Le Fevre High School...

Yesterday was my first day at my field placement. Le Fevre High School. I got there a good half hour before time because there is simply no good connection to get there (or leave). It was simply brilliant. Its a wonderful place. Looks great, as does most places in Australia. It was also exceptionally cold because its right next to the beach and this makes it a very interesting place in summer i'm told. LOL. I'll be in for a treat it seems. the beaches are amazing i've been told. I did go a fews back to the beach when I made my recon trip to the school. Walked up a bit of the beach actually. It was fun, but unbearably cold.

Anyway, enough of the beaches. I got to the school way ahead of time only to ask for my mentor (I think that is what they call them) is not available. She's on leave. She is the senior counsellor of the school and she fell ill overnight and could not make it to the school. So I had the Principal of the school take me up to give me initial introductions. Filled in the paperwork and started chatting with Rob (Principal) and he tells me that he just landed from India 2 weeks back as well. I just found out rudely that one cannot run away from India where ever you go. Eeek!!!

Anyway, I was asked to see the various programmes of the school and first up was the programme called Art Think. Amazing little thing that happened. An elder aboriginal person from the Adelaide area had come and was working with the school to take up a new programme that was taken to help the mental health of young aboriginal kids. They were using a form of Art therapy on the day but I realised it was not just Art that was being used. After about 2 hours of drawing, the stories started to slowly pour out. The elder person was relating to the younger kids and teaching them about their roots. It was almost instantaneous in the way the children understood they were understood as an original people of the land. It was a bonding that words cannot express. I had to leave after about 3 hours with the group because I had to go to a new initiative that the school was doing... Ice Hokey...

Ice Hokey; definitely not your average sport. I can vouch for it. I don't say this because the sport is something that I understand. I don't know head or tail about it...but I did understand that the sport requires you to have a lot of warm clothing even just to see it. Its COLD!!!!! I thought i froze when I came to Australia. This was the coldest i've ever experienced. My legs were frozen to the bone and my fingers... What fingers? I couldn't feel them. I was not sure I had a nose anymore. It was so cold that when I touched my nose, I had no feeling.... Not pleasant at all... Really.... But I enjoyed every moment of it. Very Ironic I know but I did. I should have gone skating actually. But I did not. Maybe next week. I'll be more prepared to hold the cold in. The most shocking part was that some of the kids who came to play were sleeping on the ice. Its made me shudder just to see it.

After all this, I came home and just had an early night. It was too cold for me to do anything. . .

Today was university as usual. So nothing great actually. Bought my text book. 36 dollars for this text. But its a good one I hear. Hmmmm....

Sundry Pics for you

I'm not a professional photographer and I don't have a great camera. I used a camera phone for these and all the pics on this blog thus far...

Some of the University buildings

Adelaide CBD with a rainbow right in the middle

Read ME!!!

Creek on campus

In the backyard... (Its what you put mosquito repellant candles in while you have a BBQ outside) :D 

Busy Again

With studies back in the agenda, I don't think its very easy to keep a blog. Hmmm... Was this a good idea at all? I don't know. My world changed from dusty hot sweaty streets to cold freezing dry bright green colours. (Small hitch; I'm not able to upload photos). Anyway's; my descriptive english should do the trick to try and get you all to imagine what is going on in my mind. Yes, I know, i'm not great, but hey, I try.

Well, Uni started on tuesday... Oh hang on; Let me start from Sat/Sunday. I guess, i'm really behind.

Sat: Can't really remember what happened or if I did anything.

Friday: I remember friday... Went for a movie. What else... but the dark knight rises... I have to say, I now realise where the concepts that Satyam come out with are really from. Well, its practically a western movie theatre. And yes, Satyam does match and even exceed some of the other theatres i've seen. So I guess India is moving ahead in some ways. Ironic!!! Yeah, I know.

Sunday: Got up in the morning and went to Woodville Uniting Church. This is where Kaye is the minister. Got there a little before everyone else. One has to set up for the service right? Have the water in the boiler so that hot water will be served for tea after and heaters and seating done up so that everyone would feel really comfortable. Well, unlike what people would generally thing, this congregation has more African refugees than what many people realise. People from all walks of life. I've been meeting people who grew up with the actual people who went through the issues in the movie Rabbit Proof Fence. This is as real as it will get I guess. Been quite an amazing adventure so far.  Lazed around the rest of the sunday if you can get what I mean.

Monday: Can't remember a thing

Wednesday: University day. So this drives me to wake up early in the morning 5:30am. In the cold, it is difficult. You just don't want to get out from under the blankets... but, yes, i'm dragging myself out... or at least I thought I did... at 6, my second alarm goes off and I find myself still only half way out of the bed. Not good. I just lost half an hour... So run, SSS and then head for the kitchen. What's for breakfast at 6:30am. No good... I hate to have to get my hands out of my pocket. Its still cold and dark outside. Yes Dark... Not a good feeling. So I slowly get going to make myself a lovely steaming hot tea. Wow... that feels amazing... And then I get myself to down some cornflakes for breakfast.
Lunch is something I "have" to consider. Anything will cost a minimum of AU$5 or above for a bite at lunch so I get my sandwich skills to work and make myself a chicken ham sandwich with lettuce tomatoes and mushrooms and some cheese. Yum!!!... Toast, pack and take it along with me to uni...
By 7:30 i'm at the bus stop. I have to catch the 7:32 bus. Otherwise, i'll not reach by 9:00am for class. And yes, it starts at 9am. The bus comes and off I go to Uni.

Reach the class and realised that i'm not the only one who's found it as a cold start for the day. Its been a struggle. We start off almost 10 minutes late. Well, as far as the class goes, it was just like any other class in any other place. Curriculum needs to be completed whatever it is. It could be a tutorial guide or a syllabus but its all the same. Something that the world thinks that we need. The only class I really liked was my Masters class on Leadership in Social Work. That was because, they really made you think what you think and what your opinions about it is all about. This is what the "experts" think. Now you have to tell what it is and take it one step further.

Thursday: I just stayed at home, Organised my entire semester with all the things I have to get done. Believe me, its a lot. with 3 days of Field work, its not a joke. I'm really busy, which brings me back to wondering if I really will have the time to jot down my blog every day. With nothing going on i'm not doing it. I hope I do and really want to as well. Well, time for a late night tea...

My Humble abode...

This is my humble abode... Where my host Kaye has been ever so happy to have me for the next 6 months.

I know I've not posted for the last few days but i've not forgotten to write about it. I will be writing as soon as I get some creative time on my hands.

However, coming back to the topic at hand; This is the place I shall call home for the next 6 months or so. Its a wonderful home with nice lawn in the front (which you can see) and a lovely backyard (Next Pic).

The Back Yard

I intend to have a great time once I get to know my surroundings is what I first said, but now I do know my surroundings and I find myself huddling in the warmth of this lovely home. I should get out and I know that but its just not happening at the moment. :(

I seem to have adjusted to the travel and various other conditions that Australia is offering me. The more I am here, I realise the opportunity that it is for me. Its amazing. All I can ever do is just to say "Thank you God"

More updates coming soon...

First Day in Class!!!

How I wondered what this day would be like. I could not get much sleep and ended up waking early in the morning. 1AM - Beat that. I wonder if it was just a longing to get to class or I was just darn nervous. Either way, I was up and just could not sleep. Not the best thing when you really need the sleep. Not to mention that some of my friends in India thought that 9pm there was 9 pm here... That was not funny. Grrr... But anyway, I was finally asleep by 3 or so I guess; only to wake up half an hour late.

This was not becoming the good start that I expected. I thought it would be better, however, I did manage to get to the class before time and that was really great.

Workshop day it was today and we had a full 6 hour session. I felt engaged the whole time and more than just being engaged and not able to think of anything, I was able to let my thoughts run wild and think of the various things. My mind 'really' started working like it was free to do nothing else. Its amazing what a nice warm class with others who are willing to challenge your intellect and give an environment that is enabling can do to a person. By the end of the workshop, we were given 2 assignments. For a first day; its not bad at all.

During the break, I did however find the campus extremely beautiful. Really green. :D

Just a shot of the campus that is my home for the next 6 months

I came home to check up on all the reading up I had to do and I must say it is a shocking... but hey, I don't think i'll be sad to do the reading. I'm looking forward to it and i'm sure i'll enjoy it also. Its a great way to start I guess.

So, Day one is done; I wonder what Day 2 will be like. I still don't have my field placement done and that is not very good for me. I guess i'll have to make a call sometime and work it out. Lets find out what happens.

Adelaide at long last!!!

Its been 2 days and i've not been able to publish anything... Grrr... Not good. I need to set apart some good time to type away my thoughts and musings of each day.

Finally I ended up in Adelaide day before yesterday and was really pleased to get to my final destination.

I was really surprised and shocked to see Kaye (My Host), shout out, "Benjamin" as I walked up the ramp straight from the aeroplane. I've never seen any place where someone who comes to collect you can walk right up to the gate. It was quite a shock for me.

Well, I came home only to find that the room that was assigned for me was no longer empty. So I had to take the guest room. This was just fine for me. I stayed the first night completely tired with all the travelling so I knew I was not going to see or know anything. Kaye had invited me to come for the ceremony of the new uniting church president who was to take over and that was in the night. So I agreed to go and see what this was all about.

For a first day in Adelaide, I was sure I had quite a treat. Its was something that was really good. A huge auditorium that had almost 2000 people in it and the service took place in this auditorium. The place was brilliant. All warm and everything. At the end of it, I was looking to get home and sleep. This I did do very well too.

The next morning was again a day I had to just go running. It was something I never expected. I woke up a little late and Kaye offered to take me to the City Campus of the University. This was going to be Day one. After putting Smith (My classmate) on a flight to Australia, I was going to meet up with him again. And we did. He was really helpful because he knew everything that needed to be done and so we got my ID Card in 5 minutes (WOW. Beats the One month wait in MCC by a Mile and a half) and got my account opened in another 10 minutes and went back to the international office to meet up with the international officer and had a splendid time. It was simply great. I was done even before lunch. I definitely did not expect this much efficiency. I thought it would take at least after lunch. Well, this was great. So this left only one more thing to do. Walk around Adelaide city and see what one can do.

Smithson Sunny enjoying the heat of the sun

China town was our next big stop over and as any china town anywhere else as I've seen, this was great. Had lunch and set off to see each other's homes. First stop was Smith's place and then we decided to get over to my place.

Smith was kind enough to help me out moving all the stuff in my actual room to the guest room so that I could move right back in. It was indeed great.

I had to head to Uni for the welcome lunch from the department so it was going to be a wonderful first day.

Singing songs in Perth...

I have to say; I under estimated the cold of the country. I've been told that its cooler in Adelaide. Not the best thing to look forward to when I can hardly sense anything in my fingers. Taking a bath in the morning, I had a tough time figuring out if the water was cold or hot. My hands were so frozen that I just could not figure it out. I need more warm clothes to help me out.

Well, my dear friend Ginsu has been a wonderful host. He's taken me up and about all over the place to  show me what Perth is all about. He even wanted to send me to Prison!!! Yikes!!!. Naah. Its a tour in one of the old prisons. I turned him down. I did not want to go on a prison walk while he sat about all alone. I thought I'd rather sit around with him and catch up on a very many years of history. Each of us had enough and more to share.

I went about to the various places in the city. Saw all the lovely attractions that are there to see. My brain was so tired that I cannot remember even a single place now.

All I remember is a lovely pier that we went to, to have some amazing fish and chips. I underestimated the portion but the delayed lunch was well spent with 2 portions of fish and a whole lot of fries. Its great to have. Seeing how the gulls were really just waiting to have a go at a free meal, I thought it wise to just be indoors and not be at the mercy of all the birds. A stroll down the waterfront and we decided that we need to head off.

In the evening we thought of going for a movie, however, we went to the house a lovely family that Ginsu knows. Pulled up a guitar and the words to about 200 pages of music and started to sing. WOW... what a joy it was to sit around in a group and just sing. It felt amazing. Its been ages and my fingers were not really ready to take the punishment that I was dishing out to them. they decided to tell me to stop with the guitar and hand it over to Ginsu. He plays so much better than I remember. Well, he does lead the choir in his church now. So he better. :P. Anyways; its an experience i'm sure i'm going to cherish for quite a while.

I can slowly hear myself picking up the local lingo as well. Especially when I have no clue what is going on. Its brilliant. For one, i'm a person who really is interested in various accents and various ways of speaking the english language that another one under the belt is really going to be something of a keeper. I can hear myself talking in the australian accent already. Its not fun. I've not put it to practise yet, but i'm sure i'll get the chance.

Well, the night is old and I need to catch a plane in the morning and head off to Adelaide. So I better get to sleep. Going to miss this interesting little place called Perth. Everyone i've been talking to say that this is one other corner of Australia and is cut off from the rest of the country. I hope this is not the last time I get to come here though. Lets see. God has his way with getting us to places we least expect ourselves to be at. 

Perth!!!

"Its not cold... its just like what the cold is back in Africa" ... my first thoughts as I smelt the air when I stepped off the plane.

Dead tired, I was glad to see a much bigger but same old familiar face. Its always great to be welcomed by someone you know when you reach the destination.

After spending most of the night catching up on almost 5 years of history, both of us crashed. All I remember is sleeping like a baby. I was just so tired after 2 days of absolutely no sleep whatsoever. I woke up in the morning only to remember the freezing cold. Yes; It is cold. I can hardly feel my fingers as I type away on the keys right now. I guess after 45 degrees heat, my body is still trying to figure out what is going on.

I took a small stroll in the back yard and its been great. I like the weather. It does remind me of Botswana. I see loads of similarities.

Quite an uneventful day this has been so far but looking forward to the evening once my friend gets back from work.

Ah... Welcome to Australia...

Hong Kong!!!

Yesterday (11th) was such a calm after having a night where I thought I'd never get a ticket to go to Australia. Well, it seems i'm going to be going after all. I can never stop to be amazed and wonder at how God works and how he wants us to continuously trust in him and his ways.

Leaving Chennai, I was pondering about how many times i've flown out of that airport but never for anything like what i'm about to embark upon. This is quite exciting. I'm fulfilling a dream i've been carrying for over 6 years. Yes, God takes his time to give to each one of us our dream and He knows when exactly it is that we are ready to receive it also.

As I sit here at Hong Kong International Airport, I am still wondering if i'm in a dream or if this is reality in a sort of unsure manner. I know I sound confused of sorts but I cannot but be really thankful for God's mercy in my life thus far.

I landed here at about 830am IST and have to wait about 4 hours for my next flight out of here.

Only one thing bugs me. I'm hungry. I think i'll wait it out till I get my in flight food. Really don't feel like getting any food from inside the airport.

I'm looking forward to getting down at Perth though and meeting up with one of my dear old friends who I have not seen for many many years now. 

The Wait

I got myself finally to start up this post so that everyone can read up on what is going on with me when I am in Australia.

Its been an amazing and exciting journey so far. I just got my Visa yesterday after waiting on it for more than a month. Even the agency was getting worried as to what is going on here. I was not worried but it was great to see my passport again with the Visa stamped on it.

Now my next battle is going on. I wait for a ticket which is bearable to travel on. Airlines really know how to squeeze the daylights out of us. When in need, bump up the tickets. Anyway, i'm certain that I will get an economically viable ticket to travel on. Looking forward for the next 6 months. :) Praise God for his mercies and all that He is doing in my life.

16:45 - Still not able to get a ticket ... God will make a way, where there seems to be no way ...