26 September 2008

Whanau

Mark, Kris and Emma have arrived to New Zealand. They brought with them a bag with stuff from home. Reena and Kris put together many special things that we do not have here. Sherrif Lemon pie filling, Victoria Secrets Underwear, Maple Syrup, Kraft Dinner, Nike Running shoes, Betty Crocker cake mixes, clothes for the kids and so much more. Thanks ladies!
The "other" Richards family have been seeing some of our favourite sights while we finished up working before our holdiays. The Youngs, Stacey and Robert are friends or ours here that are sheep farmers. Mark, Kris and Emma spent a morning lambing with Robert. They have also been to other friends, the Gardyne's who have a farm not too far from us as well. They made it to the ocean seeing part of the Catlins, which was one of our favourite sights.
I have booked the Gore High Mini Bus to transport all seven of us around this weekend. We are heading out early tomorrow morning to see Alexandra and Queenstown. Pictures will follow. It is really nice having guests again.

The knee surgery went well, I guess. I had a spinal and was awake for the procedure and watched the whole thing on the TV beside me. Dr. Leuker is an American working in Invercargill. He filled my knee with water and many bits of cartilage came out. He knew that there was damage in there. Originally he thought the meniscus was torn and was prepared to trim and remove, however the meniscus was not too bad. He was surprised to find a long line gauged out of the cartilage directly in the top bone of the knee where all the weight gets put. He had no explanation of how this could happen. Also the backside of my knee cap looks like a cheese grater has been scraping it. These unexplainable injuries are irreparable and "I will have to live with years of swelling, arthritis..then eventually a knee replacement." To that I say... DAMN IT! Aging is shitty!

Until next time,
Samantha

21 September 2008

Abby's Ballet Assessment

This past Saturday Abby and two of her classmates took their Primary Ballet Assessment. When we left Canada Abby was working in her Primary Ballet. When we got to New Zealand she started learning the Primary work here, it was a little different but she got it. Her teacher, Mrs. Ainge felt that she was ready for the exam but it was too late to enter her in for the RAD exams. Mrs. Ainge arranged to have assessments for the girls with a local examiner. It went very well. It brought back memories of Holly and I at Florence's, nervous and giddy.

18 September 2008

September 18, 2008

Dan's brother Mark, his wife Kris and daughter Emma left Dresden today to travel to Australia then to New Zealand. We are very glad to have visitors again. Tonight we will be organizing beds, washing sheets, creating a menu and planning a combined belated birthday for all three cousins. M,E,K will fly into NZ this coming Tuesday. Abby and I will go to pick them up at the airport. We have a few things planned while they are here, Mark will be flying back to Canada 5 days after he arrives and the girls will stay on into our school holidays. They are bringing "stuff" with them...Cheez Whiz, Maple Syrup, Sherrif Lemon Pie mix, Dove Soap, Degree Deodorant and the list goes on. These are all items that New Zealand does not have. I can't wait!

At Pukerau Primary the classes only go up to Year 6. Sam is in Year 6 now and his group of mates will move on. The options are St. Peter's College, a Catholic school that goes from Year 7 - Year 13; Longford, a public intermediate school of Year 7 and Year 8 classes and that is really it. Blue Mountain College, a public school the has Year 7 - Year 13 would be a hour bus ride both ways. Sam's was keen on going to St. Peter's College as his friends are going there and it is a small school. As we are not Catholic we had to interview for a few Non-Preferential spaces. Sam did not get a spot. So we are keeping our minds open, looking into Longford and what is meant to be will, will be. Sammer comes home everyday dirt ground into his pants, bruises in strange spots, bottoms of his feet black...he and his friends play Bullrush. As I can understand it...they kick off their shoes (thus the black feet) and then they pummel each other (bruises and dirty clothes). He loves it.

Abby has become a different girl in the mornings. She used to wake up with a snarl, and continue to snarl, growl and yell before she left for school. It was most unpleasant. The last three weeks have been the opposite. I am so glad these phases kids go through come to an end. Thank God!!!! Something has changed and she is happy, pleasant and lovely now. She is getting ready to do her Ballet assessment this Saturday. She keeps telling me that she loves dance but she is nervous about the assessment. I am sure she will do well.

Things are going really well, the weather is starting to turn warm. New Zealand has the most amazing fresh breezes. I love the wind. Their trees, plants and vegetation are beautiful. We are in contact with many people from home and I love hearing updates.

Until next time,
Samantha

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kim and Cathy .....and Karen is 40!

07 September 2008

September is Spring!

That is right, the seasons change at the first of the month and September first marks the beginning of SPRING. Magically the weather knew to change on that day. The nights remain cool, we burn coal some nights depending on how cold we feel. The days have been sunny and warm, about 60 - 70 degrees. Father's Day in NZ is September 7th and they kids and I came up with a few things that Dan needs that will be part of doing more. Firstly, we made him breakfast and then spent the day in an arena. Dano needed socks and hair jel so he got those items. What the kids really wanted to get their dad was lawn chairs and a fire pit. They have been dying to have campfires here. We have this part of our yard that we call The Space Between, which is a Dave Matthews tune, true...but we refer to the interesting little part of yard out the side of our house, you will see pics of this space where the kids are sitting around the fire. Since I am a dreamer, I have imagined what this space will look like in a two week time period and it includes wood chips, picnic table, raspberry bushes, plants and a small waterfall pond. A girl can dream, right?



Abby is taking ballet, tap (with me as her teacher) and she will begin jazz this week. I am loving the fact that she shuffle ball changes all over the house and down the grocery store aisles, it reminds me of Holly and I when we were kids. She is loving school, doing extremely well with maths. Abby got an award at an assembly for outstanding work in Maths. Mrs. Watt has been away this term on what they call, OE (Overseas Experience). Abby is really looking forward to her returning.



Sam too is looking forward to Mrs Watt returning to Pukerau Primary. Their school only goes up to Year 6 so Sam will have to go to another school next year. We had an interview at St Peter's College that goes from Year 7 to Year 13. We should hear this week if he got in or not. Sam played in his last hockey tournament of the year. As he began playing hockey in Forest last Sept. and he has been playing the entire year we are ready for a break from the arenas!! Well, maybe me more that the rest of the family.



Staffing is happening at my school. Mr Crosbie, my principal has been organizing who teaches what next year. Everyday last week he spoke of me doing a different mixture of classes. I am still not sure what will get set in stone but I do know that every time he talks to me I feel valuable, wanted in many areas and appreciated. It is refreshing and makes me glad to have made this move. Tap dancing is going well. I thank Mom and Dad for putting Holly and I into dance because this skill and knowledge is coming in real handy. Florence was an excellent teacher as I can remember every single dance from so many years ago. I am glad she accepted nothing but perfection because now I hear myself sounding like her.



The last couple of weeks have been good. Dano and I talk about coming home but not in a crazy homesick kind of way. The simple things like having no dryer, driving older cars, having second hand everything, having less and doing more will be part of our return for sure. Homesickness has not be an issue lately, we have been enjoying the weather, the routines and the simple things in life. As well, we have talked to, emailed, MSNed and Facebook chatted with many of our friends and family so we feel connected. Mark, Kris and Emma will be arriving Sept 23 and we are looking forward to visitors again. Things like Victoria's Secrets underwear, Cheese Whiz, Kraft Dinner, Kernels Dill Pickle Seasoning, Pepto Bismol, Zantac and Men's Degree Deodorant are all coveted items which will be making the trip across the world! We have much of our favourite NZ scenery to show MEK when they get here. It will be nice to have family here.
Until next time,
Samantha






03 September 2008

Samantha was featured in the paper


Each week Gore High School has a page in the local paper. A part of the page is dedicated to an interview with a new teacher. This week was Samantha's turn. Click here to see the full article.