it takes a village.

I did not plan to blog about my experiences in the Australian schools, but after one particular visit, I just can't help myself.

I really believe in my heart that the success of a school is not solely the responsibility of the people inside of it. Sure, we trust that our teachers love, instruct, and discipline the kids just as they would their own. Of course, we encourage our kids who attend the school to work their hardest and never give less than their best. However, it has been demonstrated in numerous studies that authentic transformation in a school hinges on the community growth, opportunities, and support in which it is situated. This is why we see urban schools and schools trapped in poverty struggle year after year. Many of the social ails from the community infiltrate the schools. Don't get me wrong, there are pockets of excellence. We can and should learn from those.

This is not a post about standardized testing.

That is an entirely different battle.

I honestly have no clue about the governmental testing imposed here.

That's not what matters to me.

What I am writing about is what I see that works. Teaching practices that inspire creativity and that spur students on to think and reason beyond the a, b, c, d choices on a worksheet.

Teaching is not characterized by incessant talking. Learning is not submissive listening.

I will call this school the "it takes a village" primary school. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed at how this mentality is put into action.

Point from earlier. Schools are often a reflection of the community in which it is situated. What it boils down to is not a responsibility or reflection on the teachers, students, or schools. It is a reflection and evaluation of the community. Kids or no kids, let's do something about this. Colin often reminds me that people are the best investment. We have bought socks, jeans, shoes, weekend meals, gift cards, and even underwear for some of my littles. My precious in-loves have donated ipads to my sweet ones. My mom has donated many books and things that she finds from her notorious closet clean-outs.

All of that is great.

All of that meets a need.

But they will grow out of those jeans. Those socks will get holes in them.

They will never forget the people that invested in them. I expect all of my littles to make changes in their world.

I arrived about 15 minutes early to just observe the school. I like people watching. Teachers were outside mingling with parents. Parents were bringing in plants and shopping bags. When the kids began to file into their classrooms I went to the school office, where the secretary informed me that the principal I had been emailing with couldn't be found and usually she mingled with the parents every morning. About 5 minutes later, she went to find her.

((cheerful office space))

She was in the garden. Wearing an apron. Helping a mother unload some plants for their veggie patch.

She brushed her hands off, and took me around the school introducing me to the staff members, which was 1 teacher per grade level - a relatively small school of about 130 students, giving me the freedom to mingle in and out of classrooms. 

I settled for a year two (second grade) classroom starting spelling. Using Words Their Way, she called each group individually, introducing their spelling pattern and then sending them on their way to complete a sort while she pulled a different group.

While the classrooms were tidy and cheerful, children's work adorned the walls. There wasn't a theme in each classroom and things didn't always match. But it was beautiful and genuine. It was a classroom the children were clearly proud of. 

Within the first two minutes of me sitting down in this classroom, the art teacher I met earlier came in, checked on a few littles who needed some extra grace, agreed to get the work together for a child who was absent, circled the classroom again, and left. Another aid came in and got right to work with those extra-grace-required littles while the teacher conducted small groups. It was seamless. The art teacher didn't feel like she was stepping on the classroom teacher's toes. The aid didn't tiptoe around what the teacher was doing, or stop to ask permission about what she could or couldn't do.They were everyone's kids. Everyone in the school acted like it.

More great experiences in the kindy (kinder) and art classroom. Parents were pulling kids out of classrooms to plant. Oh, and the principal, she had her apron back on planting and popping in and out of classrooms.

((how cool are these "puppets?)) 

It takes a village, remember?

community.

The word "community" has come to mind quite a few times over the weeks that we have been here. 

Being here with each other has strengthened the community that exists in our marriage.

But it has also made us miss the community that we have at home. 

Across the state. Across the nation.

Strangely we have found community here and we cannot help but be reminded of how the Lord looks after us.

Coincidental meetings with friends of friends, random run-ins with Aggies (yes, AGGIES) at church, sweet time in kindy ((kinder)) and primary classrooms full of laughs, and encouragement from the home front have reminded us that the Lord has created the Body of Christ to be in community.

And that is the sermon series at our church here, Subiaco Church - community. This past week we talked about the loyalty of Ruth and what genuine commitment and community looks like. Coincidence? Don't think so. I really encourage you to listen to some of the sermons if you are out for a long drive, run, or with your morning coffee. 

Thankful for the encouragement from this sweet couple. We will miss them as they head back to the states to get their visas worked out. 

Speaking of sweet times with primary littles, I had quite the day at one of the local schools. My thoughts are all over the place as I look over my notes and photos from the day.

Still processing the experience and throwing around ideas of how to best put it into words. I'll write more tomorrow.

Now, it's time for our nightly viewing of Master Chef. Because we don't have any sort of cable. And there's really nothing on Australian tv to begin with aside from footy, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (stop laughing, I'm serious), and The Brady Bunch.

lately.

This week has been pretty slow on our end in terms of Colin's work. He goes into the CDB ((central business district)) of Perth a few times a week for meetings, but mostly it feels like we are on vacation.

Do you ever get those moments where you just start smiling, not even realizing it? I think we are both experiencing a lot of those moments lately. We are just really trying to take advantage of the time with each other, in a new place, experiencing lots of adventures. Together. I don't think we would want it any other way.

A few of our highs:

 Debbie's daughter and my sister are in each other's weddings coming up. We were connected by the two girls and we got to have a great lunch at Tom's Kitchen while both of our husbands were in the city for work. Debbie and her husband will be here for a couple years, but it's always just nice to have someone close by who can relate to this season of life. Debbie was full of tips ranging from good eats in the city to being a supportive wife of a traveling husband. 

We love living in Fremantle. Abbreviated Freo. 

Everything is abbreviated here. 

cappuccino = cap

breakfast = brekky 

Australian = Aussie

cup of = cuppa

university = uni

avocado = avo

Ask me how many of those I feel comfortable using? Yeah, none. 

This week we decided to explore more of our city. We went to the maritime museum, visited The Roundhouse, and explored the university buildings scattered around downtown. 

The Roundhouse is the oldest public building in Fremantle. It is situated right on the coast at a distinctively higher elevation than the other buildings. Initially used to house convicts, there are 8 cells inside of the roundhouse. 

It also provides a wonderful view of the Indian Ocean...

 We also ventured into the city for dinner for Colin's 26th birthday. I picked out a neat place called The Aviary, but as Colin usually knows everything, he guessed it first chance. We ate at The Nest portion on the rooftop. ((Don't be deceived by the short sleeves - there was a heater right beside me.)) 

And because no birthday is complete without dessert, we headed to The Trustee for "the trustee affogato" ((a dessert craving from the birthday boy made of coffee and ice cream wonderfulness)). 

Loving it here. 

taste of home

we might have had homemade pasghetti with avocado, and ciabatta bread from the fremantle bakehouse tonight.

we might have eaten on the balcony and watched the sun settle down behind the harbor.

we might have broke into our wine supply from our margaret river trip. 

we might be watching master chef australia. ((because it is on every. single. night))

love this taste of home.

wine.

Cheers friends! 

After getting some first-hand advice from Colin's business contact here in WA (Western Australia) about front-loading your trip to make sure that you accomplish all of the things you wanted to do, we decided to take him up on the offer to visit his "slice of paradise" in the Margaret River region. 

"Slice of paradise" was quite the understatement. 

Three hours south gives you a lovely drive along the coast of the Indian ocean and brings you to the illustrious region of Margaret River. Which, if it's not on your bucket list of places to go, it should be. Hundreds of wineries reside in this region - all specializing in something different, and all varieties incredible. I mean, even if you're not a wine-person, you will be.

Yesterday, I recovered from my wine-headache migraine while Colin went to a meeting, so we have lots of lovely pictures ready to be shared.

Here is a map in case you want to follow along with us. I'm kind of a "let me see it or I have no clue what you're talking about" person.

We started our trip early Saturday morning and drove along the coast to Cape Naturaliste. It was this quaint, little spot, just a kilometer track or so to the very tip. 

((my goodness, do I really get to keep him for-ev-er?))

In order to kill some time before we met our lovely hosts for lunch, we decided to tour some wineries and do some tastings. Okay, in all honesty, that is why we left at 7:00 in the morning.

A few of our favorites to check out at home:

Window's Estate

House of Cards

Laurance Winery

Lenton Brae

Woodlands Winery

Vasse Feliz (the first to be established in the Margaret River region - and quite spectacular)

Watershed

Saracen Estate

Knee Deep

I mean multiply all of those by a few tastings at each one. Do you have a wine headache migraine already? 

So we met Andre, his partner Kerry, and her two lovely kids Conrad and Meg at one of their favorite wineries/lunch spots, Laurance. This place was exquisite. Rose bushes, lakes, rolling hills with vineyards, and a large gold lady-statue on a blue pole. I mean, you can't miss it. They were such lovely hosts and we were so thankful to get to stay with them for the weekend. Her sweet ones go to a Steiner school in the area, so we talked about that for quite some time. Hoping to use some of that knowledge in my own classroom.

Their "slice of paradise" is 8 acres on a natural reserve. As in, you WILL have kangaroos cross your path while you are running. Our escape plan (because apparently they can be quite mean) was to hoist me on Colin shoulders and punch back. ((Colin's idea)) 

The stars at night were like nothing I had ever seen before. The Milky Way was a clear as ever and they looked so close that it was deceiving if you could touch them. Colin borrowed Andre's tripod and got some great shots. Definitely a "have to see for yourself" moment.

The next morning, we were chauffeured along more of the coast. One of our favorite spots was where the Margaret River feeds into the Indian Ocean. 

Okay, refer back to the map because here's where we start to move. 

Drove down through the Boranup Forest...

...down the coast through Hamelin Bay

...down to Cape Leeuwin 

...and made our way back up through Margaret River and stopped at a few more special wineries and a brewery on our way. 

((I Spy a little kanga munching on leftovers))

I've always heard that you can tell a lot about a person by traveling with them. Colin and I have had the chance to travel to some amazing places and each place we seem to like each other more. You see what they will do in unfamiliar situations, how they treat complete strangers, and how they take the little moments and make them special. 
I like this man.

A few things we have learned:

Left side, left side, left side. 

((Driving takes quite a bit more concentration here))

Attack of the hatchbacks 

((Colin's comment every time we drive anywhere))

Kangaroos are like deer here. We have seen 3 alive and close to 8 well, not alive. Little bits of my heart died every time we saw roadkill.

Thankful for an amazing weekend, with an amazing partner, in an amazing place.

three.

THREE. 

t-h-r-e-e. 

tres. 

III 

It is hard to wrap my mind around the fact that three years have passed since I became the wife of the most humble, selfless, hard-working man I know. The thought of getting to be his forever never gets old. Life is just better together - the adventures, the early mornings, the car rides, the thunderstorms, everything. 

Our wedding day was more than we could have ever imagined. While we did work hard to make sure things were on track to work out, we were both very laid back. At the end of the  day, despite whatever may come, we would be married. Continuously after the big day we had people telling us that the day was just perfectly simple and that it couldn't be more "us" - both of which are sought-after compliments that meant the world to both of us. The vows were traditional and classy, but after three years and discovering much about my husband, I think we could sneak some additional promises in there. 

I will...

clean the toilets

organize our meals and grocery lists each week

encourage you to floss

send you a love email every day that you are away from me

You will...

bring me a straw with my drink

use your "spidey sense" to see if my computer is "in the red" and needs a plug-in

continue to know the answer to everything

give me forehead kisses when you leave for work

Here's to three {or thirty-three} {or MORE} years together.

land down under.

We have had a few of our people, okay like the 4 of you that read this years {can I say that already?} ago, ask if we were thinking about blogging while we are on our Australian adventure this summer. My confident answer was a "ummm, well, we will see". Usually excelling at maintaining commitments, our blog was the first to go when a combination of elementary school, graduate school, new marriage, and all sorts of adjustments ensued. In life, I think that it needs to be done well, or not at all. As you can see, it wasn't done at all. Ooops. What I can promise is that during this month or so that we are here, I will have some time to update the 4 of you on our adventures, pretty things we find, and our story.  Currently it is 5:55 in the morning. I've been up since 3:43. Taking the term "morning person" to an entire new level. I blame it on the jet-lag that gets me to sleep by 8pm. Things are still dark here with the exception of ship lights on the harbor. Our apartment is in Fremantle, which is right outside of Perth. It is right on the coast and overlooks a shipyard with miles of coast on each side. Every now and again we hear the whistling of the train or a ship horn. For some strange reason, it makes it feel more like home. We have had lots of adventures and good eats since we have been here.    We have enjoyed runs along the coast for the past few mornings. Since it takes 21 days to form a habit, maybe since we will be here for more than 21 days the habit will stick?! (Bear with me - I'm just trying to convince my sore legs from hill running yesterday morning that this IS a good thing..)
 

Partially to blame for the need to be diligent about running each day is the incredible spread of food we are offered daily. We went to the market to get some lunch staples, but breakfast and dinner are meals that we feel it is imperative to eat and explore. A few of our favorite spots..
 

Wild Poppy   yoghurt and muesli   poached eggs on avocado toast
 

Blue Duck   fish and chips   gnocchi with roasted pumpkin, tomatoes, sage, and pine nuts
 

Greenhouse   in-house pasta with bacon, mushrooms, spinach, and a creamy sauce   ancho-chile spiced fava bean soup with mixed leaves {salad}   We have also enjoyed some exploration fun. Walking shoes are a plus.
 

A few notes to self:  Lights off - switch UP, lights on - switch DOWN (wash, rinse, and repeat, repeat, repeat...) When crossing the street, look left, look right, look right again (maybe even again to be safe). Traffic goes in the opposite direction...  Don't wait for your check at a restaurant. Go find the register. (Thankful husband has been here a few times and knows these things. Otherwise we would be sitting at our table for quite some time.) 
 We are also excited to celebrate our third anniversary a little ahead of American times. We were just so excited that we couldn't wait, so we came to Australia. Not exactly, but it is a plus. Excited for another day of anniversary exploration and fun.    Now, for that run...