Friday Morning Message! 11-27-09

Dear Kindergartners, 11-27-09

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a great meal and enjoyed your time off school. Guess what? I still had school! That don't have thanksgiving over here...that's only an American Holiday. I had a great weekend! I went to Caversham Wildlife Park and guess what? I got to pet Kangeroos and Koalas! They are soo cute!

I also went to this science museum where I saw this show that looks like the night sky and they tell you all about the stars and the planets, and its all in this dome shaped room. This week I went to Kings Park for a walk around and you can see the whole city of Perth from there! Remember those photos I showed you of the big skyline with all the tall buildings? That's the view I saw! It was gorgeous!


I've been seeing christmas decorations and hearing christmas music here! Its so crazy to think that christmas is comming up when its not cold or snowy! Its about 80 degrees and sunny right now! Benny Bear would need to put on his swimsuit! Remember Miss G misses you and loves you! Have a great week!

Love, Miss Gonsior

Friday Morning Message! 11-20-09

Dear Class,

Today is Friday, November 20th, or 20-11-09 as they write it here! They do a variety of things different in Australia! For example, the cars here drive on the left side of the road, and the driver sits on the right side of the car! Also, the schools here have uniforms the students have to wear!

This weekend I went on a trip to a place called Margaret river and got to see emu's (a type of animal), kangaroos jumping by our car, and humpback wales jumping out of the water! Here is a picture of one of the beaches I was at.

Today I went on a "excursion" with my class, which is what we call a field trip here. We went to an aquarium, where there are lots of different types of fish, coral, sharks, sting rays, and octopus! It was almost as fun as our pumpkin patch field trip, but not quite because you guys were not there!

Hope you are all doing well :) Miss you lots! Bet you are staying warmer than me (it's been cold and rainy the past couple of day :(

Love,
Miss Gonsior

Week 3 Excursions!

Well I am just doing a terrible time keeping up to date...ahhh!

Recap of the Weekend:

I went on a trip with my host dad, Len, and two of the other American teachers, Megan and Kendal to Margaret River. Margaret River is about a 5 hour drive south of Perth into a beautiful farming country filled with beaches and wineries and lots of wild life.


I had my first wine tasting at a real classy winery! There were beautiful lush gardens outside, and then you walk in up to this bar type thing, and they have a list of 6 different wines,(3 white, 3 red), and then the wine tender pours you one at a time in a nice glass, telling you information about the wine and asking your opinion. I learned about why people swirl the wine first and then smell it before drinking...apparently when you swirl it the wine mixes with the air and gives off smells that you can start to distinguish the variety flavors present in your glass. All part of the experience :)

We journeyed around to some beaches, a chocolate factory and went out for dinner in main strip of town...which is basically one street :) I also went shopping...early of course cause they all close at 5pm...but I got this killer hot pick dress so I'm pretty stoked about that!

We went to a couple of other wineries...one that was pretty much in the back of a shed (such a variety of styles!) as well as this beach where we ended up seeing humpback wales jumping out of the water! We also drove by a grove with emus, this random place where they have these huge huge trees, and had kangeroos jump out along side of our car! I felt like I was in Michigan...but w/o the deer :) I actually tried a Kangeroo Burger at a restaurant...not too bad! Returned Sunday night at 8pm...all in all a very relaxing weekend!

Week Lessons:
I started my research MI project! We did an art project today for the cover where the kids painted a background blue/green and then dipped their hands in paint and did hand prints to make a MI map picture! So cute :)

I taught my lesson on electricity to 6/7th graders and had a blast. I was amazed at how fast they got through things, could think critically, come up with new ways to change their experiment, and work together as a team. I had them build circuits and was told by one girl that my lesson was the funnest science she's done all year! It was great cause I had all this freedom to essentially do whatever I wanted, so we had a lot of conversing together, and exploring how electricity works.

Social Activities:
Monday night...I learned how to play this game with my family that is similar to the card game "liar" or "B.S." but you play with dice and have to raise your bets each time about what you think people rolled, and then people can loose die and the last person with die left wins. So we had some good quality family game night time!
Last night I went to the World Premier of NEW MOON...starting with a dinner trip to the pub, followed by a showing of the first movie, "Twilight" at 9pm...and then the second movie at 12:30...needless to say I didn't get to bed till 3:30am...but it was sooo worth it! the second movie is wayyy better, funnier, and the atmosphere of premiers are just the best. People clap and cheer when the main characters come out...and I met a few new girls so my friend base is going up! yeah new fb friends!

Upcoming excitements!
Tomorrow I teach a lesson on water density...where the kids test various objects whether they sink or float in water. Also they are making boats and seeing how much weight they can hold!
Going on an EXCURSION (still love saying that word) to Aqua, an aquiarum nearby with cool water creatures and such. I get to be in charge of a group so watch out!

P.S. Some of the kids have started to give me going away presents already...like make me books and such, and I LOVE it! This one girl made me a friendship eraser (didn't know these things existed...so heidi...if you wanna get on that?) She also gave me one of her butterfly hair clips...hmmm well ya know what ev.

Saturday I am going shopping with my teacher! she is super awesome and I can't wait! Hopefully some killer new clothes to bring home:)

Next weekend us American Girls are doing a Thanksgiving dinner that we all put together...so I can test out my new cooking skills! horah!

K well that's all for now...sleep is calling my name! Peace Love and warm :) Keep rocking out and I'll ttys!

Week 2...Teaching!

Week 2...Day 13 in the Land Down Under :)

Hello! This week has been very fun for me socially, as well as somewhat stressful as I have begun my MI unit in the class!

I've begun making a list of differences I notice between the lifestyles and schools here, and back home...so allow me to list a few before you go on and read about my week:

Differences
*Full Stop=period (yeah, apparently the don't call that 'dot' at the end of a sentence a period like we do...my kids gave me the weirdest looks when I tried to make them add "periods"...not called that here apparently!
*Z= Zed...yup...they really call it "zed"...not a joke
*Everything closes at 5pm....other than Thursday night which is 'late night shopping' till 9pm...ohhhhh...(oh Taco Bell...I miss those 2am runs :()
*Cheers,g'day mate, no worries= common phrases
*That's alright= your welcome (people always say this when I say thank you...makes me think I did something wrong)
*Cricket and Netball= like baseball and basketball, but both different...netball you can't dribble...cricket has a flat fat bat and is just weird
*Kangeroo crossing signs...they seriously are like our deer (we had one run across in front of our car!)
*Use Metric system...kinda confusing...although it was pretty funny to see a school zone sign with a speed limit sign for 60! (KM per Hour)...but still
*Hungry Jacks= Burger King (exact same restaurant...but that name was already copyrighted or something like that over hear so they had to use a different one!)

Ok that's all I feel like writing for now...on to my week of teaching experiences!

Teaching Experience:

I had the kids come up with questions about Michigan, and make a concept map about what they know, or think they know about our State...boy did I get some interesting ideas! Funny questions:
1) What is the name of Michigan's President (the same as every other US state's president...lol)
2) Do they have X-box 360s there? (Yes...they came from America)
3) Do people catch crocodiles? (ummm maybe in the zoos??)

Misconceptions
Michigan is in South America
USA, AMERICA, and UNITED STATES are all different places
Michigan has a president
Michigan is as big or bigger than their state of Western Australia (really MI could fit in WA 17 times!)

We did an activity on Tuesday where the kids traced their hands to make the two peninsulas and then wrote in facts from a song I played about Michigan. They are soo artistic! I set up for penpals with a 3rd grade class at my old school I taught at previously. I brought in a puppet cardnial named Connie, who traveled from MI with a letter from the other class, asking if they would be penpals(I know..I'm awesome). The kids were sooo excited! We wrote letters back today and they received letters from their penpals friday morning.

Thursday I went on an excursion to Penguin Island with the year 5's. We saw Fairy Penguins, which I've included a picture of on the side. They are the smallest penguins in the World...about 1 1/2 ft tall! We also went on a seal lion cruise, found them laying on an island, sunbathing...living the good life ya know :) The boat we were on had a clear bottom pane that you could look through and see the Ocean below. So pretty! When we returned from the Island we played a mock game of the Olympics, where the students were split up representing 10 different countries (w/o the American flag represented I might add...prolly cause we would dominate.)
I also got to see a ventriloquist that night! He was super funny and used a bunch of different puppets...including a Scottish rabbit.

Social Activities
Before coming to Perth I got connected with a girl named Anna who had stayed with a guy who is a children's author in Grand Rapids, who I just so happened to buy a book from about MI, mention I was coming here...and whala, connection made! We went out to dinner and the movies Monday night in Leederville...saw 500 days of summer! (which I had seen before..but actually really liked the 2nd time ) I met four of her girlfriends and they are all soo cool/fun. One of them actually live quite close to me:) I actually am starting to have a social life now! They invited me to to the premier of New Moon...the second Twilight movie next wednesday. They are showing Twilight at 9pm...and then New Moon at 12:30pm. We couldn't get the midnight showing cause guess how much the tickets were?...$40!!! (crazy right?) Movies here are really expensive anyway...like 15$ to go...hello student prices?? (I miss my $6 movies :() But yeah...I might die that night cause I prolly wont get home till three...then up at 6am for school. Responsible choice? no. Once in a life time experience with cool Aussi girls? yes! (its only sleep people)

I Haven't been good about posting this week...sooo busy! So that's all for now...and I'll tell you about my weekend soon...w/in the next two days for sure! Love you Love you Love you! TILL NEXT TIME...STAY WARM!

Rachael

Morning Message- Miss G's Favorite Kindergarten Class :)

Dear Friends,

Greetings! I think about you all often and hope you are doing well and learning lots! I can't wait to come visit you all when I return! This week I started teaching my students a unit on Michigan. They have been so excited to learn about where we are from. Guess what? Most of them have never seen snow! (They asked me what it tastes like!) The state I live in over here is really big...Michigan could fit into this state 17 times! I went on a field trip with the 5th graders today up to Penguin Island and saw the cutest little penguins...they couldn't have been more than 1 1/2 ft tall. Did you know there were penguins here? I didn't! I hear you are having nice weather! Hope you are having fun at recess :) Until next time...Miss G Love you :)

Love,

Miss Gonsior

Weekend Festivites

Week One Down...Six to Go!

I can't believe how quick the week went by :) I am having a blast! and now for the weekend update you've all been waiting for I'm sure...

Thursday Night (we'll count this as part of the weekend)

So Len and Heather have a wine tasting group they meet up with on Thursday nights...they go to this Thai restaurant in Subiaco(cool suburb in Perth) and everyone brings wines and they are all in coverings and then we have our own little wine tasting/game show guessing night experience, while the waiters just bring us dish after dish of food...we don't order anything! (It reminded me of Nick's rehearsal dinner Heidi) Here's a sample of the questions people would ask during each "tasting" experience.
Question 1: Is it from Australia, France, or somewhere else?
Question 2: What kind is it? (Sauvignon Blanc, chardonnay,Merlot, Shiraz, etc)
Question 3: What part of the country (N,S,E,W)
Question 4: What vineyard? (choices given)
What's crazy is that some people could get all of these things right! I was pretty bad, but sometimes got a few questions right. I think I tried about 9 wines...and was told later none were less than $40 a bottle. I only didn't like one...and apparently it was the most expensive ($150 from France!) At least I'm a cheap date? lol. I think I'm liking the shiraz wines...they are a red wine with a big bold taste. The Australian wine is really good...it has more of a fruity taste than other countries.

Friday Night

I met other Americans! We went out to a food court type place, where they had lots of different food types and the host parents brought (surprise surprise)wine and wine glasses...its so funny...I guess its pretty typical to go out to eat but to bring your own wine versus buy drinks there...and most restaurants are cool with it. Its like a super common thing. I got to meet the four other COST students here...Lauren,Kendal,Megan,and Mary...all from the US! We got Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan represented now here in Perth :)

I love all the girls...they are fantastic! We went out to Mullaloo bar and I had my first Perth night club experience. This was just a small place, kinda chill atmosphere, balcony outside, dance floor, couches, tables, one bar. I was so surprised though by the music! They were playing stuff that was popular freshman year...even some stuff from highschool! I loved it though...hadn't heard a lot of that stuff in a while. Got to do the soldier boy dance at one point lol. They mixed alot of the music with techno undertones so it had kinda an interesting edge. The first thing I noticed when I entered the bar though was...cute aussi boys. OMG. Seriously...they are like all good looking. And then they start talking to you...and your like...wow.

Exciting things
*the boys here totally dance with each other. Not like how girls do...but almost in a silly funny way...but it was soo cute. They aren't all uptight or self conscious
*most boys were pretty impressed I was from the US and was told I apparently have a sweet accent
*I taught a guy the rocketship pound it...and he LOVED it! (to be fair...who wouldn't...and if you don't know what that is...I'll have to show you!)
*I got to wip out the MI "hand" map and show people where I'm from...oh good times
*Afterwords we all went back and had a girls sleepover! It was super fun...seriously haven't had one of those in ages :)

Saturday
I went Shopping in the city! Bought souvenirs for people and spent like $170...opps! but I got some SWEET sunglasses and earrings...just wait till you see them...they are totally ridiculous (heidi...you may pretend not to be my friend when I wear them). Prices are a bit more expensive...but with the exchange rate, its a bit less...like my earrings were 17 AUs, which is about 15 US dollars...just depends where you shop! We were supposed to go out again Saturday night, but one of the girls got sick this weekend, so that was a no go...just hung out...did a little hot tub in the backyard :)

Sunday Party!
I was supposed to go to a church called Riverview, which is apparently a huge "singy dancy" gathering of young people I was told, but my ride there fell through at the last moment...sad face :( On a brighter note it was Len's 50th birthday celebration! (he's actually 63 and has been celebrating his "50th" for the last 13 years...lol)We ate on the large table outside and there were about 16 people present. Len and Heather had been preparing food the night and morning prior and we had like 10 courses I swear...lots of little appetizers and then "the meal" and deserts...I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back like 30lbs heavier...its ridiculous...but seriously, how can you pass up food that literally looks like it came off of "Top Chef?" (I feel like one of the judges!) And the presentation was flawless! We had "rhombus" shaped plates (which I made the mistake of calling 'diamond'...apparently you don't do that around math professors...my bad)

People came at 1:30...and we chatted and ate until 7pm! By the end we had gone through 17 different wines! (now you may be thinking I must have got super drunk...but no...everyone just takes a little taste of each kind, and its spread out with water and juice in between...so yeah, its not like crazy 17 shots of wine in a row...don't get ridiculous) I met doctors and lawyers, and engineers...ya know...the normal crowd I hangout with. At the end we had ice cream and then you poured coffee and a shot of something over it and it was delicious! (definitely a must try!)

Upcoming excitements
I'm teaching about MI this week, so I've been finding out interesting facts and making some comparisons to the area to put things in perspective for the kids...so I found out today that Perth is a city of 1.56 million people!!! compared to Grand Rapids...which is about 193,000..so yeah...talk about big! (that's like 8x the size of GR! I also figured out that the state of MI could fit in Western Australia (the state Perth is in) about 17 times!

I'm going to the movies tomorrow night...so I'll let ya know how that compares. Apparently they have these "Gold Passes" you can get...which is like first class VIP status. You get a reclining chair like a couch and food and beverage service brought to you. Man...sounds like my kinda movie!

Well now I'm off to bed...love you all and miss you miss you! Till next time...stay warm! XOXO

Rachael

Morning Message 11-6-09

November 6, 2009

G'day Mates! That means, "Hello Friends" in Australia! I made it safely here and miss you all already. It is 80 degrees here because they are going into their summertime. The school I am at is mostly outdoors, so I get to walk outside to go from one building to the next! I go for a run to the beach in the morning and it is so pretty! I ride a bus and a train to school each morning! My first night here I saw a bunch of Kangaroos and included a picture I took of a mommy and her joey (baby). Hope you are doing well and learning lots :) Until next week, kiss your brain! Miss G Loves you!

Love, Miss Gonsior

P.S. The students and teachers here can't pronounce my last name! Its funny to hear them try :)

First Days of School

Day 4 in Australia...

So I've officially been at my school for two and a half days...and I LOVE it :) Our principal is super fantastic and all the staff are soo soo nice and helpful. I love my cooperating teacher...her name is Gemma Brown. We are going to go on a shopping trip in two weekends! It's funny because the staff think its so exciting I'm here from MI...like that's some cool place...and I've had a couple teachers tell me that I have a beautiful accent...haha it's weird to think of myself as the one with the accent.

Funny Happenings:
So they say words here that I understand but just aren't really used in everyday talk that always make me smile. And then they say things that I have no idea what they are talking about...so that is fun times:) List of words below:

picture kids saying:
"I've just come back from Holiday" ie vacation...haha so cute!
"We are planning an excursion". ie field trip...
"I'm going to write in my diary"- i.e. planner
"Can I have a tick?"- Check mark
"Miss Gonsior, I need a rubber." -really...are you sure? ie..eraser! lol

Differences I noticed:
* They raise one finger versus the whole hand
* Children sing "Good Morning (insert teacher name)" as a way to show respect when ever a teacher comes in, or at an assembly...when a new person comes up to talk
* My school is kindy (4 year olds)- year 7 (7th grade).
*School is split into different buildings/blocks, 3-5 together, 6-7 together, etc, and open walkways outdoors in between...kinda like being in a mini college
*Lots of independent work in booklets
* Use of "Beautiful"...such as "look at these children sitting beautifully"...pretty common

Highlights:
*My kids are awesome...they think its so cool that I've made a snowman before and tasted snow :) cute huh?
*They all have the cutest smiles and accents...they really are the definition of "lovely"
*They first day one of the students tried to set me up with another teacher assistant...although hes only 17...seriously...I hate looking so young!
*There is another teacher assistant in my class named James who is the same age as me and super fun to talk with
*I saw a fifth grader wearing shutter shades...enough said :)
*student gave me a nickname (basketball girl), and I call him "Goldfish"
*None of them can pronounce my name...too funny
*Teacher asked a student "where are the penguins?" in regards to a book cover, looking for a location...and the student answered, "on the book"...oh how obvious... :)
* When I told students my name was Miss, not MRS because I'm not married yet...one boy goes, "Well you will be soon!" (oh 3rd grade match makers...too funny)

Upcoming Excitements:

I am going to be teaching a unit on MI next week which should be fun. Except that I need to do research on MI...and i feel dumb that i don't know more...but everyone expects that because I'm from MI I know all the facts, population, history, symbols, what its famous for...etc. Lets calm down...I had MI history in 5th grade. Oh well..should be fun??

I am really excited because my teacher is letting me observe some different grade levels and the 6th/7th grade teacher named Ashley is going to have me teach a science lesson...or couple of lessons on Electricity! So I can't wait to actually teach to a middle school setting...always have wanted..what a cool opportunity!

Ok....so if you made it this far I'm impressed...sorry for so much...everything is just super exciting! And I'm not even covering half of it all :) Miss and love you...and until next time...stay warm :) you know I am :)

G'day mates! (Which is Australian for Hello Friends!)

Well I made it! 26 hours of plane fun and air port security...but it was worth it! I am writing Monday morning, about 9am cause last night...well Jet lag is kinda tough. But I stayed up all day and made it through so we're doing good.

Now for the details...which is what you all want right?

My Flight Experience:
Was pretty fantastic...I guess when I booked my tickets I also picked my meals, so I always received my meals on the plane before the other passengers...so pretty much VIP status :) On my first flight I met this cool guy named Pete whose a newspaper editor in San Francisco (I told him about you Jay!) and he taught me how to play Sudoku. Which...I always thought was a waste of time...and still kinda do...but I'm not gonna lie, I kept the magazine with the one I finished by myself :) I know...too cool for you. On my flight to Sydney I heard my first native Australian speak...and I pretty much knew we were meant for each other at that moment. Ok...jk...but kinda. (never got to meet him though) On my flight to Perth I met a girl named Connie born and raised in Chile but has been living in Perth for the last two years. I'll let you know we are now facebook friends and plan to go see New Moon when it comes out in November together! Horah :)

Arriving in Perth:
It is SOOOOOO pretty here...seriously, like a dream. If you've ever been to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina...reminds me of that style with the palm trees and beaches. My family is fantastic :) My coordinator and family over here as well as another COST student named Megan met me at the airport. We piled into Len's (my host dad) ORANGE car and I just about freaked out when he started driving down the wrong side of the road. Now I would expect that from a girl named Heidi Be...but not an Australian. Except...that they drive on the left side of the road here! and the steering wheel is on the RIGHT side as well! I got a tour of the city and the water and beaches...OMG...amazing! I think I might move here. Except that I would miss all of you too much! The houses around here could all be on cribs...they are HUGE! There are lots of parks, wild life and animals. There are people everywhere, picnicking, running, biking, surfing....yeah :) Pictures soon to come!

Sunday with the Family:
When I arrived at the house I met Heather, my host mom and she gave me a tour of the place. I came to find that my host family is actually British! haha soo funny if you know me :) My two favorite kinds of accents...British, and Australia....and I get to experience both on a daily basis. They have a pool and hot tub in the back...their house has a GORGEOUS balcony that overlooks the Indian Ocean! There are soo many flowers and trees and birds...I seriously think I'm in my own little paradise :) Heather and Len took me shopping for food and we went to Pinnaroo Cemetery (which they call, "sem i try") lol and guess what...I SAW KANGEROOOSSSS!! it was sooo sooo cool! I got to get out of the car andgo up close :) I even saw a baby joey jump into his mommy's pouch! I was soo excited I went immediately into my bunny voice. I got some pics with the kangaroos and a video clip of one jumping around.

Afterwards we went home and Len taught me how to cook the dinner...apparently I'm going to be a sue chef before I leave :) We had chicken wrapped in thyme and some other meat, asparagus, peas, and tea....they LOVE tea :) I've already had more tea in the day I've been here, than I usually do in a week :) They also are experienced wine drinkers, so they made me try four different kinds! (just small portions, calm down). I've never liked wine before...but they informed me that obviously I'd never tried the good stuff...and this was all pretty good.

I got to meet their son Kit (I know...check out that name...love it!) who is 23...haha yeah boy :) He's a film and video graduate and is working on filming some music videos at the moment. He's really cool, we chatted this morning over a cup of tea (haha yeah British families) and he offered to show me around if I need anything. Everyone is sooo nice here!

Well I have to get going...I'm going into school today to meet my teacher, class, and staff in two hours! I'll keep you updated! Until next time....stay warm...you know I am :)

Rachael