Exchange Teachers to New South Wales Gather

Exchange Teachers Gather at Cabarita Park

Hello Elementary Friends,

Happy Thursday again!  It's hard to believe that I am already into Week Three at school.  There are just 9-10 weeks in a term, so they are going by fast!  This past weekend we went to a picnic at Cabarita Park in a north western suburb of Sydney.   It was a gathering of the newly arrived exchange teachers and their spouses/families.  This gathering was only for exchangees in New South Wales.  There are other activities for exchange teachers in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.  It was very interesting to meet some of people here from all over the world.  Right now in NSW I am the only person from the USA.  Later in July two more teachers (who are actually married) will come to start their year then.  They are from my district (Jeffco) in Colorado, and we are communicating about getting together after they arrive.  I will tell you more about them then, but a bit of info is that they are coming on exchange as a couple, and they have triplet 11 year old daughters who will be attending school in NSW with their parents! 

Cabarita Park


Very Cool Tree at Cabarita Park
The park is quite impressive with a quaint gazebo and some trees with really cool roots!


Where are all the New South Wales Exchange Teachers From?

  1. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  2. Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
  3. Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
  4. Fort Erie, Nova Scotia, Canada
  5. Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
  6. Bellville, Ontario, Canada
  7. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  8. London, Ontario, Canada
  9. Brampton, Ontario, Canada
  10. Staynor, Ontario, Canada
  11. Berlin, Germany
  12. Littleton, Colorado, USA (that's me!)
  13. Fife Council, Scotland, United Kingdom
  14. Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom
  15. Tavistock Devon, England
It was great to meet so many people who are experiencing the same things that we are with moving to another country for a year.  I am eager to participate in several of the travel and outing opportunities that the NSW Exchange Teachers League has planned for this year.  The volunteers in the organization are prior exchangees, themselves, so they know the impact that the exchange experience made on their lives.  They are eager to support us as we navigate through this year.





As you all know, the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl this past Sunday!  Go Broncos!

The game was being played during my school hours on Monday - actually from 10:00AM - 2:00PM. My principal, Malcolm, knew that the game would be important to me, so he put it on the television in the school lobby.  He then made arrangements for someone to take my class, and he and I sat there in the office and watched the game for a while.  Malcolm was very interested in me telling him the rules and regulations for American Football.  That was rather uncomfortable because I just watch the games for the half-time show and the commercials!



The next morning during school-wide Morning Tea, the staff and Malcolm had a celebratory spread for me. It was a fun few days!  Congratulations to the Denver Broncos and all of their fans - on Tuesday in Denver nearly one million people attempted watch the parade in downtown Denver!

Some Photos of the Past Week

Never Tire of the Beautiful Beaches Around Here!

Mitch could not believe the size of these figs at our local grocery store.  He had me take this photo to send to his mother!

Mitch with the "PigStatue" in front of the Sydney Hospital - Please no comments about resemblance!

Il Porcellino is a bronze statue of a boar, based on one in Florence, which stands outside the Sydney Hospital. The statue was donated in 1968 by the Marchessa Clarissa Torrigiani in memory of her father and brother. It is very popular with Sydneysiders and tourists alike and is often referred to as the 'Pig statue'.

History Walk in the Rocks District - Sydney

Cadman's Cottage - very old house in the Rock's District

Nearly every time we travel to Circular Quay we see these huge Cruise Liners - Cruises must be very popular down-under, as well!

This is a great new friend - Mary Ellen, who is helping me "learn the ropes" of how to create and maintain the Time-Tables (schedules) at Beaumont Road!

My Friend, the Cockatoo, at my Apartment

This cockatoo is a regular visitor on my balcony!  We have decided to name him Pop-Eye.  I am enjoying using my new camera to snap him at different angles and with different effects.   Enjoy - dear friends!






Until next week, G-Day, My Friends - I mean Mates!










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