Local teaching couple returns from the land down under

Feb 24, 2010

Jen and Chris Chanook at home with their made in Australia gifts. Photo courtesy of Jen and Chris Chanook

Two local school teachers who spent six months abroad teaching in Australia recently returned home to Verona.

They brought with them a number of Australian souvenirs, including boomerangs, a didgeridoo, local pottery, paintings and prints, many of which now decorate their home. The most exciting gift of all, though, is the one presently growing in Jennifer Chanook’s now very pregnant belly, which the couple jokes was also “made in Australia” and who is expected sometime in early April.

They returned home to their teaching jobs in January, Jen at Loughborough PS in Sydenham and Chris at Prince Charles PS in Verona and both seem invigorated by their travels abroad.

In addition to weekend excursions to the Great Barrier Reef, Ululu Rock, and the Gold Coast, they took advantage of Australia’s unique teaching schedule of four 10-week slots with two weeks off in between each to travel to Fiji, Bali, Tasmania, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Chris golfed with kangaroos and Jen scuba dived, sky dived and both got up close and personal with koalas.

The couple applied one year in advance of their trip with the Canadian Education Exchange Foundation and were paired with two Australian teachers with whom they were able make the exchange.

For Jen and Chris it was a long-time dream come true. Chris said their plans to teach abroad had been in the works for years. “Since we were dating we both knew that we wanted to teach abroad and were extremely lucky that we both had an Australian counterpart to exchange with,” he said.

They are excited to be home and feel they have lots to offer their students from their experience away. Jen is planning an imaginary week-long trip to Australia for her students in which she will introduce them to Australia’s outback, schools and geographical wonders aided by videos, her souvenirs and photos.

Chris says that that their experience helps to inform young students about different places and people in the world while simultaneously dispelling myths. ”We are hoping to encourage and motivate students to explore the world and all that it has to offer.”

Chris and Jen highly recommend teaching abroad and are planning future teaching excursions down the road. But for right now they are busy preparing themselves and their home for their extra special “made in Australia” gift.