The beginnings of tutoring

One of my 'goals' for the last year has been to get more involved in African issues whilst based in Australia. I figured that if I couldn't get myself back 'home' anytime soon, I had to do SOMETHING to keep that restless spirit satiated.

Mid last year I watched a documentary on SBS about refugees on Humanitarian Visas, and how difficult it can be for them settling into a new country, learning the new culture and language and customs and just coping with day to day life and all the things we as Australians (and those in the western world at large) take for granted. It stirred something up in me, and I began looking at tutoring and conversation classes for refugees with an African background.

Not too long after, B's best friend Dion made me aware of a group called VoRTCS (pronounced Vortex). A not for profit organisation based in Brisbane that works under St Vincent De Paul, and matches volunteer tutors up with refugee families to help them learn english, improve their communication skills and ultimately feel more a part of the Australian community. I signed up with them back in October, had my orientation sessions back in November, and have been waiting patiently (ha! My nose seems to be growing!) ever since to be assigned a family to work with.

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting my family, and the tutors I will be working with. They are a Sudanese family that have been here for around five years, and just need a little bit of extra help to develop their English skills a bit more. They have a few children, and we'll be helping them with their school work once a week for an hour or so.

I'm constantly amazed as to how small the world really is. One of my fellow tutors works with my mum and the other works as an OT at my work! I can't believe it!

So I'm very very excited about this new tutoring adventure, and it feels good to get involved in something that is doing a lot of good in the local community.

For more information on VoRTCS - please visit www.refugeetutoring.org

Holidays - Seal Rocks

Most of our holiday involved rain. Far too much for all of us. In fact they declared a 'State of Emergency' about an hours north of Blueys that lasted for the first 3 days of our time away.

But once the sun came out (on the Thursday - 2 days before heading home!), B and I managed to do a lovely drive to Seal Rocks, just down the road from where we were staying.

If my wedding location gives you any clue, I love lighthouses. I would quite happily retire to a cottage next to one and live the rest of my days there. So finding Seal Rocks Lighthouse was as beautiful as it looked in the brochures was very very nice.

You have a bit of a walk before you reach the lighthouse - maybe a kilometre, winding up and up on a track, past some gorgeous little inlets around the rocky shoreline.



It amazed me how much like Tallows Beach (Byron Bay) this shot looks



We stood here for a while watching the flow of water crash over the rocks every couple of minutes


Once we were up there we found (to my delight) there were cabins available for holiday hire. They've all been renovated and just look beautiful.







We took lots of photos around and inside the lighthouse, and I think we might look at staying up here at some point in the future.









On our way back down the path we turned around and discovered this little guy (and a mate) following us out. So with a quickened pace so as to not antagonise them, we made our way safely back to the car.







Safe!

Holidays - Larry joins the establishment

Have you managed to miss the fact that I am oh-so-slightly obsessed by cows?

Whilst we were down at Blueys, we went across to Myall Lakes and found this amazing little cafe called 'Two Cows Cafe'.



A warning as you enter the cafe



The namesakes



This cafe was such a treat! There is memorabilia over all the walls, amazing photos and newspaper articles of the areas from the 1800s and with a definitive theme of everything bovine.



My amazing tablemat - a 'scrapbook' of various newspaper cuttings and photos of the area from the early 20th century.



The mug my scrummy mocha arrived in.



On the way out my ever-spoiling husband agreed that I could choose a new 'adoptee' from the expansive collection of fluffy cow toys. And so Larry became an integral part of our growing bovine family.



B, meet Larry



Making himself comfortable



And so then came the hard task of introducing our well-travelled 'child', Murray, to the new addition.



Murray, meet Larry



Muuuuu-uuuuuum, he smells funny!



I promise you Larry, it's not THAT high up!



Ok you two, time-out!!



By the end of our holiday the two were firm friends, and were found more than once snuggling up on the backseat on the way home.



AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

Holidays - Lindsay and Joseph

Of course I may be slightly biased, but I truly think I have the most gorgeous niece and nephew in the entire world.

Sure there may be tantrums, sure they don't always do what you ask (who does, I ask you?), and I may have had more than my fair share of Shaun the Sheep and Thomas - but I loved spending the week with them.

Lindsay wearing her dad's SCG 20/20 hat


Now I'm going to look all cute so that I can have one of Aunty Sascha's icecreams



Joseph catching some rays



Who you lookin' at, Sucka?


I think one of the hardest things about living so far away from Scott and Karen is the fact that I don't get to share in a lot of the big milestones Lindsay and Joseph celebrate. It's why we try to visit at least once every six months and get more than our fair share of cuddles and kisses in. We can't wait to see them all again next month.

Holidays - The House

The house we rented for the week was gorgeous. Very open plan, set in the trees, straight across from the beach. Lots of room for the kids, plenty of space for both families, and exactly what we hoped for.


View from the street



Beautiful open plan living area



The amazing deck



One of our regular visitors


The first half of the week involved copious amounts of rain, so we spent a lot more time inside than expected. But with a great DVD collection, PlayStation 2 (courtesy of B), Sing Star (courtesy of Scott), Guitar Hero (courtesy of us); we didn't suffer from TOO much boredom!

Holidays - the drive down

Well back in February we clocked off for a week, and rented a beach house with Scott, Karen, Lndsay (3) and Joseph (18 months).

The place? Blues Beach (about 90 minutes north of Newcastle, close to Forster/Tuncurry)
The week? 14-21 February 2009
Mode of transport? Driving - what else?

So with car packed and spirits high, we hit the Pacific Highway at 6:30am.


Me - hadn't had coffee yet; still asleep




This can be the cause of many disagreements (ie. when B decides we really must listen to the cricket the whole time we're on 'holiday travel'), or lots of laughter (when we decide to put on a CD such as Adam Hills), or mutual appreciation (when we put on book 7 of Harry Potter, as we did this trip).



What does my husband get me for Valentine's Day? Angry chick music, mostly ranting about her ex. Fortunately, I enjoy said music - and therefore subjected my husband to it for quite a bit of our driving time!

Time to Say Goodbye (but not forever!)

B and I have been so blessed to know and develop a deep friendship with Bek and Dion Allen. We all met at the same time (just over seven years ago), and have been best friends ever since. We've watched each other get engaged, gone to each other's weddings (and have some great bridesmaid/groomsmen photos to boot!), played soccer/watched our men play soccer every Saturday during summer, and engaged in too many Killer Bunny and Risk games to count.

And today we said goodbye as our two bestest friends flew out of the country and into 12 months work at VANA, Zimbabwe.

(You can read more about VANA if you go to the website located on the right hand side of my blog).

Listening to Peter's last minute advice


Kyndral made an appearance too


I think Dion might have considered infant smuggling at this point


Andrew and Nic said goodbye too (all the while making sure their daughter wasn't being taken as carry on luggage!)


Peter shares scripture and a prayer with the departing couple


And then it was time to say goodbye.

Dion, as always, has to add his own 'special blend' to photos. Not unlike his best mate, come to think of it.


Bek: Can I take her with me?
Sasch: I'm in! Don't think QANTAS will like it though...





Goodbye guys - we promise weekly emails, treats in the mail, decent phonecalls and Cape Town in October! It's a date!