I've been in "historic" Edenton for almost a week now and the place is not that bad. Other than some old buildings I'm not sure why it is so historical - its a quaint little town with a number of old houses and buildings and ex-civil war canons. My travel agent in Oz tells me that Google says that Edenton is the pretties town in the south. This might be a stretch but it is rustic and located on the landward side of Albermoral Sound which gives a pleasing vista from the end of the main street (my writing is starting to sound like a very bad Lonely Planet!). To my surprise I haven't seen any confederate flags yet but "the war" memorial in the main street is dedicated to remembering the confederate civil war dead! I'm not game to ask any of the local population if they knew which side won.

I've been involved with the school fairly heavily this week and have grown a whole new level of respect for school teachers. t was Jamie's first week of teaching in Edenton and her friend Caren has worked at the school for a number of years. On Thursday I was press-ganged into doing some marking for Jamie - three classes worth of quizzes on American states and landmarks. After getting through marking the quizzes I was mentally and emotionally drained, deciphering some of the hieroglyphics that they students considered words and trying to comprehend how some could not tell the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans (clue: North Carolina is on the Atlantic - not on the Pacific). I did however appreciate the students that only got 2/50 as marking these tests was quicker. I haves a whole new level of respect for school teachers and what they go through marking major exams (this was only a small 50 question test!). Marg, if you're reading this I'd like to apologize for the writing in my essays at school, not to mention the spelling, grammar and verbose style.

I also agreed to speak to two of Caren's government classes on the governments in Australia and where I've lived around the world. I met a number of teaches in the school and the principle who were stoked that someone from overseas had come to Edenton to visit and that they would speak at the school. I do have to say that once again here American hospitality has blown me away. And for the record I didn't tell the kids that we rode kangaroos to school at home.

Before I forget.......At home schools are usually named after Saints, people who have served the community that they are situated in or sport stars. Jamie teaches at John Holmes high school . Who would have thought (for Mum's benefit - John Holmes was an actor in the adult film industry)........