The final week of teaching is upon me at the end of this weekend; how could time have flown so fast?  The bittersweet departure from my new home is right around the corner and will creep up so quickly I’ll be unprepared to leave! 

Yesterday after school, I arrived home in time to change before heading back to school to the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Center, in the middle of the campus, to play some volleyball.  I arrived in time to train with a couple of the teams that were there prior to the matches starting.

I wasn’t supposed to play until later in the evening, after the first few games, but I was invited to join a team who was shorthanded.  This is just another example of the kind disposition of Australians; sadly, I wouldn’t expect this same kindness in the homeland.  I helped the team to a loss but as their captain put it, “we here for fun not to win cattle stations.” Whatever the hell that means…  I had a great time though and really enjoyed meeting some more locals. 

I was then invited to play in the “A League” to fill a spot on a team that was short handed.  Not having played volleyball since high school gym classes, I was a little concerned when I heard “A League.”  I was really grateful that they invited me to play; my competitive spirit really started to come out!  We won the first set but lost the following two, oh well!  I was invited to go to the pub after the games, a tradition after a lot of physical activity around here, but I declined so I could come home to get a good night’s sleep.

I woke up a little later today to get every second of much needed rest after the game and headed to school shortly after my shower.  At school by 7:45, I was able to finalize a few things for my students before heading over to the science center after the morning briefing at 8:30.  I never left the science center until after all four of my classes.

Many of the teachers had indicated that the students had been somewhat wild this week, after the two-week holiday.  Until today I would have disagreed with them, rather, my students had been quite mild and easily appeased.  They seemed to get their work done and turned in on time- characteristics of students that no teacher could ever complain about!  Today wasn’t full of chaos but it was hard to keep a few students concentrated on their work.

After school, I stayed at the science center to clean up some equipment that the year 11s had used during period four, and then headed over to Junior Campus for QLD.  I’ve written about QLD before but never elaborated on what it stood for.  QLD is a wonderful tradition at BSC, and I’m sure at many of the schools in Australia.  It is something that would be frowned upon in the US and would never be allowed to occur.  Quiet Little Drinks is a get together after every pay-week Friday allowing the teachers to have a few drinks together, with snacks, to unwind before the weekend.  What a brilliant idea!  It just adds to the obvious camaraderie the staff at BSC have with one another.

Tonight, I’m home watching St. Kilda play Fremantle.  I’m pulling for St. Kilda since I chose them in the footy competition I signed up for at school.  The game is currently getting close to the halfway mark and there is no one decisively ahead.

I have few plans this weekend and will take things as they come!  I’m looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow before getting on with my day.  I’m hoping to get onto Skype to catch up with Mary Kate!  I miss her a ton and am looking forward to seeing her at CVG when I get back soon!