Good News!

1. I have a job! I just found out I will be the new Open Borders Cultural Assistant. Sounds important, eh? Basically, Open Borders is a new program - just opened this year - where one floor of one hall is devoted to international students. The floor houses both international and American students - as room-mates. They learn about each other's cultures and countries. My position involves helping people to adjust to their new environment, a bit of programming (planning fun activities), and possibly a bit of web design. I'm REALLY EXCITED to be returning to my RA family!

2. I just received my grade in Standards of Effective Practice - the class where I've been writing papers related to what I've learne during my student teaching - and I got an A.

3. Dare I say it? I'm feeling a bit better today!

4. DOLPHINS! Bottle-nose to be exact, about 20 of them in Doubtful Sound. The trip was good, different from the Milford one. For Milford they drive you two hours, with a few sight-seeing stops, over a mountain pass to the boat and then you go for a cruise. The Doubtful Sound trip you start on a boat - get a tour as you cross Lake Manapouri. When you get to the other side they take you 2000 metres beneath a mountain for a look at the Manapouri Power Station. Then you go an hour over a mountain pass to another boat and this is the one which you cruise on through Doubtful Sounds. Doubtful Sounds is much bigger than Milford - so you can't see the entire thing - and it was really rainy and windy and the water was choppy so they didn't take us all the way out to the Tasman Sea this time - but we got to see it. We also saw some Fiordland Crested Penguins (same as I saw in Milford - the rarest penguins in the world) and my love of loves DOLPHINS! They were so much bigger than the Dusky one's I saw up in Kaikoura. The skipper started the boat and ran for about 30 seconds then stopped and the dolphins road the waves - jumping all around! AMAZING - I got one ok pic and one that could have been great if I had pointed the camera a bit to the left! DARN! I'm debating which is harder - taking pictures of bouncing kangaroos as you drift silently through the air in a hot air balloon - or - taking pictures of leaping dolphins as you bounce about the water in a boat.

Unbelievable

I really wish I was a poet or a great writer or something - so that I could wow you with words, to share with you the unbelievable beauty of Milford Sound.
I went on the Milford Wanderer, a sailing/motor ship (so I'm not big on boat types) but anyways - we're drifting through this river-like area - super clear water. On either side of us are towering mountains - climbing strait out of the water. We saw Fijordland Penguins and New Zealand fur seals.
So many waterfalls. On the drive up and in the sounds - More waterfalls than I've ever seen in my entire life.
Glaciers. I saw my first glacier! Hanging onto the side of a mountain for dear life - looks blue-ish - instead of white snow it's blue ice! Coooooooool!
The bus I went on - only 10 of us - a cozy group of people from England, India, Germany, one lady from NZ and myself. They all chatted with me and were very friendly. One group invited me to eat lunch with them :)

We were quite lucky - weather-wise - while it wasn't a bright sunshiney day it wasn't raining (until we were driving back). And it wasn't too windy or too cold either. Very lucky - smooth waters.

On the way back we saw a Kea. Hilarious. I totally get why they say, "Cheeky as a Kea." They love shiney things and aren't afraid of people. Hopped right onto the side mirror of a car and was checking the driver out through the window.

Still sniffling and sneezing and coughing - got almost no sleep last night. Gonna call it a day - early. Gotta shake this thing.

Glow Worms

Went up Lake Tanau yesterday - New Zealand's second largest lake. Out in the middle of nowhere we pulled into a little dock and headed down a trail to this very modern building. Inside we were educated about glow worms and the area. They took several small groups, mine was the last - least crowded ;) group to go. I was practically on my hands and knees to get in through the first part of the cave - felt a bit of panicy - claustrophobia for a second - especially when I thought about the size of the mountain that was on top of me at that exact moment... got over it with some deep breathing and trying to convince myself that even if another earthquake happened and even if I was under the mountain and even if it chose that exact moment to collapse - it'd be my time and at least I'd die in the most beautiful place on earth. All those if's helped ease my nerves :)

Anywho, glow worms. Icky slimey looking things from the video they showed us - in the light. But at night - or in the dark rather - awesome. You know you're in a boat, you know you're drifting up an underground river - but they look so much like little twinkly stars - sort of a blue hint - and you feel like it's the sky you're looking at and if you could just reach up you know you could touch the stars. An amazing feeling.
Also - waterfalls and the cave itself. And as the guide said, "Do you want to see my little Percy?" A tiny, 3 cm stalagtite :) Crazy old already - by human terms, but very young by earth terms.

Next up - Milford Sound.

Made it...

Finally made it to the mountains!
I'm in Te Anau atm - GORGEOUS little town - spread along the lake-front and surrounded by mountains.

Have quite a few pictures I'd like to upload, but can't upload them from this computer - will keep looking for a place where I can and I'll post here when I've added pics to My Photo Blog.

Drooooool

So I just read Renee's Post and yum! Making me drool :)
This is the first time I've ever missed Thanksgiving entirely. Kinda suxors.
More so because I'm sick.
I delayed my trip into Doubtful Sounds for a few days and have decided to spend another night here in Invercargill. Trying to shake this nasty cold/flu/sore throat thing I picked up.
/sniffles
I want my mommy! I'm such a baby when I'm sick :P
Mostly just my throat hurting - especially when I cough. I'll survive though. It's almost 4pm and this is my first venture out of my room since yesterday evening.
Going ahead with the Glow Worm Caves tomorrow and then Milford Sound the next day - then picking up with DS.
No plans after that.
Except I absolutely HAVE to finish that paper for Standards of Effective Practice.
Bah gonna grab an early dinner/late lunch and crash out in my room.

Happy Thanksgiving - again :)

Way down SOUTH

Writing to you from Stewart Island, New Zealand's third largest island and pretty much the furthest South I'm likely to ever go. Chilly and rainy here - coming straight from the Antartic :)

About to catch a ferry back to Bluff - spending the night in Invercargill and then up to Manipouri.
Feeling a bit sick atm - stuffy head, sore throat - BAH! Being sick and travelling - not my favourite combination.

Tomorrow I'm headed to Doubtful Sound for an over-night trip and then on to the Glow Worm caves in Te Anau and then to Milford Sound.

Looking forward to being in the mountains. I think I'll swing up by the glaciers - maybe a day or two - then head back east to Kaikoura. Really fell in love with that place.

Kind of looking forward to Christmas with the family - will still miss New Zealand and all my new friends here - love the family, don't get me wrong. It'll just be kind of bitter-sweet I guess. Hard to explain.

Uhm yum! Found some good stuff - Bundaberg Ginger Beer. It's a dry ginger ale type drink - it bites back, but it's super nummy :) Can really taste the ginger!
Sipping on one while I type and wait for the ferry.

Oh yeah! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Enjoy the turkey for me too!

Rushing through the country-side

I wondered around Dunedin.
Checked out a real-life Castle before I left.

Headed South today - went to Slope Point - the Southern-most point of the South Island.
I'm in Invercargill at the moment. Getting up bright-n-early to catch the ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island. New Zealand's third main Island. Then I'll have visited all three main Islands! I'm hoping to go to a bird sanctuary down there - maybe even catch a glimpse of a Kiwi! Then spending the night and coming back to Bluff on Thursday afternoon. Spending another night somewhere around here - then heading up for an overnight trip to Doubtful Sounds - the Glow Worm caves in Te Aunau and then over for a day in Milford Sound. Then the glaciers....
I really should find some links for these - but I'm a bit rushed at the moment.

If I have time at the end of the two weeks I'm going to head back up to Kaikoura - LOVED Kaikoura - in case you couldn't tell :)

Gotta run, they're going to kick me out of here, closing time ;)

Plans?

Was hard saying goodbye to all the kids - and the teachers, though I know I'll see them one more time. I've been invited back for the big barby on the last day of school.

Flew to Christchurch yesterday and drove down through Ashburton - stopped at the Ashford Homestead - saw lotsa fiber and lotsa wheels, drooled a bit. Lovely little building - great feel to it and a small room filled with all sorts of old Ashford wheels. They had an old steam train blowing away as I drove out of town - thought of Grandaddy JB.
Went on to Oamaru - GORGEOUS little old town. Spent the night there - saw a penguin colony - only one penguin. Tons of old buildings to see and a good-feeling town.

I still need to do that one last paper, but I'll manage.


Drove down to Dunedin today.
Spent the morning in the Otago museum - amazing place.
I saw their Everest exhibit - Did you know the guy who was the first one to climb Everest, Sir Edmund Hilary - is a Kiwi!? If you did you were one step ahead of me, I just learned that today. They had loads of exhibits and I spent about 3 hours strolling around there.
Oh and just outside, as I was going in - I met the biggest freaking dog I've ever seen - a St. Bernard named Avalanche - because he goes straight through things, not around them - and he weighs 85 kilos... BIGGEST freaking dog! Was so lovable, absolutely gorgeous! Let's put it this way - he came up to my belly button and I could just barely reach my arms around his chest. BIG! A leaner too! Like to have knocked me over :)

Strolled around Dunedin this afternoon - drove a bit too.
Just posting and checking emails while guy is making bookings for my tour of the sounds and Stewart Island - Nz's "Third Island" - and the glaciers... maybe - if I have time.

Dunedin has an old Scottish culture - lots of great buildings, including a castle which I'll go see tomorrow.

At this point I'm just hoping I can see everything I want to - without rushing myself too much.
I was going to go unplanned - hey I made it to the second day without planning.... :) But you know me /shrug

Less than a month and I'll be back home... not sure how I feel about that. Happy to see family and friends, sad to leave NZ and friends....
Anywho, I've got another few weeks before I have to think too hard on that one.

Hope all's well with you guys.
See you at the holidays!

I made it!

I actually made it.
It's still sinking in, but I really made it.
I turned in all but one sheet of my paperwork to my advisor in NZ and I have one paper to finish up and send back to MN and I'll be done.
Done.
Finished.
Well as soon as I take the third part of the Praxis II and get my license.

Weeeeeee!

And I had a great birthday to boot!
Got a card from the parents and one from an aunt.
Got beautiful paua earrings from Anne and Kevin.
Lovely dinner with Anne, Kevin, and John.
Amazing handmade rimu box from Cole - he is so talented & a kiwi-pewter-key ring he also made.

Totally surprising.

Happy Birthday to Me

Lots of birthday wishes - 27 kids singing happy birthday to me - a surprise shared-lunch from the kids - my birthday and age posted on the staff message board :)

Good times.

Incoming

Loads of fun at the school gala this past Saturday - got lots of sun, fun, a painting, and dunked by a bunch of kids.

Planning my South Island expedition and trying to finish up all my paperwork to turn in on Friday and my last two papers.

Getting ready to say goodbye to people here in Plimmerton - HARD. Really going to miss everyone. I am glad I'll be able to come back one more time before I go back to the states. I've been invited to the end-of-the-year barby and I'm planning on being here for that - to say goodbye to everyone.

Uhmmm.... looked into tickets for the folks - they're going to ride up with me to MN and then fly back home.

7am 10am 3pm 6pm Which one's best?
Just click on the Comments thing just below here and you can tell me... or wait until I call... or email... Choices!

Did you hear it?

The squeal of delight?

I received an email last night from my Dad informing me of my acceptance to grad school!
MN here I come :)
You just THOUGHT you were rid of me ;)

I'm so happy!
Lots of stuff to plan now. Luckily I've already made a few plans :)

Wahooooo!

1 week and 1 day of student teaching left
4 weeks of travelling around New Zealand
2 weeks at home for the Holidays
And then...
Back to school!

You'll not be rid of me yet NZ!

I've managed to extend my stay in New Zealand until the 19th of December. I had decided early on that two weeks would not be enough time to see everything I wanted to, so I gave Hawaii the boot and will be spending the rest of my vacation time here! How cool is that?
I'll have two weeks and some change to check out the South Island and my tickets for down there and back are flexible. Whenever I'm done down there I will come back to the North Island and check out things up north - I still haven't seen hardly anything of the North Island.

I went to the Guy Forks fireworks display in Wellington on Friday night. 15 minutes to spend $90,000! They began with a helicopter circling around the harbour with a ring of fireworks going off below it - pretty fancy :)

I spent the majority of Saturday and Sunday working on my papers for my Standards of Effective Practice class. I only have two papers left! My mommy must be so proud :)

Oddly enough, that's all the news I have...
Hope all is well with ya'll!

Reaching out...

I was out at two different schools this week; one of the schools I checked out was of a different decile - economic class. I saw their new entrants and year 1 classes, ages 5-6 years old. They were cute but a little more needy than I'm used to - as they are at that age. At the other school I saw a year 7/8, a year 5/6, and a year 3/4. I've also been into a year 3/4 classroom at my school. I am working on going to see some other teachers rooms as well at this school. It's time for me to go outside my little 7/8 world - my 'comfort zone.' Tis a great way to get new ideas and a feel for kids at other ages and what they need. So far it has only confirmed my desire to teach in the year 3 - 6 or grade 3 - 5 (maybe 6). They're a bit more independent than the young ones, but not as 'attitudinal' as the older kids.
I only have two weeks of student teaching left! Eeeeep! and then two weeks to travel around NZ > I've just bought my tickets to fly down to Christchurch and then I'll rent a car and drive around down there for the majority of the two weeks.

Wow, I just realized how many numbers are in this post :)

I'm still waiting to hear about my acceptance to grad school.
I'm also waiting to hear if it is possible to stay here a bit longer - I contacted my travel agent in MN and asked him to look into it.

Phew!

Thank goodness that's over with!
I was just observed by my NZ University Supervisor. She said the school is very happy with me, she liked what she saw, and I won't have to be observed again!
That's a WAHOOOOOO moment!

I am so happy. That's one huge weight off my shoulders.
And thanks to the kids who were so well behaved!

I've been celebrating birthdays, 3 of them; the lady I live with, her boyfriend, and his son.
I went to a photography club meeting the other night with Cole - There was a presenter from the lcoal museum. He showed us an hour and 15 minute slide show from his trip to Burma /grin Alan = I've got lots of questions for you now!

Two weeks of student teaching left.
Four weeks in NZ.