today was my final, full day at owairoa. wow. i was really pretty nervous heading into the day i wasn't sure what my emotions were going to be like. i tend to internalize my feelings sometimes but i was scared i would just be a wreck all day. luckily i held it together pretty well. not sure if i've mentioned it here before but friday morning tea is our big tea where one team brings a lot of food each week and we go over birthdays and fun things happening that week, its also when we do farewells obviously. so the teacher and student who are farewelling stand up and make a sort of speech. so sally went first and she held it together really well, a few close calls but all in all very impressed haha, and i only teared up a few times, i forced myself not to let it out. then i had to say something, gosh its totally overwhelming standing in front of a group of people who you have come to know and feel a part of and try to express what this experience has meant to me. it was like everything i wanted to say just disappeared, plus i felt like i was a shaky mess (but everyone said i wasn't and i sounded great, whew). basically i just said what i would say to anyone that asked me about my trip that the entire experience had been beyond words. i have felt so blessed to be at owairoa and with such an amazing teacher and amazing family, i honestly feel like i just have had the most perfect experience. i told everyone that i have been inspired by so many of them and i hope to be able to influence the school i am at with everything i have learned here. anyway, everyone was so proud of both of us for not breaking down haha.

during our middle block we just put out lots of scrapbooking paper, stickers, cut up shapes etc and let the kids make father's day cards. it was so fun because they had full creative control over what they were doing, it was the one of calmest activities we have done yet could have easily been the most chaotic with the amount of supplies we left for them to use. it was a nice way for me to just hang out with the kids, sit down and chat with them and be creative with them. they had such ownership over their cards and they were so proud of their work and so excited to share with the class. it was a small moment but such a special moment, its those little things and times when you see them really shining that make this job so amazing.

sally and i went and ate at a cute little cafe in howick for lunch. oh did i mention it was the most gorgeous day today! i mean just fabulous, could not have asked for better weather whatsoever. it was fun to be up in howick and nice for us to get out and relax and have a sandwich together. came back in time to hang out in the staff room for a little bit which i was happy for because it was just what i needed. some time with some great people just hanging out and laughing with the windows open and the wind blowing. again, its these things i am truly going to miss so much. we made a graph with lollies in the afternoon which was very exciting! then went for a walk around the school and through the bush walk which was fun. we didn't make it back with too much time left for goodbyes which i honestly think was a good thing. i shared my card with the kids and gave them their little gifts i had gotten them. i was sitting there telling them goodbye and how much i had loved being their teacher and that i would miss them etc and everything from the day just kind of welled up and i started crying. its really hard to cry in front of five year olds, i felt kind of dumb. but just explained to them that i would miss them. they were all sad which was so sweet to see, saying things like "maybe you can come back when i turn 6" or "thank you for coming to auckland" but what made me really cry was looking at sweet little shannon who really started crying. she just put her head in her lap and i had to tell her to come up and just hugged her for a long time. i wish i could explain her sweet little personality but i don't think you would fully understand unless you knew her, but it was another one of those things that just hit me kind of hard. seeing her upset like that just broke my heart and made leaving harder. i got a "cuddle" and a few kisses from the kids and said goodbye to all of the parents who have been so wonderful this whole time. i have always felt so appreciated and welcome in room 16 and at owairoa i could have not asked for a better school, really God was truly watching down over my placements.

that was my wonderful day. we headed back home with laura in tow, followed by sally her partner nathan and their two precious sons wiremu (3) and leo (1), as well as sue and emma and later kerry. just people that i have loved being with my entire time here. it was again, the perfect evening. we all hung out, the kids were running around. we spend some time outside, drank our bubbly and laughed. it was so fun to be with sally's family too. i didn't really say bye to sue and kerry because i'll see them wednesday and wasn't in the mood to cry haha, none of us were. when they left we all ate dinner and then out of nowhere sally pulled out a little box and a card for me. she started talking and couldn't really so sharleen took over. they had together gotten me my own greenstone! they said that they have loved having me and it was very special for me to get one of these etc. i don't think i've mentioned greenstones before but its a maori kind of spiritual necklace i would say. its a very kiwi thing to have and they are very sacred. each shape means something different, and most also have something to do with safe travels and safe journeys, they gave me the twist binding friendship and loyalty which i thought was just perfect. its pretty cool because you can't buy yourself your own greenstone it must me given to you, you can also get it blessed by someone who is maori. i learned a few new things about them tonight as well 1) you can wear it over your shirt or whatever but its really supposed to touch your  skin and be near the bottom of you neck 2) other people aren't supposed to touch your greenstone unless you offer it to them to touch. i felt so honored when they gave this to me, like i said it is a very kiwi thing i almost felt like i have the privilege of wearing it and will wear it proudly that is for sure. and how great that my twist is for friendship. i hope, and i must vow to myself, to stay in touch with all of these people who have become like family to me while i'm here (hey i heard tonight there's going to be a lot of year 1 classes next year due to the number of enrollments, and i'll probably be needing a job...). anyways more to come on my leaving soon. we're off to kawau tomorrow which is going to be the perfect last weekend to an amazing trip i cannot wait!! goodnight.

ps. happy almost football season!! can't believe i'll be missing the pack this weekend but thats ok i think i'll survive while i soak up the sun and ski in the bay.

how gorgeous are they?? i love these little ones so much!

so about the hair dying... i've always wished my hair was a beautiful chocolate brown cause its sorta that inbetween color. i like my hair so i was nervous to do anything to it because i've never dyed it. so a few weeks ago we went brown...

but that didn't really work because the natural blonde in my hair came through a lot and really lightened it up so i decided to go darker. welllll turns out it was darker than i think i had hoped for. the color is "bitter-sweet chocolate" which after first washing out looked black to me and i had a slight panic attack. but no its not, its a very dark brown which will start to fade and is growing on me. so we'll see. but i'm glad i took the plunge i've never done it before and why not try something different?

been awhile, stopping in to post about last week and my wonderful weekend! it was rainy the beginning of the week but cleared up for us on wednesday and we just had the most beautiful weather! its so nice because when you're in the sun during the day time its quite warm and feels like spring and its awesome. on thursday i got to go to the maori marae (or meeting house) that is in howick with the year4 students. it was a really cool experience and the kids all loved it. i also got to observe in a year5/6 class which was neat, very different from the little ones but a cool experience and they were great in their own way.

friday was another wonderful day. the weather at school was absolutely gorgeous! we had the doors and windows open and read stories outside and played on the playground in the afternoon. sunshine just puts you in a great mood! went to the pub for a drink after school for sam's last day. then build up some confidence and headed for spookers. we went by one of the guy's houses to play beer pong (the american game their student had taught them haha) and hang out before we went. it was fun to hang out with some of the teachers in a setting like that, felt more at home i guess haha. so spookers is located at an old insane asylum and its basically a really scary haunted house. if you know me well, you know that i hate anything scary really though everything seems to frighten me, so i was quite nervous. it was pretty scary but i walked with my hand out saying don't touch me the entire way so luckily no one grabbed me just jumped out and said scary things and got in my face. the people in the house were so realistic eww it was awful. then we did a trail through the forest which was scary as well, but i felt less trapped and i was in the front with a flashlight so i could see everything that would potentially pop out at me. quite an experience, but all in all a fun evening with a really fun group! oh and garth's (the guy's house we were at) wife has family in durham and her mom went to chapel hill, what a small world?? how cool is that!

woke up on saturday to another gorgeous day! walked outside to everyone hanging out with the grandparents on the deck next door. it felt like a spring morning at the beach, very relaxed and slightly chilly but you could still be in shorts. olivia and reagan were getting ready to go on a helicopter ride with one of their granddad's clients. how cool? so we got in the car and drove down to watch them take off and rode around running errands to get ready for the big party, Steven's 40th. i got to see the howick markets which was really cool, lots of handmade crafts and fresh fruits and veggies. it was a very pleasant day.

spent the rest of the afternoon getting our outfits prepared. i was a hippie (photo to come)... oh and i also spent the afternoon dying my hair (again). i'll add photos in another post... anyway i had to finish cutting my shirt, painting my face etc. i felt like it was a childhood halloween all over again everyone getting ready and hanging out in the kitchen helping each other out, feeling the excitement, the only thing missing was the candy. the 40th was awesome! it was in the coolest venue and there was a mechanical bull for the first part which was so much fun. i must admit i was not very good at it, but had a fun time watching everyone else. i had a little too much bubbly by the end of the night and didn't feel so hot on sunday but thats ok i had lots of fun. and had so much fun hanging out with sharleen's whole family, it was a great way to spend my last weekend that i'll be in howick (we're hitting the beach this weekend). sunday we got up and took the boats over to auckland city and walked around at the viaduct and waterfront and had a snack at a cute outdoor restaurant on the waterfront. gosh the waterfront it amazing. its just a long strip of cool restaurants with lots of outdoor seating. and they're building up fun little parks and using cool artwork and sculptures for seating etc. it was a wonderful way to spend a saturday, followed by a much needed nap and then dinner next door for steven's actual 40th.

so cheers to a great weekend here! can't believe i'm on my last full week. its insane, more to come on that as well!

some of the spookers crew. post haunted house, can't believe i'm smiling.

captain jack sparrow (pj) and i before the party.

 my parents away from home.

 sweet little lexi. cutest outfit ever! so presh.

 with whoopi and the sheriff (pam and john, sharleen's parents).

 riding the bull (don't worry i have on biker shorts).

 siblings/spouses, plus me.

 my family from the other side of the world.

 auckland city waterfront.

 opposite end of the waterfront, such a fun morning!

i forgot to mention that a few weeks i go i had the opportunity to sit in on the kapa haka practices, both the junior and senior groups. of course i was in heaven because i think they are awesome and everything they sing is so beautiful. the senior group sang a song last in their routine that was written by the lady who plays the guitar for them. its basically the children saying we are the children and you are the adults, and it is your responsibility to take care of us. she had it translated into maori and in the end they sing in english. well i just in tears the whole time, i mean it was so beautiful i couldn't help myself. i hope that emotion comes through in this video i took of them singing in english.

words/phrases i'm going to miss hearing:

aye - placed after most things said
mate
bloody
good on ya
can't be bothered
sweet as (cool as, dodgy as etc...)
grumpy
far out
gorgeous (to describe someone other than just looks)
heaps
nearly

more to come.

i was just logging on to blog about how absolutely wonderful my week has been and received an email from missy telling me about an awful car wreck involving four girls who are seniors at broughton. not sure how everyone is doing most of them with broken bones and such but one girl is having more serious problems. anyway it just really made me stop and breathe and remember how precious and wonderful this life is. and how important it is to be thankful for everything i have. gosh it just makes you take a step back huh. so if you're out there reading this please keep them in your prayers, because prayers are powerful.

it's been a glorious saturday here, very relaxing yet fulfilling. i slept in and started my day with fifty shades of grey.... continued my entire day reading fifty shades of grey actually. but it was absolutely wonderful weather, very springy here, so i discovered it would be even better if i was reading on the porch in my tank top and shorts soaking in some rays. i realized this a little later than i would have hoped so i didn't really gain any color but that's ok, got some good vitamin D in me! after i finished my book (anxiously awaiting fifty shades darker now) i ran down to the net ball courts to watch olivia's game. it was a nice run, not too long not too short and not too hard. very satisfying. and well that's all i've done haha. friends are coming over to watch the rugby game tonight so that will no doubt be fun!

go all blacks!

also for your listening pleasure, because i am currently listening to it.

also i finally got a full video of the boys doing the haka!! they are so precious. i'll have to upload one of the all blacks doing one before a game so you can have a comparison. basically its just a Maori intimidation/welcome chat,dance thing, but its AWESOME! and the boys did such a great job with theirs!

two of the all blacks hakas, so cool!

happy international day from owairoa primary! what a fantastic day was! the theme of the day was "we are many we are one" (camp 4 tribe anyone?) we began our morning with a parade around the school in which everyone walked with their country. how cool to see all the different cultures represented. i mean it amazed me how many children were dressed in their countries traditional dress and how decked out people got. some of the outfits were just gorgeous, it made me feel like we don't appreciate and respect all the cultures that make up america. i mean why not? we want to americanize everyone so much, and i think it is important to accept the culture of the place you are living but why not be proud of where you are from and showcase it once in a while. these children were so happy to represent their country, especially those from new zealand. hey could boost some patriotism huh? and i had an awesome time in my red white and blue, waving the american flag!

then we had a concert in the hall in which students performed from some of the countries that make up the school. it was neat to see the different dances and songs that they had, some of them were truly beautiful. my sweet little Mihailo from Serbia sang the national anthem with his sister. oh my goodness i was tearing up the whole time. he was absolutely precious and held the mic the whole time. hopefully my video will upload so you can see it. i was so proud! and what made me so happy was how proud the other children in our class were. they were so excited for him, what a special thing to see.

how wonderful is he??

"the Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'" -- psalm 32:8

its been a good tuesday here considering tuesdays are definitely the longest days due to morning staff meeting, morning tea duty and lunch duty plus professional development meetings after school. actually its really not that bad i feel like everyday goes by so quickly here. there was a bake sale today so the kids were wired off of all the sugar but all in all great day. it was strange not being in full control, but a nice break got to get some artwork finished up while sally taught. just another day of realizing how lucky i am to be here and how much i'm going to miss these kids....

we were going over olympics news and our medal graph today and out of nowhere one of my students who is kind of in her own world sometimes said "miss anderson are you going back to america tomorrow?" i responded by explaining no, but i would be going home in a little bit, to which the sweetest/brightest little boy raised his hand while saying "excuse me miss anderson but i think that you should have a think about staying in new zealand, its quite a nice place," aw melt my heart. so sweet. just thought i'd share. i wish i could give you all a snapshot of each of my students because they each have their own little quirks and awesome personalities that make them unique and funny and so special. they're just wonderful.

ps. a volcano erupted here today. a small one and it was just ash and stuff. but still intenseee.

good morning from what has been a great weekend and wonderful weekend here! this was the end of my two weeks in full control, everything went well i think and i hope we had some fun stuff happening and it was so awesome to be talking about the olympics with these kids. they have the best things to say about the athletes and the way things work in the olympics. one little boy in my class loves michael phelps and even wrote one day about how he was the world's best swimmer, it was awesome and so cute! we have been building an olympics wall with headlines from the newspaper each day and discussing events from the previous day. its been cool. and its been fun to see it from new zealand's perspective of being such a small country, i forget how huge america is compared to most places around the world and even though its so big i still get so excited about the little things because i'm so far away from home. been cheering for the kiwi's though which has been lots of fun too!

on thursday we had our "olympicathon" which was awesome. we had an opening ceremony in the hall with everyone where they lit an olympic torch and played some videos and such, it was really neat and well put together. the students wore their house colors which was cool, made me feel like i was in harry potter again. basically the year levels were divided up and did a rotation of activities for 8 minutes each for an hour. we did "horse racing" i'll post some pictures. it was hilarious though because it was all of year0 and some of year2 the kids were cracking me up. they got really into it which made it even better. my class was obviously first at our rotation and after one down and back run some of them were saying "miss anderson i'm a bit tired" haha they're so tiny. i'll post some pictures. i had a great time getting to see all the other classes and encourage them to cheer each other on and such. it was a little drizzly (because it rained allll week, nothing new) and the seniors were on the field and were so so muddy. they were just having the best time though. it was an awesome day!

the kids were exhausted after a long day on thursday but fridays are always fun with year0 assembly and then we got to go outside of the hall and do jump jams. i got some videos the kids are so cute doing them! it was a fun start to the day. later we worked on graphs and made a graph of all the countries that are represented in our room. first though i showed each flag (which i had tried my hardest to replicate on small little pieces of paper) talked about the country and some of the students who had actually lived there came up to tell us something about their country. it was adorable they were so proud of where they are from, and they had the most random things to say about it. what a great opportunity for them to share with their peers though! then we made our graph, a little funny since america had 37 medals at this point and new zealand had 3, serbia had 1, samoa had 0 etc... so we had a chat about sportsmanship and how its a honor to be in the olympics no matter what and we should be proud of everyone who is there. we gave a cheer for each country after we talked about their medals, it was great hearing "go china, go china" or "go south africa, go south africa" they were awesome about it all.

afterschool we headed to the pub to have drinks for caitlin's last day. it was a lot of fun to have a big group together. its so strange that she's leaving ah i can't believe it! i only have 4 weeks of teaching left, i'm trying not to think about it quite yet. wanted to share some videos of my kids and i finally got a recording of everyone singing the national anthem. check down on previous posts because i'm going to try to upload the kids doing kapa haka when greeting the international students last week.

lighting the olympic torch.

horse racing...

year 0 jump jams!

some of us at the pub on friday.

saturday we went shopping in town which was fun because i got to see some of the cute little back streets with vintage and boutique shops. it was Sue's birthday so we all came back and went to her house to celebrate which was of course lots of fun! (i'm adding a picture of the 2footer box of premade shots, provided a good bit of fun) sunday was full of family activities, a big breakfast, a huge grocery shop, laundry etc. great weekend here!

lunch on saturday. happy birthday sue!