Transatlanticism (Death Cab for Cutie)

I just think this song's lyrics are simply beautiful, full of amazing images...and that is why I love Death Cab for Cutie.

The Atlantic was born today and I'll tell you how:

The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere

when the water filled every hole.

And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,

Making islands where no island should go.

Oh no

Those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.

I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.

The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flood lands to your door have been silenced forever more.

The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row

It seems farther than ever before

oh no.

I need you so much closer.

Hot Bushwalk at Lorne

You can call us crazy, but going for a bushwalk in a near 40 degree day made us feel cooler than expected. We decided to take the curvaceous road to Lorne this Saturday to escape the Melbourne heat and to have a relaxing weekend. Instead of sitting at the beach, in the very hot sand though, we drove a little further and stopped at this amazing place around the corner from Lorne, parked our car and entered this path for a 5 km walk. At first it was really hot, the strong sun kept burning and the trees didn't provide enough shade for a respite, but later on as we walked deeper into the bush, we found that the foliage grew thicker and provided more shelter from the sweltering temperatures. The path was quite easy, not too steep and snake free (I kept keeping an eye for). I sweated like a pig but the reward of going for a swim in the cool blue waters of Lorne after the walk was too great. I enjoyed the day immensely.

Death Cab for Cutie live concert at the Palace

It was a real treat to be able to see this kick ass band from the front row on Wednesday evening. They played at the Palace Theatre on Bourke Road, a really nice venue. We lined up from about 5:45 pm for a 7.30 entrance, then waited inside another hour before the support band "Dappled Cities" started their act. By 9.30 I was sooooo ready to see Death Cab for Cutie. It was such an amazing experience to have them play all the songs I hear almost on repeat on my ipod, car and home but only at 2m away. The long wait was so worth it. They played lots of songs with an incredible amount of power and energy and did not let me down musically. The only thing I was hoping for and didn't really happened was to see a little more interaction with the audience. Not enough talking Mr Ben Gibbard! I can say that I can tick off this experience from my list, still plenty more to do. I enjoyed the show and took with me some nice memories. Thanks for the music DCC.

Fue realmente un gusto haber podido ver a esta banda que la rompe desde la primera fila el Miercoles por la noche. Tocaron en el teatro Palace en la calle Bourke, un lugar muy lindo. Nos paramos (y sentamos) en la cola desde las 5.45 pm para entrar a las 7.30, despues esperamos una hora mas adentro hasta que la banda de soporte "Dapled Cities"empezo a tocar. Para las 9.30 yo ya estaba tan lista para ver a Death Cab for Cutie! Fue una experiencia alucinante tenerlos ahi tocando todas las canciones que yo esucho casi en forma repetida en mi ipod, auto y casa a solo 2 m de distancia. La larga espera valio la pena. Tocaron muchas canciones con mucha fuerza y mucha energia y no me desilucionaron musicalmente. Lo unico que yo esperaba ver mas y no vi fue un poco mas de interaccion con el publico. No suficiente charla Mr Ben Gibbard! Puedo ahora hacer un tick al lado de esta experiencia como una de esas cosas que uno siempre quiere hacer en su vida. Tick. Todavia hay mucho mas para hacer....lo disfrute mucho el concierto y me lleve unas cuantas lindas memorias. Gracias por la musica DCC.

Revisiting a much loved place

For two Saturday afternoons in a row we visited Finns Reserve, a parkland situated in Templestowe which is part of a series of linear parks with connected bike and walking trails. They are an oasis for suburbia's life and they contain significant indigenous flora and fauna. The Yarra River can be crossed via the Finns Reserve Suspension Bridge and paths accessed on the other side. We used to ride our bikes there every weekend from Templestowe to Heidelberg and beyond. It has been a while since we were here. We walked this time and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. It is only a few blocks from our home, but immersed in its beauty if feels like miles away. The scenery has changed a bit since we were last here, as the rain has been more generous in the last couple of years and the vegetation has doubled everywhere. It looks healthy and it was full of bunnies hopping around.

A week of parent teacher interviews awaits me, I feel a bit anxious but prepared. Feeling my feet on the ground a little more this week, getting more organised and less stressed.

Ya van dos sabados seguidos que vamos a caminar a Finns Reserve, un parque linear situado en Templestowe que forma parte de una serie de parques lineares conectados con sendas para caminar y andar en bicicleta. Estos parque son como oasis en el medio de suburbia y contienen signifantes cantidades de flora y fauna indigena. El rio Yarra corre por el parque y puede ser cruzado por el puente suspendido para enganchar las sendas del otro lado. Soliamos andar en bici por aca desde nuestra vieja casa en Templestowe hasta Heidelberg y mas alla.

Hacia bastante que no ibamos. Caminamos un buen tramo y disfrutamos de lo que nos rodeaba. Queda solo a unas cuadras de casa pero una vez adentrados en el parque parece que estuvieramos a millas de distancia. El paisaje cambio un poco gracias a la lluvia mas tupida de estos ultimos anos hizo que la vegetacion se duplique. Se veia todo muy saludable hasta los conejitos saltando por todos lados.

Me espera una semana de entrevistas con padres, me siento un poco ansiosa pero me prepare bien asique no estoy nerviosa. Siento mis pies en la tierra un poquito mas esta semana, estoy mas organizada y consequentemente menos estresada.

Finally I had 2 minutes to take these shots on Friday after the home- time bell. I am not proud of my room yet because I have had no time to decorate it, but it is getting there. I wish I had an aide to help me put things up just as I, in my aide role, helped other teachers do it for years. As per Friday I have the classroom rules up, the houses, the table points, the calendar, the coming events, the daily schedule, their names, birthdays and a couple of extra things, oh yes and their photos. Everyday I add to it and one day, hopefully before Christmas, it will be just as I want it. Enjoying my job very much.

Finalmente tuve dos minutos para sacar estas fotos de mi aula el viernes pasado bastante despues de la campana del fin del dia. No estoy todavia muy orgullosa de mi aula porque no tuve mucho tiempo para decorarla, pero de a poquito lo estoy haciendo. Me gustaria tener una ayudante que me de una mano para decorar el aula tal como yo he ayudado a maestras por anos. Desde el viernes ya tengo las reglas de la classe, puntaje para las mesas, el calendario, los eventos que estan por venir, el programa diario, los nombres, los cumpleanos y un para de cosas mas, ah si y las fotos de los chicos en display. Todos los dias agrego algo y con suerte, espero que antes de Navidad, estara linda como me gusta a mi. Estoy disfrutando mi trabajo mucho.

Why didn't anybody stop me?

What a day! I had such a busy day today, but luckily it was a good day. Started with a small number of introductions to parents and new students and followed by a blur of which I remember a time where my head started to throb and my desk became a pile of paper. I loved it though and I suppose that the reason why nobody stopped me from becoming a teacher is because they love it too, despite the incredible amount of work and stress!!

My grade is quite good, a few chatter boxes with lots of things to say, a set of twins, a few very quiet students and a lot of enthusiastic little faces. I am looking forward to the coming weeks and to getting to know them all well. I am soooooooooooooo tired! Photos coming soon.

Que dia! Tuve un dia tan pero tan atareado hoy, pero por suerte fue un buen dia. Empezo con un pequeno numero de presentaciones de padres y nuevos alumnos seguido por una imagen borrosa de la que recuerdo un momento cuando me di cuenta que me explotaba la cabeza y otro donde vi que mi escritorio era una pila de papeles. Asi y todo me encanto y supongo que la razon por la que nadie me aconsejo no dedicarme a esta profesion es porque a ellos les encanta tambien, a pesar de la cantidad desmersurada de trabajo y el estres!!

Mi grado esta bastante bueno, unos cuantos charlatanes con muchas cosas que decir, un par de mellizas, un par de estudiantes super callados y un monton de caritas entusiasmadas. Tengo muchas ganas de ver como las proximas semanas se desenvuelven y de conocer a mis alumnos mucho mas. Estoy taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan cansada!!!!! Fotos pronto.

To new beginnings

Well the day has finally come. Today I start my new job of my brand new teaching career. I am excited, nervous and still in disbelief. I should be a bit upset that my holidays are over, but unlike other years (particularly the last few, where I felt things at my other job were going downhill for me) I don't feel that anguish at all. I have been easing into it getting things ready at school and working for hours at home organising things, cutting, laminating, planning and trying to be organised and ready. I don't feel organised enough and even less ready, but I think it is a normal feeling and that eventually things will be ok. I feel a bit sad that I won't be laughing with my friend at school but I'm sure I will be laughing again in no time. I am anxious to meet my students and see what they are like, what they are capable of doing and I hope I will be able to help them learn. Well I better go and brush my teeth and get going. Wish me luck!

Finalmente el dia ha llegado. Hoy empiezo mi nuevo trabajo de maestra. Estoy ansiosa, nerviosa, contenta y todavia no puedo creerlo. Deberia estar un poco triste que se me terminaron las vacaciones, pero no me siento asi, como me sentia estos ultimos anos. Estuve trabajando de a poquito estas dos ultimas semanas tratando de organizar todo y de que este todo listo. No me siento todavia ni muy organizada ni muy lista, pero supongo que es normal sentirme asi y que eventualmente las cosas mejoraran. Me da un poco de lastima que no me voy a matar de risa con mi amiga, pero seguro ya me empezare a reir de otras cosas y con otra gente pronto. Estoy ansiosa de conocer a mis alumnos y de ver como son, que son capaces de hacer y espero poder ayudarlos a aprender. Bueno mejor me voy a lavar los dientes y al auto! Deseenme suerte!