Jade Down Under

.... to five 21 year old students.

We have a garbage rotation where all seven residents on the floor empty the garbage one day of the week - the math is pretty simple. Well, apparently not.

I live with 3 soon-to-be doctors, one pharmacist, one psychologist and a marine biologist; then there's me, the soon-to-be teacher. Guess who empties the garbage consistently EVERY week.... the marine biologist and the teacher. Fantastic. Doesn't that worry you about who is treating you when you get injured, or are taken over by some viral infection, or perhaps a mental breakdown???
The guys writing the prescription and the one who fills it can't walk the garbage bin down a flight of stairs... but let's put our lives in their hands.

This week I've had to deal with a gecko taking over the comfort of my room (I can't catch the little critter and my boot is too big to get into the cracks it can fit into!!), and a cricket the size of a rabbit (which I attacked with screams and a can of bug spray). I draw the line at maggots. If I see a single maggot I don't know what I'll do - I don't have my tall boots and my yellow, rubber gloves, I am completely unprepared for maggots!!!

I will not stand for it. So, I've become the crazy garbage nagger! Yep, if the garbage isn't emptied, I nag. Yesterday my nagging was in the form of a sign, see below:

And this was the garbage can:


You have to give them a little bit of credit. The garbage has turned into a large game of Jenga, don't let a piece fall!!!

Anyway, the sign worked and the garbage was emptied within the hour. I'm sure the doctors, pharmacist and psychologist are having a floor meeting on my mental state and what drugs I should be put on. At least I'm helping their education - even when I'm not a teacher, I'm still a teacher.

Not much new... actually, nothing new. With exams fast approaching (I have one in an hour and a half) I've been spending most of my time curled up in my pajamas, watching movies, and eating junk food - the proper studying technique. I figure I'm so relaxed by the time I get to the exam there is no mess ups due to stress - we'll see how that pans out once again.
My life in the past few weeks has become very dull and predictable, somewhat like 90210; the new cast, of course. What happened to that show? The season finale was a big disappointment and I have come to rely on those shows (Grey's is gone too now) for entertainment. It's not great entertainment when I think their lives are as dull as mine only I sit in my pj's instead of making dramas. Perhaps that's how I could make life more interesting - but first I'd have to have a lobotomy and squeeze my feet into those really high heels... meh, something to consider.
Speaking of losing your brain, what do you think are the damages of running vehicles in a small, improperly ventilated space? I have no idea but I assume it can't be good. I don't know if there are any research studies on the topic but I'd love to know. It seems I disagree with a certain someone on this topic and I'm taking the road of 'burnt fuel fumes in lungs is bad,' could I really be wrong? I should mention that I'm not talking about the odd time you pick up your car from the mechanics and you find yourself in a stinky garage. I'm talking about prolonged exposure to these fumes over days, weeks, years, whatever.... I don't think this is rocket science but if anyone knows (I need facts here people), I'd love to hear it. As far as I'm concerened I could still have that lobotomy and win some arguments.

Yes, once again I've come down with a cold. I don't know how to deal, I never get sick in Canada.... maybe this is a sign. lol... only kidding, I love it here and a sniffle won't change that. But this is getting a little crazy. I was really sick on my flight over here (probably from stress), then I was sick in... I think, March... and now. That's every other month!!! Luckily it appears to be getting less and less brutal each time. My parents are here in 4 weeks so the good news is I'll be over it in time to travel to see them.
That's right, you did the calculation right if you've been listening to me; my semester is over in 4 weeks and the four weeks are kind of a joke. I have a test on Tuesday in English and a presentation in SOSE on Thursday, with my final assignment due on Friday. Then I have a study week and two weeks of exams - I only have 2-2hr exams - so technically the next 3 weeks are a mni holiday to prepare for my vacation which is two weeks long.
My second semester doesn't start until July 6th!! I'll be meeting my parents in Sydney on June 19th and then we'll go where the wind takes us... well, our plane is taking us to Townsville on June 24th but you know what I mean.

Anyhow, I've been slacking on postings because as you can see from above, nothing is going on!! It's Liz's birthday soon so I'll probably have some pictures from a night out but even that is a couple weeks away. We are planning on walking Castle Hill.... urgh.... that should be.... fun?

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
~ Helen Keller

Well apparently a lot. The word is pedagogy and since I took up my courses here at JCU the word has followed me like an unwanted companion. We, Canadians, do not use this word; we have no use for it. According to dictionary.com the word means.... **drum roll please*** teaching. Uh. Where I come from we take the less pompous route and use the word teaching. We have no need to use a word that the majority of the population needs a dictionary for - we speak straight up English. Until I sat in my introductory class I had not heard this word and in my 25 years on earth have never thought 'I need a word that means teaching, but isn't teaching.' It's funny how you never know something is missing from your life until someone with a degree tells you you are.

I've come to terms with this word and let the use of it roll off my back like the hard pellets of hail we got last summer. I flinch but don't howl in pain. However, I am sitting here (in my jail cell, of course) looking at my English unit assignment and one aspect I have been asked to provide is:

• details of pedagogy/teaching strategies. Note that this is the most important part of the plan.

Look closely, the Prof has actually put TEACHING STRATEGIES beside the word pedagogy like the word needs an explanation. Note to Queensland, if the word needs an explanation to student teachers should we really use the word?
That got me thinking. How many redundant or useless words are out there? According to the Oxford dictionary there are 171, 476 words in current use, with 47,156 words having become obsolete. Although I can't count how many words I use a day (that would just be crazy and possibly annoying for those around me) I'm sure I don't use anything close to 171,476 different words in a year; that's including all the profanity I know. That means that if I get by on my low number of words (whatever that may be) than someone out there talks a whole lot of pompous BS, or reads the dictionary in a conversation.

xoxoxo

The past few days have been pretty good. First off, it has been the weekend.... but secondly I've had more good things happening for me.
Last week I told you the story of my wonderful grade 8 class and the lost ID. Well, I came home on Friday to find an email from our University travel agent. It turns out I have won a 3 day, 2 night trip to Fraser Island, which is near Brisbane; well, 5-6 hours north of Brisbane. I haven't spoken to her yet so I'll need to find out the restrictions and exactly what this entails. But still, pretty sweet!
Also, today I went to the Sunbus station to pick up my ID. I had no idea how to get there so I figured I'd head to Stockland (I needed to hand out resumes anyhow) and I'd ask the bus driver what the best route to get there was. Upon entering the bus I informed the bus driver of my dilemma so he called route 4 to see if the bus I needed would wait for me. It turns out bus 4 was running a bit late so I hopped off my original bus and jumped straight on to the 4 to Sunbus station. As I didn't know how to get there, or what stop to get off at, the bus driver pulled the bus over and gave me directions when it was time. I was dropped off in an industrial park but luckily the bus driver's instructions were good and I found it no problem. Everyone at the station was great and they handed over my ID quick time. As I was about to walk out the door the gentleman behind the counter asked where I was headed. I told him Stocklands, I still hadn't handed out resumes today, and he offered up one of the bus drivers to give me a lift on his way to his route. So yeah, a whole bus to myself. I sat behind the driver smiling away. I've never been chauffeured in such a large vehicle. Who needs a hummer when you have a massive Townsville Sunbus. He dropped me at my destination and continued on his way.
I handed out a couple resumes today and one woman seemed interested. Unfortunately a lot of stores force you to apply online and will not take a resume. All I got is my pretty face and a bit of personality.... luckily this woman wrote down my name and phone number and said she'd watch out for my application online. I came straight home and filled it all out. Please, please give me a job!!!

Here's to another wonderful week....

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!! Talk to you soon!

xoxoxoxoxo