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LIFE AND TRAVEL:
I have been room mates with Lucy the other Canadian who came through your program and it has worked out really well in terms of traveling and living together. We made it up to Queensland over the winter holidays and the Gold Coast and I have attached a number of pictures from our travels such as skydiving at Mission Beach and rafting on the Tully as well as sailing the Whitsunday Islands and four wheel driving on Fraser Island with a stop at the fresh water Lake Mackenzie, which
reminded me of the Muskoka's except that the water was clear and the sand was purely white! (Breath...)
COFFS HARBOUR:
It has definitely been beautiful living in Coffs, close to the beach and a lot of other fun things to do including hiking and surfing which(I have also included pictures of) are among some of the main things I have tried here. I have made some amazing friends here both in Resi and in the Grad Dip program. One thing I am working on is trying Kangaroo before I leave...apparently you can buy it in the super market...love that! I have also picked up some charming habits along the way...running around barefoot everywhere like a 'bogan'...saying 'heaps' and 'how ya going?', 'You're aright' and my most recent would be 'Ta' which I found out is short for thanks lol...my funniest thing is, I have started saying 'Hey' all the time, which is the Australian version of our Canadian 'Eh'! Makes me laugh every time I say it!
SCHOOL, THE DIP ED AND DET INTERVIEWS:
I was a little hesitant in first semester due to anxiousness about what school here would be like but it all worked out really well. Here we are, in October, with only two and a half weeks left of our second practicum and it definitely does feel like the year has gone by quickly. Our interviews back in September went well since I received my confirmation to begin casual teaching today. School has been rather more hectic and 'full on' this semester then first semester was but it has all been worth it. Having two of the most intense KLA's in English and Vis Art, combined into my program was definitely challenging but it has been wonderful. I have learned so much and gained many insights not to mention a distinct cultural awareness by
being here. I have to say the Prac's have been the best part of the school experience for me, both in the public and catholic schools. I have learned so much from all the teacher's I have met and having the opportunity to work in two different faculties has strengthened my development.
THANK YOU:
Thank you for facilitating my journey and helping me get things together not to mention all of your support with the emails and instructions up until the moment I set foot in Australia. If there is anything I can impart to future candidates of your program, it is to just go after everything you want to do while you are here. For me it has been a wonderful adventure filled with good friends, good times and 'HEAPS' of good fun! I also encourage backpacking over the holidays, it is the best time and the most fun I have ever had! We met so many great people while backpacking and I have learned a lot about myself as a traveler and how little you really need to have fun.
The skydive is my highlight of the whole year and the rafting was pure thrill! I never thought I would challenge my self in these ways and in Oz I have had the opportunity to try many things I have wanted to, but never before had the chance to. The school challenge was my greatest yet and I feel that my attempt has been quite successful. I have cultivated some lifelong friendships here and the experience has been without a doubt one of the best in my life.
THE FUTURE:
Just as a side-note I am heading to Busan South Korea after I am finished in Coffs which is only four and a half weeks away. My partner is currently there teaching conversational English and I will meet up with him as he finishes up his contract during the month of December. So I will be spending Christmas and New Years in South Korea and traveling on to hopefully the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand in the New Year. But I will definitely be back in time to start applying to schools since our official certificate does not come in until March you said? I have had my first experience of
traveling to far off places by coming to OZ and now I have caught the travel bug and cannot wait to see the various other countries on my list. If it is alright with you I would like to keep in touch with you and also to keep you posted on my travels to Asia and send pics when I can.
Thanks again Mike, I have no other words to describe what this experience has meant to me. I feel that I have grown so much in my time here and look forward to all the challenges ahead of me no matter what life throws my way!
I will definitely be in touch!
Hope you are doing well!
Sincerely,
Adriana Karam
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