settling in

(I had a few problems uploading this blog last week, so its a bit dated.)

Hi gang,

Alright. This week I'm writing to you all from my new abode. The Katherine grape-vine wove its magic, and I was offered a house-sitting gig before I was offered a room to rent in this beautiful house (complete with spa!), only a couple of blocks from work and where everything else happens in this regional 'bustling' centre!

The first big week of work went really well. I've met the main language speaker for Bilinarra. A funny old lady who's been talking up long-neck turtle (for eating) and thinks I better try it on our first trip to her old community.

Come the weekend, I moved into the new digs and headed to the auction centre, wanting to acquire a bed and a bike. 4 hours of auctioning. It's like crawling through the trading post, from jousting sticks to Toranas. Well, from fijian totem poles to caravans anyway! Over 300 items! I did walk away with a bike ($10), no bed...but a bookshelf, chest of draws, 'lucky dip' box, an umbrella and a guitar!

Sunday, I finally made it to Katherine gorge! Just for a glimpse, but that'll have to do for the moment. A couple of mates and I made it in time for a quick stroll, watching the notorious territory sunset. Just beautiful.

Love to all.

Reporting in from Katherine!

Howdy southerners! Arriving in Darwin, puffy-eyed and not at my most aethsetically pleasing, full brownie points go to Elanor for picking me up at 2am from the airport. A short but sweet time was had in Darwin, getting acquainted with the creepy-crawlies that are coming out for build-up season. I've already spotted a tree-frog in the toilet, but still waiting for my first experience of frog tea (after belatedly finding one in the kettle!)
I jumped on a bus on Wednesday to Katherine.

Katherine. Hmmmm. It's small, but has perks. Hot springs, mango trees and friendly locals, to name a few. I've jumped straight into work, at Diwurruwurru-jaru Aboriginal Corporation, freaking myself out with the scope of the job. Firstly, it would be handy for me to pick up 3 or 4 languages pretty quickly. This week I'm hoping to meet up with the key language consultant for Bilinarra, a language spoken a couple of hundred k's south of Katherine (get out your atlas' and look up 'Pigeon Hole' if it's handy). In two weeks time I'm planning to go down there (with one of the other linguists at DAC, Colleen) and run a language class or two at the school. Arse into gear.

On a social note, Katherine might be a bit of a one-horse-town, but that means that when something is on, you go. Friday night I went to another linguist's party, Saturday night was the local high school's musical, and sometime this week, the Katherine Times tells me, there's a ladies' night where I can bid at the auction for a "hot male body". Great.

Saturday arvo, Colleen, a visiting friend of her's and myself did a bit of tourism. The Cutta-cutta caves were pretty cool, literally (a nice change from the 35C!) and then we drove on to Mataranka hot springs. The water is something out of the Blue Lagoon, in the middle of your stereotypical oasis, palm trees and all. Absolutely divine, apart from the putrid reek of bat poo.

Thanks to all in Melbs for getting in touch and hanging out before I left. They were a great last couple of weeks. Keep in touch and start planning your holidays up here!

Love to all,

Lauren