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Uniformly speaking
School starts in a couple of weeks (see below for more about that) so it was time to get the kids fitted out with uniforms. Say what you will about uniforms, they certainly make being the new kids a heck of a lot easier. No wondering what the cool clothes will be and whether your clothes are okay. Everyone wears the same thing, no worries, no exceptions.
The girls' summer uniform is a cotton dress, blue wide-brimmed hat, white cotton anklets, and black shoes with a green blazer. Oh, and hair up and no (noticable) make-up. There's a p.e. uniform, too: shorts, shirt, jacket, rugby shirt, swim cap, and swim suit. Not all at the same time. We hope.
Ha! Sam threw his hat across the room just as I clicked this
Maddy's swim cap says "Deakin" for her house (yep, kinda like Griffindor and Slytherin)
Sam in his rugby uni, Maddy in swim cap and track jacket.
These two have been nothing short of heroic in their gameness to jump right in with enthusiasm. They have each toured their campuses, met their house masters and tutor group teachers, met with student buddies and been assigned classes.
In fact, when Sam toured his school they mentioned the school musical auditions were that week and invited him to try out. And he did! I'm not sure I would have the wherewithal to show up at an audition at a school I didn't yet attend. But he decided to jump right in and went for it by himself, even though it was completely outside of his comfort zone.
Maddy pretty much took my breath away with her poise and positivity and confidence as she interviewed and chatted with all of the requisite people at her school. I could practically feel the ptwing of a few apron springs springing free.
Sly mompaparazzi shot of M's school tour
It's not all sunshine and bliss, let me quickly add. Of course there are teary times and nostalgia for what we left behind. The kids are at times a bit bonkers with all of this free time, no school yet, and none of our belongings here. Sometimes new isn't adventurous and exciting, it's just hard and unfamiliar. Sometimes the ketchup tastes different or our uber-togetherness sours to irritation or starting from scratch with finding friends feels overwhelming. As Sam said last night, "Sometimes I just don't want to be the new guy anymore."
But time will take care of most of it. One day we won't be the new guys anymore and it will all feel like home. In the meantime, we're in this rare, mostly blessed, in-between time, dwelling in possibility.
. . .
I've had a lot of questions about the kids' schooling here. The shortish answer is that they are starting up on October 15 with the 4th term of the school year, Sam at a boys' Anglican grammar school and Maddy at the girls' Anglican grammar school (though the two schools collaborate on music and theatre and other clubs so it isn't completely segregated all the time). While there isn't an international school here, these were the schools that were highly recommended to us by both Australians and expats; the studentbody is mostly Australian students with a bunch of international kids mixed in. Both schools offer the fantastic IB diploma program for years 11 and 12, which Maddy will begin at the start of next school year.
After this upcoming term they'll have another summer holiday! Since the seasons here are basically reversed from where we were (we are just heading into spring here as Concord heads into fall) the school summer holidays are in December-January and the students all move up to their new school year afterwards in February.
That meant we had to decide whether to skip our kids forward 3/4 of a grade or back 1/4 of a year. After lots of consideration and deliberation we all decided that they would repeat the last term of the year they just ended in June. This way they get to have that term to get used to life here, meet friends, get involved in activities and not have the pressure to zoom forward in all of their subjects. On top of all the other changes, why jolt them like that, you know?
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Reader Comments (8)
Your kids are troopers. I love hearing about your adventures. How funny to learn about something as simple but so different as when the school year starts and ends. I'm sure it sometimes feels like another universe.
Good luck to you all! I love living vicariously, and Australia seems rather exotic!
What an adventure! You will ALWAYS have this time to look back on and say "remember when (we were so brave? we jumped right in? we wore those uniforms?.... ETC.) and think so fondly of it all. ENJOY!
We can totally relate! Its fun, its boring, its overwhelming, its new and it takes time but its worth it! Enjoy and keep us posted!
I hate the hard and unfamiliar bit. Never did it in another country or culture either. That's a double whammy. What brave kids! I think it's so awesome that they are both diving in, feet first.
Wow! I think, well actaully KNOW, that you are all amazing. Annie, I love your writing style and how well you are able to convey the feel of the moment to the reader, as if I were actually experiencing it as well. And way to go Sam and Maddy. Sounds like things are going well.
I agree with Connie completely. I was laughing, then amazed at Maddie's and Sam's courage, then all of the sudden a little sad for them. Sad isn't quite the right word though. I wanted to gather them both under my Auntie wings and somehow make the worries vanish. You guys are amazing . I love hearing your stories. Love you all!
Great tto know all the news and the adjustments. I haven't clicked on your Basic Joy blog for over a week, because I hadn't seen any new posts since you came west and then went south. Love the photos and the information. This truly is a great adventure with all the pluses and minuses, the push-me-pull-you's of it all. But we are thrilled to see the young'uns and await further news.
Love you so, Ma
You describe perfectly that busy detox time. When we moved from Idaho to Colorado I was surprised at how little I had going on once the house was unpacked. for about 3 months we had a much slower easier pace and I found myself being quite picky about what I was going to let into my life again. I also started doing new things that I woudn't have done in Idaho, meeting friends with new interests that they shared with me. It was wonderful and I am so thankful we moved. It forced me to grow and change and see the world in new ways. I look forward to moving again.
And for you! such a big move to a new culture! I can't imagine the changes! So exciting. Thanks for sharing the details!