15 1/2 weeks!

We were sitting at the kitchen table tonight enjoying a lovely steak dinner and conversation when the reality struck us that in less than 16 weeks we would be back in Ontario. As I think about this reality and look back at the week that was, I am really pleased that we are still exploring, seeing new places and having new experiences.

Sam went to camp this week and loved it. He had some mates from youth group in his cabin and he had some neat experiences during God Time. Abby and Samantha had a relaxing week that included lots of Little House on the Prairie. Tuesday morning we woke to a basement full of water. A hose popped off the pressure pump in the basement sometime in the night. It's too bad we are both deep sleepers, it would have been nice to hear the pump running and put a stop to it before there was 2 inches of water in the basement bedrooms and a river running out the garage door. The best part was that it wasn't all that stressful and we were able to get it mostly dry. We did call in the professionals to get the carpet and underlay completely dry.

The flood and Sam at Camp


A while back Samantha was told of a place called Gemstone Beach. She heard tales of gems and semi-precious stones scattered around the beach. Abby has been very keen to visit this spot. This weekend we did. We left with a bag full of stones, some wonderful pictures and many nasty sand fly bites. The sand flies look like harmless little gnats but bite and leave nasty red welts. At first they itch like mosquito bites but then the marks and the itchiness persist for days and are incredibly irritating.

From there we stopped by a spot called Monkey Island. According to our friend Treana it is called Monkey Island "because they used to unload ships there and the thing they used to get from the ship to the land is called a monkey." It was a lovely little island and a beautiful sandy beach. We saw some guys with a surf board paddling themselves around while standing up. Not sure what they were doing but it looked cool. One thing we will definitely miss when we leave is the scenery. It will be tough to get used to the flat land of Chatham-Kent after seeing the rolling hills and distant mountains all of this time.

Gemstone Beach and Monkey Island

Camp, Triathlon and Hockey

It's been a good week here.  A certain weight has been lifted off of our shoulders now that our departure is public knowledge.  We are delighted by the generous offers of help from friends and family in preparation for our return.  The one big piece that is left for us to figure out is housing.  We have some leads that we are following up and are certain that we will have it figured out before we touch down in Ontario.

This past week was the first week of this school holiday.  Abby went to camp and had a great time.  Samantha and Sam spent some quality Mom & son time together but both were glad for Abby's return Friday afternoon.  I took part in my second triathlon.  The swim and bike parts seemed to go better but the run was still very tough.  I am now planning to enter the Bulldog Triathlon at Rondeau the week after our return.  I am undecided about what length I will try.  It will depend on my training between now and then and how well my body adjusts to the new time zone.  Our week finished with a Sunday evening hockey game.  Sam and Abby are on the same team this year and it was a real gift to watch them play together.  Sam had a fairly productive game with 6 goals and Abby was thrilled to touch the puck.  It should be a fun season of hockey.

Enjoy the pics.

Bittersweet decision...

Four months today we will be saying good bye to our New Zealand friends, colleagues, teachers, employers and students. We are coming home.

I have been on a Leave of Absence from my teaching assignment in Canada. I got an email over the Christmas holidays saying that my leave would not be extended and I needed to be back teaching or resign. After the initial shock and anger Dano and I started talking about the future and what was important to us. We did not decide immediately to return home as our life here is wonderful. NZ has given us so much. The scenery and landscape alone makes me want to stay. But the friends and people we have come to know, the wonderful way of life - simple and relaxed, are the things we will always hold dear. Teaching here has given me the perspective I needed to refresh me enough to still want to teach. I will be applying for a transfer to teaching jobs in the Chatham-Kent area in May and June. Dano has come to the realization that a career change is necessary. He has a lead on a position in the Chatham area.

Last Thursday on our way home from school Sam had been quiet, deep in thought and as we rounded Dead Man's Curve (I just call it that because Dan does not slow down when he takes it) Sam pipes up and says "Mom, coming to New Zealand has been the best thing that has happened to me in my life." We shared a few silent knowing glances and finally he followed that up with "But I am ready to go home." I think that is how we are all feeling. Abby was the one that had the hardest time settling in here, calling this home and feeling like she was part of her school. She will be the one that has the hardest time leaving too. Already she has had weepy moments at school as she had been chosen for a Computer Leader for next year and she is the Head Librarian and "who will take over that job?" There is certainly something to be said about the kids and how school lets them grow. They are more confident, more relaxed and have time in the day to have conversations with their teachers. Kiwis "get it" when it comes to educating their children.

Once again we find ourselves planning to pack up 9 suitcases, travel across the globe and make a home with almost nothing. It is exciting. Having less and doing more has proven to be a good thing for us. The possibilities seem endless. This time though we are blessed with friends and family who will be there to lend a helping hand.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in August.

Until next time,
Samantha

Easter Weekend

Friday and Saturday were lazy days in our house. We all laid around, played a little and watched more Little House On The Prairie episodes than I can count. The kids are loving LHOTP and so are Dan and I. Mary is blind and she has married Adam, they are running the blind school in Winoka. Albert has joined the Ingalls in Walnut Grove, baby Grace is starting to walk....okay enough about that.

Sunday morning we got up and decided to go to Kaka Point. Sam made tuna sandwiches, we packed up the car and drove to the ocean. It was a glorious day. There is something about the sound of waves that just makes me feel right inside.



At Camp Columba there was a group in all weekend and they were celebrating dinner tonight with a traditional Maori Hangi. Maori are the native New Zealand people. They have a rich history which the Hangi is a part of. The dig a hole in the ground and build a fire in the hole. They lay rocks or metal pieces on the fire, get them really hot. Then they remove the burnt wood and ashes, put the rocks and metal bits back in the hole and place the veggie and meat on the heat. They use flax as a layer on top of the food them wet paper or rags. Then the hot rocks heat the food. Tonight's Hangi was very interesting, not my favourite flavouring for food but a very interesting nonetheless.



We are on a two week school holiday and we will have a special edition mid week blog so stay tuned.

Until mid week,
Samantha

A long week...

I am not sure if the Year 9 Dean job that I am doing along with 5 classes of year 9 students puts me officially on Year 9 overload, but man, did they try my patience this week. Adolescents are a funny breed. I jokingly (not really) speak of Me-itis with them in class. Me-itis is an ailment that most adolescents suffer from. It involves thinking about and talking about only yourself. I challenged my classes this week to take a count of how many times they used the word "ME" and "I" while having a conversation. By Thursday I thought we were making progress, many of my students were shocked at how many times they speak of only themselves. But my dreaded Friday came. And in the afternoon I had organized all 88 students to come to the hall to watch a movie, The Mighty. Our previous progress with Me-itis came to a screeching halt! I am so used to putting in extra effort to fun and special activities and my Grand Bend kids responding with natural and genuine gratitude...that was not the case. It is a darn good thing that we are four days away from a two week holiday.



All the surrounding country schools, including Pukerau Primary had their Swimming Sports Day last Friday. I was not able to go, you know what I was doing, but Dano went to cheer on Abby. She raced three races. The breast stroke, front crawl and flutterboard back kick. Abby is a strong swimmer and she did very well at the day. She got two firsts and a third. Here are some pics of her swimming day.




This weekend there was a group of ladies at Camp Columba and Dano and I catered for them. Altohough it is autumn here in NZ, Saturday was more like a late August summer day...sunny, hot not a cloud in the sky. Sunday was supposed to be rainy, gale winds and cold. It was not, another sunny warm day and I am not complaining. 11 weeks until Mom and Dad are here!

Until next time,
Samantha