Firsts

There have been a lot of "firsts" around here the last few weeks. Although I started my new job 2 weeks ago, today was the first day of school for all the students. I'm not going to lie, it does not feel like the beginning of the school year for me since its January, but then again we're also in the middle of summer in January. Hopefully, if I stay here long enough maybe one day my body will get used to the seasons being completely different because right now I just feel like i've been stuck in summer for 9, almost 10 months! I do have to say this was the quietest and smoothest i've ever seen a first day of school be. I guess only having 300 kids makes a huge difference compared to the 700 we had at my school in Little Rock. The Aussie kids are SO adorable in their uniforms and hats, I just love it. So far we haven't had our full class yet for OOSH but the kids I have met so far are too cute! Its different not being in the classroom and kinda of having a split schedule day but so far, so good. I'm really enjoying getting to do something different and I'm loving the people I work with. I feel so blessed to be at St. Philips and I take comfort in knowing that this is exactly the place God had in mind for me, I just had to wait a little while to get to there. I know this "school year" will have its own challenges but i'm so excited to see what happens. Honestly, it still feels a little too good to be true almost like it hasn't even hit me yet. I guess it may take a little while :)

Besides starting my job and the first day of school I also have had to conquer the whole driving thing. Yep, watch out all you people on the roads on the Central Coast. In my defense I think i'm doing really well! I'm pretty sure I was almost to the point of kicking and screaming on Friday because I just didn't want to learn to drive but I think the worse is over. Believe it or not driving on the left side of the road isn't all that bad, or maybe i'm just used to riding on that side of the road because I have for 5 months now. I'm actually finding it harder getting used to being on the right side of the car. For example I keep trying to pull for my seat belt over my left shoulder. So far I can get to just a few places, I haven't attempted anything too far from home or on any big roads with more traffic, but soon hopefully. Thankfully work its all of 5 minutes from my house and a very easy drive with only 2 roundabouts :)

Another first...my cousin and I went to the beach randomly last Tuesday after work. It was so hot that day, and remember we don't have air conditioning at home so we wanted to cool off and where is a better place to do that than the beach?! I LOVE living just a few minutes from the beach, even though we don't go near as often as I would like (although now that i'm driving that could change...) We've been to the beach but I have yet to get in the water, until last Tuesday because its just been too cold. It was perfect, just so wonderful! The beaches here are just breathtaking. To all you people back home who think Florida and California beaches are beautiful you seriously have no idea, come to Australia and then you can see for yourself!

I also got to celebrate my first Australia Day! The best way I can describe Australia Day is its kind of like July 4th in the states. Everyone here wears the Aussie flag or some sort of Aussie gear on Australia Day. My cousin made us buy Aussie flag capes...yeah they didn't get worn. I guess next year :) We celebrated by breakfast at the beach with family, then the afternoon at the pool and then over to friends house later that night. It was so nice to have a random public holiday in the middle of the week.

This may be the best first of all...I got a paycheck today. No, its obviously not the best but for someone who hasn't had one of those for a very long time its nice to finally see numbers in the bank going up instead of down.

I know I've been in Australia for 5 months now, which is just crazy to think, but in some ways I feel like i'm finally starting a new chapter which is what I came to do here all those months ago. I'm finally working, driving, etc I guess getting back to "normal" again. And in some ways its almost more overwhelming now that I know i'm staying here and finally getting a chance to do what I came here for, than when I first arrived here. I'm so thankful for God's provision i've seen for my life over these last few months. Its extremely scary to leave everything you've ever known to move somewhere 10,000 miles away from home but I know God has taken care of my every step of the way. The biggest downside is being so far from my family and friends, but selfishly I wish they could be here with me or at least come visit so that could experience a little bit of my life in Oz and know that i'm very well taken care of here. Maybe one day they'll get to visit...hint, hint :)

my mom always said...

Good things come to those who wait.

And its true...after 4 and a half months of being in Australia I finally have a full time, permanent job! Starting tomorrow I will be the OOSH (out of school hours) director at a local Christian school here on the Central Coast. I'm very excited, a little nervous and super overwhelmed at how fast it all has happened. Everyone kept telling me after the holidays I would for find a job, I really do need to start trusting my friends and family more because I was sure I would be back on a plane in the next few months heading "home" to start all over again, because you can't live off of savings forever.

I got a call from a friend of my cousins the other night and she mentioned to me about this job, the next day I sent off some paperwork and the day after I went in for an interview and they offered me the job right there on the spot. Its a brand new program at the school, so everything about the position is new which is a little scary but I think it will be a great opportunity for me to be a part of something from scratch. I won't be in the classroom like I have been the last few years, which I do miss but I'm excited about getting to work in a school setting and being able to build relationships with kids and families again. I'm also excited about being apart of a wonderful Christian school. The ladies I interviewed with were so welcoming and kind, I think i'm going to love being apart of the staff there.

God has continued to bless me since i've been in Australia and this job is an answer to prayer. I'm so excited for the things to come in 2011, so far its off to a great start :)