Well, we have settled in well to Darwin and have quickly adapted to the change in lifestyle and weather. The cyclone that came through Darwin missed us and so it seems we have survived the wet season - which was actually beautiful! We've both been getting plenty of work and I've been having fun teaching prep to 12, including taking some Indigenous classes. Lots of on-the-job learning! As part of JR's work he spent a couple of days on the Gove Peninsula (about an hour away by plane) hanging out with the Indigenous kids there which he absolutely loved.
Birthday celebrations with a difference
2 days before my birthday I was at work and was approached by the education support officer regarding whether or not JR and I would be available to step in as house parents for the weekend for a couple who were sick. We worked out a few details (still having no idea what being house parents meant!) and decided that we were happy to help out. So we packed a few things that night and then started the 2 hour drive to the remote homeland school straight after work the next day. And so began a weekend of fun adventures and eye opening experiences... In short, we were in charge of looking after 7 indigenous teenage girls for the weekend, including providing meals, monitoring mobile phone use, washing clothes, cleaning and generally making sure that they didn't get up to too much mischief. It was such a great experience for us to spend the whole weekend with these girls and while there were many challenges, overall it was a great experience for us. We took the girls shopping in Darwin and had a ball swimming with some of the girls in a local waterfall. JR convinced a couple of the girls to sing me happy birthday and I felt privileged to spend my birthday weekend with our new friends.
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| Beautiful waterfall just near where we looked after the girls |
NTFL grand final
And so we made it to our first footy match since leaving Vic and it was one of the best games we've ever been to! Not only did the NTFL footy final happen to be on while we were in Darwin, but it was the TIWI BOMBERS who were fighting for their first ever flag. To give you an idea of how it differed from an AFL final at the G, tickets were only $15 and we bought them at the gate and then found a grassy spot on the barrier right behind the goals with all the mad Tiwi supporters. I was the only white female supporter for the Tiwi Bombers (apart from the odd one or two sitting up in the stands) and had a ball cheering with the Indigenous kids and families beside us. I'll never forget the little kid next to me who looked up and said, "oh no, here comes my mum, she's so embarrassing" as his mum walked towards us screaming for the Bombers. I loved the way they'd shout out, "that's my son," "see number 19, he's my family!" in support of their relatives. It was like being at a country footy match! Bombers were down at half time, but came back for a massive win and it was an incredible experience to run on the field after the match with all the other supporters and families as they danced around their players and celebrated their victory.
Change of plans
It's funny, since I first wrote the draft for this blog (admittedly, while we were in the Philippines) our plans have constantly been changing. Life is a fun journey of trusting God and following His lead! Up until a week or two ago we were seriously considering doing some remote teaching in the NT, but have put that idea on the back burner for the time being. Given our thinking at the time, JR started the first semester of his online graduate diploma of teaching and learning (they managed to squeeze him into the course the week we arrived in Darwin - a week after the course had already started!) and is deciding whether or not it is still worth pursuing to the end of the year. We've had all sorts of opportunities arise in the last week or so regarding our next steps, but I'll let JR tell you fill you in on our latest thoughts in the next blog. Either way it is looking like we will be putting the rest of our trip on hold.
So as we put our trip plans on hold for now, we have just moved into a place of our own to rent. We absolutely love it and it is right on the foreshore of a beautiful part of Darwin and is conveniently situated right next door to Rachel and Adrian's (who have been amazing in accommodating us!). I've been offered 3 days teaching a week (plus relief work on the other days) for the rest of the term and we have settled into a great church up here. Life is one amazing adventure!
Take care and God bless,
J & R.
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