Jade Down Under

Today I was up at the crack of dawn to head over for the Opti-Mind Challenges.  The Opti-Mind teams were made up of 6-7 kids from elementary, high school and even a University team.  I was judging the spontaneous event which meant the kids were given the task the moment they walked in the room and were only given 10 minutes to complete it.  The challenge was completing a picture when only a small bit of information was given.  The kids were required to use their imagination and creative skills to complete the remainder of the picture.  The small piece of information they were given to build on was a man in toggs with a rubber toy around his waist.  Marks were given if the kids thought out of the box (lots of aliens, and government conspiracies) but were not marked on thier artistic abilities.


The challenges went well and lunch was also thrown in which was an added benefit.  The purpose of me volunteering was to obtain more volunteer hours as it is a requirement of my program to complete 50 hours.  I think I have about 4-5 hours left to do but I've already volunteered with an art project here at the school so it will eat up those 5 hours and then some.


Also, I found out from Liz that apparently we have to apply to the Queensland Teachers College before we can apply to the OCT; as we are being educated in Queensland.  I don't know the parameters for this (backgorund check etc.) but will have to find that out soon.  Apparently if I need a background check from the RCMP they estimate it will take about 4 months.... ahhh... I leave here in three!  Darn government, I don't know how this is going to work out.


I'll keep in touch.

I ended up bailing on the rugby game last night.  It sounded like fun but the girls wanted to be at the stadium for 4:30, the game didn't start until 7:30.  That would mean that I'd have to leave residence before 4, I decided not to go (gave my ticket to Riff) and instead went out with two of the girls on my floor, Elaine and American Liz.  We headed out to UniClub (which closes at 12) so it was a fairly mellow night, although I did sleep in until 9am this morning..... 


Tomorrow will be a really early one as I'm volunteering as a judge wtih Opti-minds, a challenge competition for kids.  Luckily it is at JCU so I don't have to go far but they still want me there at 7 which means I'm leaving at 6:45, early!  I was hoping to catch up on some sleep this weekend but that doesn't look like it's going to happen.  


There's always next week.

This is a great day, a great day I tell you. It turns out that this is the 100th post!! Not only have I written 100 different posts but you have READ a hundred different posts. So congratulations to all my readers!!!

Jamie and I spoke today (not much new in that) but it turns out he will be sent to Georgia in January to complete some Triumph training. The reason that's post worthy is cause I can probably go too!!! Bring on the peaches! I don't know what else Georgia is known for. Jamie's work is going to pay for his ticket and hotel so we can split my ticket and spend some time away from Pickering.... not like I need MORE time away but it will be nice to get in some more traveling. Australia to Georgia... at least I'm keeping with the warm weather!!!

I don't know if you guys have heard but there is a new campaign run by a Brazilian conservation company encouraging people to pee in their showers to conserve water. If you're peeing in the shower that is one less flush of the toilet and according to California's water price (that's the only info I could find) it will save the average household $11.00/year.

If you haven't seen the commercials they are rather funny with a Jordan basketball dunk to the shower head with a trail of urine.... **shakes head** never thought I'd see the day. The ad actually ends with King Kong on the top of a building peeing... I don't know what this has to do with peeing in a shower but at least he's not using a toilet.

Anyway, if you haven't seen the commercials yet, here you go - I have posted the ad.



If this video does not work here is the link. Copy and paste this into your web browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEulkK7SpRs

Sunday was Carol's (Jamie's Mom) birthday!!!

Jamie was disappointed in his cake decorating skills (apparently he doesn't know how to properly spread the icing) but I"m sure it was wonderful!

Hope you had a great day!!

A while ago I said Japan Airlines needed me to call them immediately but I never told you guys what actually happened; Manda reminded me!

Anyway, they needed to tell me that I will be leaving Chicago 2 minutes later than my ticket said. lol... you have to appreciate their dedication to time schedules!!

Right now I'm working on a little photo project so hopefully the wonderful photos I've taken this year will appear in a slide show. Of course, because it's me, I'm writing stupid little comments on each of them which is why it's not just as simple as uploading.

I hope to have it posted in a few days - please let me know if it won't load when you guys come on the page because in the past when I added things it messed the whole page up for certain computers... had something to do with Explorer????

Anyhow, let me know if the changes mess you up!

xoxo

Just returned from Body Pump at the school gym.

Lesson learned. If you don't currently exercise, do not do it. Do not do it.

It actually hurts to type.

I think I'll stick with running. Blisters don't hurt this bad.

I hope I can walk tomorrow...... oh man....

I'm back in Townsville and back to the comfort of my own bed. I'll have a month in uni classes before going back out for my final phase of practicum which begins Sept. 14. I'll be back to the same school I was for phase 1, back in March/April.

Next week tuition is due which has added some stress. Money sucks when you don't have any. With the tuition due date all International students also got told that if tuition isn't paid by August 28th JCU will drop us from the program and contact the Australian government to say we are not fulfilling our visa requirements. A little harsh, I thought. Really, let's think logically. JCU holds the degree that I need. If I do not pay my tuition they could withhold the degree and I would be wasting my time at the Uni.; they don't have to deport me! Geeezzz.... that's JCU for you.

When I was in Bowen I met another prac. student who was at the University of Queensland and she is doing the courses online out of Bowen and then completing her practicum at the schools near her. The interesting thing is she is completing WAY more practicum than I am here at JCU. For future Education students take a look at UQ, perhaps that's the better school to go to. I have no idea.

Also, Japan Airlines left me two urgent messages, and two emails to call them about my flight home. I don't leave until November so I can't see how urgent this is. The messages were left over 3 weeks ago and I haven't called them back yet. In my defence I didn't get the voice messages until Friday and I don't have any money on my residence phone meaning I can't call out. I went down to the Rotary front office yesterday and gave them more money for my phone and she told me she can't do it right away..... whatever. So now I'm waiting to call people back. If you are waiting for a call from me I apologize... any day now.....

Here are some of the photos I've taken while in Bowen. Unfortuantely I have not taken much. Last weekend I went to the beach but didn't take any pictures while I was there. I did, however, take some pictures of the other beaches on my walk home. Obviously this isn't really a good 'swimming' spot (a little rocky) but it's still pretty.



Last night we went out for dinner to a Mexican resturant. The food was great and the company was as hilarious as ever. That's Liz, Greg, Amy and Hayley. Greg, Amy and Hayley are all in the English department with me. Allison and Dan were sitting on the same side of the table as I was and we never got a picture... kinda silly.



This is the owl that comes to visit us sometimes. Yesterday he let me take all kinds of pictures of him.

Last time he was visitng he tried to blend into the tree!

So today I taught the last three lessons in Bowen and spent the afternoon suntanning at the kids track and field day. On my way home this afternoon I stopped and bought a bright red golf shirt to support the red house - which I can't think of thier name right now. In Australia each school has school houses which are a make up of kids from multiple grades. At Bowen there is Flinders (which is yellow), and then a red, green and blue house. I only know Flinder's name as that's the house Hayley is in... my SBTE. I bought a red shirt because it was the cheapest!!! lol.... no house spirit on my part!

Tomorrow will be a whole day of track and field and I'll be sure to wear lots of sunscreen. Queensland is the skin cancer capital of the world!!

I'll be catching the bus home at 3:30 tomorrow - ah FREEDOM!

Hello y'all.

Today was my last full day of teaching as tomorrow is the start of the athletics carnival; basically track and field day. I will be teaching 3 short lessons in the morning and the afternoon I'll be judging some kind of sport; what do I know?! I spent most of high school avoiding any sporting event and now I'm judging.... ironic. We all know I'm more inclined (and built) for cheering; I have vocal chords that could put most to shame and they don't easily tire, as you all know. Anyway, judging is what I've been given.
Tonight there's a large group of us going out for dinner to celebrate the end of my practicum. Is that bad that my department is celebrating?? No, no... they are a group of wonderful, supportive people who could be looking for an excuse to have a couple. Dinner reservations have been made for 6:30 so I've scarfed two cookies and half a tub of jello (jelly, as they call it here) to hold me over; I normally eat dinner at 5 or 5:30. I'm a hungry, hungry hippo after school.

Today I taught the grade 10's... duh, duh, duhhhhhh...... I've taught the grade 10 SOSE class, which went well, but the grade 10 English is supposedly a different ball game. They are more... rambuncious? Yeah, that's the best way to put it. They are a group of great kids who unfortunatley get distracted quite easily and break into song at any moment. It went surprisingly well but there were some behaviour issues, as was to be expected. No one swore at me so I consider that a plus although I still don't know how I'd react to that.

I had my angel grade 8's today as well. Ahhhh..... it's like a day at the spa. I handed out 'Rate Your Teacher' forms as part of my Uni assignment and want to know what they said about me?
I had asked them 'What would you change about Ms. Vincent's teaching. Any suggestions are welcome!'

• I would change NOTHING :)
• You are a great teacher hope you keep going
• ?????? ---yep, they actually wrote a bunch of question marks!
• Thank you for teaching us Miss
• You're a really good English teacher
• You are smart enough and good enough to be a teacher
• More games at the end of class
• You were good and explained stuff clearly and you were nice and you didn't yell
• nothing
• Miss Vincent you don't have to change, you are a good teacher!

And my favourite:

• Nothing needs changing you are the best teacher we do hardly any work you are kool. Out of 10 I would give you 9 3/4 because we had to do some writing but your awesome

Hello Guys,

Today is Tuesday and I taught another two lessons today - have I mentioned I love what I do?!! It's fantastic. Unfortunatley I found out that tomorrow's lesson is cancelled for some Art Carnival... grrr..... The day seems plenty long when I'm not teaching. The grade eights have been my favourite class again this prac. with the grade nines coming a close second. The grade nines have a bit more attitude which can make motivating them to work a little harder. Thankfully, as I've said, I have an awesome mentor who says I'm doing everything right. My behaviour management techniques are excellant, although I've never had a student go crazy and swear at me, that will be the true test! Luckily I don't think they can say anything I haven't heard before and really, practice makes perfect so bring it on little ones!!

This past weekend Liz and I had planned to go to the beach but chickened out when the wind was a little strong. This weekend seemed FREEZING; it never fell below 10 at night but it feels a lot chillier. Both of us had a bunch of lesson plans to complete so it was easy to talk ourselves into staying around the house and doing chores, like laundry. We ended up taking a walk around town (took us an hour to walk half the town) and while we were walking towards the water a gentleman popped his head out of the boat club and said, 'Canadian?'
We both looked at him and as true Canadians, 'Pardon?'
'Are you Canadian?'
Liz and I looked at each other, laughed and responded with a 'Yes, how'd you know?'
Apparently even though we can't hear our accents we stick out like sore thumbs.

The remainder of the weekend was spent watching classics like, Meet Me in St.Louis, Sense and Sensibility, Fame (started but turned off - horrible!), Family Stone, Devil Wears Prada.... that's all I can remember for now.... lazy, lazy, lazy!!! Tonight we watched Little Women.... Amy's got a great collection of movies and being off at 2:45 gives us plenty of time to relax.

Anyway, the next two days will be relaxed as I'm not teaching... BOOO!... but I will be teaching two (out of four) lessons on Friday. I wait for that day.

I'm a third of the way through prac. Hard to believe. This week went flying by and my head is still trying to catch up that it is Saturday today.

Yesterday morning I awoke at the usual 6:30am, got spiffied up, made my tea and was relaxing on the sofa when I realized I had a bite on my right knee. I scratched away and thought nothing of it. When I got to school, and was sitting in first period I began scratching my right thigh and noticed I had quite a few bumps there. Oh no! I thought. Not again! As soon as first period was over I ran to the bathroom where I quickly took off my pants, turned them inside out and searched for any signs of a bug. At this point I was thinking of Lisa's story from many years ago and thought I might have a bug in my pants that was biting as I moved. Anyhow, there was nothing in my pants but I do have a big bite on my knee, and three on my outter thigh. What the heck?! What is wrong with these bugs??!!! I closed for business after the Magnetic incident. I'm going to keep a close eye on them this time. What are the chances that the bug I'm allergic to found me again....???

This morning I got out of bed at 8am (Liz is still sleeping) and the house, as usual, is howling and groaning; the wind is crazy here. I might have mentioned before, but the temperature in Bowen drops at night time and in Queensland they don't have heaters - why when its always so hot?! - so, for the past two nights I have been sleeping in socks, track pants, a t-shirt and a hooded sweater. This morning I'm still in need of them as the house, once again, feels like a Canadian basement in winter time. It's insane how easily this house can hold the cold but can't seem to keep warm!!!

Today Liz and I plan on going to Horseshoe Bay (same name as the beach at Magnetic) for some relaxing sun time. Unfortunatley it's far enough away that we will have to take a cab but I'm sure the beautiful, blue water will alleviate any frustration at the cost. Amy (whom we live with) drove us by there yesterday so we knew where we were going and it looks gorgeous. Remember when I went to the Whitsundays?? Well Bowen is a short trip from there so the beaches are just as awesome!!

The wind seems to be dying down so hopefully we'll be out of here by 11 or so.... don't worry, I have my SPF 30!!