My first 48 hours

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you

control it.”

John Steinbeck

I finally arrived in Auckland after a grueling 24 hours of traveling. The 13 hour plane ride wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – when you walked in it was like a club atmosphere and there were some awesome pods that first and business class had. Then I made my way to my seat and it was nice and comfortable. The guy sitting beside me was from DC and we was flying down to Auckland for 2 weeks to backpack and hang with a friend of his who was also flying down. The most fun part of the flight was when Bear Grylls did the safety presentation! I have seen others (LOTR version but never this one!) it was hilarious and made me pay attention!

no clue who the woman is... :) 

The sweet pods!!! 

Bear!!!

 My plane!! 

Sunrising before arriving in Auckland! 

I really wanted to be on the Hobbit plane..

View from my bedroom window! 

I finally arrived, met my driver from the school I will be at, and off we went through Auckland to the North Shore (20 mins away from the city) to my home for the next 3 months! It is a very nice place. My host parents are semi-retired and work a bit through the week. They always have international students staying with them (usually younger) so they are used to the routine. They have two sons, one living in Spain and one that lives next door with his wife and 2 year old son (adorable). Whenever I see him I always miss my Godson and his baby sister. There family is so kind and welcoming.

There is another American student teacher staying here, she arrived around 3 pm on Monday. She is from Iowa, teaches science and very kind and I am excited to get to know her more. It’s nice to have here at my school with me so we are in it together!

On Monday we relaxed, unpacked, visited, walked around the neighborhood and took a drive around town and school. I am teaching at Westlake Girls School. It is a beautiful school, wonderful and welcoming teachers, students, campus, and sports program. It is only a 20 minute walk up and down huge hills to school each morning and afternoon and so it is easy to get back and forth. I will explain more about my school and what I will be doing while I am there later – I don’t really know quite yet (hopefully I will be assigned tomorrow). Oh and at dinner we had steak, potatoes and peas- pretty simple but filling.

Tuesday we reported to school at 8:30 (which is soo nice) and was greeted by our point person while we are at Westlake, Robyn. She is so kind and welcoming. She took us around campus, introduced us to all of the administration, we met the Principal, and got some things straightened out. I also observed a technology class, which remined me some of Shop class in the states. The girls were making tables out of wood. Its really complex but quite interesting. I also observed a Geography class as well.  We were then allowed to leave around 12:30. We walked back up to our home and took naps and relaxed.

After dinner - chicken, peas, pumpkin (which I think is butternut squash), salad, and sweat potatoes – my host mom, my other “roomie” and I went down to Takapuna Beach to watch the beach series. Takapuna beach looks over a dormant volcano on Rangitoto Island. It is stunning and I can stare at it all day long! We took a long walk around the beach and then watched the series which was a blast.

 The State Beach Series is a unique fitness event which takes place on Auckland’s picturesque Takapuna Beach. It runs over seventeen Tuesday evenings each summer and individuals can sign up for multiple weeks or just participate once. The State Beach Series attracts all types of athletes from the elite to the casual exerciser. There is a fun atmosphere and a lot of support for first timers. There are a ton of families and children who participate as well.

The State Beach Series was created in 2005 and has evolved over that last seven years from a ski paddle event to what is on Takapuna Beach today - a choice of 11 different event categories to choose from each night….

This season they are offering participants four popular sports to choose from each night, with a range of 11 event categories - something for everyone:

•   Junior Stand-Up Paddle 500m

•   Junior Swim 300m

•   Junior Run 2500m

•   Social Swim 500m

•   Social Walk 2500m

•   Social Stand-Up Paddle 1000m

•   Swim 1000m

•   Swim 1500m 

•   Stand-Up Paddle 3000m

•   Ski Paddle 5000m

- Run 5000m

It was a great time watching all the families participate and some elite sporting members as well! Below are some pictures of the events and the beach. Afterwards we headed back, watched some TV and went to bed. I will tell you about my day today some other time J Miss you all back home!!! Sending all my love! 

ps. Can't wait to tell you all about my weekend plans!!!!