifically for the koalas to cross from one Eucalyptus forest to the other. The service road along side is lit up extra at night so cars can spot them easily. There has been a lot of time and money to make this special crossing for them! Still no sightings however . . . !

Six-pack of Corona costs $20.00. Makes sense. Instead of Kellogg's Rice Crispies, it's Kellogg's Rice Bubbles. Snap, crackle, pop. Pat bought a coffee pot! He couldn't take it one more day with instant!

I have felt as though we are on a lovely two week vacation, and soon we'll pack up and go home. Some of you know I grew up with my family renting a friend's weekend house in Palm Springs for Christmas every year until I was 12. We'd spend two weeks playing in the pool and eating tangerines and decorating cacti as Santa. This feels very much the same.

-Until Pat brought home the Bag 'O Phones! No one buys a bunch of phones if they're leaving in two weeks! Wow! Reality!

Lydia, Marc and Ross have made a splash with all the kids they are meeting by playing the card game, "I Doubt It." I believe they call it something else, which the Aussies know very well, and even the 7 year olds blurt it out, accent and all!

Pat and I took a long walk into town and along the wooden walkway out to the beach. Two kangaroos were feeding in the brush below. No big deal. We walked past the police station and the pub. Urunga reminds me of Capitola in the 80's. The coastal area reminds me of Santa Cruz, maybe in the 60's.

We're off to open a bank account this afternoon and then hook up the phones (more complicated, so it's taking us some time to understand which plan is for us).

Maybe I'll take a swim first . . . Ahh!

Paradise

We've arrived safe and sound after a 32 hour jaunt across the Pacific. We were met by a welcome team including my new principal! Since it was Christmas Eve, and all the stores would be closed for the next two days, they thought it would be great to stop in at the grocery store for a few things. It was a very good idea, but I'll tell you, reading kilograms and figuring the exchange rate with a very fuzzy head was a task!

Debbie and Graeme brought us to our beautiful new home. Christmas morning we woke up still fuzzy, but so glad to be here. Instead of the usual routine of waking us all up, lining up to walk in to open the stockings, and ripping open presents, we lolled in the pool. We made our way through the cupboards to make toast, instant coffee, and cold cereal. Pat has since purchased a real-live coffee maker, so this morning was much better for all of us!

I was buzzed by a lorikeet on my first morning walk. Today on a walk along a nearby boardwalk at the ocean, we saw a sea turtle coming up to have a look at us. We have a resident miniature lizard out the back door, and at my new school we saw a blue-tongued lizard! Noah, if you're reading this, I thought of you immediately!!

And yes, I said my new school! Our friends drove us to Macksville so I could peek in the windows and walk down the corridors! It is charming and comparitively rustic. It has a fresh coat of bright, playful blue paint. The playground comes with a cricket batting cage area. It is multi-level with classroom building pods up and down the hillside. It reminds me of summer camp. Ha! Maybe because I'm still on vacation!

Best of all, no offense to Macksville, was seeing KANGAROOS!!! In the park, not 5 minutes from the house, are scads of them, hanging out on the side of the road nibbling at the grass. FABULOUS. We saw 6 or 7 by the time we were through the little park. One mama had a joey in her pocket that should have been given the car keys two months ago. His head and feet and tail were sticking out, he was so huge. Poor mama had to work to hop away as we finished our photos.

Dream come true.

Oh the Things People Say

Rod was describing the car I'll be driving when we get there. He apologized for the two dents in the side; they are from hitting those two kangaroos. But the bumper is really a shame - he meant to have it repaired before he left. That third kangaroo really did a job on it. But, he'll fix it when he gets back next year, so if I clean up a few roos, it won't be a problem . . . Oh my.

We also made sure we taught the kids that a sweatshirt is called a sweatshirt in the U.S., not a jumper. Don't be tellin' the guys if you can borrow a jumper!

What are we saying that they are writing home about??!

Meeting our new life-long friends:

What a feeling to see Maureen walking up our walkway - in real life!! We hugged for such a long time there on our front porch. They arrived Thursday night having driven up from touring in California. Within moments of meeting Rod we felt at ease. The children, Dean and Shawnee are darling, full of smiles and anticipation at seeing their new digs for the first time.

By now we have spent the whole weekend together, getting to know each other, showing them the quirks and crannies of our house, cooking together, planning and explaining so many things for each other, finding Winco, BiMart, and the Christmas tree lot.

They have prepared so much for us when we arrive there. I feel as if I know the amazing new friends we are about to meet in two days - three if you are looking at the calendar.

At the same time, we are suddenly feeling sad to not spend more time together! Who knew we would match so well? It was meant to be. It simply was.

Summer in 18 days! We'll miss this 20 degree weather. Right! Pat

Did I mention

the butterflies swirling in all of our tummies?? 20 days to departure . . . Which one of us is the most excited?

So many people are helping us get ready. Thanks Mike, Karleigh and the Girls for taking the motorhome and the cat! Mostly the cat. Thanks Chris and Deb for helping with the holiday airport run so that we could welcome everyone here. Thanks Barbara for holding and watching out for everything and anything for us while we're gone. Thanks to Aaron, Lydia, and Marc for not shaking your heads and rolling your eyes at us too badly! Thanks to Emilie and all of the family who will keep an eye and ear out for Aaron, Lydia, and Marc! Thanks to everyone we tell for the happy wishes and great tips on poisonous everything! Thanks to all the staff and all the parents at work for helping get the classroom and plans ready to pass over. Thanks to all our friends who are working behind the scenes to send us off (the number of vehicles needed to get us to the airport is hilarious) and welcome the new family. We could truly not be doing this wild adventure without all of you. A huge, huge thank you!!

Can't wait -

I can't wait to be tired of kangaroos!

Talking Face to Face

We are now talking with our exchange family on Skype, a free program on the internet! Our computer calls their computer and we talk on a video screen in real time. It's AMAZING. But the most fun of all is getting to know the family. Their accents are beautiful, and they are delightful people. Their lifestyle seems to match ours and we're already enjoying their sense of humor. We've discussed everything from car purchasing to bull sharks to golf courses to report cards. They've even promised to have grog in the fridge when we get there. Lifetime friends in the making . . .

First Stop: Denver

Denver?! We are attending an orientation meeting in September with other Australian Exchange-To-Be Teachers and their families. Our list of questions is a page long, and I'm sure we haven't thought of half of it! Wish us luck!

New Year's Eve Sydney 2010

We'll ring in the New Year with fire works in Sydney!

Cleaning out . . .

Drywall scraps anyone? Empty binders? Mauve decorative pillows? Outerwear from 1984? Need a rug shampooer or maybe an '81 Toyota truck, slightly used? . . .

Beginnings

We've started the process and there is no turning back! Australia here we come!

Applications signed: check
Visa application in: check
Ross' high school on board: check
Plane reservations made: check
(notice ours are one-way! Hey, they won't let us make the return yet . . . )
Communication with our exchange family weekly: check
Aussie phrase book memorizing: ongoing . . .

Now to get this house ready for someone else to enjoy it without all of our STUFF in the way!