Hello family and friends!!
Well, our visas are in place and the plane tickets are booked. We're off to Northmead (28 km north-west of Sydney) Australia for one year on December 30th, 2007. We're taking Air Canada's direct flight from Vancouver to Sydney. Spending New Years Eve up in the sky will be a first for all of us and we'll be arriving at Kingsford Smith International Airport 15 hours later at 10 am on New Years Day! It boggles my mind just how far Australia is from Canada -- 12,522 kilometers or 7781 miles or 6762 nautical miles.
This teaching exchange opportunity came about in early September and after minutes of deliberation we decided to go for it. We've spend the past 8 weeks getting signatures and sign offs; we are finally set and ready to go (kinda)! I believe our exchange is about the fastest one in history; usually folks take at least a year to plan! Plan Sman, I guess this is typical of us. Live for the moment in chaos!
Our exchange partner is Fiona Shand and she is originally from England. She lives in a three bedroom duplex where our family will be for 2008. It looks like there is room to enjoy visitors so if you should find yourself in the neighbourhood, please come and stay!!
Fergus will be teaching at Oakhill College in Castle Hill, NSW. A co-ed catholic establishment. Should be quite a change from Prince of Wales Secondary in Shaughnessy.
We're trying to figure out where Margot will be attending school, Gr. 1. There are two options. Public or private catholic school, both of which are about 2.5 km away from the house. Although we are very much pro-public education, we are actually leaning towards the catholic school. They have a better reputation and a better web-site with smiley children. I CANNOT wait to get Margot in a school uniform!! No more arguments about what to wear...at least for 5 days of the week.
As for Fiona and myself, it's up in the air for now. We might enroll Fiona in part-time preschool to give her some socializing since she is such a sociable animal. I think I can work under Fergus' visa but I'm not sure I really want to. Life has been crazy the past few years and it'd be a nice to get off the crazy roller coast and instead spend some time with the girls, hang out, explore Sydney and Australia, learn lots about australian cuisine, take photos....I am sure I can find enough things to occupy my time.
More soon.
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