Aussie Bound

Getting ready to leave home for a year is a much bigger undertaking than we had ever imagined. The "to do list" has been enormous and seems to continually get longer the closer we get to our departure date. However, after the big send off on Dec 1, it has become a reality for us that we will be away from our home, families, colleagues, and friends for a long time. Once it hit us that "this is really happening", mixed emotions arise - happy, excited, afraid, and sad.

We have been extremely lucky to be matched with an amazing family (Gary, Karen, Ziggy, and Zane Turner) who - we are certain - will take great care of our home. We have had a fair bit of contact back and forth and we have made many decisions that, though risky, will be beneficial to all. If it weren't for their ability to establish trust with us so quickly, this adventure would be much more challenging.

As I type this I find myself feeling quite excited to live in a place where my mother was born and to teach in a school system with what appears to be a very different educational philosophy. Heather and Fenton will encounter a different set of challenges. We are told that exchange teachers find themselves in need of a lot of support from their partners. I am concerned about the isolation that Heather may encounter without any social networks. All told, we know that this big adventure will have its great moments, discomforts, and unforgettable memories. We look forward to coming back feeling like we have grown from the experience.