Sunday, January 25, 2009

A VIRTUAL TANTRUM

It’s my third night here in Yuendumu. I’ve just spent the last few hours grieving. It’s nothing serious really, it’s just that my precious little Macbook has taken this wonderfully opportune moment to up and shit itself. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!

I’m having a hard time thinking of any immediate solutions. Sure as shit ain’t any Mac shops within a 1500km radius. Sure as shit ain’t any way of retrieving all of my important work data in the next two days (note to self: BACK SHIT UP DUDE). Sure as shit ain’t any way of entertaining myself until it gets fixed (no tv, books, music or movies for at least another week and, let’s face it, the dulcet but somewhat malformed tunes of the gospel singers a few doors down just ain’t gonna cut it)! So yeah, in short I’m fucked! Sorry to burden all you unsuspecting bloggees (assuming you are reading this) with my little technological tanty, it’s just that i’m in the middle of butt-fuck-nowhere and there’s no-one else around - no-one who’ll listen anyhow.

Ok, so now I’ve got that out of my system I can move onto more positive news… Yuendumu is a rancid hole in the ground and I’m coming home tomorrow! Nah, just kiddin’.

Things, apart from my little hi-tech disaster, are swimming along nicely. I’ve moved into my new desert pad, a little brown hut-like structure that has as much charm as it does red dust and dead insects. I’ve spent the last two days scrubbing and I have to say it’s come up a real treat! I’ve also been to the school during this time and had the pleasure of meeting my teaching partner for the year. Her name’s Kylie (or Koily) and she’s from Mackay (or Mackoi). She seems nice enough, kind of like a cheerful bulldog. To be honest, my first impressions weren’t great but as time goes on I think I’m warming to her – I mean bulldogs are kinda cute aren’t they?

Shit! Sorry guys! I think my little virtual tantrum has put me in a cynical head-space and I’m worried I’m coming across like a sarcastic brat. Things really are really good! My house is delightful and all the staff at Yuendumu School seem nice and great and sweet. That’s about as useful as I can be with my description at the moment. Need sleep (and a new fucken laptop)!

J x

Sunday, January 18, 2009

NOT SO RED, NOT SO BLUE

Hello. We dropped through dense cloud when landing in Alice Springs this morning: only 25 degrees and surprisingly damp. It was odd seeing a cloud-covered Alice for the first time. The landscape, usually red and infinite, seemed dim and dwarfed beneath a close, colourless sky. It felt good to be back though, and despite a pissed and teary goodbye I've started to feel less addled and slightly less blue.

Once on the ground I was greeted by some sign-waving department-type people who raced me off to the resort. "Voyagers", the so-called resort, is big, brown and featureless and will be my home for the next three days while we're drilled with yet more bureaucratic bombast . There are hordes of other eager teaching recruits swanning about the place who I am keenly avoiding tonight, locked inside with room-service and an in-house movie.

Orientation business tomorrow and the next day, then off to the Yuendumu on Thursday.

So yeah, it's been a small, gentle start to a large, looming adventure.

More when there's more...