A few things happening here for me (finally) which I am very excited about. I have a job at Charles Darwin University with the Australian Migrant English Program. New residents and citizens are entitled to 501 hours of free English classes and I will be teaching and coordinating this program in Alice (although I am the only employee). I confess this is not what I had in mind when I moved here, was keen to get into Indigenous education, but I decided to take it for a few reasons. The first reason is that it is only 20 hours a week, but pays as much (perhaps more) as any other full time job I’ve had or applied for. Secondly, it is mostly in the evening, so my days are still free to do some tutoring work with indigenous students. I figure that given my limited experience and the complexity of the work this may be a better way to start off. I will be able to assist students in the classroom but another more experienced teacher will be in charge of the class who I can learn a lot from. Thirdly, I will also be doing some on call work with the Sexual Assault Service. This involves been available to go out on weekends or night times (can be 4am) to be with someone who has been sexually assaulted. This is probably only going to be about one week a month but it is much more sustainable if I don’t have to get up at 7am the next day to go to work. Fourthly, this work will still leaves me with time to work on the house or spend time with the neighbours and their children or get involved with things at the church. And finally, we thought that if we do happen to have children in the next little while I will be able to keep this job as it is mostly hours that Martin does not work. All in all I am very pleased with the job and the way it fits in with my life and where I am at.

I also have a church. After visiting most of the churches here in Alice I have decided to go to the Salvation Army church. This is the first church I visited so perhaps I should have just stayed (although iit was interesting seeing what all the denominations do). I have only been back once but I like it. I have say I do struggle with the the imagery of the Army such as members are called soldiers but I like the vibe of the place and everyonce seems pretty welcoming and inclusive and they are doing some good stuff around the place so I will try this out for now.

There is also some movement at the house. Painting has been done on half of it; electricity is in, tling is done in bathrooms and the septic is in. Tiles for the rest of the house have been ordered and are on their way, the kitchen guy is coming next week. We are hopeful to be in by the beginning of next month. This will be such a blessing I tell you what.

So overall things are really starting to fall into place. I am hopeful that this will all make me feel a bit more settled here in Alice, a bit more like home. In saying that though I think this time of waiting has been really valuable I have learned a lot about myself, about the culture here and about God that has been very important for me to learn.