Back To School and Travel Plans

February 4, 2019

Last week was the first day of school in the second grade for Sofia. For that, Sofia and I went to the school's uniform shop on Tuesday to buy a new hat and jacket together, and on the evening before school started, I sorted and labeled the school supplies with Karo, my host mom. Everything here has to be labeled with names (even individual pens!) so that the kids don't lose anything, and even the jacket and hat have codes so they can be matched and returned at the lost and found office.

Wednesday was the big day. We walked to school with a heavily packed school bag, and Sofia was very excited and nervous. Here in Australia, the kids find out who is in their class and who their teacher is on the first day of school. Unlike in Germany, the students don't stay in the same class for several years, but they are mixed up and get a new teacher every year.

Sofia was really scared that she wouldn't be in the same class as her best friends again, and I tried to calm her down a bit, but luckily all her worries were in vain. When I picked Sofia up from school, she was very happy and beaming because her closest friends are still in her class, and she seems to be happy with her teacher too. Of course, I was really happy for her too! :)

Since it was very hot that day, Sofia and Matthias deserved an ice cream after I picked them up, and then they went straight to the pool to cool off.

Other than that, there's nothing else noteworthy happened on my work days with the kids. On Saturday, I went to the Twillight Nippers with Karo and the kids. Nippers is what they call lifesaving courses and competitions for kids at the beach here. Normally, they're always on Sunday mornings, but sometimes there are exceptions like this weekend. Then they first trained at the beach, and afterwards, there was a BBQ and Bingo for everyone. It was a lot of fun! :)

I'm currently in the process of planning where else I want to go and what I definitely want to see in Australia. Currently, a weekend in Brisbane from February 22nd to 24th is pretty much set, although the flight isn't booked yet, and a two-week road trip with two other girls on the North Island of New Zealand from May 4th to 19th. We've already paid for the campervan and I just need to take care of my flight, but I think I'll get that sorted out this week. Otherwise, I also really want to go to Melbourne for a few days and I'm currently looking for travel companions for that.

That's it for now... :) Until the next entry!