September 2004

September , 2004 - I had completed 3 weeks of ST (student teaching).

"Its crazy being so far from home - so out of touch with the world as you know it.

New Zealand is such a small country, and it seems so very far from home at times. Yet it has an admirable quality about it. It seems younger and more innocent than America. I'm living in a suburb of Wellington and everyone here is so laid back. Many of the daily stressors which affect us in the states simply do not exist here.... The kids have decided that I am someone to be reckoned with! But they also can have fun with me and often ask me about America. Their favorite question is "Do you know (insert name of someone famous)?" Not "Have you heard of __?" but do I know them... they crack me up!"

Somewhere around my 5th week of ST I got really sick and missed 3 days of school. Some nasty NZ head-cold-fluey bug. I wasn't used to those NZ germs.

September 14, 2004 "Our school is doing a production this week, well half the school, with over 230 kids involved. I'm working backstage, doing microphones and trying to keep the kids in order, on stage at the right time, and whatnot. It's a lot of fun, excellent experience, but so incredibly tiring. I am always at school around 8 am and home by 6 ish, but with production I have to go back at 6:50 and am not home until after 9:30pm. Makes for a very long day. But! Really and truely, a good experience. I am enjoying it.... So many incredible experiences, in such a seemingly short time. All the people, the place, the entire feeling of the last six weeks - and I'm sure the next nine. I don't want to leave. I won't want to leave. I must find a way to come back.

I'm hoping that after I have my masters, in two years (please?), I will be back in New Zealand, teaching. A lot can happen between now and then, and who knows if I will ever return. But honestly, I can't imagine not coming back. I could really see myself living here. And I've only been around Wellington. Wait til I hit the South Island, Whales, Penguins, Dolphins, Mountains, Fiordland... /sigh... I wanna go now!"

And then came my TimeInAustralia...

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