Dedicated Training: Enduring Hail Storms
I went for a run with Claire this morning. It was certainly tough getting up and out of bed. It was made particularly difficult by looking out my window to see dark skies, a light rain, and hear the wind howling in the distance. However, I still managed to get myself up and out of bed. The upcoming "big race" was the primary motivating factor.
I had originally planned to do a good 20+km today, but once started, I knew it wasn't going to happen. The rain came down hard and soaked us right through to our underwear within the first 5km. When we reached the top of the Wither Hills and were running along the ridge-line we battled feirce winds and stinging hail stones that pelted our faces. By the time we got back down to the bottom I definitely didn't feel like going on. Although there was some guilt about not finishing what I set out to do, my thoughts at the time were simply "screw it".
I am definitely starting to resent the training for this race. I sometimes wonder what I was thinking when I signed up for it, but then I snap back to reality and remember that it will all be worth it in the end. As much as I'm looking forward to having some more free time on the weekends and not having to schedule everything around a 3-4 hour run that I MUST complete, I know that my efforts will pay off in the end.
Training for a marathon certainly is a character building experience...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Live Music
I went to a concert last night at the Villa Maria winery in Blenheim. It was part of a tour called the Winery Tour 2009. The three features included: Op Shop, Anika Moa, and Dave Dobbyn.
The concert was pretty awesome. This is why I liked it:
1. Location. Just over the hill from Emily's house, we were able to walk to the concert in less than 10 minutes.
2. Venue. Being nestled within the vines of the Villa Maria winery was a pretty cool place to be. What a great spot to enjoy a picnic dinner with friends!
3. Atmosphere. The concert was small and intimate and very mellow. It was actually quite the family event - I saw lots of students there with their families.
4. Weather. The weather was fabulous. Not too warm, not too cold. And the rain held off until the next morning. Even got to see a fabulous sunset!
5. The music. All three bands were great. Dave Dobbyn was my favourite and was apparently the crowd favourite too. He's a legend here in NZ and has been around for years. Definitely a crowd pleaser. His music reminds me a lot of the Dave Matthew's Band which most kiwis have never heard of. Anika Moa was also fantastic live. She's got a really groovy style that comes out really nicely in a live concert format. Op Shop were also great too!
So yeah! All in all, a fantastic concert and well worth the $60 ticket. A great reminder of how much I LOVE live music - especially when it's in a fantastic venue.
I went to a concert last night at the Villa Maria winery in Blenheim. It was part of a tour called the Winery Tour 2009. The three features included: Op Shop, Anika Moa, and Dave Dobbyn.
The concert was pretty awesome. This is why I liked it:
1. Location. Just over the hill from Emily's house, we were able to walk to the concert in less than 10 minutes.
2. Venue. Being nestled within the vines of the Villa Maria winery was a pretty cool place to be. What a great spot to enjoy a picnic dinner with friends!
3. Atmosphere. The concert was small and intimate and very mellow. It was actually quite the family event - I saw lots of students there with their families.
4. Weather. The weather was fabulous. Not too warm, not too cold. And the rain held off until the next morning. Even got to see a fabulous sunset!
5. The music. All three bands were great. Dave Dobbyn was my favourite and was apparently the crowd favourite too. He's a legend here in NZ and has been around for years. Definitely a crowd pleaser. His music reminds me a lot of the Dave Matthew's Band which most kiwis have never heard of. Anika Moa was also fantastic live. She's got a really groovy style that comes out really nicely in a live concert format. Op Shop were also great too!
So yeah! All in all, a fantastic concert and well worth the $60 ticket. A great reminder of how much I LOVE live music - especially when it's in a fantastic venue.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Rob's Job
My big brother Rob works for a large organization called RIM (the maker's of the infamous BlackBerry). Since he's a very smart and hard-working individual, he has seen lots of success and has received several promotions throughout his years with the company. With these promotions came more responsibility and Rob's job seemed to be taking over his life. As his little sister, I was worried about him and his ability to balance his home-life and social-life with work. It was easy to see that he was being affected by burn-out.
After a brief conversation with Rob on the weekend I learned that there was an end in sight. That he had found himself a new role within the company that he would be starting soon. This new role allows him to have less responsibility which means far less hours at work, and many more hours at home with Anita and the kids. This can only lead to good things!
Today, I received an email from Rob that he had forwarded to the family from work:
Effective Monday, March 2, Rob Edwards will be joining the Handheld Media team in the role of Team Lead, Platform and Integration. In this capacity, Rob’s mandate will be to identify and drive opportunities to enrich the BlackBerry multimedia platform in support of third party and internal applications and components. Reporting to Rob will be <....>
Please join me in congratulating Rob on his new role.
Congratulations Rob! I am very excited for you!
My big brother Rob works for a large organization called RIM (the maker's of the infamous BlackBerry). Since he's a very smart and hard-working individual, he has seen lots of success and has received several promotions throughout his years with the company. With these promotions came more responsibility and Rob's job seemed to be taking over his life. As his little sister, I was worried about him and his ability to balance his home-life and social-life with work. It was easy to see that he was being affected by burn-out.
After a brief conversation with Rob on the weekend I learned that there was an end in sight. That he had found himself a new role within the company that he would be starting soon. This new role allows him to have less responsibility which means far less hours at work, and many more hours at home with Anita and the kids. This can only lead to good things!
Today, I received an email from Rob that he had forwarded to the family from work:
Effective Monday, March 2, Rob Edwards will be joining the Handheld Media team in the role of Team Lead, Platform and Integration. In this capacity, Rob’s mandate will be to identify and drive opportunities to enrich the BlackBerry multimedia platform in support of third party and internal applications and components. Reporting to Rob will be <....>
Please join me in congratulating Rob on his new role.
Congratulations Rob! I am very excited for you!
My Contract
Phew! I just got the official word today that I got my contract extended. Although I had originally signed up for one term, I was really hoping to get to stay on at least one more. And after patiently waiting upon some HR legal advice, my principal was finally able to offer me the updated contract.
This is good! This will take me to the end of term 2 which finishes at the end of June/beginning of July. From there, it's likely home to do an Honours Specialist Teaching course online over the summer holidays, and then, hopefully, find a job teaching somewhere in Ontario.
I'm excited about what lies ahead of me over the next few months though while I'm still in NZ. There is still much to be done and experienced! Although scarily enough, I feel like the countdown is already on...
Phew! I just got the official word today that I got my contract extended. Although I had originally signed up for one term, I was really hoping to get to stay on at least one more. And after patiently waiting upon some HR legal advice, my principal was finally able to offer me the updated contract.
This is good! This will take me to the end of term 2 which finishes at the end of June/beginning of July. From there, it's likely home to do an Honours Specialist Teaching course online over the summer holidays, and then, hopefully, find a job teaching somewhere in Ontario.
I'm excited about what lies ahead of me over the next few months though while I'm still in NZ. There is still much to be done and experienced! Although scarily enough, I feel like the countdown is already on...
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sifting Through Emails
I just stumbled across this really cool gadget while skimming through a recent email message from MEC - a solar powered battery charger.
It appears that this little gadget could come in pretty handy at times. I can see how it could be particularly useful on something like my cross-Canada bike trip, or any other cycle journey for that matter...
I also found another interesting link in the latest email newsletter I received from the organizers of the Motatapu race. In this newsletter, they introduced us to a movie called The Spirit of the Marathon.
The Spirit of the Marathon is the first ever non-fiction feature film to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event. Filmed on four continents, the movie brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries.
As six unique stories unfold, each runner prepares for and ultimately faces the challenge of the Chicago Marathon. More than a sports movie, Spirit of the Marathon is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph; a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike.
Sounds like a pretty neat story. I can't wait to see it when it comes out on video.
I just stumbled across this really cool gadget while skimming through a recent email message from MEC - a solar powered battery charger.
It appears that this little gadget could come in pretty handy at times. I can see how it could be particularly useful on something like my cross-Canada bike trip, or any other cycle journey for that matter...
I also found another interesting link in the latest email newsletter I received from the organizers of the Motatapu race. In this newsletter, they introduced us to a movie called The Spirit of the Marathon.
The Spirit of the Marathon is the first ever non-fiction feature film to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event. Filmed on four continents, the movie brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries.
As six unique stories unfold, each runner prepares for and ultimately faces the challenge of the Chicago Marathon. More than a sports movie, Spirit of the Marathon is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph; a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike.
Sounds like a pretty neat story. I can't wait to see it when it comes out on video.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bizarre Evening
I still feel like I'm in the "right spot" right now while I attend the Nativity Anglican church that I stumbled upon at the end of last year. I like how it's somewhat "edgy" and is attempting to push the "norms". They continue to hype up this Mission-Shaped Church program that will start up in another couple of weeks and I am really interested to get involved with it and to see what comes of it all.
Tonight we had a very bizarre but interesting communion ceremony. It started off with a warning that it would be a bit different in that we would be gathering on the stage to sit together as a group. We were told that it would be done in silence and that any instructions needed would be displayed on the powerpoint presentation overhead. We then proceeded to do the following:
- acknowledge and greet those around us with a handshake and a friendly smile
- pass a rock around to help us reflect on the things that might be weighing us down
- pass a bowl of water and a towel around to wash and dry our hands with as a symbol of the cleansing that God can offer us
- pass pieces of paper and pens around for us to write down our prayers of thanksgiving
- stand up, when we were ready, to accept communion
The whole thing was entirely informal and I suppose totally bizarre. And to some, possibly a very uncomforable situation. Had they decided to do this the first night I attended or even a few weeks ago, I might have been a bit freaked out. But for some reason, tonight I was ok with it... willing to "give it a go".
The service finished with some more worship and when it was done, I walked to the back of the church to put away the cushion that I had been sitting on (yes, I love the fact that this church offers some squishy relief to the painfully hard pews that my butt bones typically struggle with). Along the way, I noticed a girl sitting by herself seeming noticeably upset. After depositing the cushion I walked back towards her and felt the need to reach out to her and find out if she was alright. After sitting down beside her I asked "Are you here by yourself tonight?". Her tearful response "yes" made me realize that it was now up to me to help her out. As I put my hand on her back to console her I started to realize I had no idea what to say or what to do next. I recall asking questions like "is there anything I can do for you?", "have you had a bad day?", "has it been a tough week?", "a good day?... a good week?". "Do you need me to pray for you?..."
WHAT? Did I just say that? I don't know how to do that! Oh crap... what if she says yes?
Well, thankfully she said no. But I continued to watch the tears drip from her eyes and at that moment I felt the tears start to fall from my eyes too. Yes, that's right... I could not stop them. The tears just fell out. To be honest, this didn't even surprise me. You see... this is me. This is what happens to me. I am simply unable to watch someone cry without it stirring emotion from me too.
I decided to break the ice and tell her this little fact about myself and my inability to keep dry eyes around someone who is upset. I then went on to make some small talk and ask her some more questions like "Is this your first time at this church?" More discussion lead me to discover that she was a student from the girls college (I thought I recognized her face) and she knew my name. After some more conversation she asked where she could go to have people pray for her and I told her I would help her to find someone. After finding the prayer team at the front of the church I was able to see her into the "qualified hands of the professionals" and be on my way.
I headed to the "supper room" (supper = snack in NZ) and shared some conversation with some people who are no longer strangers to me. It feels good to know that I am past the awkward "I don't know anyone here" phase and I now make a point of introducing myself to at least one new face each week.
I still feel like I'm in the "right spot" right now while I attend the Nativity Anglican church that I stumbled upon at the end of last year. I like how it's somewhat "edgy" and is attempting to push the "norms". They continue to hype up this Mission-Shaped Church program that will start up in another couple of weeks and I am really interested to get involved with it and to see what comes of it all.
Tonight we had a very bizarre but interesting communion ceremony. It started off with a warning that it would be a bit different in that we would be gathering on the stage to sit together as a group. We were told that it would be done in silence and that any instructions needed would be displayed on the powerpoint presentation overhead. We then proceeded to do the following:
- acknowledge and greet those around us with a handshake and a friendly smile
- pass a rock around to help us reflect on the things that might be weighing us down
- pass a bowl of water and a towel around to wash and dry our hands with as a symbol of the cleansing that God can offer us
- pass pieces of paper and pens around for us to write down our prayers of thanksgiving
- stand up, when we were ready, to accept communion
The whole thing was entirely informal and I suppose totally bizarre. And to some, possibly a very uncomforable situation. Had they decided to do this the first night I attended or even a few weeks ago, I might have been a bit freaked out. But for some reason, tonight I was ok with it... willing to "give it a go".
The service finished with some more worship and when it was done, I walked to the back of the church to put away the cushion that I had been sitting on (yes, I love the fact that this church offers some squishy relief to the painfully hard pews that my butt bones typically struggle with). Along the way, I noticed a girl sitting by herself seeming noticeably upset. After depositing the cushion I walked back towards her and felt the need to reach out to her and find out if she was alright. After sitting down beside her I asked "Are you here by yourself tonight?". Her tearful response "yes" made me realize that it was now up to me to help her out. As I put my hand on her back to console her I started to realize I had no idea what to say or what to do next. I recall asking questions like "is there anything I can do for you?", "have you had a bad day?", "has it been a tough week?", "a good day?... a good week?". "Do you need me to pray for you?..."
WHAT? Did I just say that? I don't know how to do that! Oh crap... what if she says yes?
Well, thankfully she said no. But I continued to watch the tears drip from her eyes and at that moment I felt the tears start to fall from my eyes too. Yes, that's right... I could not stop them. The tears just fell out. To be honest, this didn't even surprise me. You see... this is me. This is what happens to me. I am simply unable to watch someone cry without it stirring emotion from me too.
I decided to break the ice and tell her this little fact about myself and my inability to keep dry eyes around someone who is upset. I then went on to make some small talk and ask her some more questions like "Is this your first time at this church?" More discussion lead me to discover that she was a student from the girls college (I thought I recognized her face) and she knew my name. After some more conversation she asked where she could go to have people pray for her and I told her I would help her to find someone. After finding the prayer team at the front of the church I was able to see her into the "qualified hands of the professionals" and be on my way.
I headed to the "supper room" (supper = snack in NZ) and shared some conversation with some people who are no longer strangers to me. It feels good to know that I am past the awkward "I don't know anyone here" phase and I now make a point of introducing myself to at least one new face each week.
111 Emergency
Random fact: in New Zealand the emergency access number is "111" - not "911" which we are accustomed to in North America.
I got to dial this number today!
I was on duty this afternoon when a couple of students approached me saying "Ummm... we think there might be a fire at Mr. Densim's house." (Mr. Densim lives in the hostel manager's house, that is owned by the hostel, and is on the property right next to the hostel grounds). After going out to check, I discovered that Mr. Densim's house was not actually on fire, but the garden shed (that belongs to the Girls College) on the property next door to his house was. And it was REALLY on fire.
After spotting the flames burning up through the roof I reached for my cell phone and dialed 111. Although the fire trucks were here within 5 minutes of me calling, it certainly seemed like ages. It was amazing to see how much the flames spread in such a short amount of time. By the time they arrived, the flames had reached up into a tree that hovered over the building and there was thick black smoke billowing out onto the street, drawing the attention of everyone that passed by. The firetrucks had to stop traffic while they hooked their hose up to the closest hydrant which was down the street and on the other side of the road.
What excitment I tell ya! The kids were loving it! Especially those that were gated yesterday (gated for various naughty reasons) since they had an excuse to step off the hostel grounds and catch some of the action. I must say, I was pretty excited too! What an adrenaline rush! And I also couldn't complain about having to watch the Blenheim fire department in action while they tended to the needs of the fire (who knew Blenheim had such a good-looking group of firemen!) lol...
Random fact: in New Zealand the emergency access number is "111" - not "911" which we are accustomed to in North America.
I got to dial this number today!
I was on duty this afternoon when a couple of students approached me saying "Ummm... we think there might be a fire at Mr. Densim's house." (Mr. Densim lives in the hostel manager's house, that is owned by the hostel, and is on the property right next to the hostel grounds). After going out to check, I discovered that Mr. Densim's house was not actually on fire, but the garden shed (that belongs to the Girls College) on the property next door to his house was. And it was REALLY on fire.
After spotting the flames burning up through the roof I reached for my cell phone and dialed 111. Although the fire trucks were here within 5 minutes of me calling, it certainly seemed like ages. It was amazing to see how much the flames spread in such a short amount of time. By the time they arrived, the flames had reached up into a tree that hovered over the building and there was thick black smoke billowing out onto the street, drawing the attention of everyone that passed by. The firetrucks had to stop traffic while they hooked their hose up to the closest hydrant which was down the street and on the other side of the road.
What excitment I tell ya! The kids were loving it! Especially those that were gated yesterday (gated for various naughty reasons) since they had an excuse to step off the hostel grounds and catch some of the action. I must say, I was pretty excited too! What an adrenaline rush! And I also couldn't complain about having to watch the Blenheim fire department in action while they tended to the needs of the fire (who knew Blenheim had such a good-looking group of firemen!) lol...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Run & Dinner
Emily and I met up today to go for a run on the Queen Charlotte Track. Since we are nearing the end of our training we knew that we needed to cover quite a few kms this weekend, so we decided to venture out and enjoy the beauty that the Queen Charlotte Sounds has to offer.
What a good choice indeed! It turned out to be quite a hot day with lots of sun and humidity, so the shelter of the trees along the track was much appreciated. And lucky for me, Emily was willing to start off at my pace and as a result, the run was far less painful than the previous run we had done together last week. It was still tough going though given that the track does involve a decent amount of hill climbing - especially the section after Mistletoe Bay (that I had not yet covered) that turned into a completely vertical climb for over a km. After a short bit of flat section on the trail, we encountered a very steep section of downhill ahead of us. After pausing for a moment to grab a bite to eat and take a picture, we discussed the fact that taking this downhill would result in a tough uphill on the way back, so we decided to turn around and head back before decending any further.
I felt good for the majority of the run and I experimented some more with the nutrition side of things. I reinforced to myself that my hill climbing is still pretty decent and that I am quite good at navigating steep downhill sections with my confident footing. However, towards the end of the run, around the 25km mark, I started to waiver and it was a long slow haul back to the car. I had no issues telling Emily to run on ahead without me. All-in-all, I covered approximately 28km in 3hrs 35mins. The Orange Fruju popsicle ("iceblock" as they say here in NZ) was so incredibly well-deserved at the end.
Upon returning home I showered and crashed on my bed for a while before meeting up with Donna-Marie for dinner at an Italian restaurant in town called Roccos. The meal was yum and the conversation was stimulating.
I have come home with several books that Donna-Marie has leant to me. I can't wait to get started with them! But for now, I'm totally exhausted and am ready to crash for the night!
Oh yeah... on a side-note: I saw one of my students from last year (a student that I saw in my math class only on occassion before she got "kicked out" and guided towards a workplace program instead) at the restaurant tonight. She works there in the kitchen. I barely recognized her because she had such a beautiful smile on her face which was a huge contrast to the ugly scowl that she normally displayed whenever I saw her at school. It was really good to see her and to catch up with her for a bit. She looked really good and seemed to be happy in what she was doing - both of which I made a point of telling her about. It's great to see proof that students that just don't cut it in school can still "make it" when they are guided towards employment that suits their personality and interests.
Emily and I met up today to go for a run on the Queen Charlotte Track. Since we are nearing the end of our training we knew that we needed to cover quite a few kms this weekend, so we decided to venture out and enjoy the beauty that the Queen Charlotte Sounds has to offer.
What a good choice indeed! It turned out to be quite a hot day with lots of sun and humidity, so the shelter of the trees along the track was much appreciated. And lucky for me, Emily was willing to start off at my pace and as a result, the run was far less painful than the previous run we had done together last week. It was still tough going though given that the track does involve a decent amount of hill climbing - especially the section after Mistletoe Bay (that I had not yet covered) that turned into a completely vertical climb for over a km. After a short bit of flat section on the trail, we encountered a very steep section of downhill ahead of us. After pausing for a moment to grab a bite to eat and take a picture, we discussed the fact that taking this downhill would result in a tough uphill on the way back, so we decided to turn around and head back before decending any further.
I felt good for the majority of the run and I experimented some more with the nutrition side of things. I reinforced to myself that my hill climbing is still pretty decent and that I am quite good at navigating steep downhill sections with my confident footing. However, towards the end of the run, around the 25km mark, I started to waiver and it was a long slow haul back to the car. I had no issues telling Emily to run on ahead without me. All-in-all, I covered approximately 28km in 3hrs 35mins. The Orange Fruju popsicle ("iceblock" as they say here in NZ) was so incredibly well-deserved at the end.
Upon returning home I showered and crashed on my bed for a while before meeting up with Donna-Marie for dinner at an Italian restaurant in town called Roccos. The meal was yum and the conversation was stimulating.
I have come home with several books that Donna-Marie has leant to me. I can't wait to get started with them! But for now, I'm totally exhausted and am ready to crash for the night!
Oh yeah... on a side-note: I saw one of my students from last year (a student that I saw in my math class only on occassion before she got "kicked out" and guided towards a workplace program instead) at the restaurant tonight. She works there in the kitchen. I barely recognized her because she had such a beautiful smile on her face which was a huge contrast to the ugly scowl that she normally displayed whenever I saw her at school. It was really good to see her and to catch up with her for a bit. She looked really good and seemed to be happy in what she was doing - both of which I made a point of telling her about. It's great to see proof that students that just don't cut it in school can still "make it" when they are guided towards employment that suits their personality and interests.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My Friend, Sarah
I have been friends with Sarah Creen since grade 7 I think. We probably knew each other before that since her father has been the minister at my church for as long as I can remember (I'm pretty sure I was baptized by him), but we came to know each other through our years together at Youth Group. Since then we have completely lost touch - especially after she moved to Rhode Island to live with her husband, Michael.
Here is a really interesting conversation that I shared with Sarah a few weeks ago. And it all started with me changing my Facebook status to read: Heather is going through severe internet withdrawl... MUST find internet at hostel!
From Sarah...
Sarah Creen-Benn commented on your status:
"Yes, yes and update blog! We just got a new computer and one of the first pages I re-bookmarked was yours,k really enjoy reading it and seeing all your pictures. Really want to get to NZ someday!"
From me...
Hey Sarah,
I'm very curious as to why you enjoy reading my blog so much... Since I don't get much feedback from my blog readers and feel as if I am not really qualified to be a "writer" I'm wondering what it is that you enjoy about it? I might use your feedback to determine what sorts of stuff I write about in future posts. I'm currently struggling with how "me-focussed" my writing has been...
From Sarah...
Hey, sorry I haven't gotten back to you...I have been sick for 2 weeks and it's really wearing me down. Living is kind of a chore at the moment. Also, I wanted to respond in greater depth to your religious struggles...which is why I haven't dashed off a shorter note...so why don't I leave that for another day and respond to your original question. There are many reasons I like your blog:
1/ You're in a completely different part of the world, it's interesting to see how life is down there
2/ I wish I had had the chance to go and immerse myself in a different culture for awhile...I'm kind of living vicariously.
3/ This is the biggest one for me...I miss all my old friends. I love that you update so often and are so honest, I really feel I'm getting a clear glimpse into your life and I therefore feel like I'm getting to know you again and re-connecting as a friend even though it is slightly one sided (so I'll try and comment more!).
It almost makes me want to start my own, but frankly, my life just isn't all that interesting, which is why I just started a book blog.
Hope that answers your question, and once I start doing more than working and sleeping, I'll get back to you on the other thing.
I thought this was a pretty neat conversation. Thanks for sharing, Sarah, and thanks for making the effort to keep in touch via all the comments you leave for me. I have also enjoyed reading your blog too and look forward to hearing your response about my "religious struggles"...
I have been friends with Sarah Creen since grade 7 I think. We probably knew each other before that since her father has been the minister at my church for as long as I can remember (I'm pretty sure I was baptized by him), but we came to know each other through our years together at Youth Group. Since then we have completely lost touch - especially after she moved to Rhode Island to live with her husband, Michael.
Here is a really interesting conversation that I shared with Sarah a few weeks ago. And it all started with me changing my Facebook status to read: Heather is going through severe internet withdrawl... MUST find internet at hostel!
From Sarah...
Sarah Creen-Benn commented on your status:
"Yes, yes and update blog! We just got a new computer and one of the first pages I re-bookmarked was yours,k really enjoy reading it and seeing all your pictures. Really want to get to NZ someday!"
From me...
Hey Sarah,
I'm very curious as to why you enjoy reading my blog so much... Since I don't get much feedback from my blog readers and feel as if I am not really qualified to be a "writer" I'm wondering what it is that you enjoy about it? I might use your feedback to determine what sorts of stuff I write about in future posts. I'm currently struggling with how "me-focussed" my writing has been...
From Sarah...
Hey, sorry I haven't gotten back to you...I have been sick for 2 weeks and it's really wearing me down. Living is kind of a chore at the moment. Also, I wanted to respond in greater depth to your religious struggles...which is why I haven't dashed off a shorter note...so why don't I leave that for another day and respond to your original question. There are many reasons I like your blog:
1/ You're in a completely different part of the world, it's interesting to see how life is down there
2/ I wish I had had the chance to go and immerse myself in a different culture for awhile...I'm kind of living vicariously.
3/ This is the biggest one for me...I miss all my old friends. I love that you update so often and are so honest, I really feel I'm getting a clear glimpse into your life and I therefore feel like I'm getting to know you again and re-connecting as a friend even though it is slightly one sided (so I'll try and comment more!).
It almost makes me want to start my own, but frankly, my life just isn't all that interesting, which is why I just started a book blog.
Hope that answers your question, and once I start doing more than working and sleeping, I'll get back to you on the other thing.
I thought this was a pretty neat conversation. Thanks for sharing, Sarah, and thanks for making the effort to keep in touch via all the comments you leave for me. I have also enjoyed reading your blog too and look forward to hearing your response about my "religious struggles"...
Rain Damage
Apparently my room has a reputation for having problems with leaking during heavy rainfalls. I discovered the reality of this the past couple of weeks with the massive amounts of heavy rainfall that we have been receiving in Blenheim.
The other evening, when I got home from my 30km run in the rain, I came home to discover some massive leaks in my room. Thankfully Carolyn, the supervisor that lives next door to me and that shares the kitchen and bathroom between our rooms, took it upon herself to put out some buckets and empty them for me as they very quickly filled up with water.
Bubbles in the ceiling...
Water droplets forming...
Plaster falling down on my bed... (joy!)
Along with this leaking came days of stinking stench. Apparently the roof has been leaking for quite some time now and I'm quite certain that there is years of mould build-up in the celing.
I have since moved out of my room. I am now sleeping in another room at the end of the hall. Although I am now closer to the girls dormitory and further away from the comforts of my ensuite bathroom, I at least have the pleasure of knowing that my roof will not leak on me in the night. Oh yes... and I get much better sunlight in my new room which is also an added benefit. Oh the joys of trying to save a few dollars! I wonder if I will last the term here...
Apparently my room has a reputation for having problems with leaking during heavy rainfalls. I discovered the reality of this the past couple of weeks with the massive amounts of heavy rainfall that we have been receiving in Blenheim.
The other evening, when I got home from my 30km run in the rain, I came home to discover some massive leaks in my room. Thankfully Carolyn, the supervisor that lives next door to me and that shares the kitchen and bathroom between our rooms, took it upon herself to put out some buckets and empty them for me as they very quickly filled up with water.
Bubbles in the ceiling...
Water droplets forming...
Plaster falling down on my bed... (joy!)
Along with this leaking came days of stinking stench. Apparently the roof has been leaking for quite some time now and I'm quite certain that there is years of mould build-up in the celing.
I have since moved out of my room. I am now sleeping in another room at the end of the hall. Although I am now closer to the girls dormitory and further away from the comforts of my ensuite bathroom, I at least have the pleasure of knowing that my roof will not leak on me in the night. Oh yes... and I get much better sunlight in my new room which is also an added benefit. Oh the joys of trying to save a few dollars! I wonder if I will last the term here...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Book Review: My Sister's Keeper
Last week I finished my first "official" book of the year ("official because I started and finished it this year). It was called My Sister's Keeper and was written by Jodi Picoult.
Coincidentally enough, my friend, Sarah, had recently blogged about Picoult on her book-review blog. She clearly stated my thoughts about this author: Why is she so good? All of her books tackle some kind of controversial subject, that likely you’ll already have some preconceived opinions about. By the end of the book, Jodi manages to make you empathize with all sides and consider other points of view, which is a rare and impressive talent.
From the publisher:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister''s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child''s life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister''s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Since this is the first book by Picoult that I have read, I did not realize that she wrote all of her books in the same manner. However, after reading this one, I can definitely say that she is really good at sharing the story from multiple points of view and making you empathize with all of their view-points.
This story raises lots of good questions about the ethics and morality behind science and the extents to which we can "push" the boundaries. It makes me ponder what I would do if I found myself in a similar situation. To what lengths would I go to save one of my children? I certainly hope that I would have the capacity to recognize and understand how unfair it would be to bring a child into this world purely for the reason of saving another. And then to recognize the ongoing trauma and pain that he/she would suffer...
All-in-all, a good read. Would definitely recommend. Am looking forward to checking out some more of Picoult's writing in the future...
Last week I finished my first "official" book of the year ("official because I started and finished it this year). It was called My Sister's Keeper and was written by Jodi Picoult.
Coincidentally enough, my friend, Sarah, had recently blogged about Picoult on her book-review blog. She clearly stated my thoughts about this author: Why is she so good? All of her books tackle some kind of controversial subject, that likely you’ll already have some preconceived opinions about. By the end of the book, Jodi manages to make you empathize with all sides and consider other points of view, which is a rare and impressive talent.
From the publisher:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister''s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child''s life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister''s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Since this is the first book by Picoult that I have read, I did not realize that she wrote all of her books in the same manner. However, after reading this one, I can definitely say that she is really good at sharing the story from multiple points of view and making you empathize with all of their view-points.
This story raises lots of good questions about the ethics and morality behind science and the extents to which we can "push" the boundaries. It makes me ponder what I would do if I found myself in a similar situation. To what lengths would I go to save one of my children? I certainly hope that I would have the capacity to recognize and understand how unfair it would be to bring a child into this world purely for the reason of saving another. And then to recognize the ongoing trauma and pain that he/she would suffer...
All-in-all, a good read. Would definitely recommend. Am looking forward to checking out some more of Picoult's writing in the future...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Congratulations Andrea & Graham!
I just got some very exciting news today that Andrea gave birth to her first child - Julia Aberdeen Meyer - a beautiful, healthy, baby girl.
Born on February 11th at 8:52 am, 6 lbs 8 ounces and 19.5 inches long. She has bright blue eyes and a head full of sandy brown hair. Parents are very happy and are adjusting very well.
Soooo exciting! Congrats guys! Can't wait to meet her!
I just got some very exciting news today that Andrea gave birth to her first child - Julia Aberdeen Meyer - a beautiful, healthy, baby girl.
Born on February 11th at 8:52 am, 6 lbs 8 ounces and 19.5 inches long. She has bright blue eyes and a head full of sandy brown hair. Parents are very happy and are adjusting very well.
Soooo exciting! Congrats guys! Can't wait to meet her!
Blues & Brews Festival
Yesterday I attended the Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival in Blenheim. It's an annual event that I missed out on last year since it took place the weekend after I arrived in the country and I was too busy getting sorted and getting over my jet-leg.
It was a pretty chillin' day spent sprawled out on a blanket, listening to live music, and enjoying the beautiful weather that surrounded us.
Since the Blues & Brews is notorious for the crazy costumes that some attendees choose to dress up in, it made for some extremely interesting people watching too! I've certainly acquired a few more costume ideas for the next few Hallowe'ens to come. However, since I was so mellowed out with the atmosphere around me, I forgot to take many pictures and had to steal a few from the local paper...
Yesterday I attended the Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival in Blenheim. It's an annual event that I missed out on last year since it took place the weekend after I arrived in the country and I was too busy getting sorted and getting over my jet-leg.
It was a pretty chillin' day spent sprawled out on a blanket, listening to live music, and enjoying the beautiful weather that surrounded us.
Since the Blues & Brews is notorious for the crazy costumes that some attendees choose to dress up in, it made for some extremely interesting people watching too! I've certainly acquired a few more costume ideas for the next few Hallowe'ens to come. However, since I was so mellowed out with the atmosphere around me, I forgot to take many pictures and had to steal a few from the local paper...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Cold Cold Cold!
Holy moly has the weather ever changed!
After several days of 25-30 degree weather last week, we are now "suffering" from some much colder temps. The last few days have been quite cool with daytime highs of no more than 18 and night-time temps as low as 8 degrees.
Craziness! I guess this is all part-and-parcel with weather patterns that are influenced by ocean currents.
Another random weather fact: Blenheim has really cool summer evenings (apparently why this is why Marlborough is one of the best places in the world for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes).
I was totally oblivious to this fact when I arrived last year in the middle of the NZ summer (I barely knew which way was up for the first few months after arriving), but I have become acutely aware of it this year. I think I figured it out when I was chatting with someone about the fact that I could still sleep really well at night despite the really hot day-time temperatures we were experiencing last week and the week before.
Reflecting back to my summers at home, I recall having really hot days AND some really hot nights. In Ontario, it is quite common to spend several nights in any given summer tossing and turning in bed because it is simply too hot and humid to fall asleep.
As crazy as this may sound, I miss this.
There is nothing more "freeing" than being able to go for a stroll or sit on a patio somewhere in the middle of the summer wearing nothing more than shorts and a tank top. Being one that normally can't go anywhere without my fleece jacket, and constantly wrapped up in a blanket, I feel totally liberated when I can go without!
Here's to hoping that summer isn't over yet! Hoping for a few more days that I can "go without" :)
Holy moly has the weather ever changed!
After several days of 25-30 degree weather last week, we are now "suffering" from some much colder temps. The last few days have been quite cool with daytime highs of no more than 18 and night-time temps as low as 8 degrees.
Craziness! I guess this is all part-and-parcel with weather patterns that are influenced by ocean currents.
Another random weather fact: Blenheim has really cool summer evenings (apparently why this is why Marlborough is one of the best places in the world for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes).
I was totally oblivious to this fact when I arrived last year in the middle of the NZ summer (I barely knew which way was up for the first few months after arriving), but I have become acutely aware of it this year. I think I figured it out when I was chatting with someone about the fact that I could still sleep really well at night despite the really hot day-time temperatures we were experiencing last week and the week before.
Reflecting back to my summers at home, I recall having really hot days AND some really hot nights. In Ontario, it is quite common to spend several nights in any given summer tossing and turning in bed because it is simply too hot and humid to fall asleep.
As crazy as this may sound, I miss this.
There is nothing more "freeing" than being able to go for a stroll or sit on a patio somewhere in the middle of the summer wearing nothing more than shorts and a tank top. Being one that normally can't go anywhere without my fleece jacket, and constantly wrapped up in a blanket, I feel totally liberated when I can go without!
Here's to hoping that summer isn't over yet! Hoping for a few more days that I can "go without" :)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Really Tough Run
Last night I did one of the toughest runs I've done yet in my training. It gave me flash-backs to a run I did years ago while training for my first half-marathon... I think it was the very first time I ran a distance of 18km (something that seemed practically unachievable at the time, but today feels like a short "walk in the park"). It was a really crap, cold day winter day. It was freezing rain, slightly slippery, and the cars splashed cold slushy snow up onto us as they drove past. It was pretty miserable. And to make things worse, about half-way into the run, the wind picked up and it started to hail. The wind was so fierce that it pelted the hail into our faces with a stinging burn. And to top it all off, it started to thunder and lightning around us. I was running with a group from the Running Room at the time and I remember our group seeking shelter beneath the front porch of a house that was being built in a nearby new subdivision.
Back to present day...
The run I did last night was 29km. It was my long-run for the week. Emily and I decided to do it together. We chose to do it on Thursday night since we both had a pretty jam-packed weekend and wanted to make sure that we got the distance in. Although the forecast was crap (rain and cold) we positive-talked our way into doing it for most of the day. Starting at the hostel, we ran along the Taylor River all the way to the end, where we ended up on Maxwell Road and followed it South until it became Taylor Pass Road. When we hit 15kms (ok... 14.6km) we turned around and came home.
This run was soooo hard and soooo horrible for so many reasons:
- we started at the end of the school day when we were tired from a full-days work (something I'm not used to doing)
- it rained on us for pretty nearly 3 hours straight
- when it wasn't raining, it was pouring
- i got soaked right through to the bone and could have wrung out every item of my clothing (including my underwear) before reaching the 10km point
- since we wanted a long distance to cover that was relatively flat, we ended up running on tar-chip sealed road... something I haven't done in a really long time... road running... and my body felt it (knees, joints, etc)
- since I was so dedicated to making sure I fuelled properly for the run and ate well during the day, I started the run on a full stomach which meant the the natural laxitive effect that running seems to have on me (and many other runners) kicked in... conveniently around the 15km point when we were nowhere NEAR a toilet... needess to say, I had to make a stop in the bush because it got far too uncomfortable otherwise
- since I was running with Emily, she set a pretty fast pace and I ran harder and faster than I normally do
- since I was running with Emily, I didn't want to slow her down, and didn't take nearly as many walking/eating/hydrating breaks as I normally would and ended up coming close to "hitting the wall" at the end
The first 14.6km were an avg speed of 6min:20sec / km
The next 13km were an avg speed of 6min:16sec / km
The last 1.4km were an average speed of 7min:31sec / km and would have been closer to 10-12 min/km if I hadn't continued to use the advice of Dean Karnazes and keep creating mini-goals to get me from one lamp-post to the next intersection to the next pile of rocks to the next bridge...
HOWEVER!...
This run was also fantastic. Fantastic because when all was said and done, I felt like I had really accomplished something. My body was tired but it felt great. I had set out to do this long run and that's exactly what I did. The mental struggles that came with it have, once again, proven to me that you CAN do whatever you want when you set your mind to it. And that's exactly what it was. In the end, it wasn't my legs that got me home (ok... well, obviously they played a part in it), but rather my head.
I am VERY sore today, but I'm certain I will be ok in another day or so... A big thanks to Emily for letting me join her on this long run. I am certain that I slowed her down by AT LEAST a half-hour, but it sure was nice to have the company. There is NO WAY I would have finished that run on my own nor would I have even wanted to attempt it.
Last night I did one of the toughest runs I've done yet in my training. It gave me flash-backs to a run I did years ago while training for my first half-marathon... I think it was the very first time I ran a distance of 18km (something that seemed practically unachievable at the time, but today feels like a short "walk in the park"). It was a really crap, cold day winter day. It was freezing rain, slightly slippery, and the cars splashed cold slushy snow up onto us as they drove past. It was pretty miserable. And to make things worse, about half-way into the run, the wind picked up and it started to hail. The wind was so fierce that it pelted the hail into our faces with a stinging burn. And to top it all off, it started to thunder and lightning around us. I was running with a group from the Running Room at the time and I remember our group seeking shelter beneath the front porch of a house that was being built in a nearby new subdivision.
Back to present day...
The run I did last night was 29km. It was my long-run for the week. Emily and I decided to do it together. We chose to do it on Thursday night since we both had a pretty jam-packed weekend and wanted to make sure that we got the distance in. Although the forecast was crap (rain and cold) we positive-talked our way into doing it for most of the day. Starting at the hostel, we ran along the Taylor River all the way to the end, where we ended up on Maxwell Road and followed it South until it became Taylor Pass Road. When we hit 15kms (ok... 14.6km) we turned around and came home.
This run was soooo hard and soooo horrible for so many reasons:
- we started at the end of the school day when we were tired from a full-days work (something I'm not used to doing)
- it rained on us for pretty nearly 3 hours straight
- when it wasn't raining, it was pouring
- i got soaked right through to the bone and could have wrung out every item of my clothing (including my underwear) before reaching the 10km point
- since we wanted a long distance to cover that was relatively flat, we ended up running on tar-chip sealed road... something I haven't done in a really long time... road running... and my body felt it (knees, joints, etc)
- since I was so dedicated to making sure I fuelled properly for the run and ate well during the day, I started the run on a full stomach which meant the the natural laxitive effect that running seems to have on me (and many other runners) kicked in... conveniently around the 15km point when we were nowhere NEAR a toilet... needess to say, I had to make a stop in the bush because it got far too uncomfortable otherwise
- since I was running with Emily, she set a pretty fast pace and I ran harder and faster than I normally do
- since I was running with Emily, I didn't want to slow her down, and didn't take nearly as many walking/eating/hydrating breaks as I normally would and ended up coming close to "hitting the wall" at the end
The first 14.6km were an avg speed of 6min:20sec / km
The next 13km were an avg speed of 6min:16sec / km
The last 1.4km were an average speed of 7min:31sec / km and would have been closer to 10-12 min/km if I hadn't continued to use the advice of Dean Karnazes and keep creating mini-goals to get me from one lamp-post to the next intersection to the next pile of rocks to the next bridge...
HOWEVER!...
This run was also fantastic. Fantastic because when all was said and done, I felt like I had really accomplished something. My body was tired but it felt great. I had set out to do this long run and that's exactly what I did. The mental struggles that came with it have, once again, proven to me that you CAN do whatever you want when you set your mind to it. And that's exactly what it was. In the end, it wasn't my legs that got me home (ok... well, obviously they played a part in it), but rather my head.
I am VERY sore today, but I'm certain I will be ok in another day or so... A big thanks to Emily for letting me join her on this long run. I am certain that I slowed her down by AT LEAST a half-hour, but it sure was nice to have the company. There is NO WAY I would have finished that run on my own nor would I have even wanted to attempt it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Stories From the Past
It's amazing how much we *don't* know about some of our closest relatives. There are so many stories that they have lived through and experienced that we never get to hear about (or at least we never think to ask about). A while ago I emailed Grandma E and asked her a random question about her past: "Did you experience heart-ache before you met Grandpa? Or was he your first love?" Today I got a valentines email from her with an answer to my question...
You asked if Grandpa was my one and only love. I went with another guy and was engaged, but when the war started, he enlisted and before he left for overseas I gave him back the ring. I figured he would be dating etc. in England and he sort of gave me the opinion that he did not want to be tied up here. I am sure glad I did that, because it wasn't long until I met your Grandpa and I knew he was the right one for me. He was working in munitions and was not required to enlist. We were married just over a year later, and had a wonderful 55 years together. I do hope you find the one that is right for you. Just don't rush in until you are both sure it is right.
How fascinating! I had no idea that grandma was engaged to someone else before she met grandpa! What an interesting piece of news! It almost seems scandalous given my understanding of how "things were" way back then.
Thank you for the wonderful story, grandma :)
Oooh... and here's a deep thought... It's crazy to think about how the war affected the path that grandma's life ended up taking... It's even crazier to think about how it affected "my life" because dad was offspring of grandpa, and I am offspring of dad... Isn't science a fascinating thing?!
It's amazing how much we *don't* know about some of our closest relatives. There are so many stories that they have lived through and experienced that we never get to hear about (or at least we never think to ask about). A while ago I emailed Grandma E and asked her a random question about her past: "Did you experience heart-ache before you met Grandpa? Or was he your first love?" Today I got a valentines email from her with an answer to my question...
You asked if Grandpa was my one and only love. I went with another guy and was engaged, but when the war started, he enlisted and before he left for overseas I gave him back the ring. I figured he would be dating etc. in England and he sort of gave me the opinion that he did not want to be tied up here. I am sure glad I did that, because it wasn't long until I met your Grandpa and I knew he was the right one for me. He was working in munitions and was not required to enlist. We were married just over a year later, and had a wonderful 55 years together. I do hope you find the one that is right for you. Just don't rush in until you are both sure it is right.
How fascinating! I had no idea that grandma was engaged to someone else before she met grandpa! What an interesting piece of news! It almost seems scandalous given my understanding of how "things were" way back then.
Thank you for the wonderful story, grandma :)
Oooh... and here's a deep thought... It's crazy to think about how the war affected the path that grandma's life ended up taking... It's even crazier to think about how it affected "my life" because dad was offspring of grandpa, and I am offspring of dad... Isn't science a fascinating thing?!
My Digs
I've finally gotten around to taking pictures of my room at the hostel.
Looking in from the hallway...
Looking out, towards the hallway...
The bathroom/kitchen area that connects my room to the other supervisors room...
My bed...
My "sitting space"...
The view from my window... (note: I can see my classroom windows in this picture! They are just on the other side of the tennis courts...)
As you can see, it's not the classiest of joints, but it works for me right now.
I've finally gotten around to taking pictures of my room at the hostel.
Looking in from the hallway...
Looking out, towards the hallway...
The bathroom/kitchen area that connects my room to the other supervisors room...
My bed...
My "sitting space"...
The view from my window... (note: I can see my classroom windows in this picture! They are just on the other side of the tennis courts...)
As you can see, it's not the classiest of joints, but it works for me right now.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Random News
According to an email from mom today, I may need to look into a booster shot. There has been a thing on the news about kids born between 1970 and 1994 needing to have a measles, mumps, rubella booster because there has been an outbreak of mumps in 4 provinces. "It is not fun to have mumps as an adult and there can be complications," she tells me.
Mom was also telling me that Heritage Day is coming up soon on February 16th. It's funny to hear about this statutory holiday since I have not yet experienced it. The government brought it into play last year after I left the country. I think it's supposed to honour "family".
One more random story...
I got this email from Magalie today. I thought it was pretty funny. Funny because it's the exact sort of email that I would send out to my friends if I had a really curious question...
Thought of the day... Even though it's been a couple years, I still find New Zealand full of surprises. This may be an indelicate question but have any of you ever heard of buried placentas? I can't figure out if this is a Kiwi custom or what. When a friend of mine moved in her new flat, her flatmate told her not to open the blue ice cream container in the freezer because it contained her friend's placenta. Her friend didn't own a home so she gave the flatmate the placenta for her garden. It's been in her freezer for months. A few weeks ago, I was talking to another friend and she asked her boss how her weekend went. The woman launches into this story of her sister-in-law and her 89 year old grandfather burying a placenta under a lemon tree in the garden. Then last week, I was watching "Shortland Street" (don't tell anyone!) and one of them miscarried and they buried the placenta in the garden! I don't get it. Not that I think it's particularly gross, I just think it's peculiar that it's such a common practice here.
Turns out it is a custom followed by the Maori people here in NZ. You can read more about it here.
According to an email from mom today, I may need to look into a booster shot. There has been a thing on the news about kids born between 1970 and 1994 needing to have a measles, mumps, rubella booster because there has been an outbreak of mumps in 4 provinces. "It is not fun to have mumps as an adult and there can be complications," she tells me.
Mom was also telling me that Heritage Day is coming up soon on February 16th. It's funny to hear about this statutory holiday since I have not yet experienced it. The government brought it into play last year after I left the country. I think it's supposed to honour "family".
One more random story...
I got this email from Magalie today. I thought it was pretty funny. Funny because it's the exact sort of email that I would send out to my friends if I had a really curious question...
Thought of the day... Even though it's been a couple years, I still find New Zealand full of surprises. This may be an indelicate question but have any of you ever heard of buried placentas? I can't figure out if this is a Kiwi custom or what. When a friend of mine moved in her new flat, her flatmate told her not to open the blue ice cream container in the freezer because it contained her friend's placenta. Her friend didn't own a home so she gave the flatmate the placenta for her garden. It's been in her freezer for months. A few weeks ago, I was talking to another friend and she asked her boss how her weekend went. The woman launches into this story of her sister-in-law and her 89 year old grandfather burying a placenta under a lemon tree in the garden. Then last week, I was watching "Shortland Street" (don't tell anyone!) and one of them miscarried and they buried the placenta in the garden! I don't get it. Not that I think it's particularly gross, I just think it's peculiar that it's such a common practice here.
Turns out it is a custom followed by the Maori people here in NZ. You can read more about it here.
Columbine
Tonight's small group session was centered around a video about the Columbine shootings from 1999. The video was part of a series called Great Journeys by Rob Harley (who I got to see speak last year). I can't find the video online (I'm guessing it's got copyright protection) but I found a few other links on YouTube that sort of give you an idea of what the story was about.
The video that we watched was longer, and Rachel's father went into more detail about how his daughter almost predicted that this tragedy would happen. In fact, she *knew* that she was going to play a significant part in it. Somehow or other she was convinced that she would never live to be old enough to marry, and that she would die before the age of 20, and that she would one day touch the lives of millions of people. She couldn't have been more right. Her story is truly amazing and the strength of her father to forgive, and as a result, go on to spread the word of her story is even more amazing.
I am particularly moved by her thoughts on spreading a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. She said "I have this theory, that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, that it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far their kindness will go." And how true it is.
I must say, I struggled big-time to keep myself from letting the flood gates open while watching the video! I am such a crier and last night's was prime kleenex material! I think it makes me, as a teacher, think even harder about it because it hits so close to home. So much of what I see on a daily basis is directly connected to it all... Compassion. Just think about how much better any school environment would be if the students understood and valued the importance of compassion for one another.
Compassion... it's really that simple. Being considerate and mindful of those around you.
But how do you instill compassion in your students? That's a really hard one... I guess the biggest thing I can do is lead by example.
On a side-note - it's strange to think about the fact that this great tragedy happened in 1999 - nearly ten years ago during my last year of highschool! I vaguely remember the day that it happened - I had come home from school, went downstairs and found mom standing in front of the tv, watching this breaking news story unfold, while doing some laundry. The scale or significance of it took a while to sink in. But I do remember going to school the next day being somewhat afraid. There were so many rumours of copycat plans and everyone was on edge for the next few days...
It's even stranger to think about how this impacted the rest of the world. I guess as a Canadian I was exposed to it through the media - you couldn't avoid it - it was plastered all over the news for the next long while. However, chatting amongst those in the room with me last night, I realized that it didn't have the same sort of media attention here, and some had not even heard about it. Interesting though, to learn that those who had heard about the story had learned about it through youth-groups and other school groups that based discussion programs around the story of Rachel.
What an inspiring young woman!
Tonight's small group session was centered around a video about the Columbine shootings from 1999. The video was part of a series called Great Journeys by Rob Harley (who I got to see speak last year). I can't find the video online (I'm guessing it's got copyright protection) but I found a few other links on YouTube that sort of give you an idea of what the story was about.
The video that we watched was longer, and Rachel's father went into more detail about how his daughter almost predicted that this tragedy would happen. In fact, she *knew* that she was going to play a significant part in it. Somehow or other she was convinced that she would never live to be old enough to marry, and that she would die before the age of 20, and that she would one day touch the lives of millions of people. She couldn't have been more right. Her story is truly amazing and the strength of her father to forgive, and as a result, go on to spread the word of her story is even more amazing.
I am particularly moved by her thoughts on spreading a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. She said "I have this theory, that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, that it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far their kindness will go." And how true it is.
I must say, I struggled big-time to keep myself from letting the flood gates open while watching the video! I am such a crier and last night's was prime kleenex material! I think it makes me, as a teacher, think even harder about it because it hits so close to home. So much of what I see on a daily basis is directly connected to it all... Compassion. Just think about how much better any school environment would be if the students understood and valued the importance of compassion for one another.
Compassion... it's really that simple. Being considerate and mindful of those around you.
But how do you instill compassion in your students? That's a really hard one... I guess the biggest thing I can do is lead by example.
On a side-note - it's strange to think about the fact that this great tragedy happened in 1999 - nearly ten years ago during my last year of highschool! I vaguely remember the day that it happened - I had come home from school, went downstairs and found mom standing in front of the tv, watching this breaking news story unfold, while doing some laundry. The scale or significance of it took a while to sink in. But I do remember going to school the next day being somewhat afraid. There were so many rumours of copycat plans and everyone was on edge for the next few days...
It's even stranger to think about how this impacted the rest of the world. I guess as a Canadian I was exposed to it through the media - you couldn't avoid it - it was plastered all over the news for the next long while. However, chatting amongst those in the room with me last night, I realized that it didn't have the same sort of media attention here, and some had not even heard about it. Interesting though, to learn that those who had heard about the story had learned about it through youth-groups and other school groups that based discussion programs around the story of Rachel.
What an inspiring young woman!
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Hot Hot Hot!
Oh man it's hot! Like 35 degree hot! And with no air conditioning, our classrooms have very quickly become saunas!
I'm not complaining though (at least I don't think I am???)... I really do enjoy the heat. I just have to figure out how to function coherently in this heat and actually accomplish *something* other than sitting still and slowly moving around when needed. Thank goodness I don't have a class Period 5 today. We'll see what happens when I actually have to teach last period of the day tomorrow...
In other news, it's even hotter in Australia. The headlines last week told us that Australia was experiencing 40+ degrees Celcius temperatures for days on end. This week they are now fighting some of the deadliest bush fires in the country's history.
I haven't been keeping up with the snow headlines at home, but after receiving the following email forward from my father a couple of weeks ago, I can only imagine how bad it must be!
December 8 - 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9 - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14 - Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15 - 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God! I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20 - Electricity' s back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed an dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob-who has a plow on his truck-for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.
December 23 - Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24 - 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling, and then he comes down the street...at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents...but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.
December 25 - Merry f---ing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The BITCH is driving me crazy!!!
December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed ???
Lol... and for my kiwi friends reading this, what you don't realize is that this is actually *somewhat* representative of how bad it gets! At the start of the season you are oh so excited for the snow to arrive, but by the end of it, you absolutely can not WAIT for it to leave... Can't say we all end up in insane asylums as a result, but this story is certainly good for a laugh anyways!...
Oh man it's hot! Like 35 degree hot! And with no air conditioning, our classrooms have very quickly become saunas!
I'm not complaining though (at least I don't think I am???)... I really do enjoy the heat. I just have to figure out how to function coherently in this heat and actually accomplish *something* other than sitting still and slowly moving around when needed. Thank goodness I don't have a class Period 5 today. We'll see what happens when I actually have to teach last period of the day tomorrow...
In other news, it's even hotter in Australia. The headlines last week told us that Australia was experiencing 40+ degrees Celcius temperatures for days on end. This week they are now fighting some of the deadliest bush fires in the country's history.
I haven't been keeping up with the snow headlines at home, but after receiving the following email forward from my father a couple of weeks ago, I can only imagine how bad it must be!
December 8 - 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9 - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14 - Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15 - 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God! I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20 - Electricity' s back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed an dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob-who has a plow on his truck-for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.
December 23 - Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24 - 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling, and then he comes down the street...at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents...but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.
December 25 - Merry f---ing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The BITCH is driving me crazy!!!
December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed ???
Lol... and for my kiwi friends reading this, what you don't realize is that this is actually *somewhat* representative of how bad it gets! At the start of the season you are oh so excited for the snow to arrive, but by the end of it, you absolutely can not WAIT for it to leave... Can't say we all end up in insane asylums as a result, but this story is certainly good for a laugh anyways!...
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Red Tape
I don't like "red tape".
John and I were thinking about taking the new GAP student, Geraldine, out for the afternoon to make her feel welcome and show her a bit more of what the area has to offer. Since the forecast was for a beautiful day today, we thought that the beach would be a perfect destination.
After thinking about it further, I thought it would be great to invite along some of the hostel students as well. My thinking behind it: these students are pretty much stuck at the hostel and restricted to the hostel grounds unless an event comes up. They have no parents around to initiate these sorts of weekend activities and they are not allowed to go out on their own apart from being able to sign out for a couple of hours at a time to go to town or go swimming in the slightly dodgy river that is nearby.
I texted my manager yesterday to see if this was ok, but didn't hear back from him. After sending another text today, I got a phone call from him (denying that he received any previous text) and informing me that these sorts of things need planning and that we need permission from the students' parents to do stuff like that. He'd rather I not do it this weekend and talk to him more about it on Monday.
Hmmmmmm..... how frustrating! I'm gonna have to see if I can arrange this sort of thing a bit better next time... I'm not gonna let a little red tape get in my way! In the words of Rob Bell, we should strive to bring "heaven to earth"... I honestly believe that simple afternoon outings, like this one that I wanted to do, are ways in which I can help to accomplish this.
I don't like "red tape".
John and I were thinking about taking the new GAP student, Geraldine, out for the afternoon to make her feel welcome and show her a bit more of what the area has to offer. Since the forecast was for a beautiful day today, we thought that the beach would be a perfect destination.
After thinking about it further, I thought it would be great to invite along some of the hostel students as well. My thinking behind it: these students are pretty much stuck at the hostel and restricted to the hostel grounds unless an event comes up. They have no parents around to initiate these sorts of weekend activities and they are not allowed to go out on their own apart from being able to sign out for a couple of hours at a time to go to town or go swimming in the slightly dodgy river that is nearby.
I texted my manager yesterday to see if this was ok, but didn't hear back from him. After sending another text today, I got a phone call from him (denying that he received any previous text) and informing me that these sorts of things need planning and that we need permission from the students' parents to do stuff like that. He'd rather I not do it this weekend and talk to him more about it on Monday.
Hmmmmmm..... how frustrating! I'm gonna have to see if I can arrange this sort of thing a bit better next time... I'm not gonna let a little red tape get in my way! In the words of Rob Bell, we should strive to bring "heaven to earth"... I honestly believe that simple afternoon outings, like this one that I wanted to do, are ways in which I can help to accomplish this.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Duncan Bay
Yesterday I met up with a guy named Gary that I had met online to go for a run. Gary is also training for the Motatapu race in March. The run started from his friends bach in Duncan Bay (part of the Marlborough Sounds), to a track which took us up a hill, over a saddle, and down another hill towards Nydia Lake. It was a really tough and technical track. According to my Garmin we ran 23kms in about 3hrs 30mins (4 hrs including stops). The hill had about 400m elevation change which we did twice (out and back). By the end of it I was pooped. I had pushed myself pretty hard. It was a very hot day and the dip in the bay at the end felt well-deserved. And the scenery, once again, was fantastic!
Gary has some interesting stories as he is well traveled. He spent 5 years working on a cruise ship and during that time, he circumnavigated the world 3 times. After a recent tally, he thinks that he has been to at least 51 different countries. I used to think that after I retire from teaching that I would like to become a flight attendant so that I could travel the world for "free" with the added benefit of having discounted airfares. Now I'm wondering if the cruise ship is a much better alternative. Think about how convenient it would be - rock up at a port in some exotic place, throw my running shoes on, and go out exploring for a few hours. There would also be the added benefit of having to deal with far less grumpy customers!
During the run I asked Gary what he liked to do in his spare time - apart from running. When the question got turned back to me, I was surprised to discover that I actually didn't know what to say - I was sort of at a loss for words and I felt a bit lame as a result. After much pondering here is what I could come up with: running, road cycling (occasionally), mountain biking (if I had my mountain bike here - but after thinking about it how much did I actually use my mountain bike at home?), playing the piano (although that only happens very occasionally as well), hanging out with friends (although it's different here without your best friends right close by), watching my favourite tv shows, and as of recently, reading.
Answering this question made me realize just how much my life has changed since I've come to New Zealand. I feel like life has slowed down for me hugely. As a result, I've had much more *me* time and have come to enjoy doing *me* things - things that help me to learn and grow - like going to church and attending small group sessions. I've also realized that my reading choices these days are generally non-fiction because I enjoy learning things through the books that I read.
One other thing this pondering lead me to realize is how much I enjoy writing my thoughts down in my blog. When I think about what sort of things I spend time on each day, I realize that a decent time-slot is dedicated to blog writing. I haven't yet been able to pin-point exactly what it is about blogging that I like best, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the structured thought-processing that it offers. It actually takes a good chunk of time for me to collect my thoughts in writing, but I continue to do it since I seem to benefit from its therapeutic effects...
Yesterday I met up with a guy named Gary that I had met online to go for a run. Gary is also training for the Motatapu race in March. The run started from his friends bach in Duncan Bay (part of the Marlborough Sounds), to a track which took us up a hill, over a saddle, and down another hill towards Nydia Lake. It was a really tough and technical track. According to my Garmin we ran 23kms in about 3hrs 30mins (4 hrs including stops). The hill had about 400m elevation change which we did twice (out and back). By the end of it I was pooped. I had pushed myself pretty hard. It was a very hot day and the dip in the bay at the end felt well-deserved. And the scenery, once again, was fantastic!
Gary has some interesting stories as he is well traveled. He spent 5 years working on a cruise ship and during that time, he circumnavigated the world 3 times. After a recent tally, he thinks that he has been to at least 51 different countries. I used to think that after I retire from teaching that I would like to become a flight attendant so that I could travel the world for "free" with the added benefit of having discounted airfares. Now I'm wondering if the cruise ship is a much better alternative. Think about how convenient it would be - rock up at a port in some exotic place, throw my running shoes on, and go out exploring for a few hours. There would also be the added benefit of having to deal with far less grumpy customers!
During the run I asked Gary what he liked to do in his spare time - apart from running. When the question got turned back to me, I was surprised to discover that I actually didn't know what to say - I was sort of at a loss for words and I felt a bit lame as a result. After much pondering here is what I could come up with: running, road cycling (occasionally), mountain biking (if I had my mountain bike here - but after thinking about it how much did I actually use my mountain bike at home?), playing the piano (although that only happens very occasionally as well), hanging out with friends (although it's different here without your best friends right close by), watching my favourite tv shows, and as of recently, reading.
Answering this question made me realize just how much my life has changed since I've come to New Zealand. I feel like life has slowed down for me hugely. As a result, I've had much more *me* time and have come to enjoy doing *me* things - things that help me to learn and grow - like going to church and attending small group sessions. I've also realized that my reading choices these days are generally non-fiction because I enjoy learning things through the books that I read.
One other thing this pondering lead me to realize is how much I enjoy writing my thoughts down in my blog. When I think about what sort of things I spend time on each day, I realize that a decent time-slot is dedicated to blog writing. I haven't yet been able to pin-point exactly what it is about blogging that I like best, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the structured thought-processing that it offers. It actually takes a good chunk of time for me to collect my thoughts in writing, but I continue to do it since I seem to benefit from its therapeutic effects...
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Math Department BBQ
Back-posted
The math department has been on the ball this year - far better than last. We actually started the year by holding a social gathering within the first few weeks of term. This feels monumental compared to how things worked last year. At this rate, we just may end up having another social outting before I leave! :)
It was a lovely evening, hosted by Maggie - probably one of the longest standing teachers at our school, and a member of the math department. She and her husband built a fancy schmancy house with what they call "million dollar views" from the top floor of the "castle" built in the centre of their home. "Million dollar" since you get a fantastic panorama of the Wither Hills on one side, the Richmond Ranges on the other, and vineyards in every other direction.
Here's some pictures of what modern-day kiwi architecture can look like:
And this is a really cool looking piece of art that Maggie had sitting beside the moat that runs underneath her house and extends out her back-yard.
Back-posted
The math department has been on the ball this year - far better than last. We actually started the year by holding a social gathering within the first few weeks of term. This feels monumental compared to how things worked last year. At this rate, we just may end up having another social outting before I leave! :)
It was a lovely evening, hosted by Maggie - probably one of the longest standing teachers at our school, and a member of the math department. She and her husband built a fancy schmancy house with what they call "million dollar views" from the top floor of the "castle" built in the centre of their home. "Million dollar" since you get a fantastic panorama of the Wither Hills on one side, the Richmond Ranges on the other, and vineyards in every other direction.
Here's some pictures of what modern-day kiwi architecture can look like:
And this is a really cool looking piece of art that Maggie had sitting beside the moat that runs underneath her house and extends out her back-yard.
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