Hello!

Hi Everyone,

I realise it's been ages since I last wrote and I do have some pictures from the weekend to put up soon. I've been so busy with school and spending all my time working so I haven't chance to update my blog.

I'm settling in better now and I'm enjoying getting to know my class. They're hard work but I'm learning fast...even picking up a few Samoan words along the way! They find it very funny when I try to say words or names, especially with my English accent I think! I'm finding it quite a challenge teaching in a completely different was to in the UK as the NZ way is very unique I think. I'm learning all the time and slowly getting my head around all the new things. Everyone is very friendly and try to help out when I'm stuck on something. :)

Good news-my car is now almost scratch free! :) My housemate Shaun gave me some magic scuff remover cream which really was magical so you can hardly see the damage and no paint required! I've had to try extremely hard not to scratch it again however as our gate is so narrow! Seems to be only me that has a problem getting out though...something I couldn't master even after 5 driving tests obviously! ;)

Promise to write soon with some proper news! x

PS It's Pancake Day here today but they don't celebrate it here :'( I was going to try to make some pancakes with my class but thought that might be a little adventurous, especially as we have no kitchen! Happy Pancake Day! :D

Mufti Day!

Yes, I'd never heard of one either but apparently it's a non-uniform day! We're having one at school tomorrow to raise funds for the bush fires in Australia. We've been talking about them lots at school, especially as some New Zealanders have been killed or injured and because we too are at risk here, although not to the same extent as in Australia. Some of the NZ fire service are going to help out, particularly with aircraft so they can tackle the fires from above. It's awful what's been happening, especially as they think some of the fires were started on purpose, and I'm sure you've seen lots about it on the news over there as well.

My poor car! :'(

I've managed to do so much damage to my poor little car despite only owning it for 2 weeks! I've already broken the parcel shelf when trying to cram furniture in and scratched the bumper on our gate but today I topped it all by scratching the paint off the whole driver's side of the car whilst pulling out of my drive! Grr! It's such a tight squeeze and I'm always first out so have to manoeuvre round 3 other cars, one of which is a huge V6 thing (whatever that is!) I'm hoping to just buy some spray paint and cover it up...at least I'll have it on hand then as I'm sure it's bound to happen again at some point!

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

Oh if only I had the energy to dance whilst singing that! ;) It's getting even hotter and reached 32.4degrees in Auckland today and feels it! It's far too hot to do any work and while your struggling with no heating at Bishop Wilson, we've not had any air conditioning today so everyone's hot and tired and very restless! Can't complain of course because the sun is shining and it's nearly the weekend! Woo! :D

xxx

Post! :D

Received a lovely little parcel in the post today from my sister Katy...she sent me a card, a red nose and some other goodies including a big bar of Dairy Milk which had melted in the 29 degree heat of my post box! Don't think the video captures quite how liquid it was but it's now well chilled and just a big slab! Yum! :P Thank you, Katy! xxx

Weekend...

I had a really quiet weekend and did nothing but work mainly but did go for a nice walk with Jennie around the West coast (I live on the East coast) and we went to see a waterfall and to the beach which was lovely. I forgot to take my camera but Jennie took some so photos to follow when I get them from her...

On Sunday my mission was to finish the book I'm reading, Half of a Yellow Sun (great recommendation, Jenny!), which I did just about! I spent the day walking around Kohi Bay where I live and went down to the park near me and the beach which was really busy because it was such a beautiful day-bit too hot for me though!

This week at school has again been very overwhelming; there's just so much to learn and so few resources that even planning a basic lesson is really laborious. I know I'll get used to it all but it's very exhausting working in the heat and we're only 2 weeks in to a 10 week term!

Hope you're still enjoying the snow-send me some pics of your snowmen; they sound awesome! :)

I've got a busy weekend ahead so will be sure to let you know what I get up to!

xxx

Videos show a little tour down my road and to my local park. I was really surprised how quiet the park was on a beautiful Sunday in the middle of summer!

Snow!

No not here! I'm very jealous of the snow you've had! It's so hot here (almost 30degrees) and although it's lovely when you can go to the beach and enjoy it, it's rubbish to be working in it and everyone is so tired! I showed the children in my class a video from BBC News of people playing in the snow and they said they've never ever seen snow! I was thinking how strange it is that you're all freezing cold and I'm baking but I guess I have the cold weather to look forward to in a few months so should make the most of summer really!

So glad to hear all your lovely messages and that you're enjoying lessons with your new teachers-I knew you would! ;) My class are lovely but I haven't forgotten you and miss you all lots. Say hi from me to everyone, especially the Year 4 crew! xxx

My first day with my new class!

Well I've survived my first day of teaching in NZ! I had an early start getting organised and the children were in so early! From 8am so I got to know some of the children and their parents early this morning! I had a wonderful warm welcome from the staff and children in assembly-one of the Year 6 boys gave me a garland of purple flowers which is traditional in Samoan culture for welcoming/special occasions.

The day went by really quickly and I just spent time getting to know the children and routines. I only had 11 out of 25 children who are supposed to be in my class! (You think the attendance is bad at home! ;)) One teacher only had 4 children in!!

The school day is so different to ours-they have 2 hours of literacy each morning, followed by fitness and half an hour morning tea, then an hour of numeracy, half an hour Learning Pathways (a bit like BLP but is their way of teaching all subjects through a theme) followed by lunch then just an hour in the afternoon for assembly, art or sports! The day just flew by as you can imagine and the weather's been so hot it was nice to be indoors in the shade! The children eat all their food outside so there's no sittings for lunch so the make the lunch break really short which is nice and means we can finish at 2.45pm.

I've just got home and now have tonnes of work to do so I must get on with that! Thanks for all your good luck comments-I really appreciate it and will try and keep updating you xxx

PS I am currently sat at my brand new desk which I built (I'm really getting into all this DIY stuff now!) but the top bit doesn't seem to be fastened very securely so I think I need a screwdriver for that...and behind me is a new bedside table, also built by my good self! Now I'm just showing off! ;)