Another week has passed filled with another set of comical errors in the life of a migrant student teacher.
This week started with exams which were pretty boring for me. All the year 11, 12, 13 (US grades 10, 11, 12) sit 2-hour exams in the middle of the year to get their credits for the course. They will sit 3-hour exams at the end of the year. I wasn’t aware of this, but when the class is taking the exam they all show up early so they can start right when the bell rings. It feels a little awkward to walk in when all the students are sitting silently looking right at you because the door creaked as you opened it. Oh well, they love teaching me the small nuances of school life, or how they would like school life to be. At one point this week I asked the students to take out their notes book and was informed that their teacher had taken them from them days ago and not returned them yet. In the confusion of another day I was walking to lunch only to be stopped by one of my students who asked where I was going. Just before I opened my mouth to say lunch I realized that I still had another period to go before I got a break. I turned 180 and just walked with the student right back to class. Thursday and Friday I started teaching three new classes and I will be continuing to teach them from now on I think. I will get one more this coming week I believe. This will bring my course load to 5 courses, each studying differing topics. It’s a lot of work right now, but hopefully it will lighten up in the coming weeks as I understand the big picture of the timing of the units.
We’re continuing rehearsals for the school orchestra. This week I wasn’t the only cellist which was exciting. I think we had one first violin, two or three seconds, no violas, three cellists and no bass. Makes for an interesting rehearsal. Oh the conductor plays the piano for the parts we’re missing. If everyone were to show up I think we’d have 3-4 firsts, 3-4 seconds, maybe a viola or third violin, 2 or 3 cellos and a bass. Now we’re getting closer.
If you want to see more about the school that I’m working at, here is the website for where I work.
http://www.hnhs.school.nz/home/home.aspx
Outside of school, it’s been pretty rainy and stormy here this week. So much fun to be out in for those of us from the PNW. You don’t realize how much you miss hearing the rain pound on the roof till you leave it and then come back. It got cold enough last night to snow on Te Mata Peak. I tried to run up there this morning and made it most of the way before I turned around and headed back. Maybe not the best choice to do as my first run in a while. Oh well. It was fun dodging cars running on a mountain road with no shoulders. Makes running so much more exciting. I also found that many of my students drive that road for fun and got lots of hand-waves and pointed fingers from those whom I recognized.
This next weekend I’m thinking I might try and head up to Rotorua. Rotorua is New Zealand’s version of Yellowstone, minus the charismatic mega-fauna. It’s a geothermal hotspot with boiling mudpots and geysers. I imagine I’ll probably see some fun extremeophiles and other small animals. It’s also a Maori cultural center so I might get to see some “traditional” cultural activities. New Zealand has an interesting relationship with the Maori people. As best I can figure, it’s similar to the relationship between Native American tribes and the peoples surrounding their reservations. There’s also a luge track apparently that might be pretty fun.
The week after that I’m heading up to Auckland to pick up a friend for the airport. It’ll be exciting to be in a big city again.
What do you do when you don't have a single bit of level land? Just build something level. Bowen Islanders take that...even this guy's driveway is all wood and supported on posts.
Te Mata peak with snow on it and the surrounding hills. Apparently this only happens like once every 10 years or so.
Hope everyone is well!
This week started with exams which were pretty boring for me. All the year 11, 12, 13 (US grades 10, 11, 12) sit 2-hour exams in the middle of the year to get their credits for the course. They will sit 3-hour exams at the end of the year. I wasn’t aware of this, but when the class is taking the exam they all show up early so they can start right when the bell rings. It feels a little awkward to walk in when all the students are sitting silently looking right at you because the door creaked as you opened it. Oh well, they love teaching me the small nuances of school life, or how they would like school life to be. At one point this week I asked the students to take out their notes book and was informed that their teacher had taken them from them days ago and not returned them yet. In the confusion of another day I was walking to lunch only to be stopped by one of my students who asked where I was going. Just before I opened my mouth to say lunch I realized that I still had another period to go before I got a break. I turned 180 and just walked with the student right back to class. Thursday and Friday I started teaching three new classes and I will be continuing to teach them from now on I think. I will get one more this coming week I believe. This will bring my course load to 5 courses, each studying differing topics. It’s a lot of work right now, but hopefully it will lighten up in the coming weeks as I understand the big picture of the timing of the units.
We’re continuing rehearsals for the school orchestra. This week I wasn’t the only cellist which was exciting. I think we had one first violin, two or three seconds, no violas, three cellists and no bass. Makes for an interesting rehearsal. Oh the conductor plays the piano for the parts we’re missing. If everyone were to show up I think we’d have 3-4 firsts, 3-4 seconds, maybe a viola or third violin, 2 or 3 cellos and a bass. Now we’re getting closer.
If you want to see more about the school that I’m working at, here is the website for where I work.
http://www.hnhs.school.nz/home/home.aspx
Outside of school, it’s been pretty rainy and stormy here this week. So much fun to be out in for those of us from the PNW. You don’t realize how much you miss hearing the rain pound on the roof till you leave it and then come back. It got cold enough last night to snow on Te Mata Peak. I tried to run up there this morning and made it most of the way before I turned around and headed back. Maybe not the best choice to do as my first run in a while. Oh well. It was fun dodging cars running on a mountain road with no shoulders. Makes running so much more exciting. I also found that many of my students drive that road for fun and got lots of hand-waves and pointed fingers from those whom I recognized.
This next weekend I’m thinking I might try and head up to Rotorua. Rotorua is New Zealand’s version of Yellowstone, minus the charismatic mega-fauna. It’s a geothermal hotspot with boiling mudpots and geysers. I imagine I’ll probably see some fun extremeophiles and other small animals. It’s also a Maori cultural center so I might get to see some “traditional” cultural activities. New Zealand has an interesting relationship with the Maori people. As best I can figure, it’s similar to the relationship between Native American tribes and the peoples surrounding their reservations. There’s also a luge track apparently that might be pretty fun.
The week after that I’m heading up to Auckland to pick up a friend for the airport. It’ll be exciting to be in a big city again.
What do you do when you don't have a single bit of level land? Just build something level. Bowen Islanders take that...even this guy's driveway is all wood and supported on posts.
Te Mata peak with snow on it and the surrounding hills. Apparently this only happens like once every 10 years or so.Hope everyone is well!
I love it! It sounds like you are having a grand adventure :-)
ReplyDeleteLove going to lunch early. I can just picture your expression! Sounds like life is fun, keep truckin' and it will all seem so easy soon enough.
ReplyDeleteJess