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Published: January 13th 2008
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I know it has been a while since you all had an update so thought that it was about time I let you know what was happening in my latest 'home.'
I left the USA on 18 Nov - the last day I could leave before overstaying my tourist visa and becoming one of the 20 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the US. (I know...the idea was very tempting!!). I headed for Cairns as my sister lives here and it also has a huge tourist industry. I surmised that this would give me the best chance of gaining casual work whilst I awaited my visa interview. I stopped in Brisbane on the way back from the USA in order to complete my medicals and police checks and was lucky enough to be able to stay and catch up with Lisa and Bryan Dubbeldam over the three days I was there. As per all things immigration-wise....it was an expensive few days! The only doctor in Queensland qualified to conduct my immigration medical charged $450 to establish that I was perfectly healthy and did not have tuberculosis, HIV or syphilis. I then headed to the police station for 2 sets of
fingerprints - a very messy process and further $140 to establish that I had no criminal records in any state in Australia. Of course neither of the two places could provide proof on the spot, so I headed to Cairns and had to wait a few weeks for the reports in the mail.
My sister lives in a huge 5 bedroom house in a tropical climate with a pool in the front yard - yes ... very hard to take... so it was with some sadness that I headed out on my first day here in search of a job. There is a huge English Language market in Cairns (mainly with Japanese students) so the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) qualification I gained prior to leaving the RAAF proved invaluable. I dropped my resume into a couple of the schools and had interviews and offers of work the next day. I started substitute teaching the following week and it was a great experience as I had the chance to teach levels I had not taught during my training. I was able to learn a lot from the fellow teachers and gained the confidence to try some
of the different teaching methods I had been taught during my course. Im sure most of you would be amused to hear that there is now a group of Japanese students that can sing 'Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree' fluently!!
My initial teaching gigs were only 4 hours a day as most schools structure their teaching time around the Australian study visa requirements. If you are in the country on a study visa there is a requirement that you do 4 hrs school a day so the schools organise their timetable around this as the students arent interested in any more!! 4hrs a day suited me well though as I am still new to the game and hence spending a fair bit of time preparing for each lesson. The most harrowing part of each work day was leaving the house - Nomes has 2 horses and 2 dogs so I was forced to negotiate 2 fences, numerous animals and a gravel driveway in high heels and a skirt. If I managed to make it out onto the street without a dog slobbering on the black skirt, a horse attempting to escape whilst I drove the car through
The second Japanese class
My wonderful group of girls! the gate, or a high heel left in the gravel... it was a good day!!!
After my 2 weeks substitute teaching I was given the chance to teach a 2 week study course for Japanese students. It is quite common for Japanese high school students learning English to head to a country such as Australia for a 2 week study tour during their school holidays. They do 3 - 5 hours of lessons in the morning and then tourist/ sightseeing activities in the afternoon. I found myself with a class of sixteen 14-15 year old students... a very new experience as I had only previously taught adults. The first day was an eye opener...I had only previously taught adults who had an overwhelming desire to learn English and showed enormous appreciation and enthusiasm for everything you did. Needless to say - 15 year olds were a different kettle of fish. The boys didnt want to work with the girls, there was an outcast in the class that no-one wanted to work with, a couple of girls who felt the need to pull out a mirror and check their eye makeup every hour or so and lots of non related
class talking going every time you turned your back. I think I was shell shocked after the first day but must have got the hang of it as I ended up enjoying it and was sad to see them go. I think I would always choose to teach adults if I had the option though - Ive got a newfound respect for all the teachers out there!
The last study group I had were 7 girls from Japan who were absolutely beautiful and I had a fantastic 2 weeks heading to the Zoo, Reef and shopping centres with them. I felt incredibly lucky to be paid to head out to all of Cairns' tourist attractions and wish I could take up teaching Study Tours as a permanent job! With the new year I have taken on a Study Tour with a different company in Cairns and have 4 students from Japan. Its the smallest class I have ever taught but after the group of 16 kids it has been a breeze. I spent Thursday morning working on 'shopping and cooking' vocab and phrases and then spent the afternoon cooking Anzac biscuits with them - it was great fun. Unfortunately
Christmas in Cairns
Dad getting ready to celebrate tommorow afternoon's activity is a Hip Hop Dance lesson....they bring in an instructor from one of the fitness centres to run it...but I think I might be expected to get out there and encourage them by participating as well. Not sure Im looking forward to that and am glad none of you live in Cairns and can sneak in with a camera!!
Being back in Australia for a few months has worked out well as I was able to head to Adelaide for Anneka and Flicka's wedding during December. It was wonderful to be there and share it with them and also fantastic to be back in Adelaide and catch up with all my friends there. The stay was way too short but I think it probably would be no matter how long I stayed as I dont think I will ever be ready to say goodbye. Living in Cairns for the last 2 months has also worked out wonderfully as my family came up to stay for Christmas. Mum and Dad drove up from Tassie and Nan flew in from South Australia so it was a great opportunity to spend a Christmas together before I move over to
Mel and Phoebe
Yes..Im earning my keep doing the dog washing duties! the US permanently. Nomes and Craig took us walking to some of the 'secret local swimming spots' on the river and we also spent a day kayaking down the river. Christmas was a truly Australian day with prawns, salmon, cold meats, Tasmanian wines and home made Christmas Crackers. It was also nice to sit down the next day and watch the cricket - Ive been missing Australian television!
My big news is that I finally have an interview date. It has taken a while. I advised the embassy that I was ready for an interview before Christmas and have only just been scheduled for one. Im leaving Cairns on 29 January and heading down to Sydney and have my interview at the US Embassy the following day. All going well - I should be in receipt of a visa 2 days after that so have just booked my trip back to the US on 4th Feb. It will be sad to leave Cairns as I have loved spending time with Nomes and have really been enjoying the work but I cant wait to get back to Jamy and get on with life in the US.
If you are
Mel and Eb
The quietest horse in the world according to Nomes...until I got on him. I lasted 3 mintutes before he attempted to throw me over a fence - am still feeling a bit sore 3 weeks later! anywhere near Sydney or Cairns during the next few weeks let me know as I'd love to catch up.
Love Mel
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