Today I’m going on a road trip. I’m quite excited about the idea of going somewhere without having to sweat and work hard for it. Brad, who is hosting me in Rockhampton, has offered to take me on this trip. We are visiting a school in an indigenous community where he maintains the IT systems. The teachers have expressed an interest in having me talk about my trip to the kids.
After an easy two hour drive, we are at the school. The teachers seem happy to have me here, but not all the kids have shown up because it is a rainy day.
The entrance to the school
Glen, one of the teachers, shows me the workshop where students learn to work with the wood, and about structures like bridges. The work they are producing here is remarkable.
Artwork by Glen the teacher poet artist
Harbour bridge, learning about structure
Story telling using a camera and a computer to make an animation movie
I talk about my trip in front of the kids in the library. The teachers ask the questions and the kids remain mostly silent. I believe I was lacking some pictures or something visual to capture their attention a bit more.
The kids getting together in the library to listen to me talking about my adventure
Me talking to the kids
History book
At lunch time, a few of them approach me and start to open up and ask questions. I do try to understand them but the accent is different from what I’m used to. With more time, I would get it.
I follow a few of them to the computer room where they can surf the Web freely, except social media websites are banned. I show them my website and this does the trick. They look at the pictures and bombard me with questions. They love the interactivity of the website and how visual it is.
After the school we visit the hospital where Brad has a few computers to maintain, then it’s time to head back home.
Interesting facts, vaccination even more useful for indigenous people
The main street of this little town
We get pulled over by the cops, which is interesting considering this is an alcohol banned zone. Apparently it is often that alcohol is banned in indigenous communities, because it is thought to create issues.
After a long drive, we are back home. Tomorrow I will have to prepare for the next section of my trip.
