Mondays are some of the few days when I get to have a super packed day. Very entertaining and very challenging as well. After having learned about a bit of the history of this nation; The real history, I found myself challenged and even giving myself a time of introspection. This is not the country you see from the outside world. Australia has a rough past. A real rough one, where now the move to integrate the 2 types of cultures are taking place. Its astonishing as to what skin colour can mean to some people and the power they claim over it. Underneath this skin it's still flesh and blood.
I was honoured to be a part of a fire ceremony that took place in grounds of the school. Where an elder of the community is now working with and among the people. He made fire, the original way. The way the first peoples of the World made it. The way the first peoples of Australia made it.
This small fireplace or nest like structure was built by the young australian children of the school I work in as part of my field placement. This was an amazing experience and one that I won't forget. For the things done here are beyond words can ever explain. One must understand and respect what an action like this has as an effect over people more than what classroom teaching can do. You can change a persons thinking and way of living if you take them out and place them through situations like this.
Life is all about living and being. We are Human "beings". Where did that being of ours go? I'll stop with my philosophies now.
The next step was probably something that I have only seen in africa many years ago. Making fire with just something as simple as friction.
After this was the ceremony that I unfortunately could not take pictures of because there are rules and regulations of taking pictures of students of the school. These were the pics I got without any students in them. After this, everyone sat around the fire and the elder spoke wisdom to the young children. And to us to be precise.
And thus the fire was made...
I unfortunately could not stay on at the fire place. I had other prior made appointments that I had to honour but I was so glad to be a part of this small exercise that I really saw connected to the kids of the school. This was giving many of the aboriginal kids an identity of where they have come from.
After this, I had to rush off to an Ice hokey arena. Yes, An ICE hokey arena. There is a fabulous programme for kids who want to be involved in Ice hokey to start to come and play. Only one condition. You want to play, you've got to study. Many kids are there that are doing much better today and have done decently well with their lives because of what this programme is achieving. There is however, something I like even more. I am on an ice hokey arena. Something i've never done before and may never get a chance outside this trip down under. Who knows!
You remember when I was complaining about things being cold? Well, you've got to go into this arena. Now I understand why everyone wears all the warm clothing to go for this. Its freezing.... I had a bit of advance notice so it was good. Oh and I realised there is another purpose why everyone has hot chocolate. Yes, I did say Hot chocolate. Its really simple. It keeps your hands and fingers warm. It works like magic. It has to be one of the few things that I learnt on survival. Don't drink your hot drink until its luke warm. It keeps you warm. ;)
Well, that is all I have in store right now. I'll have stuff up for everyone soon. Have my assignments due right now so not going to really get much time to do blogging.
 |
| Preparing the fireplace |
 |
| Fireplace |
Life is all about living and being. We are Human "beings". Where did that being of ours go? I'll stop with my philosophies now.
The next step was probably something that I have only seen in africa many years ago. Making fire with just something as simple as friction.
After this was the ceremony that I unfortunately could not take pictures of because there are rules and regulations of taking pictures of students of the school. These were the pics I got without any students in them. After this, everyone sat around the fire and the elder spoke wisdom to the young children. And to us to be precise.
And thus the fire was made...
I unfortunately could not stay on at the fire place. I had other prior made appointments that I had to honour but I was so glad to be a part of this small exercise that I really saw connected to the kids of the school. This was giving many of the aboriginal kids an identity of where they have come from.
After this, I had to rush off to an Ice hokey arena. Yes, An ICE hokey arena. There is a fabulous programme for kids who want to be involved in Ice hokey to start to come and play. Only one condition. You want to play, you've got to study. Many kids are there that are doing much better today and have done decently well with their lives because of what this programme is achieving. There is however, something I like even more. I am on an ice hokey arena. Something i've never done before and may never get a chance outside this trip down under. Who knows!
You remember when I was complaining about things being cold? Well, you've got to go into this arena. Now I understand why everyone wears all the warm clothing to go for this. Its freezing.... I had a bit of advance notice so it was good. Oh and I realised there is another purpose why everyone has hot chocolate. Yes, I did say Hot chocolate. Its really simple. It keeps your hands and fingers warm. It works like magic. It has to be one of the few things that I learnt on survival. Don't drink your hot drink until its luke warm. It keeps you warm. ;)
Well, that is all I have in store right now. I'll have stuff up for everyone soon. Have my assignments due right now so not going to really get much time to do blogging.
 |
| Le Fevre High School Ice Hokey team at the Ice Factor Training. |
No comments:
Post a Comment