Sara & Katey VS the spider (and other exciting tales)

First thing's first- I am NOT cut out for the bugs here... They know I'm a wimp, and are unyielding in their efforts to give me panic attacks.  After a long, yet productive day of school work, Sara and I wanted to relax by the pool.  We get up there and what do we find?  You guessed it- another flipping spider!  Only this time it was particularly menacing and rather large.  It was floating on a flower IN the pool.  Ugh.  This spider looked uncannily similar to photos of Funnel Web spiders I've been warned to look out for.  Using a bit of our poor judgement, Sara and I decided to throw a ball at it.  Several unsuccessful attempts later, we finally hit the spider, smack on the flower, knocking it off of it's comfortable resting place.  We thought we'd done a good job- that it'd just drown and we wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.  But then it start SWIMMING. What?!  Is this real life?!  This spider is swimming it's little heart out to the opposite side of the pool.  I felt bad for the poor thing for just a split second, but then I was also too terrified to do anything about it.


While I was feeling anxious and a bit amazed Sara look up the Funnel Web spider on the computer and found this... "They are attracted to water and hence are often found in swimming pools, into which they often fall while wandering. The spiders can survive such immersion for up to twenty-four hours and can deliver bites when removed from the water."  PERFECT.  After that bit of news we decided it was best if we just go on our way and leave the spider to the pool... I didn't leave, however, without mustering up enough courage to get close enough to get a picture (with my camera zoomed as far as it would go of course).  


So that you can share in our terror...

We're thinking it was just a baby one, or even just a male (as they are smaller than the females).  However, it was terrifying nonetheless.  Let me just add- I went back up to the pool the next day, and it was STILL THERE.  Just floating on the thermometer.  Needless to say, I had my host father take care of it straight away.  Never have I ever been so nervous to go out and lay by the pool! Woof!


Alright- I think I've ranted enough about that.  Moving on...


On Sunday night after our bug scare, Sara and I went to BUC again for their young adult service.  It was great, just like the week before.  And we left feeling happy and uplifted, just as we always do when we leave there :)  It's very bittersweet though... We realized that we really only have three more Sundays there before we return home :(  As excited as I am to come home to my family for Christmas, I am developing a "family" of people here.  The people here are some of the kindest, most genuine people I've ever met; both at school and at BUC.  Their love of God and others just radiates off of them.  They make me want to be a better person, just from interacting with them.  It's refreshing and reassuring that the world might not be quite so doomed after all :)


Last night, I sat on a panel at the local Rotary meeting (to which my host father belongs) about the difference in education here in Australia, and back in the States.  It went very well; though I was particularly nervous.  My host father said that I spoke "beautifully" and no one gave me dirty looks so I must not have said anything too terrible.  I also got a lovely bottle of Rotary label specific Shiraz as a sign of their appreciation.   The dinner beforehand was delicious and I didn't make a fool of myself so I would say the night was a success!


Today, I was not with my normal Kindie class, but with the special education class, instead.  There are only three students in that class and they do a lot of fun activities.  Today we did some gardening, bug finding (I know know what you're thinking- bugs?  Yes, bugs- but I put on my brave face for the children... And made sure not to touch a one of them!) and ended the day with a lovely craft to help the students remember the parts of an insect.  It was a lovely day.


This weekend Sara and I are traveling to downtown Sydney where we will be staying in a youth hostel!  We will be taking a cheesy tourist bus around to all the highlights of the city and I'm sure we'll have a great time (And Sara will get sun burnt). I cannot believe how quickly my time here is passing.  It feels like just yesterday that I arrived... yet it feels as if I blink too slowly I'll be stepping off another plane, greeted by Ohio snow.  Ugh- I don't even want to think about it.  


For now, I am going to lesson plan and curl up with my book for the evening.


Goodnight all! (or Good morning to most of you who read this)


Love,
Katey