Nearly to the South Island

Kia Ora from Wellington (well kind of – I am on a boat between Wellington ad Picton right now)!

The past two days since I left Auckland have been really wet but fun! Let me tell ya what happened….

Saturday Evening we left Auckland and took an hour flight south to Wellington, the Capitol of New Zealand. On the bus to the airport we ran into a girl from Colorado who is studying to be a teacher through the same program as us! Such a small would and about to get smaller…. So we get to the airport, check in (my bag was underweight for once yay!) and then run into both the Morgans!!! They (and the girl from Colorado) are driving through the South Island over the holidays. We all took the same flight to Wellington and then went our separate way. It was so awesome seeing them!

This is in Wellington airport ... scary i know... 

Jordan, Brittany and I made our way to our hostel and got settled in and went to a restaurant called Public. We got a bottle of wine and a burger and it was DEEEELICIOUS! We then headed back to the hostel and went to bed. After a rough night of sleep (the fourth girl in our room was really rude and was super loud all night long/oh and the bed creaked soooo badly) I woke up around 7.

Sunday:

 It. Rained. ALL. Day. Long.  But that didn’t stop us J ! We put on our rain jackets and headed out. We walked around and took the cable car up the main hill in Wellington to the Botanical Gardens. It was really beautiful and the view of the bay was great (except for the rain and fog). We walked around a bit and then decided we didn’t want to see the plants in the rain. Then we headed back down…

We headed towards the waterfront and got a light lunch from an Italian place. I had a really good salad and it was nice to dry off a bit.

Then we took a 20 minute bus ride to Miramar where the Weta Workshop was. So Wellington is really famous for Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and calls itself “Middle Earth” because so many of the scenes from the movie was filmed in the area. The Weta Workshop  is so awesome. The people who worked on the LOTR/narnia and tons more created this workshop. 

It was super awesome seeing all the cool LOTR stuff – I am not really into the movies but it was a fun experience.

We thought it was a great idea to walk to the next town that had a movie theater that we wanted to see inside …so we walked...in the rain… a really long time… not the best idea… BUT we FINALLY made it in one wet piece.

We stopped into a beautiful theater called the Roxy. It is soooo cool inside! All the LOTR movies were screened here and it is just a really cool place. After exploring we went back into the city.

We walked around, did a bit of shopping (got some really cute necklaces) and then realized we were exhausted.  We got a quick dinner (subway – tastes the same here) and then went back to the hostel and watched a movie and then headed to bed.

Monday:

We slept in and woke up at 8 J and realized it was BEAUTIFUL and SUNNY outside! We headed out and had a wonderful breakfast along the waterfront.

After sitting outside and soaking up the sun for about an hour we headed to the national museum called Te Papa. It was so nice! I really loved the museum, it had a lot of stuff over the Maori and British culture. They also had a nice lounge with coffee and drinks. It was a great time and I learned heaps!

We had a nice relaxing drink at Mac’s bar (pretty awesome beer) and then headed into the city away from the water and continued shopping. I bought a sweater and a couple shirts and just walked around. After some lunch and more walking around we went back to the hostel – grabbed our stuff and headed  to the Intercruise line to take the ferry to Picton.

The ferry is 3.5 hours long and super rocky – I took some anti-sea sick meds before hand and have had a pretty good trip so far. It just got smoother so us girls got a bottle of wine so I am going to go and enjoy it!

We start our bus tour tomorrow at noon! I will keep you updated when I get internet next! 

Much love from almost to the South Island!

Update:

I am now on the South Island and it is amazing cant wait to tell you about it J

ps. i will upload pictures later  - it takes forever here on this wifi ugh 

Headed South

I am off to the South Island today (well kind of)! I am flying into Wellington tonight and starting our South Island two week tour on Tuesday morning. I will hopefully keep you updated and informed! Can't wait to share all my fun stories!! 

this is the tour I am going on -----> http://www.straytravel.com/explore-your-pass-options/stray-hop-on-hop-off/south-island-passes/short-willy-pass/

Miss you all! 

Wellington. NZ! 

Omaha Beach

Kia Ora!

Yesterday I chaperoned another field trip! I went with the year 13 (12th grade) geography class to Omaha beach yesterday! The weather here has been gloomy and rainy (heading into winter) but yesterday was the only sunny and beautiful day this week! It was such a perfect day!   They were measuring slope, vegetation, looking at dunes, waves, and cliff formation as well. It was so fun meeting new students and spending some time at the beach!

The beach is located 74.7 km north of Auckland. It is on a sandspit that adjoins Tawharanui Peninsula and separates Whangateau Harbour from Omaha Bay. It is a great little beach town and there are tons of beautiful batches (beach homes) around.

The surf was amazing! I saw some of the biggest waves I have ever seen!

Here are some pictures of my trip J

Oh and ps. I am heading out on my two week holiday tomorrow evening (Saturday) and will be back in Auckland May 5th. I will have some Internet so hopefully I will keep you posted!!!

Here is the link to where I am going - - /http://www.straytravel.com/explore-your-pass-options/stray-hop-on-hop-off/south-island-passes/short-willy-pass/

on our way we stopped for ducks to cross the road!!! 

huge surf! 

how amazing would this be if this was your classroom?

the spit! This was formed during the last glacial period - 5000 to 6000 years ago! 

hello from Omaha! 

pretty flowers! 

Everyday Life

I first want to write that my thoughts and prayers are with those in Boston. I 'm thankful that I have the love of God, my family and friends in my life. Lots of prayers from New Zealand for those killed and injured at the Boston Marathon and their families. 

So friends and family, I promise that I do teach and do regular things in New Zealand!! I have some pictures and info of what my regular days look like…

Oh but before I begin – here is my address in NZ PLEASEEE send me something J I would really love it if you did! Maybe I will send you something back J

Cassie Caccavo

10C Raines Avenue

Forest Hill 0620

Auckland, New Zealand

On the right is my house and the other half of the house connected 

is my host brother and his wife's house.

Back to my day…

I wake up at 7 every morning and get ready for school!

view from my bedroom window! (see the dairy/shops down the street to the left?) 

I usually eat the same thing every day – some yogurt (all different flavors) and some NZ granola – its delicious and I want to take some back to America with me J

so delicious 

Some interesting things about homes in NZ:

- the light switches are different ( they switch the opposite way) 

   * they look like the plugs below but without the actual plug (so only the switchy thing) 

- you have to turn the plug on (for electricity) then you can plug whatever you want into the wall

- I hate plug converters

- there are hardly any rubbish bins (trash bins) – none in the kitchen or bathroom

- kitchens are much smaller

- tv shows are at least 1 season behind

have to switch it down for the electricity to start 

plug - haha i know i am lame 

Then around 7:50/8 Allison and I head on out! Its about a 30 minute walk to school. We walk up one big hill and down two. Its been so delightful walking to school – the weather has been amazing and I am not looking forward to rainy season - its rained the past two mornings and it sucks (aka winter) here on the North Shore.  On our left we can see Rangitoto Island and Volcano and in front of us we can see downtown Auckland and the Sky Tower.

Rangitoto! 

you can see the sky tower in the distance - the school is the red buildings and the white tent 

** students go to school on public buses and school buses. the school buses are public ones with a sign on them. Its really funny because some school buses have "party bus" on the side - I took a picture :) 

I arrive to school around 8:20 and every Monday/Wed/Friday we have a staff briefing – just a large staff meeting. We go and listen to the announcements for the day.  And once a week we have a department meeting as well.

the all staff room in the admin building - I love doing work here (the internet doesn't cut out)

its really busy every M/W/F for staff briefings

Allison took this of me reading the daily announcements 

Then it is finally time for school to start! We have 5 periods a day and run on a 6 - day schedule. The classrooms are nice – the ones I teach in are very colorful (more pics of the classrooms soon). I teach 3 different courses with 3 different teachers. It sometimes is difficult changing my teaching techniques depending on what class/teacher I am with but I am thankful for the experience I am learning a lot about different teaching and classroom management techniques.

students learning about refugees from a guest speaker

We have 2 periods (starting at 9:15) and then we have a 30 minute tea break. Teachers go into the lounge and eat a snack and drink tea/coffee/water. Then we have period 3 then an hour (ish) for lunch! It is so nice having breaks during the day, it gives teachers and students a break from learning.  For lunch I usually eat a ham/cheese/mustard/lettuce/tomato sandwich on multigrain bread with apples, oranges, and a cookie.

Girls outside eating lunch

Tea Time! 

Then after two more periods the day ends around 3:15. I stay a bit afterwards but then walk back to the house.

There are many differences here at Westlake than in school in the states:

- I am called Miss (so is every other female teacher) I really like it

- The girls say “thank you miss” when they leave the classroom – OH MY GOODNESS it is amazing to be thanked J

- teachers share classrooms

- there is one lounge for every department – this is where the teachers offices/desks are (mine is here too)

- There are no water fountains – there are water spickets outside that girls can drink from – for those who know me, I drink heaps of water so it kind of sucks to go outside to get water

- There is a lot more student driven activities where the teacher gives them an assessment and they work on it in the library for two weeks straight.

- Girls have to wear their skirts all year round – they can wear tights when it is cold

water fountains... 

campus 

view from my desk

another view from my desk.. 

some of campus 

the social sciences teacher lounge 

After I get home I usually skype with my family and friends – its around 10pm in the states so it’s the only time we really get to talk.

If I ever need something from the dairy - corner store - there is a group of shops right down the street from me - where I get my stamps!There are also take away (take out) stores where you can get sandwiches and other things. 

takeaway shops & dairy 

 Then I have dinner around 6:30 every evening – my host dad is usually the one who cooks the meals, he is a great cook and has lots of pride in his cooking. I have eaten a lot more meat than usual, lots of lamb and steak and less chicken. We had tacos last night and it was deeeelicious! We have a lot of stews and meat pies (which are really yummy). With each meal there are at least two vegetables. Peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and kumra is normal – kumra is a sweet potato – super delicious! AND we almost always have dessert (which I need to stop eating).  I will do a post about food when I get back from holiday.

Allison helping me cook dinner for our host family one night! 

Sunday we went to the Glenfield market – where there are tons of food tents and tons of people. You can go around and buy all different kinds of food it was really yummy! Allison and I shared some dishes.

busy busy! 

the market

yummmm 

After dinner I do some schoolwork. While I am here I have to do assignments for IU and I also am applying for jobs here as well. I also play with my host parents grandson Jax. He is two and sooooo adorable. We run around outside and play with his Hot Wheels and trucks. We watch some tv (rugby) and then I head to bed and watch some American TV shows online and head to bed!

That’s my day in a nutshell. I will post some pictures of the inside of my house in my next post J