All I Want For Christmas.. Is a Little Dingo Pup!

Today was such an incredible day! We woke up early and headed to this small wildlife sanctuary about 20 minutes away called Jirrahlinga. This "zoo" fosters the native wildlife as well as local dogs, cats, and other pets for boarding. It was a located on a five acre farm and we arrived right when it opened so we basically had it all to ourselves! We had about an hour to walk around and see all of the animals before one of the staff members came out to show us koalas, baby wombats, and my personal "favourite" the little Dingo puppy! She was so precious and didn't want to eat me or the little ones at all. Instead, she gave me Dingo kisses, LOTS! I just wish I had room to bring one home with me... We watched all of the animals for awhile each and I was excited to get to see the koalas a bit more active this time around. They were running and hopping all over the ground, it was so cool! I also learned that baby koalas are called "Joeys", which was weird because I thought only Kangaroos had Joeys! Learn something new everyday.....

Fun Facts of the day:

1. Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, and Wallabies are all marsupials, which means they have a distinctive pouch to carry their young!

2. Koalas are not bears!

3. Wombats can run up to 40 kilos (translation: almost 25mph) Pretty funny, I actually would love to see that- considering they look like precious balls of chunk!

We watched the different birds for a bit too because we were quite amazed at some of the Cockatoos speaking to us "Hello," they would say as we walked past! There was two beautiful Peacocks there, one all white and the other the normal blue and green that you usually see. They both had the feathers down when we first saw them, but luckily something triggered and they both shot out their huge wings (or whatever they are called). It was so gorgeous! The pictures didn't really turn out that good because of course there was a fence keeping them protected from all of the randoms who walk by everyday! But, still very cool to see. We saw Kookaburras, owls, parakeets, lorikeets, emus, and so many more! We stopped in the gift shop before leaving and after making our purchases the lady was nice enough to take us around to the employee only area to show us their new rescue Wallaby. It was a three month old baby Wallaby who feel out of it's Mum's pouch while she was being chased by a "mean dog." It was so tiny, soft, and cuddly! It was the cutest little Wallaby I've ever seen!

After the sanctuary, we came home and started decorating some more for Christmas. Shani had a birthday party to go to for one of the girl's from her class, so after she was dropped off we (Shane, Carol, Charli and Me) decided to take the dogs to the river path and take a walk. It was such a beautiful day outside today, nice and sunny with a little wind! Perfect!

After the walk and picking Shani back up from the birthday party, we all came back home for a sleep! I was a bit adventurous today and requested that we try the kangaroo meat that they had been saving, for tea tonight! (I know! What am I turning into!?) I was a bit nervous to eat it but was a big girl and sucked it up! After my first bite, I felt really bad for liking it! We will definitely have to purchase some at Jungle Jim's for everybody to try- it tasted just like steak, I don't think anyone would even know the difference!

We ended the night with the nightly tradition... singing the twelve days of Christmas. Jaimee was out with a friend tonight so Shani took her turn of putting the ornament on. The song is now: "On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 6 toy soldiers.... 5 peppermint candies... 4 scarlet mittens... 3 little penguins... 2 Christmas trees... and a teddy bear hanging on the tree!"

It's about that time to start school back tomorrow, and I can't believe that I am getting ready to spend my last five days teaching as a student! This week is a busy one; filled with teaching, movie night (Where the Wild Things Are), running, learning to make "Pav" with Shane's Mum, and the Bellaire staff Christmas Party on Friday night. I'm excited to get to hang out with the teachers and staff one last time outside of school, it should be a very great night! I am sort of bummed at the fact Andrea is already in Sydney touring around without me, she has become my travel buddy in this beautiful country! However, we both have to do Sydney all by our lonesome. She leaves on the 10th of December so couldn't make it to Sydney with me, and I still have to teach so I couldn't switch my flight to go with her. So, it's off to Sydney early on the 12th of December, for me!!! (6am flight- woo!) I will spend the day in Sydney, touring around, taking a cruise around the harbor, shopping at the market, visiting Bondi Beach, and if I feel like spending $150 dollars- doing the Harbour Bridge Climb (haven't decided if I want to do that as my Christmas present to myself or not!) Probably not, considering the flight situation I had on the way over, I better save all I can now in case I have to buy another ticket. Furthermore, my flight back to the States departs Sydney on the 13th around 11am, however doesn't look very good for buddy pass riders (Figures, just my luck!) Well, I guess that means I may be spending one more day in Sydney! (It could be worse!) I will be optimistic as I usually am and just pray that I get a seat on Sunday. Can't wait to see everyone verrrrrrrrrrrrry soon! Love and Miss you. See you in 7 days! (Or maybe more!?)

Only 12 days of Christmas in the land down under!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

DECEMBER 1st..... What? I cannot believe how fast the time is going by. The more I think about how much longer I have in Australia, the more and more excited I get to see everyone at home. So, to answer some of your questions- "Yes, I will be coming home!" However, I will miss all of the new friends and little ones here a lot. Everything that I have done here has been an amazing experience and I am extremely grateful for being able to take on this opportunity! What a trip of a lifetime... I can't wait to come back already! "Oh yes- there will be a next time!" (mark my words)...

The 1st of December starts off very festive in the Wilkens' household. It all starts with putting up the tree and the little ones having a go at putting all of the deckies on! Then... Carol, Jaimee, and Me (this year) going around and switching around the ornaments so only one is hanging on a single branch instead of three! The night ends with someone pulling out a little "surprise" from the countdown Christmas tree and changing the lyrics to the "Twelve Days of Christmas" to match the ornament that was pulled out of the tree. Being the G.O.H. (Guest of Honor) I got to pull out the first Christmas ornament. It was a teddy bear, so we came up with the lyrics... "On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... a teddy bear hanging on the tree!"

Day 2: "On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me... "2 Christmas trees, and a teddy bear hanging on the tree!"

Day 3: "On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me... "3 little Penguins, 2 Christmas trees, and a teddy bear hanging on the tree!"

Day 4: "On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... "4 scarlet mittens, 3 little Penguins, 2 Christmas trees, and a teddy bear hanging on the tree!"

Day 5-12: TBA

Unfortunately, I will not be here the rest of the days to Christmas so the family said they would gladly film each night and send it to me! I will be excited to hear what the rest of the song will be!!!!! Such a cute way to get the family together for just a little bit each night and be silly!!

So, as the days of December fly by I'm getting ready to prepare for my last and final week of teaching (AS A STUDENT)! Graduation is nearly here (December 19th 9am at NKU) :) and I am so ready to be a College Grad and look for a teaching job already and HAVE MY OWN CLASSROOM! I've already got some ideas up my sleeve to bring the life of Australia into my future classroom!

This week at school, I accomplished a lot more teaching. I taught lessons in Maths, Writing, and of course led my usual Reading rotations. I set up something unique for the kids to do and that was to write to little Michael's class in Pittsburgh. I got in contact with his teacher and set up a pen pal exchange. We finally finished out letters and the kids just loved hearing that they were writing to American students and loved it even more to hear that one of them was my cousin! Now, all I hear is "Miss Salyers, you have a cousin!" Like I never knew what a cousin was or even if I knew that I had some!" So my response, is "Yes, I have MANY!"

Today at Bellaire (Friday 4th December), we took all four Prep grades on an Excursion to Rippleside Park. A huge open area right along the beach. This was a "Healthy Me" excursion and we (the teachers) had five different rotations for each group of students to attend throughout the day. My rotation was the "ball games" rotation, so I had to brush up on the Aussie ball games the night before (Thank the Lord for Google)... I taught myself how to play Poison Ball and Tunnel Ball then just made up a few as I went along. Luckily the games for Preps were pretty easy and easily explainable too! The day was a success and of course the little mates were worn out by the end of it! We were at the park from 9:30am - 2:00pm (so basically the entire school day!) The kids enjoyed every minute of it and I finally got some Australian sun!!! (Unfortunately, now I have tank top lines!)

We made it back to school just in time to end the day with icy poles and make it to the Assembly. Which every Friday, all of the students, staff, and parents join together for the last half hour of the day outside for an Assembly. During this time, the Principal announces important information, awards are given, Student of the Week students are recognized, and anything you can think of is presented. My favorite part of Assembly however is at the very beginning.... when everyone stands for the singing of the Australian National Anthem. (Funny- but my first day... I started singing "The Star Spangled Banner!") Whoops- I've just about learned the words to "Advance Australia Fair" however I just love listening to all of the silly duffers sing the tune! Lucky for you, I filmed one for your viewing pleasure! Charli cracked me up during the song because she saw me with the camera and stopped singing and started smiling for the camera (ha, it was pretty funny)! Today, was Andrea's last day at Bellaire so I'm all alone there next week- not that we ever had time to get together during the school day so I'm sure it won't be much different. I will just know that she is in Sydney, sight-seeing without me! :(

This weekend we are planning to head to one last zoo, so that I can finally get to know the famous "Dingos"....I'm pretty excited to be having a low key weekend, as it is my final weekend in Australia! Well, I guess technically not the final one... but the final weekend with the Wilkens' crew! So, it will be nice to be able to spend the entire weekend with all of them!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone soon and I'm sure you are thinking the same about me! I just know how much you all miss me and are ready for me to come home (by the way; that's me ignoring the comments like "2 months have already passed, are you sure?" or "you haven't been gone long enough for anyone to miss you yet!") Well, I know deep down that everyone is dying to see me and we will just leave it at that.

Therefore, if you have any final requests that you wish for me to bring back to you. Please send them promptly- as I am heading into my final week in Australia and ending in Sydney on the 12th. That will be the last day for anyone to get any Aussie item- so be thinking! Although, there will definitely be another chance... just probably not for a few years- so if you think you can wait that long... be my guest!

Can't wait to see everyone very soon - Countdown = 8 days Mates!!!!

Does anyone know the meaning of Thanksgiving?

Sorry I am a bit behind in my writing. I realized that I'd only had a few short weeks left and started getting busier and busier with things to do around town.

So I will back up a few weeks and let you in on what I have been doing:

Thursday, November 26th (Most importantly: Jill's Birthday, of course- and THANKSGIVING). I believe the number one question I got from people back home was "What are you going to do for Thanksgiving, (unfortunately followed by:) Do they celebrate Thanksgiving there?" (Those people included.... Oh never mind, I won't embarrass you like that!) Anyways, come on, America- where have you been. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING!?

After I had my laugh at everyone who asked me that... It was a good day though, I was able to explain to my class about Thanksgiving (which I'm sure they know more about it now than some of you at home... sad!) I also was invited to a "Thanksgiving Dinner" at Claire's house prepared by her Mum (who was so cute, she had been planning the dinner since Tuesday). Claire's brother's girlfriend is from Michigan and just recently moved out here to finish her Masters' degree. Her Mum thought it would be nice to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for her since she was away from home...and it is such an important holiday for us! Well, Claire asked Andrea & I over for dinner as well. Boy, was it delicious- a scrumptious meal which included sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, turkey.. of course, and a delicious Pumpkin Pie (homemade). She went all out for us Americans, it was so great! Made me feel right at home on Thanksgiving!

As my days and weeks have been going by faster and faster; Carol's birthday dinner was celebrated the next night (after Thanksgiving). Andrea and I were going to actually go into Melbourne that night, but luckily decided to stay in and catch a train early Saturday morning (best idea we ever had).... Only because I didn't have to miss out on Carol's delicious birthday dinner she prepared herself and we also saved some money on a room that night!

We took a train up into Melbourne early Saturday morning and headed to the Vic Market. This place was amazingly huge stuffed with so many souvenirs, shirts, aboriginal artworks, and so much more. I did manage to purchase a few things for all of my mates at home, but still have several of you to buy for. I didn't think it was going to be this hard finding things for people, but unfortunately I'm running out of time and still have some things to get for many of you.

We spent a few hours at the Vic Market, then headed more into the city to see the famous Myer department store Christmas window display. The theme this year was Olivia Helps with Christmas, for those of you that do not read Children's literature... Olivia is a little piggy! The Myer windows were amazing, as you walked down the path each window told a different part of the story and had mechanical characters acting out the story as it was read to you over the loudspeaker! So neat- Sophie would have loved this! (Maybe I can bring her back with me one day!?)

We then went into Federation Square, where I loved looking at all of the building structures and out into the city. We were a bit disappointed because we were trying to be good tourist and take pictures of us at each spot, however there was no sign what-so-ever that said "Federation Square." We ended with a tour of the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral. It was such a gorgeous church and they had the most amazing picture of Jesus hanging on the wall.

After we returned home from Melbourne (back to Geelong, that is), I rushed back to the Wilkens' to get ready for the Ballet concert that the two little ones were in. Carol loved the fact that she got to go to a "concert" on her actual birthday! It was actually pretty interesting, I've never really been into ballet but it was pretty cool to watch some of these girls show off some of their talents! Of course, the little ones were the cutest though! That night, I met up with 5 of the teachers from Bellaire. We had a blast at the Edge bar, owned by a Geelong footy player- and our "favourite" place to go when we go out in Geelong! We ended the night dancing our hearts away at Lamby's! It was such a great time getting to hang out with Blanche, Claire, Abby, Laura, and Kandice!

Needless to say, Sunday was a pretty relaxed day as I had been running out non-stop the past few days, not to mention working from 8-33opm all of those days as well (well, besides Saturday). But, it was all worth it (the sight-seeing, the ballet concert, the teacher's night out, and even the hangover!) :)

Much love, Cheers!