Harakeke all the way

I’ve had another whirlwind of a week! It started off on Sunday with Phyllis taking us to Muriwai Beach on the west coast. Most of the beach trips we’ve taken so far as a group have been only to beaches on the east coast so she took us to one that she really likes. It was gorgeous! We took a little stroll up the cliffs where they had nature paths and overlooks. There were harakeke plants lining all paths. We finally got to see what our team plant looks like! We even saw a woven part that was still attached to the plant.

Muriwai beach is known for it’s birds with yellow on their heads. They were everywhere! Entire rock faces were covered with birds. I wanted so badly to run through them and cause them to scatter and fly, but they were sitting in a protected area. The views were amazing. We took our trip in the late afternoon so we got to see a lot of the changing colors of the sky and the reflection on the ocean. I wouldn’t even know what to call the shade of green that we saw out in the water.

After our little stroll we took another walk down on the beach. Brooke and I quickly discovered that Muriwai beach is actually a black sand beach! We took off our flipflops (they’re called jandals here) and watched as our feet turned blacker and blacker in the sand. It was so pretty! Because of its dark color you could easily see the ripples from the wind. As we walked down the beach we got to see kite boarders up close! They had strings attached to large parachutes and would use those to jump over the waves and even float over the water. That is going on my bucket list.

Monday came along and we were back in the schools. Being in the school is something else. I’ve started beginning to wonder what exactly it is that I’m getting myself into. It’s going to be a lot of work to be a full time teacher! It’s been a lot of fun getting to know my students more. I can see their different personalities beginning to come out, their particular mannerisms and I’ve finally got all their names down! It’s been difficult trying to find a balance between being their friend and being their teacher. I don’t like to yell at them or chastise them, but sometimes the situation requires it. I’m trying to find an in-between, but it’s trickier than I thought it would be. It’s especially difficult being beneath another teacher because the students never quite look at me as a real teacher. I look younger, I’m quieter, I don’t have all the routines down, and the students know that with me they can get away with more. They have a little bit of trouble taking me seriously…because no matter what I do I’m just not very intimidating. What’s weird is that today I realized I’m only about 8 years older than a lot of my students! How weird is that? I’m closer to their age than I am to my mentor teacher’s age.

Anyway, on Wednesday night we had a Meet-the-Teachers “sausage sizzle”. They’re pretty big on sausages out here…which is perfect for me! Our Harakeke team was in charge of the sausages and the two other teams were in charge of ice cream and drinks. I was given plastic gloves and I couldn’t help but feel just like I was back at Catering! Who would have thought I’d miss it that much?

It was a lot of fun walking around and see the students out of their uniforms. They looked so different that on first glance there were some that I didn’t even recognize! After the big meeting in the hall we went around and took some pictures of the classrooms and with some of my students! Here are a few of us:

   

It’s been so fun so far and I’ve learned a lot from Mrs. Chase about management and especially organization. I’m going to be teaching my first whole-class lesson this next Tuesday! We’re doing a compare and contrast with the olden days and now. Hopefully the kids will like it.

Also. I live in paradise.