The end of a working chapter

This view, that you've enjoyed seeing fairly often, is no longer my view to share.

You see last Friday, not the one just gone but the one before, was my last day working for Nova. It was our last day, everyone's. Nova in Cairns has closed its doors.

It was unexpected yet in some ways expected. It was sad to see the end of something that seemed to have so much promise but that isn't my reasoning or story to tell.

I'll miss the people I worked with, although I think our friendships and connections will stay. I will also miss this view.

I will miss our gatherings of happily chatting students who soaked up English and our funny Australian ways like sponges.

I'll miss the hellos and goodbyes as each group came through and the wonderful people I met who really wanted to learn with us.

I'll miss our BBQs ... well maybe not so much because I did get a bit tired of eating (me tired of eating, imagine that).

I will more miss the relaxing and chatting about all of our different lives.

It was good while it lasted and I can say I was there from the beginning to the end, almost two and a half years of my life. But now those doors are closed and it is time to look for something new and to get onto the monotonous job applying. Anyone know of a good job going?

The Saturday that was ...

So in my gloss over of last week that sounded very much like an overload, which it was, I left you hanging for the Saturday.

You see I worked six days at Nova, which is not the norm. We actually only had five days of lesson work to do so that left a day spare for us to fill in for our teenage students.

We just couldn't have students stay here for ten days and not get to see one of the icons of the area. 

So where did we go? Can you guess?

This hint might give it away. 

We went on a boat.

We were a bit early so had plenty of time to choose seats, make ourselves at home, take 'from the boat' photos and in the case of all the students, have a snack, or a full blown meal (that would fit in with the make themselves at home, talk about crumbs).

The trip took around 45 minutes.

It just so happens that there had been lovely weather all week, perfect for heading out in a boat. The prediction for Saturday, hmmmm, not so perfect, but it wasn't too bad. Just the right amount of rough to still be fun. 

Oh, another hint. 

I've been there before.

The view from the back of the boat was nice to watch, especially seeing the city recede and spread out along the coast.

Even better was the front of the boat. It was good for a bit of a thrill ride. As waves hit the boat, or we hit them, water splashed over the front of the boat. Students (and myself) had fun woahing as the boat gave us a bit of a roller coaster feeling and squealing when the water hit.

Also from the front, the bow, we could see where we were heading.

Green Island was growing larger in the horizon. 

Did you guess right?

Green Island was where we were headed.

As we came in close the boat slowed down and we lost our thrill ride but the excitement of arriving was still there to feed off.

We had watched the water change colour as we moved away from Cairns and then closer to Green Island. It is amazing the different shades it has.

Friendly boat staff pointed out the eagle's nest as they were preparing the boat for us to disembark. 

When feet hit the ground a couple of the students must have been very relieved. The trip hadn't been so fun for them.

Being one to suffer motion sickness I had been prepared and had taken my travelcalm and then chose to stand for most of the trip. I didn't have a problem, and I hadn't had breakfast that long before leaving. The travel sickness medicine had been offered to students but they chose not to have some.

We oohed and ahhed out way along the wharf. The colours never cease to amaze me.

Then next stop was the beach.

The kids eagerly headed for the water but discovered the temperature wasn't as warm as they would have liked.

I jumped in for a quick dip, after working myself up to it. It was chilly, very chilly although I am sure refreshing on a hot day.

It was just so nice to hang out on the beach, watching the kids like hawks (decree from the company) and seeing them have a ball. We talked about what they were doing, practicing English and just plain enjoyed the perfect tropical location.

We had chosen the glass bottom boat option for the kids. They did use their goggles to look at fish at the beach but probably spent more time playing in the sand.  Before heading to the boat the sea sick kids took the good option of those travel sickness tablets. I know I do okay after the trip out to the Island so didn't bother. Maybe I don't get sea sick after all.

The choppy water made for a very bobbing style trip when we stopped to look at things.

We got to see different corals and fish through the windows in the bottom of the boat.

We even got to see turtles!

It had been planned so we would go straight from the glass bottom boat to the boat back to Cairns.

So after waiting a few minutes for the boat, it was back on board and then back to Cairns.

The trip back was a bit rougher and we didn't need to be at the front of the boat to get wet.

Once we got closer to Cairns, where it was more protected, a couple of use went to the front of the boat to watch to city getting closer. 

It was an amazing morning and everyone returned tired after a big week. We looked around some souvenir shops before heading to a nearby supermarket for drinks and yet more food (how much to teenagers eat?). Then a little relax back at our office before setting them free at 2pm to their host families. 

It might have been a huge week but there was plenty of fun and satisfaction involved in it.

What did you do with your Saturday?

Have you got any great motion sickness preventives?