Today is my last day at Wakaaranga Primary! Gosh 12 weeks really went by fast. My students are working on language right now, Katie is on release so there is a substitute in the classroom so I am taking a break to update before cross country and morning tea :)
This weekend was amazing! Friday night I just hung out with Jodi, went on a nice walk and watched a bunch of friends. It was nice to have a chill night after such an active day at school! I observed Ludwigs class and we played dodgeball, the girls begged me to be on their team so I played! haha then I grabbed my class for the last 15 minutes of the school day and took them outside to teach them red rover! They had never heard of it and had a BLAST playing! Of course I played with them and had more fun with them than I ever had. It was cool to just see the smiles on their face, laugh with them and just relax for the end of the day.
Saturday Jodi, Amy and I took a little adventure to the hot water beaches! I tried to go with the girls a while back when we visited the Coramandel Penensula but we missed low tide and were incredibly unsuccessful haha come to find out we were also in the wrong location. So this time there were tons of people there and we wiggled our feet in the sand to find the warm water and stake out our claim of beach. As the tide went down we battled the waves to dig a nice big hole we could all 3 lay in. It took us about an hour of digging with a "spade" (shovel) and our hands and we finally had a nice big hole- but the water was luke-warm haha. The people next to us had water so hot it was nearly boiling so we combined pools to equalize the two. This was pretty successful and we layed in teh 4 inch deep water and sand for a good bit. Our pool neighbors were a couple, one from Ireland and one from Scotland! They were really awesome. We gave them advice on where to go the rest of their time in NZ, I felt like such a Kiwi! After we were content with our hot water beach experience and were plenty warm, we headed out just as the sun was setting. It was absolutely incredible- so beautiful. OH! I nearly forgot! When we arrived at the beaches earlier in the day we were still a bit early for low tide so we went to this art gallery and Amy got me a Greenstone! I just got the straight one called a "drop" that represents strength, unity, independence and pride. I am beyond excited, it is really cool! :) Then we stopped at a little cafe for some lunch and coffee, which was so yummy.
I ended up driving home because Amy drove there and they were surprised with how well I could drive here! And I was thinking that I myself am surprised at how easily I crossed over to the left side of the road :) haha I've gotten so used to it actually, that it might take a bit of adjustment to get back to the right side when I get home!
I got all packed up yesterday! It went a lot quicker than I thought it would but I still have WAY too much stuff. Either Amy is getting some new clothes or I will see how much it is to ship some of it back home. Amy and I finally got to do the Jungle Walk- it was SO beautiful!
Dinner tonight with all the Waka teachers! I am so excited to get a chance to hang out with all of them one last time and say goodbye :( Then tomorrow I am staying home to finish packing, Im going to go on a nice long run/walk to say goodbye to NZ and then after dinner tomorrow Amy will take me to the airport for my 9:30pm flight back to the US of A!
Friends and Family back home- I will see you soon! This has been an incredible experience I will remember forever.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Home is Where the Heart Is
They say "Home is where the heart is"
If this is true, I now have two homes. I have come to absolutely love this place and my heart lies in so many different places and things in New Zealand. At the same time, being in another country for 3 months, away from family and friends has shown me how blessed I truly am and how much I love about my home in America. These two beautiful places have their unique character, people, and places that have allowed me to fall in love with both. I am sad to leave this one love, yet estatic to finally be back to the other. Life is about change, growing and learning... and I feel I have experienced all of these things in the beautiful country.
Lauren, Alix, Jodi and I ventured into Auckland for Lauren's birthday and their last weekend in NZ! We went to Soul for dinner and had a blast in Auckland at the viaduct that night. Saturday we took the scenic route home, got some chinese takeout and went to Amy and Brett's to hang out. My Mema sent me the BEST care package so we dove into that! Inside were various American packages of muffin mix, brownie mix, cookie mix, cupcake mix, frosting, chocolate chips, sour gummie worms and tons of other stuff!!! We were all estatic and treated ourselves to Velveeta Shell Macaroni and Martha White muffins :) Later we made cupcakes :) We relaxed, had a spa, watched a ton of friends and played Cranium! Alix and Jodi beat us by a hair both times. Bummer. Afterwards we ordered pizza from Pizza hut where their large is litereally just bigger than a personal pan pizza. Fail. Naturally we went out for yet another spa and then came in to bake cookies! haha It was a big day of relaxing and eating and just enjoying New Zealand with our American food, American TV show and American game haha. What's a girl to do?
Alix and Lauren headed out this morning and I had to say bye to them! Next time I see them it will be back in America! Later this afternoon I worked on my application to Cobb County for various teaching positions. I submitted the application and now just have to wait. Who knows what will come of it, but say a little prayer I am able to find some sort of job when I come home!
I did just find out that my portfolio is no longer due when I return home but is due the 18th. (I come home the 24th) So now I am in a predicament to either pay a ton of money to FedEx it in or email in what I have and hope it is enough. It is frustrating that this information was just told to us, but there is not much else I can do about it at this point, so we will see what happens! I just want to get my diploma in August, there is no reason to wait until December to get my degree when I will be done with everything in one week. Whew! We will see what happens!
That is all for now, one week and 2 days until I fly home! Time certainly flies by!
If this is true, I now have two homes. I have come to absolutely love this place and my heart lies in so many different places and things in New Zealand. At the same time, being in another country for 3 months, away from family and friends has shown me how blessed I truly am and how much I love about my home in America. These two beautiful places have their unique character, people, and places that have allowed me to fall in love with both. I am sad to leave this one love, yet estatic to finally be back to the other. Life is about change, growing and learning... and I feel I have experienced all of these things in the beautiful country.
Lauren, Alix, Jodi and I ventured into Auckland for Lauren's birthday and their last weekend in NZ! We went to Soul for dinner and had a blast in Auckland at the viaduct that night. Saturday we took the scenic route home, got some chinese takeout and went to Amy and Brett's to hang out. My Mema sent me the BEST care package so we dove into that! Inside were various American packages of muffin mix, brownie mix, cookie mix, cupcake mix, frosting, chocolate chips, sour gummie worms and tons of other stuff!!! We were all estatic and treated ourselves to Velveeta Shell Macaroni and Martha White muffins :) Later we made cupcakes :) We relaxed, had a spa, watched a ton of friends and played Cranium! Alix and Jodi beat us by a hair both times. Bummer. Afterwards we ordered pizza from Pizza hut where their large is litereally just bigger than a personal pan pizza. Fail. Naturally we went out for yet another spa and then came in to bake cookies! haha It was a big day of relaxing and eating and just enjoying New Zealand with our American food, American TV show and American game haha. What's a girl to do?
Alix and Lauren headed out this morning and I had to say bye to them! Next time I see them it will be back in America! Later this afternoon I worked on my application to Cobb County for various teaching positions. I submitted the application and now just have to wait. Who knows what will come of it, but say a little prayer I am able to find some sort of job when I come home!
I did just find out that my portfolio is no longer due when I return home but is due the 18th. (I come home the 24th) So now I am in a predicament to either pay a ton of money to FedEx it in or email in what I have and hope it is enough. It is frustrating that this information was just told to us, but there is not much else I can do about it at this point, so we will see what happens! I just want to get my diploma in August, there is no reason to wait until December to get my degree when I will be done with everything in one week. Whew! We will see what happens!
That is all for now, one week and 2 days until I fly home! Time certainly flies by!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Waka Waka
One week and one day down! One more week of full control, a week of relaxing in the classroom and taking on a few lessons, and then I go home!!
Today was such a fun day at Waka! We had two teacher birthdays today- 50 and 60 years old! (We make a big deal about the decade ones) so we had cake at morning tea and then a little party after school today with everyone. It is so cool to me that the teachers, staff, principal, EVERYONE gets together to socialize at this school. And although I think NZ might be better about this than the US, I must say Waka is very special for it. I love socializing with everyone and just hanging out. I feel like I have one big group of friends at school and I think few people can say that. It branches across all grades levels, subjects, and even beyond just the teachers, the staff and substitutes as well. If Waka were anywhere in America I would be knocking down the door to teach there for sure. I hate that it is something else in that huge list of things I will leave behind when I leave New Zealand in two weeks. It really reminds you what matters in life. I was talking to Ian (The Assistant Principal) today at the little party about NZ schools compared to the ones I have experienced in America and he said "Well you know, we stand behind the belief here at Waka that stressed out teachers make bad teachers. If we demand this and that of them, yeah they might have good reports and polished lesson plans, but they won't be effective in the classroom". Wow. Now I realize this is not a end-all-be-all to teaching because yes, there has to be accountability, but it was so refreshing to hear him talk about his teachers with such confidence, knowing they are all doing what needs to be done without a pile of paperwork to prove it. I pray that American schools can look more like this. I know I would work 2 or 3 extra weeks a year to have that 20 minute morning tea and an hour for lunch each day. It makes the day so much less stressful and the teaching so much more effective. The students are in shape due to all their exercise and when they are in the classroom, they are more focused for having that free time in between. It is a beautiful system and who knows, maybe one day I will be the principal of a charter school and can implement these same things (because Lord knows they will never happen in a public school! Unless of course I become the Secretary of Education...hmmmm)
Anyways, off my soap box...tomorrow I have my lecturer observation and evaluation from the University of Auckland. Katie and I have worked together to create a ballin' lesson plan, so I hope the kids behave and it all runs smoothly! :)
This weekend into Auckland to celebrate Lauren's birthday and send them off! Carolyn, Alix and Lauren all came to NZ a week before me and so they will be leaving a week before me as well. Then next weekend we are having a Waka party at Amy and Brett's to celebrate one last time before I leave! Cheers to so many celebrations for new chapters in life!
Today was such a fun day at Waka! We had two teacher birthdays today- 50 and 60 years old! (We make a big deal about the decade ones) so we had cake at morning tea and then a little party after school today with everyone. It is so cool to me that the teachers, staff, principal, EVERYONE gets together to socialize at this school. And although I think NZ might be better about this than the US, I must say Waka is very special for it. I love socializing with everyone and just hanging out. I feel like I have one big group of friends at school and I think few people can say that. It branches across all grades levels, subjects, and even beyond just the teachers, the staff and substitutes as well. If Waka were anywhere in America I would be knocking down the door to teach there for sure. I hate that it is something else in that huge list of things I will leave behind when I leave New Zealand in two weeks. It really reminds you what matters in life. I was talking to Ian (The Assistant Principal) today at the little party about NZ schools compared to the ones I have experienced in America and he said "Well you know, we stand behind the belief here at Waka that stressed out teachers make bad teachers. If we demand this and that of them, yeah they might have good reports and polished lesson plans, but they won't be effective in the classroom". Wow. Now I realize this is not a end-all-be-all to teaching because yes, there has to be accountability, but it was so refreshing to hear him talk about his teachers with such confidence, knowing they are all doing what needs to be done without a pile of paperwork to prove it. I pray that American schools can look more like this. I know I would work 2 or 3 extra weeks a year to have that 20 minute morning tea and an hour for lunch each day. It makes the day so much less stressful and the teaching so much more effective. The students are in shape due to all their exercise and when they are in the classroom, they are more focused for having that free time in between. It is a beautiful system and who knows, maybe one day I will be the principal of a charter school and can implement these same things (because Lord knows they will never happen in a public school! Unless of course I become the Secretary of Education...hmmmm)
Anyways, off my soap box...tomorrow I have my lecturer observation and evaluation from the University of Auckland. Katie and I have worked together to create a ballin' lesson plan, so I hope the kids behave and it all runs smoothly! :)
This weekend into Auckland to celebrate Lauren's birthday and send them off! Carolyn, Alix and Lauren all came to NZ a week before me and so they will be leaving a week before me as well. Then next weekend we are having a Waka party at Amy and Brett's to celebrate one last time before I leave! Cheers to so many celebrations for new chapters in life!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Plan-Teach-Plan!
The second week of my break was well spent in the sunshine (I actually laid out for a bit)! I did a bit of running, eating and a TON of planning. Alix, Lauren and Caelyn got back from Queenstown Saturday and so of course they came over to hang out at Amy and Brett’s! We laid around, watched a movie and then went over to Alix’s for an amazing dinner! They spent the night with me and Sunday we went out on PJ and Carlene’s boat (Alix’s host parents). We sailed under the Auckland Harbor Bridge and saw someone bungee jump from underneath the bridge! That afternoon we went to Botany for some shopping and ice cream J
Monday I was back to school for my full control! It is amazing having control of the classroom for an entire day, it flows so well and I feel so much more in tune with what the kids are doing. It is definitely very tiring and takes a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding. We are doing a unit on energy- renewable vs non-renewable resources so this week we focused on wind energy and solar power.
I can’t believe I have completed almost an entire week of my full control and go home in less than 3 weeks! Time is really flown by and I have had such an amazing experience. This was a short post but the past 2 weeks have been all classroom, teaching, students, lesson plans… J
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