Reaching the Summit

Despite the fact that I am in denial of surpassing the halfway mark of this trip, here's a recap of last week's work, as then we were only approaching the middle point of our journey.

The work week began on Tuesday at St. Lucy's, and I found myself with a new classroom assignment - Kindergarten! The four, five, and six-year-old's in Monet Class were as precious as can be. Many of the children in this class live with hearing and speech impairments, so most of the activities for the day were centered on teaching the children sign language! At such a young age this can be a challenge, so in addition to pictures we used physical objects and situations so the children could strengthen their other senses. Since Tuesday's lesson was about learning the difference between hot and cold, we made hot chocolate and enjoyed some ice cream pops while signing to the children which was hot and which was cold. It was so fun to watch the children's faces light up with excitement at the sight of the sugary goods!

Making new friends at the Veritas Dinner

After munching on a quick lunch in the teacher's lounge (in which one of the teachers gave me a quick run down of all the rules of Rugby League after I told him I was going to the State of Origin game), I caught the train home to Strathfield. Elizabeth and I then picked up Joe and we made our way over to the Rosary Lodge for the Veritas Dinner, a gathering of the community in Strathfield interested in discussing popular talking points in Catholic culture over dinner! We enjoyed some soup, lasagna, and desserts, all while discussing the future of the "New Church" - the conversation was great, particularly focusing on the importance of being a witness of Christ and communicating the power of the Holy Spirit in a generation that is so quick to turn away from the "rules" of the Church.

We had a great discussion at St. Dominic table!

Wednesday commenced my last full day at Santa (excuse me while I grab some Kleenex, and not just because I've finally figured my way around campus). I started the day in Year 11 RE, where the girls were studying Shinto religion and crafting their own paper cranes. Then it was off to Kate's Year 10 RE, where they were preparing for the HSCE exam (think Regents Exams, New York friends). And as Morning Tea came around, I found that I had unconsciously slipped into the routine of placing my satchel in my usual seat at my usual table, collecting my usual Tim Tam from the biscuit bowl and pouring myself my usual hot cup of tea, scoop of sugar and drop of milk in my usual cream colored mug, just like all of my previous Santa visits. I've even grown accustomed to my Morning Tea "mates" from the RE department who always join me, despite other teacher's they have to chat with or work they need to catch up on. All of them - Michael, Kate, Marysa, Samantha, and many others - have taken me under their wing and made me feel so incredibly welcome and comfortable, as if I am truly one of them. I feel as if I have five mom's and dad's looking after me at all times (which I'm sure is a comfort to my real mom and dad)!

Two lovely Year 11's showing off their origami skills

After Morning Tea, I joined Samantha in Year 7 RE, where they were studying the Liturgical Year. The girls enjoyed an artsy class, creating pictures of stained glass windows that depicted the Feast of the Sacred Heart. They were a quiet bunch, and so it was a bit of a shock to follow Samantha to her next class, Year 9 Geography - they were quite a "cheeky" bunch to say the least! But their bubbly and eager attitudes were contagious, and I found myself completely immersed in their class discussion regarding population growth in Australia. We followed up Geography with some lunch with the other RE teachers, after which I helped Michael organize some papers in his office. I finished the school day in Kate's Year 12 RE class, where they were studying Islam (their RE program is so diverse)!

Let the games begin...

After school, I walked home with Louise and spent the afternoon chatting with the girls - another routine I have grown incredibly accustomed to. It is so phenomenal to have sisters to come home to - there is just a simple joy in sharing a good laugh after a tiring day with those you really care about :) After enjoying some dinner, Sarah and I met Joe, Laura and Guillian at the train station and headed to Sydney Olympic Park for the State of Origin Rugby League match between New South Wales and Queensland! The event is a best-out-of-three series, and Queensland had won the first game, meaning NSW had to win in order to advance. Upon arriving to the stadium, we received a free blue wig and blue t-shirt, later to learn that we had become a part of the newest Guinness World Record of most wigs in one single place! And to top off a perfect night, NSW captured the win, 16-12!

Making our way into The Guinness Book in style

On Thursday, I was back at Santa for my last official day at the school (already?!). I started things off in Year 11 History. The teacher was absent and so the substitute teacher "embraced the opportunity to interview an American"and we all enjoyed lots of questions and giggles! Then it was off to Year 11 RE, where the girls were preparing their own Liturgy of the Word for the entire Year 11 class to attend. It was really great to watch how the girls, all from different social circles, interacted with one another. There were no "free-riders" - all of the girls took on responsibilities and were always open to helping each other out! I enjoyed my last Morning Tea at Santa, and then Dominique and I headed off to the school chapel to set up for the "Wisdom Mass," which celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the Middle School at Santa! This was particularly exciting because Rachel, Laura, and Sarah V. were all students in the middle school when it first opened, and so the Mass was very special to them in particular! The Mass was beautiful and followed with a nice brunch, where I met up with Joe and the Vaccari's! Then we were off to Cairns for the weekend, but more on that later! :)

It is hard to believe that only as I approach the "summit" of this fellowship, I would be engaged in so many farewells and goodbyes already. It's only been three weeks and I have already been forced to soak in many atmospheres for the last time. And while this was a sad and daunting reality at first, it has made me incredibly excited for all of the new experiences that await in the three weeks ahead.

Here's to not tumbling down the mountain!

Learning to Dance in the Rain

Thanks to the incredibly adored Queen Elizabeth II and her 86th birthday this past Monday (except it wasn't really her birthday) (yup, I don't know either...), we found ourselves with a nice three-day weekend! Not a bad deal for being a part of the Commonwealth. Here's what went down!

The Vivid Festival show at the Customs Building

After we came home from the Edmund Rice Center on Friday, I spent the afternoon relaxing with the Pow girls as they took a much deserved break from studying for their final exams. After a nice cup of tea and lots of laughs, we got ready, swung by the Vaccari's to grab Joe, and made our way to Circular Quay for another viewing of the Vivid Festival! We met up with Sarah V. and her lovely boyfriend Dan at Opera Bar, which overlooks the beautiful Sydney Harbor Bridge from under the Sydney Opera House, and enjoyed some great conversation and drinks!

From there we look a nice long walk around to watch the festival, slowly making our way over to "The Rocks," nicknamed for the rustic, old-fashioned architecture of the buildings. I felt like I was back in New York City! We enjoyed some Italian cuisine for dinner and met more of the Pow's and Vaccari's friends, who were all so incredibly welcoming to us. A bowl of pasta and a Nutella hot chocolate later (YUM by the way), we made our way to "Cargo Lounge" and met up with Laura and some of her friends. We made ourselves comfortable by a patio heater and chatted the night away - it was wonderful!

View of Sydney Harbor from the bridge!

Saturday was phenomenal, in part because the sun finally came out! I met Joe in town and we took the train to Milsons Point, the last station before crossing south over the Sydney Harbor Bridge. We hopped off the train and enjoyed a long walk over the famed architectural icon. The views were incredible, and I tried to imagine fireworks shooting out from the arch as I've seen in pictures from New Years Eve. From there we made our way to the Royal Botanic Gardens, which lie just behind the Opera House. The landscapes were beautiful, and I can only imagine how colorful and rich the gardens look during the summer time (fact: we are one week away from the winter season here)!

Obligatory tourist photo :)

After taking some touristy pictures in front of the Opera House and enjoying my first Iced Chocolate (a combo of chocolate milk and milkshake... very popular Down Under!), we made our way over to Paddy's Market to do some souvenir shopping! After returning home for dinner and resting my legs from the long day of walking, we piled back into the van with the girls and made our way to "The Star," a local casino, to watch the Australia vs. Wales rugby match (The Wallabies won, obviously). It made me very excited for the rugby game we are going to see this Wednesday between New South Wales and Queensland! After the game, we finished the night with some dancing and fun conversation!

Sunday brought back some rain, but that didn't stop any of our plans for the day. The Vaccari's and Joe picked me up early and we made our way to St. Mary's Cathedral for the Corpus Christi Mass! The mass was solemn sung, with a traditional all-male choir and a powerful organ, and I felt as if I had traveled back in time. The way the traditional Latin hymns filled the air around us, traveling all the way up through the high arched ceilings down to the humble pews, was incredibly moving. It was the first time I had ever attended a Mass in a cathedral (other than the Basilica in Washington D.C.), and it was an amazingly beautiful experience!

Joe's turn!

We followed Mass with a hearty Italian lunch, and while it has taken me a little while to admit, I must come clean - the food here in Australia is MUCH better than food in America (besides your cooking, Mom)! I think American chefs have mastered the science of cooking, but not the patience. Aussie's are not in such a rush as New Yorkers, and it shows in the well prepared food! But criticisms aside, we finished our meal and got ready for a music-filled afternoon - the Pow's and Vaccari's friends have their own band, and they were holding a gig in their backyard that afternoon that they graciously invited us to! And as they say in the show business, "The show must go on!" The rain was kept away with sturdy tarps, and although my tush may have gotten a little soaked, to say it was worth it would be an understatement.

St. Mary's Cathedral

Monday concluded the official birthday celebrations for Louise's 18th with a family lunch! I'm not sure how we made it happen, but more than 40 Pooley-Pow family members and friends were fed and kept dry for the duration of the afternoon. It was a wonderful day of meeting new friends, enjoying delicious home cooked food, and an embarrassing incident involving me falling out of a chair (ask Joe).

Despite the buckets upon buckets of rain this weekend (I suppose that is what 10 years of drought in Australia prior to our arrival will get you), I learned an invaluable lesson, and it occurred to me during the gig on Sunday afternoon. About one hour into the show, I had one of those sort of out-of-body experiences, in which I thought to myself, "How strange is this? I am currently thousands of miles away from home in a foreign country. I am currently sitting in a stranger's backyard, listening to strangers play music, and I am surrounded by strangers. The leaves are yellow and falling, winter starts next week, and I can see my breath in the air. Oh, and it is pouring buckets, yet I am outside with 100 other people at a mini-concert."

Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass...

The circumstances seemed so odd. So inconvenient. So uncomfortable. So unnecessary. But that couldn't have been further from the truth. 

It made me wonder how many times in life we give up on things just because we don't see how there can be any benefit from it, when really it's the simple things in life that have the greatest impact on us. Because we went to this gig, I experienced the warm and welcoming company of new friends that were once strangers. I witnessed God given talent through the music those boys produced. And as the music got faster, the rain came down harder, and the smiles in the crowd grew bigger, and I experienced a sense of community that can never properly be put into words.

... It's about learning to dance in the rain.

So go forward - do what isn't convenient for you, and never let the "maybes" hold you back. Because you never know what lessons are out there waiting for you.

Love,
Em

Three Cheers for Week Two

I can hardly believe another week has come and gone! Which explains why I haven't posted a new blog in as much time. But alas, here are the deets on the heaps the service, learning, and perspective that occurred this week!

Monday began my work at my other primary service site - St. Lucy's, a school for children with special needs. But before the day's work could even commence, I missed the train to Wahroonga that Sr. Rosemary and Joe were on.... oops. (This surely comes as no surprise to my PC friends, as I am usually late to just about everything). After catching the next one fifteen minutes later and enjoying a lovely ride over the Sydney Harbor Bridge, I met them at the station and we soaked up the quaint and quiet town of Wahroonga - quite different from Sydney - during our walk over to St. Lucy's. Upon our arrival we met with the principal, Mrs. Jo Carolis, who gave us our assignments for the day. I was scheduled to work with the Picasso Class (all of the classes are named after famous artists), a group of Year 5/6 students who were classified as functional. This class differed from Joe's assignment, which was the Year 5/6 Matisse class, in that they do not require any physical assistance in their daily activities. Upon entering the classroom, I was greeted with a cheerful, "Good morning Ms. Corr!" and twelve beautiful smiles. This first day was mostly observation, and in my surveying of the class I noticed a beautiful quote on the wall next to the front chalkboard. It read, "Inspiration is all around us." Wise words for all ages.

Not your typical Monday morning commute.

After playing with the children at lunch time, Joe and I caught the train back to Strathfield and walked to Santa, where we met with Jane and drove over to "Sudanese Homework Help." This is an after school program that Santa Sabina and their all-boys partner school, St. Patrick's, collaborate together on. Joe and I joined the uniformed high school students to help the younger children complete their Maths homework (yup, maths) so that they could run outside to play one last game of basketball before the sun set for the evening. It was inspiring to see how the younger children looked up to the high school students, who were so natural in their roles of volunteers after a long day of school for themselves.

On Tuesday I was back at St. Lucy's, and there was something incredibly liberating about the one-hour train ride over the harbor bridge, the scenic walk to the elementary school, and just the entire day in general - it was the first time since arriving that I was all on my own, big-girl Emmy in a foreign place. But being on my own, with currency I still have to triple check ($1 and $2 are coins, not notes...) and an accent that people don't always understand (the clerk at the station had a very difficult time understanding my pronunciation of "Wahroonga"...), really was not as daunting as I had anticipated. Rather, much like my entire fellowship experience thus far, it felt incredibly natural. There was no "ah-ha" moment, no reality check that came crashing down on me. Just another day in the life of Emily. Perhaps it's God's way of saying, "You're on the right track, kiddo."

The sign at the entrance of St. Lucy's

When I arrived at St. Lucy's, I found my way to the art room and was greeted with the most cheerful little voices that announced, "Good morning Ms. Corr! Look at my artwork!" - and it was none other than the twelve darling children from Picasso Class. Their art teacher had the children drawing homes and stores that they could connect to create a neighborhood, so to teach the children the importance of hospitals, schools, supermarkets, shopping malls, etc., in their daily lives. Three flying markers and a roll of Scotch tape later, we walked the children back to their regular classroom and worked on motor skills. We used fuzzy pipe cleaners to create shapes and designs - the children even made me a pipe cleaner crown to wear! We followed up the hand exercises with a handwriting lesson, a lesson all about reading clocks and telling time, and a tutorial of Google Maps! After lunch, I took the children to Gym class and was persuaded into playing soccer in my ever-sporty dress pants and sparkly flats (What can I say? I'm a sucker for the puppy eyes).

After school, I caught the train back to Strathfield. Midway through the trip, a cyclone hit (where am I?!), and so Sarah picked me up at the station. We drove to the Vaccari's and enjoyed some afternoon tea with the girls while Joe and I planned our trip to Cairns! What a great day.

Wednesday was perhaps the most exciting, simply because it was such a change of pace! The Pow family and I went to Santa Sabina early in the morning for their annual "Brekafast for Montebello" - a fundraiser for Santa's sister school in South Africa. It was also the perfect excuse to have a family breakfast, as it was Louise's 18th birthday (a huge deal here in Australia)! Following the breakfast, I conveniently snuck off into town to purchase her gift, and then made my way back to Santa's Winton Building (where Sr. Rosemary's office is located) and met with Joe and Sister. Together, we took the bus to the University of Sydney, Australia's oldest uni!

The architecture was inspired by Oxford and Cambridge!

Sister Rosemary gave us a tour of the gorgeous campus and introduced us to Fr. Paul Rowse, the Chaplain of the University of Sydney as well as the University of Technology Sydney (and a Friar!). Fr. Paul said Mass in a science lecture hall (I was trying to imagine Fr. Nic saying Mass in Al Mag...) and then we prayed the rosary together. We walked across campus to the John Paull II Student Center (their version of Chapel Basement) and enjoyed an afternoon full of chatting, snacks, games, and new friendships! This was particularly exciting because this is exactly where former PC Smith Fellow Lia Santilli worked two summers ago for her fellowship! It was really exciting to mention "Lia from PC" and watch everyone's faces light up with recognition! (It was also really exciting to not have to explain what a Smith Fellowship is for the 56th time.)

In the JPII Student Center with Fr. Paul Rowse

There was something incredibly special about that afternoon. Besides having Joe here with me and having Annie Wendel's picture on the refrigerator in the kitchen downstairs, this was the first taste of home I had received since arriving. Watching students rush in and out of the JPII Center, throwing down their book bags to embrace their friends, rummaging through the fridge for food, and just enjoying each others company in the chaos of college life - this was PC's Chapel Basement incarnate. That incredibly nurturing atmosphere that I had always identified as my "home away from the dorm" was unfolding right before my eyes halfway across the world. It was truly a testament to the nurturing power of faith in our lives. It is not subject to one single place - it is everywhere. God is everywhere.

On Thursday it was back to Santa Sabina! I went in early for Mass with Louise, Elizabeth and John, checked in with Dominique and then went off to my first class of the day: Year 8 RE (Religious Education)! The girls were watching "The Blind Side" and studying how Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock's character) acts as a good Christian in the film. It was eye opening to watch the girls react to the film, and their questions were strikingly mature for girls of such a young age - they were genuinely curious if racial tensions still existed in America. The bell came too soon, though, and I was off to Year 9 RE with Michael (the man with the Irish brogue!), where they are studying Indigenous Religions. These girls were much more outgoing than the year 8's, and they were much more forward with me - "Say something in your best Australian accent!" "I just friended you on Facebook" "You guys say advertisement wrong!" "Are you married?" After assuring the girls that high school cheerleaders don't actually wear their uniforms to school every day, as well as showing them a Google Maps image of PC and my house, I delved into my first official lesson! I lectured about Native American religions in comparison with the Australian aboriginal religions they are currently learning about, and it was truly eye opening to do a little bit of research on something I really didn't know much about!

Kookies 'n Kream performing, lots of girls screaming

After morning tea with Michael and Dominique, I wandered over to Year 11 History, where I listened in as the girls peer edited each others essay topics and introductory paragraphs for their upcoming research papers. The girls were all so encouraging of each other, which was very inspiring! Then it was time for the most anticipated event of the fundraising week: Santa's Got Talent! This gave all of the girls of Santa Sabina College the opportunity to showcase their talents and raise money for Montebello. There was even a special guest performance by Kookies 'n Kream, a dance crew that was recently on Australia's Got Talent!

After the talent show, I headed off to Year 10 history, where they examined primary source documents from WWI (or should I say barely examined, as the girls were still on a high from the special guest performance). After packing up my things, I enjoyed a pleasant walk home and the first nice day of weather in a while! We set up for Louise's birthday party and welcomed in 60 giddy high school girls (and Joe... LOL) for a night of dancing, food and fun. We even said "Three Cheers for Louise" (you know - hip hip, horray! It's not just in the movies!). It was an absolute blast.

Happy 18th Birthday Louise!

On Friday, Sr. Rosemary picked me and Joe up and we made our way to the Edmund Rice Center,  a social justice advocacy and outreach center that supports multiple different causes. We met with Jill, the director of their climate change project, "Pacific Calling," and learned about the increasing problem of tides and rising sea levels in the South Pacific. We were also educated in the history of the Australian aboriginals and the problems that have occurred with their freedom and citizenship over time. It was a very interesting day with lots of new feelings and new perspectives.

I can honestly say our day at Edmund Rice was the first time I felt truly challenged during this trip. I suppose I can say I have grown quite accustomed to being the "shiny new toy" here in Australia over the past two weeks. Especially at Santa, I have found that people are captivated by my "American-ness." Whether it is my accent or when I tell them that I am from New York, I am always met with giddy smiles, bright eyes, and lots of eager questions. But at Edmund Rice, my American heritage was not only uninteresting, but it automatically coined me as "the bad guy." Suddenly, I was taking the blame for climate change and global warming. I was being ignorant to the rest of the world. I was spending my money in all of the wrong places. I can't say that it didn't rub me the wrong way, but it was an incredibly humbling experience. Of course I am not the sole cause of the world's problems, but I am also nothing special because I happen to be from well-known state.

The leaves aren't the only thing changing

The timing was just right - it was an important reminder that this fellowship isn't just about me, but more about the people I am serving and most of all, about God. It doesn't matter where you are from - the Catholic faith is universal, and Veritas can be found if you open your heart and mind to eagerly look for it.

Cheers :)
Em

Sightseeing Around Sydney

Give us two and a half free days in Sydney - we'll give you heaps of pictures, giggles, and memories! Here's what went down "Down Under" this weekend!

After walking home with Joe from the Kuri-ngai Partners group meeting on Friday, the Pow girls and I got ready and headed into town for some Japanese cuisine! After feasting on a delicious meal of sushi and stir-fry, we caught a train to Circular Quay, otherwise known as Sydney Harbor! Last week, Sydney hosted their annual "Vivid Festival," in which incredibly complex, beautiful, and dramatic light images are cast onto the faces of the buildings in the harbor, including the famous Sydney Opera House!

The view from under the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Paired with instrumental music that floated through the air so naturally, it was quite the way to experience the famous harbor for the first time! After wandering around for a bit, Sarah, Rachel and I hopped onto one of the ferry boats and enjoyed an amazing ride around the harbor! Passing under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and sailing just feet away from the Sydney Opera House - simply exhilarating! It was truly a night to remember.

Saturday, despite the rain, proved to be another wonderful day full of touristy activities! Elizabeth took me, Sarah, Rachel and Joe to Featherdale Nature Preserve in Western Sydney, where we saw all sorts of native Australian animals. The preserve allows their kangaroos to roam freely throughout the park - quite an overwhelming and exciting sight for an American! I was even able to pet a napping koala! From wombats to kookaburras, we were treated to a diverse array of animals we do not have exposure to in the States! 

So sweet :)

After visiting the preserve, we enjoyed some lunch back at home before hopping back in the car and exploring Sydney Olympic Park, this time with Laura joining us!

Strathfield, the town where we are staying, is less than five minutes away from where the main events of the 2000 Sydney Olympics took place, and so exploring was a must. The girls recounted memories of watching the events live and took us on a tour of Bicentennial Park! After sufficiently soaking our clothes and shoes, we ventured off for some warm coffee's and wonderful conversation. We finished our evening with dinner at "Cookies," a local pub, and officially celebrated Joe's 21st birthday!

Sunday provided more rain, but that didn't stop us from exploring Sydney's most famous landmark - the Opera House! Rachel, Sarah, Elizabeth and I met Sim, Laura and Joe and we all traveled back to Circular Quay, where we enjoyed some lunch and hot chocolate's while overlooking the Sydney Harbor. Then in 21st century tourist fashion, we donned some stylish headphones and walked around the Sydney Opera House, where we learned about the interesting history of the iconic building. Afterward, we enjoyed a rainy yet pleasant walk around the harbor before returning home for Sunday mass and a Thai dinner!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge from under the Opera House!

What a wonderful and eyeopening weekend it was here in Sydney, but only because of our incredible home stay families! But alas, now it's back to the work grind. Here's to a fruitful week full of service, learning and perspective!

Em :)

Reporting from Oz: First Days

G'day mates! And greetings from the "Land Down Undah!"

First and foremost, I must apologize for the delay in blog posts - it has been a whirlwind first four days here! But after a whopping 21 hours of travel, Joe and I are safe and settled in Sydney! And may I say - we have received the warmest welcome two students in a foreign country could ask for! We were met at Sydney International Airport by our lovely home stay families, complete with a little sign that read "Emily & Joe," and proceeded to move into our new homes for the next six weeks! After unpacking a bit and taking a most appreciated shower, I went downstairs for some breakfast (which is the same here as America - cereal, fruit, toast, eggs, granola, etc) and chatted with Rachel and Sarah - two of the four Pooley-Pow girls I am staying with. Rachel is 22 years old and finishing her studies in Social Work, and Sarah is 19 and in her second year of college, studying Occupational Therapy!

It was so enlightening and just plain fun to chat with them - they are so friendly and their accents are so lovely. Rachel's voice reminds me of Claire from "Lost" :) We mostly chatted about the differences in our education systems and about travel. For Aussie's, only the senior year (or year 12 as they call it here) counts when applying to college (that plus their version of the SAT... They put the senior year grades together with the test, and it produces one mark). From there, they choose their Uni ("Aussie" for "College") based on programs/majors, as most people commute. They were surprised when I said aside from trades such as culinary school, broadcasting, the military, etc., people usually choose their college in America based on how comfortable they would be living there!

We also chatted a lot about travel - as everything is kind of far away from Australia, Aussie's pretty much always travel far. The Pooley-Pow girls have been to so many incredible places, from New York to London to Bali to Jerusalem to South Africa to Tokyo! They said people don't travel around Australia for vacation like American's travel around The States - they said Australia is not as diverse as the US is in its cities so there isn't always something new to see.

After breakfast, Rachel and I picked up Joe and his homestay sister Sarah (yup, two Sarah's) and we drove to the famous Bondi Beach! This is where they held the beach volleyball event during the 2000 Sydney Olympics if you can picture it! Anyway, they have a cliff walk called "Bronte to Bondi" (almost identical to the Cliff Walk in Newport) that goes for a few miles along the cliffs on the Pacific. It was BEAUTIFUL! We enjoyed watching the surfers as they tried to catch the huge waves. The rocks on the cliff were eroded in incredible shapes too. The water was crystal clear like in the Caribbean, which was strange to see such nice water without the 90 degree weather (it was about 65). We had lunch in a little "club" on the cliff overlooking Bondi Beach and then went for hot chocolate (and churro's for Joe) in town and drank it on the beach! It was perfect.

Bronte to Bondi Beach Walk!

From there we drove home and I finished unpacking. The next thing that happened has become a little joke of the trip thus far - it was about 5:30pm (3:30am in the States) so I said "Oh I'll just lay down until dinner..." Next thing I knew, it was 11:30pm, dark outside, and the house was super quiet - I was so confused! I went to go wash up when I met Louise (the youngest Pow sister) and I must have scared her half to death - I'm sure I looked like a zombie! But she was so cute and offered to get me lasagna right then and there! So hospitable!

Wednesday was fabulous as well. Joe and I met Sr. Rosemary, our contact from the past eight months, and we were greeted with huge hugs and the sweetest little accent - she is so cute! We went to her office and gathered around her little portable heater (it is so much colder inside buildings here because they don't have central heating) and she made us "Morning Tea," complete with "Tim Tams" and "Anzac Cookies." The incredibly lovely and funny Mrs. Jane Sulis (one of the teachers/coordinator of Social Justice at Santa Sabina) joined us too - she and Rosemary seem to be best buddies. We all walked over to the Catherine Sullivan Center - a center for hearing impaired babies where their parents come to work with professionals in order to help them to communicate with each other. We dropped Joe off there and then Jane took me on a tour of Santa Sabina - the K-12 school where I will be spending most of my time during my Fellowship - showing me everything from the Pre-School/Nursery all the way to the High School. It is such a beautiful campus with such a rich history! Jane was excited to introduce me to everyone as "Emily from America, who wants to learn how we do it "Dominican" here in Australia!"

Santa Sabina College - was your high school this nice?

After our tour, Jane took Joe and I to the Santa Sabina "Canteen" where she bought us Meat Pies - an Australian dish, which is like a less extravagant version of Shepard's Pie. We brought them back to Sr. Rosemary's office where we all talked for hours about everything from food to health care to service work to Dominicans! Then Sr. went over our schedules with us and sent us on our way - I met up with Louise and caught a ride home with her! Then Elizabeth and I enjoyed some "Afternoon Tea" and chatted about differences in the American and Australian education systems.

Thursday was perhaps my favorite day of the week - no, YEAR - thus far! I went into Santa Sabina early with Louise for daily mass, after which I was met by Mrs. Dominique Marturia - Santa's coordinator for Mission and Identity (just like we have Mission and Ministry at PC, which runs the Smith Fellowship Program!). What. A. Gem. Dominique will be my mentor for all of my work at Santa Sabina, and I could not be more blessed to spend time with such a gifted woman. We spent hours chatting about education, teaching, pastoral ministry, and Catholicism, and she really was incredibly encouraging of my desire to work with teenagers and college students in a school setting in the future! Together with Dominique and Michael, the coordinator of the Religious Education program with a beautiful Irish brogue, we planned out what exactly I will be doing during my time at Santa Sabina. It looks like I will be visiting the Religion and History classes and offering lesson's that provide the "American perspective" on what they are learning! I am really excited to do some research and create some Powerpoint presentations this coming week in preparation! I will also be helping Dominique plan and execute the Year 11 Retreat, which will take place on the last three days of Santa's fall term (2 weeks from now) at an off-campus retreat center owned by Santa Sabina! Finally, I will also be helping Dominique with the "Wisdom Mass," which celebrates the grandparents of the Santa Sabina students!

The girls from Pastoral Care!

After morning tea with Michael and Dominique and all of their faculty friends (side note: it is awesome being a college, ahem, sorry, UNI, student at a high school - the teachers see you as a colleague and the students see you as a peer!), I joined in on a "Pastoral Care" class (our version of an hour long homeroom class), in which the girls were writing pen pal letters to their sister school in South Africa. Here I got to meet a few Year 12 ladies - Sara, Laura, and Rita - who were incredibly lovely and invited me to enjoy some lunch with them and their friends! During lunch the girls were adorable, asking me to just talk so they could listen to my accent. After telling them that I am from New York, they began squealing as if Justin Bieber had entered the room - "Have you ever met anyone famous?" "Is Gossip Girl really how the Upper East Side is?" "You must see celebrities, like, every day!" "Do you shop at all of those designer stores?" - they were hilarious! But it is incredibly easy to connect with everyone here in Australia, as all of our entertainment (music, movies, TV, etc.) is the same. It was awesome to discuss the pro's and con's of Suzanne Collins' "Mockingjay" with two 17-year-old Aussies!

Kate's Year 11 Geography Class - they were incredible!

After lunch, I joined Mrs. Kate Corcoran's Year 11 Geography class, where I was met with nine incredibly enthusiastic young ladies, all eager to discuss the differences between Australia and America. Kate's husband is a native of Baltimore, so she was incredibly helpful in facilitating a fruitful discussion for her students as well as serving as an Aussie lingo translator for me! Kate's class was probably the highlight of my day - the girls, just like the one's from lunch, had a whole slew of questions for "The American"... "Why does everyone drink from red cups at parties?" "Are there really cheerleaders in high school?" "Is there really such thing as the Jersey Shore?" We realized that most Aussie's knowledge about America comes from the media - movies, television, and magazines - and it is all rather accurate. On the flip side, the girls were shocked to hear that American's know Australia for the Crocodile Hunter, kangaroos, the Outback, and koalas! It is truly interesting how much of Australian culture is focused on the American way.

After school, I met up with Joe and we headed over to the Matt Talbot Hostel, a homeless shelter in downtown Sydney, with Emmanuel and Rocco, two teachers from Santa Sabina. We helped to serve and clean up dinner, and it was truly incredible to see how many people were fed in just one hour! Very rewarding work.

After the Kuri-ngai Partners meeting!

Today (Friday), Joe picked me up from the Pooley-Pow's and we walked over to Sr. Rosemary's office (conveniently located on Santa's campus). She took us over to the Kuri-ngai Partners Support Group - an organization committed to the outreach and advocacy of the Aboriginal population in Australia. It was very inspiring to hear the work Sr. Rosemary and her committee were doing to help establish better relations between the Aboriginal people's and the general Australian population! Afterward, we enjoyed some coffee and sandwiches and discussed politics - a very informative day! 

It has been an incredibly rewarding, enlightening, and simply perfect first week here in Sydney. I really could not ask for more - we are so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such warm, welcoming, and loving people. Here's to a wonderful weekend of sightseeing, birthday celebrations (cough, Joe, cough), and heaps and heaps of love.

Ta!
Em

Surreal Reality

After eight months of planning, four months of making arrangements, three weeks with the scary-large check from Fr. Robb, six days at home in New York and roughly two years of daydreaming, Australia has finally become a reality. Today I will embark on my 25 hour-long journey from New York to Los Angeles to Sydney, entirely skipping May 28th in the process! (Try and do the math on that one...) And although my suitcase is packed and waiting near the front door, the reality of Australia and my Fr. Smith Fellowship hasn't really hit yet. The past three mornings I have woken up only to stare at the empty suitcase lying on the floor of my bedroom, wondering why it's there and who it's for. I really feel as if I've been planning this trip for someone else.

But despite the fact that I can't seem to wrap my head around the reality that is today, my desire to serve is still clear and unwavering. It's funny - two of the most frequently asked questions I receive upon explaining my travels to friends and family are, "Why Australia?" and, "Why serve?" As Fr. Smith Fellows, the purpose of our mission is to serve as ambassadors of Providence College's Catholic and Dominican faith, and to experience this faith and heritage internationally so that we may come to a fuller understanding of the universality of our faith. And as I reflected on my own faith journey, I realized it was precisely the Catholic and Dominican faith I was introduced to at Providence College that brought me back to the Church I had grown incredibly skeptical of throughout my high school years. 

The joy I have experienced since immersing myself in the faith once again has been overwhelming. To have God at the center of my life rather than material possessions or individual desires has strengthened my character and friendships, and graced me with a more optimistic view of life. Most importantly, I learned and felt the power of love. So much so that it has become difficult for me to fathom how I lived life so long without it. 

And that's exactly why I chose to serve in Australia. 


Australia has experienced a decline in religious identity - even more severe than what we have witnessed here in the United States. Less than 10 percent of Australian's identify their religion as the most important aspect of their life, with almost 50 percent claiming it holds no place in their life at all. And while this is of course a lifestyle preference for many, I have experienced the confusion and frustration of not wanting to identify with a religion or faith. But ever since encountering the Catholic and Dominican faith as it was and is personified by Providence College, I do not desire for anyone to live without experiencing the sheer happiness and joy that is brought by the faith. 

I desire to embody the love and humility of the Catholic faith and the Dominican Order. If by doing so I can inspire one person to see the saving power of God in their own life - or even to inspire it in someone else - then my mission as a Fr. Smith Fellow will have come full circle.  

Here's to personifying Providence.

The Beginning of a Summer Down Under

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Emily and this blog is where I will recount all of my tales from my 'Summer Down Under' in Sydney, Australia, courtesy of Providence College's Fr. Smith Fellowship Program for Study and Service Abroad! I am so blessed to have been selected as one of the seven 2012 Smith Fellows to travel to an international site of Catholic and Dominican heritage in order to deepen my understanding of the universal church, and to bring the fruits of my experiences back to the PC community!

For six weeks this summer (from May 27 to July 6), I will be living and serving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia with the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia. I have been working closely (well, as closely as email allows...) with Sr. Rosemary Kinne, who has graciously contacted various sites throughout Sydney where I can serve, mainly through an educational lens. Sr. Rosemary has been so helpful with all of our planning, and I cannot wait to meet her just to give her a huge hug!

Speaking of our planning - I am not traveling alone! Of the seven Smith Fellows this year, there are actually two of us heading to Sydney together, and he happens to be one of my closest friends here at PC! My good friend Joe has also been working very closely with Sr. Rosemary to craft an itinerary more focused through a medical lens, as he aspires to be a doctor one day. I feel so blessed to have him as a friend, let alone as my travel buddy! 

Although these next three weeks will be full of preparations, I will be sure to keep you updated with the pre-Sydney process! Thank you so much for following along with me on this journey - my hope is that by reading this blog, you can feel as if you are right in Sydney with me!

God bless,

Em