Hello Carey, and Goodbye Facebook!

Greetings, dear readers!

This may be my last post until next month, as I have some big assignments for my uni course due at the end of the month. I'm now into the fourth week of my accelerated Master of Teaching course at Melbourne University. Every week, there has been so much information to absorb, on top of the assigned readings and the above-mentioned assignments.

Last week, I started my professional placement (i.e. "work experience") at Carey Baptist Grammar School in the eastern suburb Kew. This elite independent school was founded in 1923 with the support of the Baptist Union of Victoria, hence the name Carey Baptist. Initially a boys-only school, girls were admitted in 1979 at VCE level. The school became officially co-educational five years later.

Also, as some of you are aware, I have decided to deactivate my Facebook account indefinitely. This Monday was my last day until probably the mid-semester break. Two days in, there have been no "withdrawal symptoms" yet. My decision to deactivate was brought on mainly by two things: 1) The risks that Facebook poses for school teachers and 2) the amount of time wasted when I could be doing something more productive.

In other news, I am pleased to inform you that I have obtained a scholarship from the Victorian Department of Education's Graduate Pathways Scheme! This is the first scholarship I have received, and the $6000 will be enough to cover my board ($1200), public transport ($1000) and food budget ($3000) for this year. Also, I can now truthfully say that I am a qualified TESOL Level III instructor! I received the certificate last week, after finally submitting the self-evaluation on my practical teaching.

If this all hadn't already convinced me that I was in the place where God wanted me to be, the decisive confirmation came in the most amazing and unexpected revelation last Friday. While chatting to my teacher mentor for German, she happened to mention that she lived in my suburb. I pressed her further with more questions and eventually realized that she lived WITHIN SIGHT OF MY HOUSE! Needless to say we were both in a state of slight shock. Even better is that she has offered to give me lifts to Carey when I have placement. I still have to get up early, but it certainly beats taking public transport!

Please continue to pray for me as I tackle the assignments and other tasks I need to do this month!

Cheers and God bless

P.S. A quick shout-out to my sister-in-Christ Marina Zhang, who is on her 12-month round-the-world trip: Hope you're having a wonderful time in Africa and taking lots of photos!