As I sit here about two and a half years after moving to Australia I am so grateful for the way the kids have settled in to their new school this year. Slade's most common response to "How was your day?" is "Awesome"! It really is delightful watching how excited he gets about school.
Last week he did Naplan tests, which are national literacy and numeracy tests written all over Australia in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. (There's a whole long story relating to Naplan: The tests have become quite controversial, not least because there is no national curriculum as yet, but also because the results are published for everyone to see and so there is a feeling that schools are judged purely according to these results -- from four tests written over 3 days. I've also been told that it's all very political and one theory is that this year's tests would be really hard as there's a national curriculum coming in next year, so the government would use next year's results (from comparatively easier tests) to show the successes of the new curriculum! There are lots of stories of children being kept home "sick" or some schools organising excursions for certain children so they're not in the class to write the tests and their results can't bring down the averages! Nevertheless Sheldon takes the position that the tests are really just a snapshot in time. The results are useful to see how the children are doing at a certain time, but parents are encouraged not to place too much emphasis on the tests and the results.)
Anyway, Slade was a little nervous the night before the first tests, but came home feeling very positive that he had tried his best. And when I asked him what was his 'sparkle' for the day (a term that came from his teacher who asks children regularly about their daily sparkle), it was Naplan.
He continues to learn to play the violin in his music class, his swimming teacher says that he's progressing really well and will be out of lessons and only in squad from next term, he enjoys pretty much every aspect of his school life, and he gets on with many of the children in his class.
He was invited to a small party recently, and the Mom (or Mum as the Australians would say) of the birthday boy said that her son had told her the previous night that he thought that she would like Slade as he has such a nice smile! Such a wonderful comment from an 8 year old.
Kai is also loving school. She so enjoys her dancing and singing. Next week her singing group is going on stage during the school assembly (attended by the whole school Prep to Year 12) to do a special performance of a song they've been practising and they'll also be on the stage when the school sings the National Anthem. She's very excited about it, and really not very daunted!
I really enjoy attending the school assemblies as they are such a great showcase of the talent at Sheldon. They also have lighting and cameras going so the performances are shown on big screens and it's easy for everyone to see. Amazing that all of this is done by school pupils -- such wonderful opportunities for the high school students.
Kai has a few close friends, and has become very enthusiastic about her reading and writing. I have noticed such a change in her work this year as she's able to focus for longer periods and puts so much more effort into her work.
She's also really enjoying the poetry that they do in class, and we've started to do some regularly poetry reading at home as well.
Kai is also really enjoying the Guide group that she attends in Victoria Point. What a wonderful group, and she's loving all the different activities. She has learned about tying different knots, next week it's all about fire safety, and the RSPCA is visiting in a few weeks time. She also went canoeing last term. They've started talking recently about ways to earn different badges, which has spurred Kai on to do different activities so that she can earn some badges. First off is a scarf that she's weaving using a kit that I've had since I was a child!
Looking at how our kids have settled in to life in Australia, and how they are enjoying so many different aspects of their daily lives, I really am feeling blessed and grateful. They certainly are "Sparkles" in my life.
Showing posts with label Settling in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Settling in. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Update
I can't believe coming back to my blog after all this time that I've had so many visitors. Wow!
It's been a very busy time for me. After being contracted to do some work for Sabona soon after I arrived in Australia, the work load has increased and most recently I was appointed editor of the magazine, which is for people from Southern Africa living in Australia. It's an awesome opportunity for me, pretty nerve-wracking too! The first issue that I was involved in editing is due from the printers any day now. Can't wait to see it after all the work that we've put into it.
In addition to myself as editor, we had someone new to do layout so the magazine really has a whole fresh new look.
In addition to the magazine, I continue deal with emails and other queries. We get a range of questions coming through the website every day and it's my responsibility to answer or find an answer as the case may be! To say that I've had to make lots of contacts during the last few months is an understatement. I certainly don't know the answers to most of the stuff myself! Facebook has become an amazingly useful tool -- it is incredible what technology can help us achieve.
So enough about me...the rest of the family are doing well. Phillip is busy at work and doing lots of networking, through the Sabona Business Network and other networking groups. Slade and Kai are both doing well at school. Kai has just a two months of kindi left and then will be in prep (grade R) when school goes back after the long holiday. Being one of the oldest in her class she is SO ready to go to big school. Her main concern is the uniform which she is not very keen to wear. She's become quite expressive with her clothes often looking at what characters on TV where and wanting to dress up like them. The other day she came through from her bedroom wearing leggings and shorts and proudly told me that she was dressed just like Fely, who is one of the stars in the new Hi5 series that's started on TV here!
Slade is doing well at school and his teacher is so happy with the way that he's come out of his shell since the beginning of the year. He has a good group of friends, and is pretty confident about his ability at school. I am so pleased with the way that his reading has come on, and he's really enjoying being able to read. I got a children's book to review for Sabona in the post yesterday, and he picked up saying "I'll be able to read that."
Sabona has kept me really busy during the last few months and in some ways I think has kept my mind off the familiarity of things in South Africa and family and friends being so far away. I certainly do think it's true that when the excitement of the first few months of being in a new place wears off a little things can be quite difficult. And I'm grateful that Sabona's kept my mind off that. I did feel really sad though when Kai got upset after a recent skype with her cousin, who is the same age as her, and told me that we should never have left South Africa. Pretty heart-breaking, but it was past her bedtime so I had to put at least some of the sadness down to being tired, and I know that she's enjoying many aspects about living in Australia. On the really good side, we are all very excited that my mom is coming for two months from the beginning of December. We are really looking forward to showing her around, and being able to do lots of things together during the long summer holiday.
And my Dad also arrives for a week just after Christmas and we'll be heading up to the Sunshine Coast for five nights at the beach. We are all really excited about that -- Slade had a wonderful day at the beach recently and just loves getting into the waves with his boogy board.
It's been a very busy time for me. After being contracted to do some work for Sabona soon after I arrived in Australia, the work load has increased and most recently I was appointed editor of the magazine, which is for people from Southern Africa living in Australia. It's an awesome opportunity for me, pretty nerve-wracking too! The first issue that I was involved in editing is due from the printers any day now. Can't wait to see it after all the work that we've put into it.
In addition to myself as editor, we had someone new to do layout so the magazine really has a whole fresh new look.
In addition to the magazine, I continue deal with emails and other queries. We get a range of questions coming through the website every day and it's my responsibility to answer or find an answer as the case may be! To say that I've had to make lots of contacts during the last few months is an understatement. I certainly don't know the answers to most of the stuff myself! Facebook has become an amazingly useful tool -- it is incredible what technology can help us achieve.
So enough about me...the rest of the family are doing well. Phillip is busy at work and doing lots of networking, through the Sabona Business Network and other networking groups. Slade and Kai are both doing well at school. Kai has just a two months of kindi left and then will be in prep (grade R) when school goes back after the long holiday. Being one of the oldest in her class she is SO ready to go to big school. Her main concern is the uniform which she is not very keen to wear. She's become quite expressive with her clothes often looking at what characters on TV where and wanting to dress up like them. The other day she came through from her bedroom wearing leggings and shorts and proudly told me that she was dressed just like Fely, who is one of the stars in the new Hi5 series that's started on TV here!
Slade is doing well at school and his teacher is so happy with the way that he's come out of his shell since the beginning of the year. He has a good group of friends, and is pretty confident about his ability at school. I am so pleased with the way that his reading has come on, and he's really enjoying being able to read. I got a children's book to review for Sabona in the post yesterday, and he picked up saying "I'll be able to read that."
Sabona has kept me really busy during the last few months and in some ways I think has kept my mind off the familiarity of things in South Africa and family and friends being so far away. I certainly do think it's true that when the excitement of the first few months of being in a new place wears off a little things can be quite difficult. And I'm grateful that Sabona's kept my mind off that. I did feel really sad though when Kai got upset after a recent skype with her cousin, who is the same age as her, and told me that we should never have left South Africa. Pretty heart-breaking, but it was past her bedtime so I had to put at least some of the sadness down to being tired, and I know that she's enjoying many aspects about living in Australia. On the really good side, we are all very excited that my mom is coming for two months from the beginning of December. We are really looking forward to showing her around, and being able to do lots of things together during the long summer holiday.
And my Dad also arrives for a week just after Christmas and we'll be heading up to the Sunshine Coast for five nights at the beach. We are all really excited about that -- Slade had a wonderful day at the beach recently and just loves getting into the waves with his boogy board.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thoughts from the Week
I continue to be amazed at how Australia has come together in support of the victims of the bush fires, and also the floods in North Queensland. Slade's school had the sausage sizzle and collection boxes on Thursday and raised over $6500. Our church collected about $3000 on Sunday. This week Sunday has been declared a national day of mourning and services are going to be held around the country, including in South Bank in the centre of Brisbane.
The kids have had a good week at school. Slade has settled a little -- his teacher is encouraging him to do lego which he's really enjoying as it's definitely a strong point. In fact, after saying goodbye to me this morning he sat down with the lego, but when I started to talk to another mom he came and said that he wanted me to leave! I felt really good that he was happy for me to leave. Kai has been asked to bring anything from South Africa -- books, music, pictures -- that the teachers can show to the class so that they can teach the other children about South Africa. We're going to put some things together for her to take on Monday. She's really excited about that. The teachers are really good about encouraging whatever the children enjoy and good at turning everything into a learning experience.
I've spent a lot of my time with Sabona this week trying to help people trying to help people in need. We've set up an appeals website where we're posting details. Many are in Australia on 457 visas, which means that they are sponsored by their employers. With the current economic situation, they are being made redundant and, according to the provisions of this visa, they have 28 days from the day the one job ends to find another company to take over the sponsorship. There are also others who are here as permanent residents, but at least they don't have time pressures relating to the visa. Some of the people on 457s that we're hearing from have been in Australia for years, while others have recently arrived. The one email we got today related to a man who arrived in Australia with his family just over a month ago. He has been made redundant and is desperate to find another position. Otherwise they'll have to return to South Africa.
There is a good side to all this, and that is the response that we've had from people trying to help. There are quite a few recruitment agencies who are trying to help the individuals find jobs, and then there are many people who've made themselves available to provide counselling or even just have a cup of coffee or a chat on the phone.
A few other excerpts from The Australians, that I've really found reflect some of the things that I've found here. The first piece was written in 1966 by Craig McGregor: "Australians are generally free of the extreme forms of snobbery, rudeness, and deference which are the outward signs of social antagonism in older countries. The bus driver and conductor regard themselves as equal to any of their passengers. The skilled tradesman regards himself as every bit as good as the white-collar worker, and sometimes gets paid more. The subtle distinctions in the behaviour of people of one class to another which bedevil European social relations are comparatively absent in Australia. Often the first things visitors notice about Australia is this apparent classlessness and social equality: the easy relations which exist between people of all walks of life, the absence of gross privilege, the pleasant sense of camaraderie."
The book also refers to 'mateship' -- such an Australian term that! And how people have in the past responded to bush fires and floods. Amazing to read at such a time as it really reflects what is happening now. In a book called The Future Eaters, which was written by Tim Flannery in 1994, reference is made to mateship emerging during the times when floods and fires have devastated parts of Australia. Flannery says that this has resulted in people doing extraordinary things to help those whose lives have been affected. He describes some of the amazing things that people did to help others. "As a result -- in contrast to the aftermath of the Los Angeles earthquake of 19 January 1994 -- there was no tent city, indeed not a single tent in Sydney following the fires (of January 1994). For the people of places like Jannali, the prospect of a tent city housing their neighbours would have been a deep insult to their sense of mateship. They would have done anything in order to avoid it."
Another characteristic that was highlighted in the book and has also been evident is the general honesty of people in Australia and that people expect that others are honest. There was an item on a TV recently showing foreigners who had tried to scam their short term insurance company and got caught out. Their behaviour was referred to as "un-Australian"! Ok, it's not always the case. As I've been writing this there's been a report in the news of one lady who as tried to get money from the bushfire appeal by saying that her father had died when, in fact, he hadn't!
The kids have had a good week at school. Slade has settled a little -- his teacher is encouraging him to do lego which he's really enjoying as it's definitely a strong point. In fact, after saying goodbye to me this morning he sat down with the lego, but when I started to talk to another mom he came and said that he wanted me to leave! I felt really good that he was happy for me to leave. Kai has been asked to bring anything from South Africa -- books, music, pictures -- that the teachers can show to the class so that they can teach the other children about South Africa. We're going to put some things together for her to take on Monday. She's really excited about that. The teachers are really good about encouraging whatever the children enjoy and good at turning everything into a learning experience.
I've spent a lot of my time with Sabona this week trying to help people trying to help people in need. We've set up an appeals website where we're posting details. Many are in Australia on 457 visas, which means that they are sponsored by their employers. With the current economic situation, they are being made redundant and, according to the provisions of this visa, they have 28 days from the day the one job ends to find another company to take over the sponsorship. There are also others who are here as permanent residents, but at least they don't have time pressures relating to the visa. Some of the people on 457s that we're hearing from have been in Australia for years, while others have recently arrived. The one email we got today related to a man who arrived in Australia with his family just over a month ago. He has been made redundant and is desperate to find another position. Otherwise they'll have to return to South Africa.
There is a good side to all this, and that is the response that we've had from people trying to help. There are quite a few recruitment agencies who are trying to help the individuals find jobs, and then there are many people who've made themselves available to provide counselling or even just have a cup of coffee or a chat on the phone.
A few other excerpts from The Australians, that I've really found reflect some of the things that I've found here. The first piece was written in 1966 by Craig McGregor: "Australians are generally free of the extreme forms of snobbery, rudeness, and deference which are the outward signs of social antagonism in older countries. The bus driver and conductor regard themselves as equal to any of their passengers. The skilled tradesman regards himself as every bit as good as the white-collar worker, and sometimes gets paid more. The subtle distinctions in the behaviour of people of one class to another which bedevil European social relations are comparatively absent in Australia. Often the first things visitors notice about Australia is this apparent classlessness and social equality: the easy relations which exist between people of all walks of life, the absence of gross privilege, the pleasant sense of camaraderie."
The book also refers to 'mateship' -- such an Australian term that! And how people have in the past responded to bush fires and floods. Amazing to read at such a time as it really reflects what is happening now. In a book called The Future Eaters, which was written by Tim Flannery in 1994, reference is made to mateship emerging during the times when floods and fires have devastated parts of Australia. Flannery says that this has resulted in people doing extraordinary things to help those whose lives have been affected. He describes some of the amazing things that people did to help others. "As a result -- in contrast to the aftermath of the Los Angeles earthquake of 19 January 1994 -- there was no tent city, indeed not a single tent in Sydney following the fires (of January 1994). For the people of places like Jannali, the prospect of a tent city housing their neighbours would have been a deep insult to their sense of mateship. They would have done anything in order to avoid it."
Another characteristic that was highlighted in the book and has also been evident is the general honesty of people in Australia and that people expect that others are honest. There was an item on a TV recently showing foreigners who had tried to scam their short term insurance company and got caught out. Their behaviour was referred to as "un-Australian"! Ok, it's not always the case. As I've been writing this there's been a report in the news of one lady who as tried to get money from the bushfire appeal by saying that her father had died when, in fact, he hadn't!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Settling in
Well, it's the start of the kids second week at school. They are riding their bicycles every day. Slade has a bike rack at school where he can park, but Kai had to ask her kindi if there was a place for her bicycle as it's the only one! They were quite happy for her to park it at the entrance to the school, between the little pedestrian gate and the door.
They really enjoy the riding and I've enjoyed the walk home and back to school to collect them. Last week was warm most times although I did get caught in some light rain on the one morning. It was actually quite refreshing though. Today was a different story. As I came out of Slade's school it started to pour, and pour. I made a quick dash for the bus shelter and thought I would try to wait it out. The rain here is often in short spurts, and then the sun is out for a while, before we get hit by another downpour!
So there I am hiding out in the bus shelter when I get joined by another mom who had made a dash from the school. She had got completely drenched, but was fortunate enough to have a car outside Kai's school which is a little down the road from where we were hiding out. We chatted for a bit and when the rain seemed to be subsiding a bit, decided to head out. Well fortunately my new acquaintance offered me a ride as the downpour wasn't as short as I'd hoped. Trudy lives just around the corner and usually walks her children too, but I sure was glad that she had her car with today. What an amazing way to meet a friend!
I also made an arrangement today to go to the home of a friend that Slade has made. Tyson particularly wanted Slade to go over to his home, but Slade wasn't so keen to go on his own. So we're going to go together, with Kai as well, on Wednesday afternoon. I've spoken to Tyson's mom Ayseak at drop off and collection times at school. They moved here about 8 months ago from NZ looking for a warmer climate where they're able to spend more time outdoors.
They really enjoy the riding and I've enjoyed the walk home and back to school to collect them. Last week was warm most times although I did get caught in some light rain on the one morning. It was actually quite refreshing though. Today was a different story. As I came out of Slade's school it started to pour, and pour. I made a quick dash for the bus shelter and thought I would try to wait it out. The rain here is often in short spurts, and then the sun is out for a while, before we get hit by another downpour!
So there I am hiding out in the bus shelter when I get joined by another mom who had made a dash from the school. She had got completely drenched, but was fortunate enough to have a car outside Kai's school which is a little down the road from where we were hiding out. We chatted for a bit and when the rain seemed to be subsiding a bit, decided to head out. Well fortunately my new acquaintance offered me a ride as the downpour wasn't as short as I'd hoped. Trudy lives just around the corner and usually walks her children too, but I sure was glad that she had her car with today. What an amazing way to meet a friend!
I also made an arrangement today to go to the home of a friend that Slade has made. Tyson particularly wanted Slade to go over to his home, but Slade wasn't so keen to go on his own. So we're going to go together, with Kai as well, on Wednesday afternoon. I've spoken to Tyson's mom Ayseak at drop off and collection times at school. They moved here about 8 months ago from NZ looking for a warmer climate where they're able to spend more time outdoors.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Finding lemon creams and other stories
It's been a good week for us. I was feeling a little daunted with Phillip going back to work on Monday after being at home with us for two weeks. Now that it's Saturday I can't believe how quickly the week has gone by. I still have another two weeks with the children at home, but we've got quite a few plans so I'm sure that time will go by quickly too.
I left Phillip with the children late on Wednesday and went off to do some grocery shopping at one of our (many) local centres. Popped into a fruit and veggie shop that I hadn't been into before to look at what they had and check out the prices. In addition to the fruit and veggies, they had a long shelf of Asian goodies, and then I went around the corner to find Bakers biscuits -- assorted packs, lemon creams (my favourite), romany creams, and so on. What a find! They also had Simba chips -- the twisty ones in chutney flavour! Holding my lemon creams and chutney chips, the cashier said that I was obviously from South Africa. We chatted a little -- she saying that she absolutely loved the SA accent! And asking about the Aus accent, whether it was similar to the American or NZ etc. Having been here for just a few weeks I said that I wasn't even sure that I could tell the difference between the Aus and NZ accents. She thought that was really funny! She said they usually have other Simba chips and have quite a demand for the SA goods. I can't compare prices to any of the SA shops that are in Brisbane as we haven't been to one of those yet, but the prices were pretty comparable with some of the Aus chips and biscuits so it wasn't too much of an expense to treat ourselves. The cashier mentioned that she regularly gets asked for a certain kind of deodorant -- Pears, she thought it was, that South Africans say they miss. Not sure about that!
On Thursday I had a wonderful day with a fellow South African. Kay was in book club with me, and had moved to Australia in December 2007. They have bought a stunning farm about 45 minutes or so from us. It was so good being with someone who is familiar with South African things, we could talk about some of the people that we both knew, and she has been through the process of moving too. The area is a semi-rural one and it was great to have lots of greenery and space around us. They also have a great patio area and it was a cooler day with some rain so we could sit outside and really enjoy it. They have wallabies that come into the field that you can see from the house, and a koala that lives in their trees.
On Friday we did a few chores, including joining our local library. They have quite a few activities for children at the library during the holiday. There's a pantomine on Monday that the kids have decided they'd like to go and see.
Today has been mostly about getting chores done -- cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and so on. The housework has been a little neglected during the week with the children at home. I'm hoping to get into a bit of a routine when the children go to school!
I left Phillip with the children late on Wednesday and went off to do some grocery shopping at one of our (many) local centres. Popped into a fruit and veggie shop that I hadn't been into before to look at what they had and check out the prices. In addition to the fruit and veggies, they had a long shelf of Asian goodies, and then I went around the corner to find Bakers biscuits -- assorted packs, lemon creams (my favourite), romany creams, and so on. What a find! They also had Simba chips -- the twisty ones in chutney flavour! Holding my lemon creams and chutney chips, the cashier said that I was obviously from South Africa. We chatted a little -- she saying that she absolutely loved the SA accent! And asking about the Aus accent, whether it was similar to the American or NZ etc. Having been here for just a few weeks I said that I wasn't even sure that I could tell the difference between the Aus and NZ accents. She thought that was really funny! She said they usually have other Simba chips and have quite a demand for the SA goods. I can't compare prices to any of the SA shops that are in Brisbane as we haven't been to one of those yet, but the prices were pretty comparable with some of the Aus chips and biscuits so it wasn't too much of an expense to treat ourselves. The cashier mentioned that she regularly gets asked for a certain kind of deodorant -- Pears, she thought it was, that South Africans say they miss. Not sure about that!
On Thursday I had a wonderful day with a fellow South African. Kay was in book club with me, and had moved to Australia in December 2007. They have bought a stunning farm about 45 minutes or so from us. It was so good being with someone who is familiar with South African things, we could talk about some of the people that we both knew, and she has been through the process of moving too. The area is a semi-rural one and it was great to have lots of greenery and space around us. They also have a great patio area and it was a cooler day with some rain so we could sit outside and really enjoy it. They have wallabies that come into the field that you can see from the house, and a koala that lives in their trees.
On Friday we did a few chores, including joining our local library. They have quite a few activities for children at the library during the holiday. There's a pantomine on Monday that the kids have decided they'd like to go and see.
Today has been mostly about getting chores done -- cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and so on. The housework has been a little neglected during the week with the children at home. I'm hoping to get into a bit of a routine when the children go to school!
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