Volunteering at Bangalow Elementary School was one of the best experiences I have had while volunteering on this trip! We went to the school on Tuesday and there around 9am to meet the principal. He was very nice and welcomed us by giving us our schedule for the day and telling us about his school. There are about 200 students that attend the school and about 14 adults/teachers present each day to care for them. This is an average size for a primary school in Australia. The students also wear uniforms here...its is not mandatory but all of the parents make their children anyways to reduce competition and bring all all of the children to the same level.
Our day started out in Kindergarten. They started class with a singing role call and a few other songs. Then it was time for PE...their PE seemed more like preparing the children for future cricket players rather than getting them active. They tossed bean bags to the children and taught them the correct way to catch the bean bag. then the children were instructed to do other developmental activities with the bags such as, tossing it into the air and catching it, tossing it and clapping then re catching the bag, tossing the bag between hands, and a few more. We assisted the children that were having a hard time and encouraged the ones who had mastered the skill.
Next on our schedule was playing bingo, coloring, and reading. We split up the class into groups and each of us got a small group for about ten minutes. Then the children would rotate to the next activity. I had the bingo activity! The kids were all pretty nice and had a lot of fun...remembering that they were not allowed to make much noise. The school is very big on keeping the children in order and quiet...at least I though so...
After Kindergarten and lunch was over we headed to the fifth grade class. I was not exactly ready for this huge jump in age and activity level! The stage 3 class was rowdy to say the least...they immediately bombarded us with question after question. Some of them silly, some serious, and other rather inappropriate. But it was fun to answer their questions and laugh along with them. When the teacher tried to get the class under control it seemed to be an impossible task! She tried to continue a lesson on fractions and we were instructed to walk around and help anyone who needed assistance however, all of the kids wanted us to help so they could talk to us. The teacher didn't seem to mind much and after math time we headed off to the library.
The library assistant was much more strict with the stage 3 class! Teaching them manners and turning on a video that updated the kids on current news in the world. I never had this in my schooling and I though it was a great idea to teach children at such a young age about the world and its current issues.
Recess was next and we spent it in the teachers lounge hearing all the gossip going on around the school...it was entertaining.
After recess we moved on to first stage class. In this class we each got some one on one time with two students to teach them how to read. These students that we got to tutor were kids that have been having trouble with reading and need a little extra attention. This was the perfect job for me! I know how it feels to be a slow reader and have difficulty learning so helping the kids out was a lot of fun. We picked out six words to teach the kids and by the end of the session they had to know the words. I turned learning into a game for my students. We layed out the six cards and I could call out the word and they would find it. Once they found the word they flipped the card over until all of the cards were flipped over. Then the student would randomly flip the cards over again and have to read the card to me. If they had trouble with a word we sounded it out together and came up with a way for them to remember it...making silly sentences or breaking the word up into two. We played a few more word games and then the student was finished and could return to class.
I really enjoyed tutoring the students and they seemed to feel very comfortable with us as well. We returned to the classroom and assisted in helping the students write about a picnic they went on. It was a lot of fun! Stage one is probably my favorite age group to help with. They listen and are very interested in learning but sometimes needs a little bit of encouragement.
School was finally over around 3pm when our professors wife and our grad assistant picked us up. We then headed back to camp to continue our volleyball tournament that we started yesterday. My team one the first round but lost in a close game in the second round. I was a little disappointed that we lost but I was more than satisfied with my performance thanks to all of the compliments I got for my improvements. When we first started the volleyball tournaments I wasn't very good at the game but after playing each week I have gotten better and better each week...this week I felt like I helped my team out tremendously! Its a great feeling to work at something and see your own improvements and get recognised for them! The championship game is tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
*~Spring Break 2011 Part 2~*
On Wednesday we all slept in after being exhausted from our three day outback adventure! When I woke up around 7:30am and headed to get my free breakfast at our hostel along with some Internet time. Around 10:30am we boarded Toddy’s shuttle and were on our way to the airport all over again. Once we arrived at the airport we got our boarding passes and headed through security where I was taken aside for an explosive test…apparently I look like a bomb threat.
Our first flight to Adelaide was only an hour and forty min long but we got another free lunch, which helps us save some money! We had about three hours in between flights to relax, read, and hit the bathrooms before our next flight to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island.
When it was finally time to board the plane we were confronted by the receptionist and told we were allowed to board. This was interesting because they personally came up to us instead of announcing it. When we reached the counter we were informed that we were the ONLY ones of the flight! I asked again if we were the only ones on the flight and the receptionist said “no, I’m joking darling. Do you see anyone else around you?” We all started to laugh and then followed the second in command pilot our to the runway to board the plane.
We were assigned to sit in the middle of the plane to keep it balances…I didn’t know a small amount of people…such as four…could disturb the balance of a whole plane! None the less, the flight was only 20 min long and after we got to meet the pilot and see the cockpit! It was such a fun flight and when we unloaded the plane we saw that Kingscote airport is about the size of a house. Talk about tiny…the town is even small! They don’t have any public transportation. You wither rent a car (which we cannot do under the BSU contract we signed), have a private driver the whole time, or go on tours while visiting.
A coach bus that was at the airport took us to a hostel in town that turned out to be pretty sweet. It wasn’t a YHA like we expected but the old man who runs the place was beyond nice! The hostel looks more like a college kid’s house. There was a huge kitchen and living room for everyone to use and then a hallway with rooms full of bunk beds and two bathrooms. The owner didn’t even make us pay up front since we all had to go to the ATM and get cash for him. What a trusting man.
After settling into our room we decided to go on a night walk to find penguins. It was a cheap tour and we went with other people staying in the hostel. It was pretty cool to see the penguins wondering around but also to learn about them. We couldn’t take pictures with a flash on because the light hurts the penguin’s eyes and makes them disorientated for quite some time so instead the guide used a large spotlight with a red tint. This type of light does not hurt the penguin’s eyes and helps us see them better and take pictures.
Our first full day on the island was a success! We were all exhausted and ready to relax and head to bed early to be refreshed for our Island tour in the morning!
When the bird presentation was finished we were on our way to Flinders Chase National Park. While driving through the park we got to see amazing views of all the unique trees and wildlife that inhabit the area. This park is the largest and earliest conservation parks in Australia! They views were magnificent!
My favorite part of the trip was visiting Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Admirals Arch! The lighthouse was built in 1906 and has nearby cottages that use to house the keepers of the lighthouse and their families.
A short, steep, and windy walk away from the lighthouse was Admirals Arch. This arch was formed by erosion from the harsh pounding ocean waves.
Our first flight to Adelaide was only an hour and forty min long but we got another free lunch, which helps us save some money! We had about three hours in between flights to relax, read, and hit the bathrooms before our next flight to Kingscote on Kangaroo Island.
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| Chilling out at the airport...stealing Internet :) |
When it was finally time to board the plane we were confronted by the receptionist and told we were allowed to board. This was interesting because they personally came up to us instead of announcing it. When we reached the counter we were informed that we were the ONLY ones of the flight! I asked again if we were the only ones on the flight and the receptionist said “no, I’m joking darling. Do you see anyone else around you?” We all started to laugh and then followed the second in command pilot our to the runway to board the plane.
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| our private airplane |
We were assigned to sit in the middle of the plane to keep it balances…I didn’t know a small amount of people…such as four…could disturb the balance of a whole plane! None the less, the flight was only 20 min long and after we got to meet the pilot and see the cockpit! It was such a fun flight and when we unloaded the plane we saw that Kingscote airport is about the size of a house. Talk about tiny…the town is even small! They don’t have any public transportation. You wither rent a car (which we cannot do under the BSU contract we signed), have a private driver the whole time, or go on tours while visiting.
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| literally...the only four on the plane haha |
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| first view of Kangaroo Island! |
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| landing at sunset |
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| talking with the captain |
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| Kangaroo Island airport |
A coach bus that was at the airport took us to a hostel in town that turned out to be pretty sweet. It wasn’t a YHA like we expected but the old man who runs the place was beyond nice! The hostel looks more like a college kid’s house. There was a huge kitchen and living room for everyone to use and then a hallway with rooms full of bunk beds and two bathrooms. The owner didn’t even make us pay up front since we all had to go to the ATM and get cash for him. What a trusting man.
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| our hostel |
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| :) being silly |
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| living room and kitchen in the hostel |
After settling into our room we decided to go on a night walk to find penguins. It was a cheap tour and we went with other people staying in the hostel. It was pretty cool to see the penguins wondering around but also to learn about them. We couldn’t take pictures with a flash on because the light hurts the penguin’s eyes and makes them disorientated for quite some time so instead the guide used a large spotlight with a red tint. This type of light does not hurt the penguin’s eyes and helps us see them better and take pictures.
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| most of the little penguins would hide in their houses or just stick their little noses out of the holes...but this little guy was loving the camera! |
On Thursday we all woke up around 8am to head off to the grocery store and get food for breakfast. A loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jelly is our meal plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while we are here to save money! After we had breakfast it was time to go to sea link…a local tourist information center. Here we booked a tour of the island for Friday. Then we decided to go to the local library and use the free Internet for about 20 min before walking the town.
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| I FOUND KETCHUP CHIPS!!!! |
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| everything was on Murray street! |
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| board walk |
As soon as we finished eating lunch we headed off to a honey center. Here we got to taste test all the honeys that are made on the Island! They were quite delicious.
After the Honey tasting we decided to play at the park for a bit to waste some energy!
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| bee hive! |
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| trying all the yummy honey! |
After the Honey tasting we decided to play at the park for a bit to waste some energy!
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| I LOVE PARKS! |
Later on we took a hike to a historical site on the island. It was where the English settlers first landed on Kangaroo Island. There were lots of signs that had historical information on them and different places to see such as, a prayer area, mulberry tree from the first colony, the first well of fresh water, post office, and much more. We also walked out to the very tip of the point that is underwater when the tide gets high. Along the way I stepped in some sinking mud and further ruined my tennis shoes (as if the outback adventure didn’t do the trick!).
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| walking to the point |
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| picking up sea shells |
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| yucky mud tried to eat me! |
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| my footprints in the swallowing mud |
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| the point where the first English settlers landed in Australia |
Our first full day on the island was a success! We were all exhausted and ready to relax and head to bed early to be refreshed for our Island tour in the morning!
Friday was an amazing day on Kangaroo Island! We woke up at 8:30am and got picked up for the Kangaroo Island highlights tour at 9:15. For breakfast we finished up out loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jelly. This cheap food idea saved us a lot of money on the trip while still giving us the energy to make it through the day!
Our first stop along the tour was an emu ridge farm. Here they sell eucalyptus oils and emu oils as well. It is the only commercial eucalyptus distillery in South Australia. At the shop we watched a short film on how the oil is extracted from the eucalyptus plant and turned into the product they sell. Surprisingly it was a pretty simple process! My favorite part of this stop was the baby kangaroo they had living in the shop. Her name was Celine and was an orphaned kangaroo that was found after her mother was hit by a car and killed. Celine survived the hit while still in her mother’s pouch! After some time she was nursed back to health and now lives a healthy life in the shop interacting with all the customers!
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| baby kangaroo!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Next on the tour was Seal Bay! This is home to the Australian Sea lion and the second largest breeding colony for the sea lion in Australia. Once we arrived at the conservation Park we were greeted and taken by an interpretive office to the beach. Because sea lions can become aggressive when they feel threatened we were instructed to keep a distance of at least six meters at all times. The sea lions had just come back from. Three month journey the sea lions had just returned from a three month journey out at sea and were now spending three months sleeping and recuperating for their next three month food journey.
By this time in the day everyone was extremely hungry: we stopped in Vivonne Bay at a small Bistro where they had an all you can eat buffet with desert. The two course lunch included a salad bar, sausage, BBQ chicken, and an apple crumble desert.
Directly following lunch we attended an Australian birds of prey presentation. At the presentation we got to see falcons, an owl, kookaburras and an eagle demonstrate their natural skills. The falcon showed us how it outsmarts its pray, the owl hopped from one person to another getting a treat afterwards, and the eagle showed us how strong they are by eating a rabbit…bones and all! My favorite one was the kookaburras because we had the opportunity to hold them! All we had to do was put on a glove and hold out our arm and they landed on our hands! Mine kept making noises and even got a treat while sitting on my arm…it was pretty exciting!
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| falcon |
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| owl |
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| Kookaburra |
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| ahh he flew right to my arm! |
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| Eagle |
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| eagle eating a rabit leg...yuck |
When the bird presentation was finished we were on our way to Flinders Chase National Park. While driving through the park we got to see amazing views of all the unique trees and wildlife that inhabit the area. This park is the largest and earliest conservation parks in Australia! They views were magnificent!
Right after we drove through the park we stopped at the Remarkable Rocks. These are a cluster of huge boulders made of granite that are constantly being sculpted by the intense winds and waves. They sit on a large and steep granite dome that is rising from the ocean! We were warned about where to step and what places to avoid because a few people have died at this site trying to get pictures of the rocks and being blown off the edge by the intense winds.
My favorite part of the trip was visiting Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Admirals Arch! The lighthouse was built in 1906 and has nearby cottages that use to house the keepers of the lighthouse and their families.
A short, steep, and windy walk away from the lighthouse was Admirals Arch. This arch was formed by erosion from the harsh pounding ocean waves.
This area is also a breeding ground for the New Zealand Fur Seals! We saw them playing in the waves, sleeping, feeding, and climbing up the rocks! It was quite an amazing sight and place to see!
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| New Zealand Fur Seals! |
This was the end of our tour and we all loaded the coach and made a quick stop the visitor’s center and then the airport. Here we waited for our flight to Adelaide!
Once in Adelaide we got a taxi and found a hostel to stay in for the night. The hostel we found was cheap…and once we checked in we knew why! The room was the size of a closet…the four of us could only fit in the room if two people were in a bed…the sheets were stained, the fan was the only source of ac…until the middle of the night when the room turned into an icebox, the lights on the beds didn’t work, the closet doors were nailed to the wall, and the power cords disappeared into other rooms through holes in the wall! Despite the not so fun sleeping situation…we only had one night to stay here and would be up at 5am to catch another taxi back to the airport.
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| we were all a little angry with the hostel... |
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| it sucked! |
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| but we were happy to be on our way home...and our SB 2011 was AMAZING!!!!!! |
Waking up at 5 on Saturday morning and running on four hours of sleep was rough! We met our taxi at 5:30am and off to the airport we went…caught our first flight to Sydney and were officially on our way home. The flight was a little bumpy due to some bad weather but we landed safely in Sydney and had three hours to waste before our last flight into Ballina. going through security I was pulled aside again for an explosive test...my bear looked suspicious I guess (he got a lot of attention at the airports)....then we sat at our gate and had some food, blogged, and slept!
The flight into Ballina was a bumpy ride! Due to some storms we hit a few rough patches but the flight was a little over an hour. I am pretty sure the flight attendant didn't like me as well...I asked if we got food and she made it clear you had to pay for it so i broke out all my snacks and had a little plane picnic! Once we landed we jumped on the city bus back to Lennox Head where we had to walk with all of our luggage back to the cabins...but it sure does feel good to be home!!! :)
The flight into Ballina was a bumpy ride! Due to some storms we hit a few rough patches but the flight was a little over an hour. I am pretty sure the flight attendant didn't like me as well...I asked if we got food and she made it clear you had to pay for it so i broke out all my snacks and had a little plane picnic! Once we landed we jumped on the city bus back to Lennox Head where we had to walk with all of our luggage back to the cabins...but it sure does feel good to be home!!! :)
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