Aug 14 2008
As per usual work didn’t disappoint me – it was BAD and I missed my stop again tonight.
Today I taught many different year levels…It was great the people are starting to let me run the classes a bit more now and I’m really starting to enjoy myself. Also most of the girls are starting to realise who I am, and it feels good to hear “Hi Mr K……”as I walk around the building.
I cleaned guitars and pianos today.
Aug 14 2008
Well it is Friday morning and it is time to get organised for my return to Melbourne on Sunday 17th Aug to commence a week of supervision.
Next week we are at a different YHA hostel but still in Nth Melb.Changing hostels gives the students another new experience and challenge.
I have set all my extras for next week, made a couple of phone calls to parents of children returning to Melb next week and checked some travel arrangements on Metlink.
The students do their own thing for the weekend with several staying in Melb but most returning home to fulfil weekend sporting committments in their local rural community.
It is always interesting to meet the students again in Melb at the hostel Sunday afternoon and witness their new found self confidence relating to public transport and the attitude of, “I know where I am going this week and how to get there.” What a contrast to last Sunday evening when they were all nerves and some full of fear. Not any more. This is one of the major strengths of the two week program verses just a one week wonder or experience.
It does not matter how much pre Melb public transport research you do at school with Google Maps, Metlink etc, it all means very little when confronted with reality, standing in front of Flinders St Station or tram stop 18 route 57 on Sunday night. But to witness the level of achievement and smug satisfaction on the faces of the students on Monday night after work is a sight to behold. But the good old Melways is still my most accurate and reliable resource, particularly when you receive a phone call from a lost student who you then need to walk them to their destination via the mobile phone. Eg “have you walked past Gentle St on your left?”
