This next edition is dedicated to the most gorgeous gals in Butte, Montana, my amazing Grandmother Elizabeth Parker and her friends Winkie and Georgiana.

Sunday 20 January 2013

This Tiny Box

How very odd.  The year ended.  I guess that happens all over the place, but it's not easy to say farewell to such an extraordinary experience.  We seized every moment without hesitation,  did so many unique and wonderful things, and met amazing people!  The speedy pace at which is came to the finish line though was totally unexpected.  It all started happening when Brian put up the 5 weeks til departure list on the fridge, which I kept posting things over top of with magnets, for it only to reappear again.  Hmphf.  I wasn't ready to face any of that 'leaving' thing.  But as the weeks drew to a close, I realized that I couldn't fight it back.  Start saying good bye to things and people slowly.  The last times started presenting themselves in a series of events like, this is the last time we'll go to Emma and Bonnie's school, the last trips to shops, and so on.  Then the packing started.  We declared one space under the air conditioner as our docking station.  Belongings and gathered souvenirs started appearing from the bedrooms and shelves that we'd been displaying.  Clothes started to accumulate and shoes, and books, and chocolates, and gifts that we started receiving.  As the week went on, we came to understand the metaphor of this whole experience.  How do you transport all of these magical memories into our 4 suitcases.  How will we ever fit everything with such magnitude into small spaces.  And then I gave myself the ultimate challenge.  I needed to find one word that would fit into a tiny box that would describe my Australian experience.  One word that when thought of would transform my mind to all of my Australia into a small tiny box.  This tiny box is filled with one word:
 treasure.




Camps!
The last few months were filled with some seriously great times. And as any school year ends at home, we start to finish off curriculum, starting report cards and are looking towards tying up loose ends.  At Grahamvale, it was no different except it was getting hotter and Christmas was approaching.  How strange to see all of the decorations appear on the streets, and people putting up their trees.  I am glad that we didn't have to wrap our sweating heads around the Christmas rush.  We decided to forego any gift giving and pocket our cash for the stop over in Los Angeles on the way home.  Plus, our luggage would NOT have forgiven us had we even added a paper clip to the pile.  It would have been like the 'I'm  too full' scene in Monty Python.  Disaster.  In any case, who would have thought that I could fit in a couple of school camps as well!  I must say though, that these were top notch highlights of my year and I'm totally grateful to those who organized them and better yet, got me on board.

Somer's Camp
I was SOOOOO lucky!  Every two years, Shepparton area gets to go to Lord Somer's Camp which is on the south coast of Victoria on the Mornington penninsula.  Schools in the area pick 5-10 deserving kids to take the nine day vacation off of school, and then 8 visiting teachers are selected from the region to attend as Hut Leaders and pastoral care providers (pastoral care means general well-being of kids).  So, I think because I was an anomaly AND my principal let me attend, I got to go!  Brian and the girls were taught how to boil water and add pasta, and my ducks were all in line, so 7:00 am on Melbourne Cup day, Brian drove me to the meeting place and there were hundreds of pacing parents, 180 happily bouncing grade 5 and 6 children, and me. 
We all piled our bags on the buses and off we went.  I love driving on buses into the unknown.  Three hours later, and thankfully no sickies (you get the picture) we arrived at Lord Somer's Camp.  It was once a training station for the RAAF set up by Lord Somers who wanted to replicate a training camp in the UK.  Since 1929, it has been operating.  This camp is funded by the Victorian Education Department and they certainly don't skimp out on anything.
Me dropping from 20 metres.  Good thing you can't hear what I'm saying
The activities and scheduling was smooth sailing...surfing lessons, boating, high ropes, giant 20 metre drop swing, archery, nature studies, art, drama, a farm complete with 100 guinea pigs to hold, pet and weigh, 2 goats and designer chickens, biking, bird study, rock climbing, library and writing time, amazing food and tons of night time activities that topped the chart of happiness!  Also, after our huts were snoring peacefully, the visiting teachers would get to go up to the 'Teacher's Lounge'and relax with a supper (cheese, crackers, chocolates, and wine).  It was all too sweet, but I knew the days were ticking by and fatigue was getting harder to quell.  The day before we left, I woke with the loud hand bell summoning all happy campers to breakfast, and after my shower, I closed my eyes, just for a few minutes of extra relief and reached for my face cream, which turned out to be a handful of toothpaste spread across my face.  I rushed out of my private room with my eyes closed and all of my charges ran up to see what was going on.  I told them to smell my minty fresh cheeks!  They guided me to the basins for a clean up. 
I truly bonded with those 20 girls!  I read a novel to them every night as they would beg me to read so they could hear my weird accent.  We would have nightly sharing meetings, try very hard to win the daily cleanest hut award, and play a watered down version of cricket during free time.  
I asked a permanent staff member how one became a resident teacher.  He said that they all lived on site in houses and only if someone retired would a position open.  They had mostly been there for at least 20 years.  Amazingly talented staff!  And the food was incredible.  The kids got breakie, lunch and tea which was friendly kid fare, but we got fine cuisine from the kitchen on a daily basis--organic muesli  organic eggs, toast, fresh fruit, grilled salmon, and the list goes on.  I can definitely see why it's hard to be chosen for this secondment.  There's even a waiting list to be a supply teacher on call!  I told them, in any case, if they were stuck for a replacement staff, that I would just need a few days notice and I would fly over.  We'll see.

Sovereign Hill Camp

Mrs. Butterball and Mrs. Ramsbottom melting
Gold panning
Australia's history is deep, deep meaning apart from the British Convicts taking up residence, the gold rush in Victoria. The first gold was alleuvial and found a couple hours south west of Shepparton which turned into the city of Ballarat.  Two shepherds, in 1850 or so, were out tending to their sheep when they noticed gold sparkling in the waters.  So, they headed off to the pub to celebrate and just happened to be sitting next to a journalist.  They spilled the beans on their find and within months, the rush began! People from England, Ireland, China and the USA came in to find their wealth.  Most didn't get rich but a few had a lucky find.  The main site, which is now Ballarat is home to one of the world's biggest nuggets, the Welcome Nugget.  It weighed 71 kilos. Another one, found farther north 3 cm under the ground weighed in at 72 kilos.  I've heard that there is more out there, but given the heat, snakes and fact that I have to work, I decided to stick to the game plan.
Me and Mrs. Ramsbottom walking our classes
Sir  (Mr. Fyfe)
The grade 5 students get to attend the camp and I and another grade 5/6 teacher got to go, along with the vice principal of Grahamvale.  When you arrive, you stay in hotel like lodgings on the Sovereign Hill site, which is very much like where I grew up in Butte, Montana.  Everything is olden days, streets, buildings, people in costume role playing.  The best part, was that we and our classes had to wear period costumes and walk through the town site to our school.  We weren't allowed to show any form of modernism and had to keep our cameras, phones and any other time cheaters, in our purses.  The children were to be dressed in head to toe, 1850 costumes, boys in knickerbockers, shirts, kerchiefs  and girls in frocks, aprons, pantelets, sleevelets and bonnets.  Teachers were the same.  There will be many Japanese tourists with our faces on their cameras! It was all fun and games until the thermometer rose to 39 degrees ( 102 for Farenheiters) and girls started feeling woozy.  On the second day of old time school, one girl needed a reprieve from the costuming and Sir, Mr. Fyfe, our distingushed classroom teacher, agreed that she could remove her apron.  I was in constant sweating state, and often lifted my skirts to catch a WELCOME breeze.  I got in a heap of trouble though from Sir, as I allowed the girls to remove their pantlets for the recess break and run around.  Sir stated clearly, that he had never come across such 'inappropriateness' in all his days as a school teacher!  But, under his breath, he gave me a nudge and said, 'Of course, a Canadian would be to blame.'
Mrs. Ramsbottom and Mrs. Butterball climing the hill

Some hot boys
My name was Mrs. Butterball, the wife of a confectioner and my partner was Mrs. Ramsbottom, wife of a wealthy squatter.  We were both on the look out for new staff.  Me, looking for a boy to work in the confectioner's store and she was looking for a house maid.  After the 2 days, we had to choose one of our students to fill the roles.
We learned to gold pan, embroider, make medicinal remedies (cooked cow pie applied to a bald head would deliver death to all lice), and use Victorian script with a dip ink pen.  We also learned how to make candles and the importance of keeping a horse in fine form.  It was a great time, and before bed, we would all meet for supper (cookies, bickies, and cakes). 
I loved this camp. I felt like an 1850ish woman on a mission and it was a sweet trip.


Goughs Bay
I loved that Brian got a job in Shepparton.  Ya, the extra money was good to burn up on the weekends, but it was the people that he worked for that were the best bonus!  John and Sue were extremely generous to us all!  First there was the amazing Christmas party out on their patio facing onto a serene city lake.  Then there was the pizza farewell party which made me laugh.  It was one hot night, 36ish or so and we were all looking forward to a cool air conditioned restaurant but as fate would have it, the air conditioner was out of order.  John said, 'Right, 6 of us are air conditioning specialists, we should be able to fix it.' So they all went over to the machine, all sweaty pizza customers watching hopefully and after a few minutes of prodding and quiet discussion, John turned around and announced, 'Yep, it's done for.' And he gave the manager his card.  Then, the next week they had yet another going away lunch for Brian.  I think they secretly hoped he would change his mind and stay which he would have, expect for that little document called a 'work visa'.  
John and his boat
One of the most picturesque places though was their home in Goughs Bay, a couple of hours from Shepparton.  It's on the way to the ski mountains but of course, it was in the high 30's that day so there would be no skiing, just tubing!  On the lake that is!
Frog  stalking the elusive stick
The interesting thing about this lake is that it was only a year ago that it was empty!  The droughts of 10 years before had claimed it and John said that it was a big canyon.  If you wanted to go boating, you basically had to drive out and DOWN at steep grade to get to the middle.  After the very wet winter season, it refilled.  Now, it's like a sanctuary of clear amazing water.  The thing I loved about it was that because the drought had been so long, trees grew on the lake floor.  They are now submerged for the most part, but the tops of them are exposed and the birds love it!

Australian Advice
At the Christmas BBQ for school, I asked one teacher what I should know about Australians before I go home.  She said that every one in Australia is as good as anyone else.  'In Australia, we are all the same no matter what, regardless of money, race, status. We don't talk down or up to people. We are all the best!'  I agree.
Bonnie's wet Farewell Party
Emma's huge and GORGOUS clay pot
that we had leave behind
Another of Emma's clay pieces which we sent home
Gloria the spider coming out to say goodbye
Saying Goodbye
Every Australian I met said that Goodbye wasn't in their vocab.  We say Farewell with the intention that there may be another chance to see one another again.  It's a bit like ripping off a bandaid quickly.  OUCH!  That hurt, damnit!  But, that's basically how we left.  Finished school, packed last minute bags, said farewell to the friends, magnificent gum trees and magpies, hopped into our friend's van and got dropped off at the Shepparton Train station.  Sometimes difficult things are just easier when done so quickly that you can't stop to think about it.  The only thing I remember truly about that day was the heat.  I said that I couldn't leave Australia without feeling 40 degree--that's 102 F,  sun on my face.  It did get to 39 a few times, and when Brian would pick me up from work, I would get in the car and look at the temperature.  Oh, it's only 35, I'd say.  Before, anything above 28 was worth mentioning.  But, as 35 became bearable and regular for my reptilian blood, I needed HEAT! On that last day, we sweated ALOT!  The neighbours invited us over for a swim in their pool and the thermometer read 42!  YIPPEE!!  I can go home now. 
Arriving in Sydney

Stop Over
The blow of leaving OZ was lessened by the fact that we got to spend a few days in Los Angeles and surrounds. Beautiful brain busting theme park blitz was needed badly. 
Brian was indeed the hero and knew that we would need a sweet fix before heading home.  Our flight was long, and tiring.  I kept putting in my head all of the things I missed from home.  When I was thinking about snow I fell asleep and thanks to the great travel sickness pill I took, 13 hour plane ride went by rather fast.  The problem though was when I woke up, I was bleary, weary and covered with snow.  So weird...I brushed off the snow, only to realize that my neck pillow had exploded and I was covered with static electricity ridden styrofoam balls, as were everyone else in the vicinity.  OOPS!  The flight attendants forgave me, bless them.  I think that they were calling me names under their breath.

me and my cats!



Giant water tank on Long Beach

barf coasters
Howard, the pelican
Our hotel on Long Beach overlooked the Queen Mary cruise ship and because I got to have my birthday in 3 time zones, and I was still awake, we went out to Bubba Gumps for dinner.  Nice, but between mini-jet lag naps and deep fried shrimp, the girls told the waiter that it was my birthday.  Suddenly a crew full of happy tip-hungry waiters came in singing, holding my birthday sundae.  They were singing and the verse was that if I ate the sundae before the song was done, I could have another sundae.  Hmm...we must be in America!
The next few days were spent at Universal Studios flying through crazy 3D rides, shopping, and Six Flags which was totally a full on 'Disney on Steroids'
My New food group
Bad drivers
crazy overdose. 

I panicked in the lines just waiting to go on those rides!  We did manage to go on 6 of the 8 Extreme Rides, but then the lines were getting seriously long--2.5 hours.  Emma stated it clearly enough. 
 Mom, Melbourne was 2 hours away.  Waiting in this line is like going to Melbourne for a 30 second visit.  So, we went back to the Mexican restaurant strip and totally PIGGED OUT.  
By far the creepiest scariest ride I've ever been on

When we got home the next day, back to a balmy -4 degrees and some light snow, Brian's parents were there to pick us up.  There is nothing more extraordinary than seeing familiar faces waiting on the other side of those doors.
I seem to remember a stuffed bulldog on the first day of our journey
This guy was real.
And so, once again, we are on home turf.  Slobbery dog kisses, catching up with beloved friends and reacquainting ourselves with our lives.  Hmm...life was stunning and warm and there are at least 2539 reasons why I loved being an Aussie.  I kept telling people to stop giving me reasons to love it so.  They didn't, but I will make a list of reasons for living here in Edmonton, Alberta and the list will be extensive.  

And in the end, making a snow angel is easier than a sand angel.  The snow that goes down your pants melts and of course, sand has to be rinsed away in the ocean.  Hmm...






 
This star on Hollywood boulevard says "Jean Parker'' who I always knew was a star, MY star.  Love you Mom.
Thank you for reading my blog, my dear wonderful Grandmother Elizabeth and her friend Georgiana.  We'll miss you Winkie.

And lastly, what's a blog without a Frog...Farewell dear doggie! 
Until Next Time,
beth