Well, I think it's fairly safe to say I have a crush on the vice-principal. Called the deputy principal here in Australia. Otherwise known as Melinda. Or Miss Melinda to the kids.
You see Germany, it IS possible to show respect without the ''Sie'' form of address. And using first names.
''But how do you show respect then? And how does that person know you are showing them respect if you don't address them formally?''
I think there's a fundamental problem with a society that only knows how to show respect to others through words.
We are all in a position to receive and show respect simply by being human. It's not about status, wealth, noble birth, age, sex, color, race, religion, nationality or any of the other social conventions humans have come up with over the ages to make themselves feel more important than another human being. I am aware that this is a very New World concept. (And that it is often not followed there either.) But it's one the Old World would do well to learn.
Melinda shows respect by treating everyone as if they are someone special. Every single student, parent and co-worker at the school. Imagine coming to a school where everyone is considered special from one where noone is considered special. Imagine the joy of learning that you matter.
I wrote these first few paragraphs almost a week ago. And then I got stuck. Here I am lambasting poor old Germany again. I am making negative comments about one land while professing to value the positivity of another in the same breath. Shame on me. I don't want to be that person anymore.
We're all so happy with our new country and our new school that it's hard not to make comparisons. Andrew was chosen to read his essay at the school assembly this week. (It takes place every Friday and parents are encouraged to attend.) ''The school here is very different from my school in Germany.'' he began. ''Uh-oh.'' I already thought. And sure enough, the next sentence was a comparison. ''The kids here are better and nicer than the kids in Germany.'' Andrew went on and on and on about the fantastic library at Lawnton and the fact that they are allowed to play sports and borrow library books during the breaks.
It isn't that Australian kids are inherently better and nicer than German kids. In fact a good portion of them count their ancestry back to Germany. The difference lies in the social values of the two societies.
I remember Ryan's teacher in Germany telling me in first grade that she allowed the children to exclude others on the courtyard during recess because that was real life. We don't all get along as adults, she said, and so we shouldn't expect the kids to all get along either.
Hasn't anyone in Germany read ''Lord of the Flies?''
Recess in Germany was like a war-zone. Kids ran around and beat each other up practically unsupervised. If someone had a problem with another child, and took it to a teacher, they were most often told to resolve the situation themselves.
How are kids supposed to learn respect and peaceful conflict resolution if they have never been shown how?
Students at Lawnton are allowed to show up at school more than half an hour before they bell rings. They are expected to play quietly. There is adult supervision.
Imagine our surprise this week when Damon and I showed up early too and saw kids from age 6 to age 13 playing games together on the courtyard. There is no running around, no rough-housing. Groups play handball or sit and read quietly. Ryan and Andrew were both immediately accepted into a handball group, without any question of whether or not they would be included.
And Germany wonders why its behind in the international PISA rankings. It's not all about jamming the academics down their throats in the shortest amount of time possible, guys.
Character counts.
Are Australian kids naturally less aggressive, more respectful and genetically better behaved than German kids? I doubt it. But they are being raised in a society that values getting along with others. We've had 12 year old boys step out of line for the bus so that we could get on ahead of them. We've had children show us the bus schedule when we weren't sure which direction we were going in. They say 'please' and 'thank you.' I'm sure they say a few choice other things too, when we aren't around. And my guess is they can rough and tumble it with the best of them.
The difference is that such behavior isn't accepted as normal and tolerated by adult authorities at school. The difference is that they are being taught peaceful and respectful means of conflict resolution. That doesn't mean there won't be fist-fights. But it does mean that they know it's wrong.
Both my kids were honored at assembly today. Ryan forshowing all three Lawnton values of learning, respect and safety by doing her best during this week's testing and by becoming such a helpful and respectful member of the class in such a short time. (Turns out Australia is a grade ahead of Germany age-wise so that Ryan is 'repeating' fourth grade and going into fifth in January even though age-wise she should be going into sixth!) Ryan has never been honored for anything in Germany. Doing her best? Doesn't matter. Being kind? Doesn't count.
But I'm surprised at how relieved I was about Andrew. He was recognized for learning- his spelling and writing. (This despite the fact that he spelled out ''big horse'' during a spelling test when the teacher had asked them to spell 'because!') As I was home-schooling him I also realized that he was working way under his potential at grade level. But we shushed it up, didn't want to pressure Ryan, and certainly didn't want to be seen as bragging to the other parents at his previous school. It was all very hush-hush. (He'll be going into fourth grade in January.)
Shouldn't the child be allowed to be happy about his academic achievements? Why are we telling him to keep them quiet?
So that I have both, a child who needs extra help academically and a child who excels. How nice that the school has programs for both (as well as a special education program), so that they can learn in the same school, with children their own age. And, in the process, learn that everyone is different, but everyone has value.
It's hard not to fall in love with a school and a country that treats you like you matter.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Koalas in the Courtyard; Part One/Introduction
Of the top three awe-inspiring things we saw in our first week in Australia, the mighty surf of the South Pacific Ocean and our first glimpse of a koala in the neighborhood don't compare to the wonders of the school system.
You can get what you ask for. Just not in Germany.
We wandered into the local state school on Thursday to pick up registration packets and possibly get a bit of information on testing the kids and starting classes in January after the summer holidays. We figured we'd get grilled on if the kids even belong here, if we had the proper documentation, the correct street address etc. etc. etc. Next we expected the run-around with Medi-Care and health insurance since Damon had already been told school registration would help facilitate that process as it signalled our intention to stay. (We'd be leaving WHY?!)
''Easily handled.'' the lady at Medicare had told him. Turns out we are all covered retroactively from the moment the plane touched ground. I won't even go there – health care is another issue – but imagine Damon's delight at hearing ''easily handled'' from a government office!
What with the half hour greetings and the general willingness of Australians to do anything in their power to help you out we should have expected what followed at the school.
But, as I told the other parents at the parents' coffee yesterday morning after Friday assembly, the school meets every single criteria I mentioned in my unsent letter to the school board in Germany.
http://twintensity.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html
Every single criteria.
Other parents at the WEEKLY parents' coffee following the WEEKLY general school assembly.
I had to apologize to the lady sitting next to me for crying during the national anthem. There were two of my kids, dressed in school uniform, sitting next to new friends, watching the school vice-principal handing out awards for excellence in learning, respect and safety.
Excellence in learning included improvement for kids that were struggling as well as at the top of the class.
One kid got an award for ''using a high-five in a difficult situation.''
Another for ''helping others to achieve their potential.'' Because we really value helping others.
There's a gifted and talented program as well as special education. Class sizes are small. Ryan's fourth grade class is bursting at the seams with 22 kids. Andrew's 2/3 class looked to have about 12. Not more than twenty anyway. So that the teachers and teachers' aides are able to focus on individual childrens' needs. Teachers' aides. Multiple learning levels within one classroom. With students from higher grades coming in to help younger students as well.
And a weekly newsletter for parents.
Homework is used to supplement learning in the classroom and instill good work habits for later. NOT to teach what they didn't properly learn at school. (And since the school day goes from 8:50 to 3PM, they have in a WEEK what German kids have in a DAY.)
Then there's the list of responsibilities the children have as students, the parents have to assist the students and the school has towards both students and parents.
Printed out in hard copy. Clear expectations. Which I was always made to feel like an idiot for having in Germany.
Oh and the steps to formal complaint procedures, beginning with teacher, on to principal all the way up to the Queensland school authorities. Look at that. Democracy in action.
I don't expect to ever use them. In fact, I strongly suspect the German system – where we do need to use them - keeps parents in the dark so that we can't.
There's more. Lots more. Things that the Australian parents look at me kinda funny for when I point them out with glee. As in, well of course there's a school crossing guard. And of course we're allowed on the school grounds to pick up our children. They're our children aren't they?
And why is that crazy American lady so happy to be seeing the school vice-principal reminding the kids in the courtyard to show respect and behave appropriately? You don't suppose any school system anywhere would just let the kids act like animals and work it out themselves do you?
I've often heard it said that the most ardent American is a new American, an immigrant who knows how good they have it, who doesn't take for granted that which the average American expects as normal.
So that maybe it's normal for this new Australian to be crying to words she's never heard before.
''Australians let us all rejoice. For we are young and free.''
The vice-principal was crying too as she reminded the students why they'd had a moment of silence the day before. “We honor the soldiers who died to keep Australia free and democratic. '' she said. ''And we are lucky to be living in the best country in the world.''
Guess they do know how good they have it.
Not everyone can live in Australia. (As hard as it is for ''us'' Aussies to believe, not everyone even WANTS to!)
But every child deserves the right to reach their full potential. Every child. In every country.
Take a hard look Germany. Look south and to the east.
We may be young. Just what Germany needs to get its archaic and decrepit school system out from behind its walker!
You can get what you ask for. Just not in Germany.
We wandered into the local state school on Thursday to pick up registration packets and possibly get a bit of information on testing the kids and starting classes in January after the summer holidays. We figured we'd get grilled on if the kids even belong here, if we had the proper documentation, the correct street address etc. etc. etc. Next we expected the run-around with Medi-Care and health insurance since Damon had already been told school registration would help facilitate that process as it signalled our intention to stay. (We'd be leaving WHY?!)
''Easily handled.'' the lady at Medicare had told him. Turns out we are all covered retroactively from the moment the plane touched ground. I won't even go there – health care is another issue – but imagine Damon's delight at hearing ''easily handled'' from a government office!
What with the half hour greetings and the general willingness of Australians to do anything in their power to help you out we should have expected what followed at the school.
But, as I told the other parents at the parents' coffee yesterday morning after Friday assembly, the school meets every single criteria I mentioned in my unsent letter to the school board in Germany.
http://twintensity.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html
Every single criteria.
Other parents at the WEEKLY parents' coffee following the WEEKLY general school assembly.
I had to apologize to the lady sitting next to me for crying during the national anthem. There were two of my kids, dressed in school uniform, sitting next to new friends, watching the school vice-principal handing out awards for excellence in learning, respect and safety.
Excellence in learning included improvement for kids that were struggling as well as at the top of the class.
One kid got an award for ''using a high-five in a difficult situation.''
Another for ''helping others to achieve their potential.'' Because we really value helping others.
There's a gifted and talented program as well as special education. Class sizes are small. Ryan's fourth grade class is bursting at the seams with 22 kids. Andrew's 2/3 class looked to have about 12. Not more than twenty anyway. So that the teachers and teachers' aides are able to focus on individual childrens' needs. Teachers' aides. Multiple learning levels within one classroom. With students from higher grades coming in to help younger students as well.
And a weekly newsletter for parents.
Homework is used to supplement learning in the classroom and instill good work habits for later. NOT to teach what they didn't properly learn at school. (And since the school day goes from 8:50 to 3PM, they have in a WEEK what German kids have in a DAY.)
Then there's the list of responsibilities the children have as students, the parents have to assist the students and the school has towards both students and parents.
Printed out in hard copy. Clear expectations. Which I was always made to feel like an idiot for having in Germany.
Oh and the steps to formal complaint procedures, beginning with teacher, on to principal all the way up to the Queensland school authorities. Look at that. Democracy in action.
I don't expect to ever use them. In fact, I strongly suspect the German system – where we do need to use them - keeps parents in the dark so that we can't.
There's more. Lots more. Things that the Australian parents look at me kinda funny for when I point them out with glee. As in, well of course there's a school crossing guard. And of course we're allowed on the school grounds to pick up our children. They're our children aren't they?
And why is that crazy American lady so happy to be seeing the school vice-principal reminding the kids in the courtyard to show respect and behave appropriately? You don't suppose any school system anywhere would just let the kids act like animals and work it out themselves do you?
I've often heard it said that the most ardent American is a new American, an immigrant who knows how good they have it, who doesn't take for granted that which the average American expects as normal.
So that maybe it's normal for this new Australian to be crying to words she's never heard before.
''Australians let us all rejoice. For we are young and free.''
The vice-principal was crying too as she reminded the students why they'd had a moment of silence the day before. “We honor the soldiers who died to keep Australia free and democratic. '' she said. ''And we are lucky to be living in the best country in the world.''
Guess they do know how good they have it.
Not everyone can live in Australia. (As hard as it is for ''us'' Aussies to believe, not everyone even WANTS to!)
But every child deserves the right to reach their full potential. Every child. In every country.
Take a hard look Germany. Look south and to the east.
We may be young. Just what Germany needs to get its archaic and decrepit school system out from behind its walker!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Twitter Five: Out of Singapore
Something about a little mishap with another Quantas airplane.
Which explains the debris on the runway.
But the sound was off on the overhead television in the boarding area and so we all just sat around and felt really lucky to be on the flight to Brisbane and not to Sydney.
Especially when all the other passengers insisted we go ahead and preboard even though the twins technically weren't infants.
The touchscreens on Quantas include video games so Aidan and Matthew are playing mini golf and bowling, using their control pads like the Wii joysticks they learned to use in the Mercur lobby in Sindelfingen. Ryan and Andrew are one row ahead of us. Hopefully getting better scores than Aidan and Matthew.
It is only a seven hour flight. Can't believe that is the same amount of time it takes to fly from Europe to New York. We've already have the thirteen hour flight from Europe to Singapore behind us,
Can't believe we are getting away with this. The hardest part has been the four hour layover in Heathrow.
Which explains the debris on the runway.
But the sound was off on the overhead television in the boarding area and so we all just sat around and felt really lucky to be on the flight to Brisbane and not to Sydney.
Especially when all the other passengers insisted we go ahead and preboard even though the twins technically weren't infants.
The touchscreens on Quantas include video games so Aidan and Matthew are playing mini golf and bowling, using their control pads like the Wii joysticks they learned to use in the Mercur lobby in Sindelfingen. Ryan and Andrew are one row ahead of us. Hopefully getting better scores than Aidan and Matthew.
It is only a seven hour flight. Can't believe that is the same amount of time it takes to fly from Europe to New York. We've already have the thirteen hour flight from Europe to Singapore behind us,
Can't believe we are getting away with this. The hardest part has been the four hour layover in Heathrow.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Twitter Four: Almost in Singapore
Twitter Four: Almost in Singapore
And if the Brits enjoyed our comedy act, the Aussies actually like to participate.
Gate 42. Check -in.
''Twins. Really kicks the family planning in the pants, don't it?''
''Oh. You can do that?'' we replied.
Barely missing a beat we boarded the plane.
Ducklings marching down the aisle.
''Oh. Just the four then.''
I can't wait to actually get there!
Of course, we still need to get through Singapore. In two hours time. Hoping it's more like Heathrow than like Charles de Gaulle. (Note: This was written before we realized there was "debris" - one engine and various other airplane parts - scattered all over our runway and we SHOULD be happy to land in one piece in Singapore and not in little bits and pieces scattered all over Malaysia and Indonesia. Ignorance is bliss. Especially when you're flying at 30,000 feet and the kids are occupied with the viewscreens in front of them.)
We still need boarding passes too and don't have seat assignments.
Two kids ago this would have worried me. Now I dare them to separate us.
In fact, I wonder if they charge extra for that!
And if the Brits enjoyed our comedy act, the Aussies actually like to participate.
Gate 42. Check -in.
''Twins. Really kicks the family planning in the pants, don't it?''
''Oh. You can do that?'' we replied.
Barely missing a beat we boarded the plane.
Ducklings marching down the aisle.
''Oh. Just the four then.''
I can't wait to actually get there!
Of course, we still need to get through Singapore. In two hours time. Hoping it's more like Heathrow than like Charles de Gaulle. (Note: This was written before we realized there was "debris" - one engine and various other airplane parts - scattered all over our runway and we SHOULD be happy to land in one piece in Singapore and not in little bits and pieces scattered all over Malaysia and Indonesia. Ignorance is bliss. Especially when you're flying at 30,000 feet and the kids are occupied with the viewscreens in front of them.)
We still need boarding passes too and don't have seat assignments.
Two kids ago this would have worried me. Now I dare them to separate us.
In fact, I wonder if they charge extra for that!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Twitter Three: Somewhere Over the Bay of Bengal
Twitter Three: Somewhere Over Bay of Bengal
Okay. That didn't look good. I just turned on the touchscreen in front of me to see where we are and the little plane that is supposed to be us was falling from the lower left of the screen over the ocean with red sparks shooting out of its rear. Oh. There it goes again. Someone should really work on that simulation.
Since the local time from departure is still reading 7:37 and the local time at destination 15:37 I am going to assume we are okay. I can't imagine the pilot would be checking the accuracy of the clocks if we were plummeting from the sky. And, just to be clear here, I wouldn't want a countdown either.
I also wouldn't want an excited eight year old with blocked auditory passages screaming ''we're going down. We're going down.'' Our apologies to the folks on the Stuttgart to London flight for that. He's bilingual. He meant landing. Our mistake.
Other gems from THAT flight included Andrew asking if they spoke English in London. They give it their best shot, I replied.
And then they all kept their eyes out for Wolfy as we flew above the clouds.
So far the flight has been pretty fantastic. We boarded at 9PM London time. Which was 10 PM German time and 11 PM to our brains. We figured, heck, since we're totally screwing up our inner clocks anyway, let's not even bother adjusting to the end of daylight savings. And Heathrow is my new favorite airport to fly through, but there isn't much daylight in London to save anyway. Thank goodness the people were so lovely.
Americans have never given the British much credit for a sense of humor. Maybe because they didn't get that whole dressing up as Indians and throwing a tea party thing a while back. But, I gotta tell you, the twins and I drew smiles, chuckles and outright guffaws at Heathrow. Also quite a crowd, since I didn't realize until well into an hour into our stay that we were performing behind the departures information board.
The thing about Heathrow is that they actually seem to want you to get where you are going. They have signs pointing you in the proper directions. I wanted to take pictures. You have to understand that I have spent a lot of time connecting through Paris. Maybe I'm easily impressed.
Heathrows' international departures area could use a childrens' play area though. I mean, how much perfume does the world really need? And I appreciate the fancy sushi bars and posh drinking clubs. But really, wouldn't you enjoy them better if my children weren't playacting fire scenarios right behind you?
Maybe not. We picked a fairly wide, fairly traffic-free corridor and proceeded to play. This was after the fiasco in TGIFs where I ordered water all-around and drew the enmity of the waitress. I was scared to ask for refills but Damon found a water fountain later all. We all made a pilgrimage. It appears we may have spent too much time in Germany not to suffer lasting effects!
It appears as if I am going to have to stop speaking to the kids in English too. Either that or put-down a hat and start doing stand-up comedy on the corner. Germans do their best to avoid kids in any language. Who would have thought we could be a source of amusement rather than disdain? We're not pathetic. Turns out the Brits think we're funny.
Aidan planted himself in the middle of the perfume aisle and announced he was staying there. This was after the color game had worn off. (You know, find something ORANGE in the airport. How about something GREEN?) And the animal game. And the don't step on the cracks game. Which unintentionally turned into the don't knock over the little old lady with the walker game. So that when Aidan announced he was going to SIT, I was relieved. Regardless of the fact that it was in the middle of the store. Matthew followed suit. The nice lady behind us stepped over them, looked over at me calmly standing to the side taking a breather, and nodded her head sagely,
''Oh. Boys.'' And calmly went about her business with no further ado.
I believe the sight of us makes other people appreciate their own good fortune!
The Christmas trip to Florida with two 18 month olds and a bad case of stomach flu puts it all in perspective for me.
We also drew chuckles on the way to the boarding gate. The signs pointed us in the proper direction. 25 – 42. As the ducklings marched through the airport with their matching backpacks, I asked Damon what gate we were looking for. ''42.'' he replied. ''42?!'' I thought he was joking. ''42.'' he repeated. We could have been opening at the improv.
My favorite audience though was the group of four businessmen looking for their departure gate. Aidan and Matthew had done the fireman routine. Complete with daddy fireman coming home to care for baby fireman. And put down food and water for the dog. Which turned into a dog routine. And then the circus. With clown car. (Matthew is going to make a GREAT mime someday.)
''Mommy,“ said one of my firemen, ''now you have to get down on your knees and cry like a baby.“
I'd already started to reply that there were a LOT of things I would do to keep them quiet in the Heathrow airport but that getting down on my hands and knees was not one of them when I realized that the businessmen were all looking in my direction expectantly. I swear a couple of them had tears in their eyes they were laughing so hard.
Boys.
Probably could have earned some extra cash too.
But the water's free anyway.
Okay. That didn't look good. I just turned on the touchscreen in front of me to see where we are and the little plane that is supposed to be us was falling from the lower left of the screen over the ocean with red sparks shooting out of its rear. Oh. There it goes again. Someone should really work on that simulation.
Since the local time from departure is still reading 7:37 and the local time at destination 15:37 I am going to assume we are okay. I can't imagine the pilot would be checking the accuracy of the clocks if we were plummeting from the sky. And, just to be clear here, I wouldn't want a countdown either.
I also wouldn't want an excited eight year old with blocked auditory passages screaming ''we're going down. We're going down.'' Our apologies to the folks on the Stuttgart to London flight for that. He's bilingual. He meant landing. Our mistake.
Other gems from THAT flight included Andrew asking if they spoke English in London. They give it their best shot, I replied.
And then they all kept their eyes out for Wolfy as we flew above the clouds.
So far the flight has been pretty fantastic. We boarded at 9PM London time. Which was 10 PM German time and 11 PM to our brains. We figured, heck, since we're totally screwing up our inner clocks anyway, let's not even bother adjusting to the end of daylight savings. And Heathrow is my new favorite airport to fly through, but there isn't much daylight in London to save anyway. Thank goodness the people were so lovely.
Americans have never given the British much credit for a sense of humor. Maybe because they didn't get that whole dressing up as Indians and throwing a tea party thing a while back. But, I gotta tell you, the twins and I drew smiles, chuckles and outright guffaws at Heathrow. Also quite a crowd, since I didn't realize until well into an hour into our stay that we were performing behind the departures information board.
The thing about Heathrow is that they actually seem to want you to get where you are going. They have signs pointing you in the proper directions. I wanted to take pictures. You have to understand that I have spent a lot of time connecting through Paris. Maybe I'm easily impressed.
Heathrows' international departures area could use a childrens' play area though. I mean, how much perfume does the world really need? And I appreciate the fancy sushi bars and posh drinking clubs. But really, wouldn't you enjoy them better if my children weren't playacting fire scenarios right behind you?
Maybe not. We picked a fairly wide, fairly traffic-free corridor and proceeded to play. This was after the fiasco in TGIFs where I ordered water all-around and drew the enmity of the waitress. I was scared to ask for refills but Damon found a water fountain later all. We all made a pilgrimage. It appears we may have spent too much time in Germany not to suffer lasting effects!
It appears as if I am going to have to stop speaking to the kids in English too. Either that or put-down a hat and start doing stand-up comedy on the corner. Germans do their best to avoid kids in any language. Who would have thought we could be a source of amusement rather than disdain? We're not pathetic. Turns out the Brits think we're funny.
Aidan planted himself in the middle of the perfume aisle and announced he was staying there. This was after the color game had worn off. (You know, find something ORANGE in the airport. How about something GREEN?) And the animal game. And the don't step on the cracks game. Which unintentionally turned into the don't knock over the little old lady with the walker game. So that when Aidan announced he was going to SIT, I was relieved. Regardless of the fact that it was in the middle of the store. Matthew followed suit. The nice lady behind us stepped over them, looked over at me calmly standing to the side taking a breather, and nodded her head sagely,
''Oh. Boys.'' And calmly went about her business with no further ado.
I believe the sight of us makes other people appreciate their own good fortune!
The Christmas trip to Florida with two 18 month olds and a bad case of stomach flu puts it all in perspective for me.
We also drew chuckles on the way to the boarding gate. The signs pointed us in the proper direction. 25 – 42. As the ducklings marched through the airport with their matching backpacks, I asked Damon what gate we were looking for. ''42.'' he replied. ''42?!'' I thought he was joking. ''42.'' he repeated. We could have been opening at the improv.
My favorite audience though was the group of four businessmen looking for their departure gate. Aidan and Matthew had done the fireman routine. Complete with daddy fireman coming home to care for baby fireman. And put down food and water for the dog. Which turned into a dog routine. And then the circus. With clown car. (Matthew is going to make a GREAT mime someday.)
''Mommy,“ said one of my firemen, ''now you have to get down on your knees and cry like a baby.“
I'd already started to reply that there were a LOT of things I would do to keep them quiet in the Heathrow airport but that getting down on my hands and knees was not one of them when I realized that the businessmen were all looking in my direction expectantly. I swear a couple of them had tears in their eyes they were laughing so hard.
Boys.
Probably could have earned some extra cash too.
But the water's free anyway.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Letter From Australia
Letter from Australia
(written from 3 – 5 AM, this is my brain on Australian time!)
This place is fantastic. I've spent the last hour trying to figure out how to get all of my friends in Germany over here on a skilled workers visa. And yet, part of me wants to keep the place a secret too. It's too good to be true. I sit listening to the kookaburras battling it out with the cockatoos right outside my bedroom window and yet I can hop on the train and be in the center of Brisbane within 45 minutes.
The Aussies are a frightening people. They take a little getting used to mate. Like all that smiling and speaking to one another. Complete strangers even. It's hard to shake em off your tail. Like that intrusive couple on the train into Brisbane who insisted on showing us to Queen Street. And then spent half an hour chatting with us once we were there. Beware of an early morning walk too. The local wildlife, dressed in walking shorts and sun hats, sat down on a park bench with Damon yesterday and held him up for another half hour. Like they were really interested in him.
I guess what I'm saying is that a typical ''how are ya, mate?'' takes half an hour.
We're a pretty exotic species here as well. Americans? Like we come from another planet. Our European past is of mild interest – you've been all over sort of thing – but it's America that holds their interest. What's it like over there? When I tell them the Brisbane suburbs remind me of a milder, less developed Florida – one that has shopping malls, and Target, all within easy walking distance but hasn't completely destroyed the native fauna to put in subdivisions – they don't believe me. Go, I tell them. See the Great White North. (A lot are interested in Canada as well.) But I can almost guarantee you'll come back here.
Having said that, we are the first residents in an unfinished gated community here in Lawnton. Sure, they have koalas in the neighborhood, they tell me. That's why they kept that big gum tree up next to the pool. Nesting. Like any self-respecting koala is going to nest in a tree surrounded by townhouses. So that we're already encroaching on wildlife habitat just by moving in.
The local wildlife I do see every morning though appeals to me. Somewhere between 5 to 6 AM, depending on if the property manager is here or not, a herd of ''Bob, the Baumeisters'' shows up ready for work. Young, tanned and topless by 9AM. Yay for me. Other than that,and the chattering kookaburra and flocks of wild cockatoos, lorikeets and magpies, we have no neighbors. The rest of the complex still needs to be completed, final stages being delayed by an unusually rainy October which brought the drought hungry water levels up to 90% from 20% in just 30 days. The Connors are here. We tend to bring rain and snow wherever we travel. Switzerland had to close its ski slopes last October due to the unusually heavy, seasonally early snowfall when we were there. You're welcome Brisbane. Any other parts of Australia need a little watering?
We can't decide whether to register the kids for school today or head to the beach. I'm thinking beach. Cause the school will still be there tomorrow. No worries there.
You can't imagine what a joy it is to migrate to a country where immigration, health insurance and school offices all greet you with an ''easily done'' after coming from a country where the bureacracy doesn't greet you at all and then gives you a look of severe disdain and a ''nicht moeglich“ (not possible) when you have the audacity to ask them for help.
I've already had to explain to one older lady, who had gone back to Germany to learn about her Jewish past, that it wasn't antisemitism that made the Germans so rude to her. I think it's lack of sunshine. Really. Has anyone investigated the lack of Vitamin D on attitude? Just look at what happens to the Brits when you give them a little bit of sunshine!
The convict thing has come up already too. Apologetically. As in, well my ancestors were probably arrested for stealing a loaf of bread or something like that. Except that the penal colony in Brisbane was for severe offenders, as in my ancestors were probably arrested for murder and were darn lucky not to be hanging from the gallows. As if America was founded by a bunch of Puritans.
Oh that. Good publicity and excellent early public schooling. You don't learn about the indentured servants and other European social outcasts – the tired, the hungry, the poor – until later on, when your hormones are too fixated on the biceps of the guy sitting two rows in front of you to pay any attention.
As for the rest of my roots, well, I'll see your ancestor convicted for murder 200 years ago and raise you a race that slaughtered the Jews only 60 years ago.
But the sun is out, the birds are awake, and my ''Bobs'' are scheduled to arrive within the hour. It's a new day and anything is possible.
So that I really have to decide whether to tell everyone how fantastic it is here. Or keep up that great Australian conspiracy.
We ARE at the ends of the earth. One step to the East and you fall right off. (This has GOT to be the most fortuitous – for us, not the indigenous people – pitstop ever made. Thanks James.)
Creepy crawlies and slimy slitheries everywhere. So small you don't know what hit you. Of course,only the funnel spider is deadly, and even then you have plenty of time to call 000 and get help. Pressure wrap, boys. Pressure wrap. And yes, the property manager did tell us that we had nothing to worry about since the only poisonous spider around here, the redback, doesn't have enough venom – and here she looked the twins over carefully – to kill anything but a wee infant. Might sting quite a bit though, she added.
So that if the spiders and snakes don't scare you off, we've got the box jelly fish. The most deadly animal in the world. With long, transparent tentacles that DO deliver enough venom to kill you within minutes. Antivenom on the beach though. If you can get there in the few seconds before paralysis sets in.
And sharks and saltwater crocodiles. None of which live in the suburbs of Brisbane.
The latest deadly Australian animal, only recently discovered, is Quantas airlines. And yes, we were one of the next flights INTO Singapore that morning when the pilot announced – in typically British subdued fashion – that there was some debris on the runway and we would have to circle a bit until they cleared it off. He did NOT mention that the debris was the better part of another Quantas airplane's engine. Having no newspaper or internet access in the Singapore airport, I was calmly reading the superb safety record of Quantas airlines in our Travel Australia guide as they were picking up pieces of one of their airplanes only meters away.
Just goes to show I still do nothing quietly. How nice to be living on an island big enough – where the birds are loud enough – that I'll fit right in.
(written from 3 – 5 AM, this is my brain on Australian time!)
This place is fantastic. I've spent the last hour trying to figure out how to get all of my friends in Germany over here on a skilled workers visa. And yet, part of me wants to keep the place a secret too. It's too good to be true. I sit listening to the kookaburras battling it out with the cockatoos right outside my bedroom window and yet I can hop on the train and be in the center of Brisbane within 45 minutes.
The Aussies are a frightening people. They take a little getting used to mate. Like all that smiling and speaking to one another. Complete strangers even. It's hard to shake em off your tail. Like that intrusive couple on the train into Brisbane who insisted on showing us to Queen Street. And then spent half an hour chatting with us once we were there. Beware of an early morning walk too. The local wildlife, dressed in walking shorts and sun hats, sat down on a park bench with Damon yesterday and held him up for another half hour. Like they were really interested in him.
I guess what I'm saying is that a typical ''how are ya, mate?'' takes half an hour.
We're a pretty exotic species here as well. Americans? Like we come from another planet. Our European past is of mild interest – you've been all over sort of thing – but it's America that holds their interest. What's it like over there? When I tell them the Brisbane suburbs remind me of a milder, less developed Florida – one that has shopping malls, and Target, all within easy walking distance but hasn't completely destroyed the native fauna to put in subdivisions – they don't believe me. Go, I tell them. See the Great White North. (A lot are interested in Canada as well.) But I can almost guarantee you'll come back here.
Having said that, we are the first residents in an unfinished gated community here in Lawnton. Sure, they have koalas in the neighborhood, they tell me. That's why they kept that big gum tree up next to the pool. Nesting. Like any self-respecting koala is going to nest in a tree surrounded by townhouses. So that we're already encroaching on wildlife habitat just by moving in.
The local wildlife I do see every morning though appeals to me. Somewhere between 5 to 6 AM, depending on if the property manager is here or not, a herd of ''Bob, the Baumeisters'' shows up ready for work. Young, tanned and topless by 9AM. Yay for me. Other than that,and the chattering kookaburra and flocks of wild cockatoos, lorikeets and magpies, we have no neighbors. The rest of the complex still needs to be completed, final stages being delayed by an unusually rainy October which brought the drought hungry water levels up to 90% from 20% in just 30 days. The Connors are here. We tend to bring rain and snow wherever we travel. Switzerland had to close its ski slopes last October due to the unusually heavy, seasonally early snowfall when we were there. You're welcome Brisbane. Any other parts of Australia need a little watering?
We can't decide whether to register the kids for school today or head to the beach. I'm thinking beach. Cause the school will still be there tomorrow. No worries there.
You can't imagine what a joy it is to migrate to a country where immigration, health insurance and school offices all greet you with an ''easily done'' after coming from a country where the bureacracy doesn't greet you at all and then gives you a look of severe disdain and a ''nicht moeglich“ (not possible) when you have the audacity to ask them for help.
I've already had to explain to one older lady, who had gone back to Germany to learn about her Jewish past, that it wasn't antisemitism that made the Germans so rude to her. I think it's lack of sunshine. Really. Has anyone investigated the lack of Vitamin D on attitude? Just look at what happens to the Brits when you give them a little bit of sunshine!
The convict thing has come up already too. Apologetically. As in, well my ancestors were probably arrested for stealing a loaf of bread or something like that. Except that the penal colony in Brisbane was for severe offenders, as in my ancestors were probably arrested for murder and were darn lucky not to be hanging from the gallows. As if America was founded by a bunch of Puritans.
Oh that. Good publicity and excellent early public schooling. You don't learn about the indentured servants and other European social outcasts – the tired, the hungry, the poor – until later on, when your hormones are too fixated on the biceps of the guy sitting two rows in front of you to pay any attention.
As for the rest of my roots, well, I'll see your ancestor convicted for murder 200 years ago and raise you a race that slaughtered the Jews only 60 years ago.
But the sun is out, the birds are awake, and my ''Bobs'' are scheduled to arrive within the hour. It's a new day and anything is possible.
So that I really have to decide whether to tell everyone how fantastic it is here. Or keep up that great Australian conspiracy.
We ARE at the ends of the earth. One step to the East and you fall right off. (This has GOT to be the most fortuitous – for us, not the indigenous people – pitstop ever made. Thanks James.)
Creepy crawlies and slimy slitheries everywhere. So small you don't know what hit you. Of course,only the funnel spider is deadly, and even then you have plenty of time to call 000 and get help. Pressure wrap, boys. Pressure wrap. And yes, the property manager did tell us that we had nothing to worry about since the only poisonous spider around here, the redback, doesn't have enough venom – and here she looked the twins over carefully – to kill anything but a wee infant. Might sting quite a bit though, she added.
So that if the spiders and snakes don't scare you off, we've got the box jelly fish. The most deadly animal in the world. With long, transparent tentacles that DO deliver enough venom to kill you within minutes. Antivenom on the beach though. If you can get there in the few seconds before paralysis sets in.
And sharks and saltwater crocodiles. None of which live in the suburbs of Brisbane.
The latest deadly Australian animal, only recently discovered, is Quantas airlines. And yes, we were one of the next flights INTO Singapore that morning when the pilot announced – in typically British subdued fashion – that there was some debris on the runway and we would have to circle a bit until they cleared it off. He did NOT mention that the debris was the better part of another Quantas airplane's engine. Having no newspaper or internet access in the Singapore airport, I was calmly reading the superb safety record of Quantas airlines in our Travel Australia guide as they were picking up pieces of one of their airplanes only meters away.
Just goes to show I still do nothing quietly. How nice to be living on an island big enough – where the birds are loud enough – that I'll fit right in.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Twitter Two: Heathrow
We're paying 14 Euro cents a minute for connection - and the boys are running wild through the perfume section - so this will have to be brief.
We are here. Flying with two four year old boys is less of a challenge only when I compare it to flying with two two year old boys. It's all in the perspective.
LOVE Heathrow. The weather, as the pilot told us in typical understated British, is reasonable. Which the kids took to mean that the sun would be out. Yeah right. We arrived at 5 PM local time and thought it was nighttime. But it is 16 C and warm.
Not everyone can live in Australia, I told the kids, and actually drew smiles from other passengers.
Oops - forgot they speak English around here. Kind of.
Have picked up another child. Klaus, who has been entertaining the boys since flying with us from Stuttgart. He is fortunate enough to have an earlier flight to Singapore but has spent the last few hours with us. Refreshing his English with the twins over fart jokes at TGI Fridays. I'm actually hoping HE didn't understand them!
Misunderstandings galore already. Like the funny look the waitress threw me when I ordered a round of water. What? And a side salad. Until Damon reminded me the water is free and the tips are based on the bill. Oh.
But what if you only want a side salad and water? Am I allowed to pay for the water to make her feel better about serving it to me?
Oh dear. I feel I may have been out of the real world for too long after all.
On to Singapore. Hope to be able to connect with you all there!
We are here. Flying with two four year old boys is less of a challenge only when I compare it to flying with two two year old boys. It's all in the perspective.
LOVE Heathrow. The weather, as the pilot told us in typical understated British, is reasonable. Which the kids took to mean that the sun would be out. Yeah right. We arrived at 5 PM local time and thought it was nighttime. But it is 16 C and warm.
Not everyone can live in Australia, I told the kids, and actually drew smiles from other passengers.
Oops - forgot they speak English around here. Kind of.
Have picked up another child. Klaus, who has been entertaining the boys since flying with us from Stuttgart. He is fortunate enough to have an earlier flight to Singapore but has spent the last few hours with us. Refreshing his English with the twins over fart jokes at TGI Fridays. I'm actually hoping HE didn't understand them!
Misunderstandings galore already. Like the funny look the waitress threw me when I ordered a round of water. What? And a side salad. Until Damon reminded me the water is free and the tips are based on the bill. Oh.
But what if you only want a side salad and water? Am I allowed to pay for the water to make her feel better about serving it to me?
Oh dear. I feel I may have been out of the real world for too long after all.
On to Singapore. Hope to be able to connect with you all there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
