The last few weeks of term 3 were hectic and really draining. I completed Connor’s Run with the year 10 students for our school’s community service project. We ran the 9.6 km route from St. Kilda into the city, finishing near Flinders Street Station. Considering I did zero training for this run, I didn’t die and didn’t injure myself, so I consider it a success. I could barely walk for the next few days, but that was to be expected! Proud of myself for trying and being a positive role model in the school and community.
Term break is always such a welcomed reprieve from the daily rotation. It’s a time to recharge, relax and sleep in. Week 1 of holidays was chill. I got to take the morning pilates classes and go on causal strolls for coffee whenever I pleased (this is what I imagine the life of the wealthy consists of). I got out into nature, completed errands and appointments and caught up on some marking (blah). Michael and I also went to the Accidentally Wes Anderson exhibit downtown and enjoyed being tourists in our own city. Always so much to see and do (and of course, eat and drink).
In Australia, AFL (Australian Football League) is king here. It is the most popular sport in Victoria and the city is obsessed with all things AFL during the footy season. Victoria even has, “Friday before the AFL Grand Final” as a public holiday. My students cannot believe that I really don’t care about the sport. They stew over the fact that I don’t support a team and routinely bring up that if I live here I have to. They’ve come up with pro con lists of who I can and cannot cheer for and the reasons why. Teenagers sure make you laugh (when they’re not driving you bananas).
For the second week of break we went to the Gold Coast (which is up in Queensland) for a few days. We had the opportunity to stay at the Gold Coast Langham (which is a 5 star hotel and normally way beyond our price budget). The place was fancy and quite the spectacle, a really special treat for us! The hope was to catch some sun and recharge our vitamin d deficiency. But alas, things don’t always go according to plan. The majority of our trip was spent battling gale force winds and cool cloudy skies. Not exactly what we were crossing our fingers for, but we made the best of it.
Our last day was by far the nicest of the bunch (of course the last day turns on the charm)! It was blue skies and hot and sunny. We lived it up and got decent sunburns to remember it by.
The flight home was a real bummer. Delayed over an hour, had an entire girls gymnastics team onboard (who were very hyper teenagers that made sure everyone knew they were there and were definitely not tired), plus I was extremely sick and in a mood. Boo.
In spite of all the drama, we made it home safely and got ready for the week ahead. Just one more term to go and I’ll have another school year under my belt.
This term we have a few fun things planned as the weather starts to turn around. We head down to Tasmania for a few days to celebrate Michael’s birthday later this month, then we have a weekend camping trip in Victoria at the beginning of December, and of course flying back to Canada via Hawaii for Christmas. Here’s to hoping that term 4 flies by and is full of wonderful things and sunny days ahead.
With Love,
Alex & Michael
