Week 1 ● A Patchwork

Even in the smoke there's a blushing sunset.

The sun has finally set. Sabbath is here. As I lay down (on my floor - it's the coolest place in my room and has easy access to power) to write this post, I'm thinking back over my week. And what a week! This time last week, I was preparing for my very first night in my new bedroom. My new sanctuary of personal space. I had shoved my still half full and very messy suitcase behind my bed so that I could take a photo of my nicely organised, tidy bedroom to send to Mum and it made me feel great when I walked in the door because the mess was hidden. I don't remember how I spent that night. I was tired so I probably didn't leave it too long to go to sleep. Maybe that was the night I called Dad though and talked to him and Jack for hours.

Anyway, I have wandered. I'm tired. I really should be in bed trying to sleep in this heat but I'm not. Last week I was looking forward. This week I'm looking back. My mind is sorting through all the different experiences I've had this week. Mostly epic and good but every week has it's hard moments.

• Playing the piano at vespers last night. I knew no-one but someone discovered that I played the piano and asked me to play. Nothing like first impressions you know. Most of the people in the room I couldn't tell from a bar of soap. And that brings us to my next point...
• Everyone knows you but you know no-one. Everyone here seemed to know that Katie Bailey was coming from Australia to be the new Music Assistant. Well, that's great. Except when they come and introduce themself. The conversation kinda goes like this:

                                "Hi I'm _________."
                                "Oh, hi ______, nice to meet you. I'm Katie. I'm the new Music Assistant."
                                (I have to clarify this or they'll ask me what year I'm going into...)
                                 "Yeah, I know."
                                 Okay...that was awkward. Soooooo.....

• FOOD! Yum. Yum. Yum. Well, not everything is awesomely yum but there's always something yum to eat and let's face it, you can't get everything right all the time in the kitchen. And, I'm getting fussier and fussier in my old age so yeah, they're doing good.
• Playing in the Fountainview Academy Orchestra. I've only been wanting to do this for seven years right? No big deal. Oh, but before I tell you how awful it was. It wasn't really the FAO. The players from the school just joined the camp meeting orchestra and used their conductor. And it was bad. REALLY BAD. But fun still... just sounded bad.
• New people. LOTS of new people. There are about or over 20 students already here who are doing the summer program. They spend their day working on the farm to supplement their student fees. Combine them with all the staff who seem to be all foreign (they're lovely lovely wonderful people) and definitely all look the same and there's allot of people to learn. The students I'm starting to get the hang of. I sit with them at lunch time. The young staff who I live with, well I've got them figured out. And everyone else, when they come to talk to me, I make a conscience effort to figure out which person this is. Look, give me a break, it's only been one week. I'm doing fine. And in one and a half weeks, there'll be another 70 or so names and faces to learn. Eek.
• Loneliness. I wouldn't by any means say that I'm homesick. I miss my family and friends and love chatting to them but the hardest thing this week is being in a situation where everyone else has close friends except for me. And knowing that it won't be long and I'll be hanging out and laughing the same as everyone else but for now, I just have to watch from the sidelines. Backstory is a handy thing in friendships. I'm making my backstory. Please don't worry about me. I'm being honest but I'm perfectly okay. It won't be long.
• Hot. I've had lots of people tell me they can't reconcile Canada with hot. Please come and try it. Take my place until Autumn steps in would you?
• The busses. I don't think I've ever been on a bus....I can't remember. But I have now. I have a premonition that "Jack & Jill" are going to be the home of lots of fun memories on tour and on our way to activities.
• Eating Promite out of a jar. Is that gross? I mean, I am using my finger I guess. Yes, it's strong. But it's a pleasant homey taste. It's nice when you're winding down at the end of the day to feel like you're eating something from home. It's rich though and you can't eat much before it's too salty.

Important for any Aussie Abroard

My happiest moments this week actually happened this evening. There are two that were really lovely. Firstly, just before I was heading down the hill for tea and worship, I was sitting on our swing that's just outside our house under an ancient weeping willow. I heard a chirping noise and when I looked up to see the bird, it was a squirrel. SOOOOOO cute! He must have though I was cute too because he sat there for a few minutes chirping at me and then scurried off through the branches into a pine tree and disappeared. That was my runner-up moment.

Our Swing

The best moment of my week though was an hour ago while I was talking to the girls. Well, it started with the girls. Hannah, Jasmin, Ella, Tahlia, Micky and then sooo many more...Ben, Tyce, Cathy, Dave, Dad, Pr David, Marsha, Jack, Kiarhn, Bindi, Mummy and my babies: Indy, Lozzy and Rach. It was so precious to see your smiling faces and get to say hi to some of my favourite people. Home is the best place.

Well, that's me out for the week. Looking forward to see what the next seven days hold.

Katie

#katiekwaheri

Church, Auditorium, Music Classroom
(my office is behind there)
((Yes, I have an office.))