It is march already. I dont know where the first quarter of the year went. Actually, looking back, I do. It has been a hectic time settling back into life in Central Australia. I arrived back here at the end of January ready to begin a new job and ready to embark upon the search for a new home. The home thing happened quicker than expected and I moved into my first ever mortgaged property on the 7th March. It is lovely to be able to walk around my own place and plan things that I might do - where to hang my pictures, what to plant in the garden, how to arrange the furniture. It's also nice to feel as though i dont have to do all of this at once as I will be here a while.
The job took a little longer to work out. The problem with a newjob is that no one knows you're in it for the first 5 weeks or so so you sit around wondering what it really is that you are supposed to be doing. Then, as i discovered, things pan out and people discover you may be of use to them and things start to get busy. Despite the change in focus for me, eg. I'm no longer in a classroom, working in one particular school, but rather am working across schools in town and out bush in a curriculum development role, I think it will be a really positive move and will help me to operate within and comprehend the educational system at a different level. Plus i get to work with some really good people and build new networks.
One of my fears was that this would mean I might loose touch with the Mulga Bore mob. No danger of that!! They are very excited about my new house, in particular the 'swimming pool akwerk" (the spa!) out the back!! I have seen them on a weekly basis almost and they often drop in at home or work just to say hello or to inquire when mum and dad will be here.
Mum and Dad in fact arrived today and literally within minutes of them arriving a couple of cars pulled up and there were cries of 'atwampwe' which is the name dad is known by. After spending Christmas with them, it was lovely to have the reunion up here. They're all coming over for aBBQ tomorrow. Being back here and having them drop in all the timehas made me realise how much I missed having aboriginal people in my life last year. There is a character to life when they are around that I really treasure.
All in all it feels realy good to be back. It feels like my 'apmarr', my country, my home.
