Our team leader Jimmy often talks about the different "hats" that we wear in our jobs. There are so many different aspects to our job, so many different roles that we are aiming to fulfill. I had a perfect example of this on Thursday. We did a pancake outreach on Thursday at Ballarat, just loving on the students there and giving them some free pancakes. It was a blast, we met a lot of new people and just got the name of Student Life out there. One minute I was figuring out how to get a fairly dodgy barbie down 3 flights of stairs, the next minute I was talking to heaps of different students about a wide variety of topics (ranging from why we were doing this and who Student Life is to the music on last week's Glee episode), and the next minute I was talking to Leighton, the head of the Ballarat Student Association, about club funding and how clubs like Student Life add to the atmosphere and culture of the uni. As I was talking to Leighton, I almost started laughing. I kept thinking to myself that 5 minutes ago I was down on the main part of campus flipping pancakes and telling students about Student Life, and now I'm up in the Student Association office talking about the inner workings of the uni. I went from wearing a very casual, hey-come-be-my-friend hat, to a very professional, representing-our-club-to-the-head-of-the-student-association hat.
We can put on so many of these different "hats" throughout the day. Sometimes it's overwhelming, sometimes it's just funny, but most of the time I absolutely love it. It keeps me on my toes, makes me extremely aware of my surroundings and who I'm talking to, and stretches me in ways that most jobs wouldn't. It's a bit crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything :)
From the friendly I-miss-you-all-heaps hat,
Michelle
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Pictures!
I love taking pictures. I'm not claiming to be a professional, or even good, by any means, but I just really enjoy seeing the world through photographs. It's actually something that I experience the Lord through, looking at His creation, whether it be people or nature, in a whole new way. And I love having control over what the focus of the picture is. I got a new camera for Christmas right before I came to Australia, and I've been having so much fun messing around with it. One of these days I'll work my way up to an SLR, but for now I'm perfectly content with the one I have. Thought I would share some of my favorites I have taken so far!
So this looks like a boardwalk, and it is, but not like the ones we're used to. There is a swimming area blocked off in the Geelong bay that's enclosed by a circular boardwalk. Shortly after taking this picture Erin and I started running back to land because it started pouring :)
These were all taken at the Geelong Botanical Gardens. Adam, Erin and I spent last Saturday morning just wandering around there, taking pictures and chatting. It was such a lovely morning, and a great way to enjoy the way-too-warm for May weather that we've been having lately.
Of course one of my favorite subjects to take pictures of is kids, so I have heaps of pictures of Zarah, Josi, and Rita.
Zarah and Dad
Josi is one of those kids that just never stops smiling. The only time I have seen him not smiley was when he was super sick with a nasty stomach bug. His smile brings so much joy into my life!
Because I'm around Rita the most out of the kids I have the most pictures of her, and this is easily one of my favorites. Something made Jimmy (Rita's Dad) laugh, and she just happened to look right at me, it was so perfect. This picture even made it to a frame in their house, I feel so honored!
I got a chance to go to the 12 Apostles with the spring break team. These are iconic Australia, pretty standard protocol in tourist advertisements. When people picture Australia, they picture these, with the white sand beaches and the clear blue water. It's lovely and absolutely gorgeous, but keep in mind it took a 2 hour car ride to get here, these aren't in my backyard or anything :)
There is a massive stadium in Melbourne called the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). It's a huge stadium that can hold up to 100,000 people, it's quite the experience. We have been to 2 footy games there, one when the spring break team was here.
They let you come on the field after the game is over. It's pretty sweet seeing the stadium from the players point of view, just beware of flying footy balls everywhere! I love having a picture with my Gauchos on the MCG field!
STINTer love in the stands
Kuda, me and Matt at the Collinwood vs Geelong game. This was a pretty big game, since it was the 2 top teams going against each other. The stadium was nearly sold out. And Geelong won! Go Cats!
Annie, one of the girls that came with the spring break team, who is also a dear friend of mine, was able to stay longer than the rest of team since she is already done with uni. One of the days she was here, Rakesh and Sam (2 of our students) took me, Annie, and Matt out to some fun areas around Melbourne, some of which were St. Kilda, Philip Island, and Sorrento.
On the ferry from Geelong to Sorrento
Beach huts in Sorrento
Rakesh being silly with a beach hut :)
I don't think I'll ever get over how clear the water is here.
Sunset from St. Kilda, overlooking Melbourne
Sorry, that was a long post, I guess I just like sharing my life, through pictures, with you guys!
Lots of love,
Michelle
So this looks like a boardwalk, and it is, but not like the ones we're used to. There is a swimming area blocked off in the Geelong bay that's enclosed by a circular boardwalk. Shortly after taking this picture Erin and I started running back to land because it started pouring :)
These were all taken at the Geelong Botanical Gardens. Adam, Erin and I spent last Saturday morning just wandering around there, taking pictures and chatting. It was such a lovely morning, and a great way to enjoy the way-too-warm for May weather that we've been having lately.
Of course one of my favorite subjects to take pictures of is kids, so I have heaps of pictures of Zarah, Josi, and Rita.
Zarah and Dad
Josi is one of those kids that just never stops smiling. The only time I have seen him not smiley was when he was super sick with a nasty stomach bug. His smile brings so much joy into my life!
Because I'm around Rita the most out of the kids I have the most pictures of her, and this is easily one of my favorites. Something made Jimmy (Rita's Dad) laugh, and she just happened to look right at me, it was so perfect. This picture even made it to a frame in their house, I feel so honored!
I got a chance to go to the 12 Apostles with the spring break team. These are iconic Australia, pretty standard protocol in tourist advertisements. When people picture Australia, they picture these, with the white sand beaches and the clear blue water. It's lovely and absolutely gorgeous, but keep in mind it took a 2 hour car ride to get here, these aren't in my backyard or anything :)
There is a massive stadium in Melbourne called the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). It's a huge stadium that can hold up to 100,000 people, it's quite the experience. We have been to 2 footy games there, one when the spring break team was here.
They let you come on the field after the game is over. It's pretty sweet seeing the stadium from the players point of view, just beware of flying footy balls everywhere! I love having a picture with my Gauchos on the MCG field!
STINTer love in the stands
Kuda, me and Matt at the Collinwood vs Geelong game. This was a pretty big game, since it was the 2 top teams going against each other. The stadium was nearly sold out. And Geelong won! Go Cats!
Annie, one of the girls that came with the spring break team, who is also a dear friend of mine, was able to stay longer than the rest of team since she is already done with uni. One of the days she was here, Rakesh and Sam (2 of our students) took me, Annie, and Matt out to some fun areas around Melbourne, some of which were St. Kilda, Philip Island, and Sorrento.
On the ferry from Geelong to Sorrento
Beach huts in Sorrento
Rakesh being silly with a beach hut :)
I don't think I'll ever get over how clear the water is here.
Sunset from St. Kilda, overlooking Melbourne
Sorry, that was a long post, I guess I just like sharing my life, through pictures, with you guys!
Lots of love,
Michelle
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