That was not in the brochure!

We've been here for a little over one month now and there are many things we've learned during our stay here so far.  Some I've had to learn the hard way and some just by observation.  Some came easily and some by desperation.  Here is a little of what we've learned and I'm sure there is more out there but for starters....

• McDonalds is universally the same no matter where you go.
• Roundabouts are fun.  I haven't seen a traffic light or stopsign in weeks.
• Don't put your laundry out to line dry the same time you decide to barbeque unless you like your clothes to smell like hamburgers the rest of the week.
• Shoes are options.  If the Principal of the elementary school or your Physicial doesn't wear them then that is a clear sign of how this country is run.
• Drive Through restaurants don't exist except in major cities.  Cafes and Fish and Chip shops however are dotted along every street.
• NZ has THE BEST ice cream in the world.  Popular flavors are Hokey Pokey and Orange and Chocolate Chip!

• The air smells so good and you can't even see the air like you can in Bakersfield.
• I miss Downy dryer sheets.
• Tortillas and any mexican food for that matter are just not the same.
• I am pro school uniforms!  I can start a soap box discussion on that topic any day.
• I can actually live without cable and a cell phone. GASP!
• I miss Sonic on an exhausting day.  Ok, on any day really.
• PUMP water (and most of all bottled water in NZ) comes from our little town of Putaruru.  Check a PUMP water bottle the next time you are at the store.
• Best treats in NZ are L & P soda and Golden Crunchie Candy Bar by Cadbury.

So if you have a trip planned for New Zealand or it's some place you would like to visit.  I hope these little bits of information will be words of advice well taken.  I didn't find them in any brochures I've been looking through.

First Day of School for T and Maddy

Today T and Maddy started their first day of school.  They get to go to preschool two days a week from 9-3 and here's the real kicker....it's for FREE.  Seriously, this country is so great.  I am not making this stuff up!  The government pays for it as an incentive to get kids to participate in an early learning program before they enter school.  I'm all for it.  I was worried that it was such a long day and that they would be worn out, hungry, tired and cranky.  Nope, they loved it.  They played hard, ate well, cleaned and participated with the class.  I think they just loved getting out to a new environment with new toys to play with.  So two full days of school plus the hour class at the elementary school, this is finally what it feels like to have all my kids in school.  There's that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow I've been dreaming of.  I have a long list of things I'd like to do already.  Serenity now.  Don't get me wrong, I will miss them but this is good for everyone for the time being.

How to Survive "The Bomb"

TGIF!  We LOVE the weekends around here.  That's when we pack our things and hit the road for another adventure.  To discover new sights, explore new terrain, learn something interesting, and just have fun.  This weekend we had some great plans until word of "The Bomb" started to spread.  It was a huge storm that was planned to hit Friday night and Saturday.  The weather men told people to stay in and they were cancelling events around parts of the North Island that were outdoors because of the rain and expected 90 pr/hr winds.  Telling people to prepare with torches (flashlights) and food on hand.  Oh great.  Now what?

We had already purchased tickets to the Chiefs vs. Blues Rugby match and there was no way we were going to miss it.  So Friday night we went to Hamilton and braved the weather with everyone else.  The storm hadn't really hit yet so it wasn't so bad.  Plus dad was a hero and got us front row seats in the covered seating area.  The next level below us would have been in the rain.  The Chiefs are a Rugby team from Hamilton so there were a lot of fans there.  They were giving out flags so of course my kids scored those!  It was a great game and the even kids said they had a lot of fun.  I had fun as well.  What woman couldn't when the entire game only lasts 80 min?  I'll take that over a football game any day!

 

The next day we went to a museum to see Maori artifacts and learn the history of the country.  It was pretty cool.  It was also a kid's museum so there were a lot of hands on things for them to do.  Good for my boys who feel a need to touch everything everywhere we go.

After the Museum we did a little shopping at the mall which is called "The Base".  Picked up a few things for Abby's camping trip next week and a few other things we can't get in our small city of Putaruru.  All in all it ended up being a great weekend.  Regardless of the "Bomb" that we got stuck in on and off here and there we made the best of it and still had fun.  I think we survived it alright. Although I think it wore some of these kids out pretty well.

Good Times at School

Do you pick up your kids from school or sit at the dinner table and ask how their day was?  How they did at school or if anything noteworthy happened at school that day?  Sometimes they may have a story to tell or if you have kids like mine they usually respond with "I can't remember, we didn't do anything today, nothing happened at all, or I just don't want to talk about it." 

This week they had a different story to tell.  It helps that the school is so welcoming to let parents come on campus any old time to check out their kids, see how they are doing and join in any and all assemblies and events.  So hearing that there was going to be an awards ceremony (Abby tipped me off because she said she was getting one) I thought I'd show up.  I'm glad I did because Walker got an award for Math and Abby got three for Reading.

Three days later the kids participate in a class swim meet/swim demonstration.  My kids in a swim meet?  These are the same kids who just last summer were taking swim lessons learning how to hold their breath underwater and use arms and legs at the same time. 

Abby did pretty well.  She swam the freestyle and the backstroke.  Walker did the class demonstration for the younger classes and also swam the freestyle.  The best part was that while they were swimming the rest of the kids chanted their names to cheer them on.  I was surprised by that but happy to see that they have been accepted by all the other kids in school.  Being an American in a prominently Maori school, I had my worries.

Talmage also started his first week at their school.  They have an early start program for 4 1/2 yr olds to get them ready for school.  It's one day a week for 1 hr.  Hey, if it's free and it gives him something to do then why not?  He likes being at the same school as the other two and they all get out at the same time so the older ones think it's pretty cool to have him there as well.  They are nice enough to even let Maddox join them.  What a great school and people they are!

See, here's proof that good things happen at school even if the answer your child gives to the every day question of "Tell me about your day at school" is usually "huh?"  You just have to sneak around school and spy on them and see what they are up to.