Hello from Down Under
26 March 2007
Even the folks in New Zealand are checking out our new school website - Look who we found surfing the Net………
I've just spent the last half hour perusing the school web site and the school e-mag, as well as the formal photos. I'm now feeling very nostalgic about you all and the staffroom at GMS. It feels like a VERY long time ago now.
We've finally settled in the Hawkes Bay area on the sunny east coast of the North Island of NZ. After a great 2 weeks in we arrived in NZ in late November, bought a car and started off on our travels. We based ourselves with family and left most of our luggage there (and came back for Christmas!) but the rest of the time we travelled around almost like on an extended road trip but investigating job opportunities, schools and houses wherever we went.
We toured all around the North Island and even to the South as far as Christchurch but after coming back to Hawkes Bay for the 3rd time we decided to stop here. We're renting a very nice apartment near the harbour in Napier and my son is a year 9 pupil in a local boys High School. There are 280 boys in his year so it's a huge school but he's settled in well so far and made lots of friends. He plays tennis 3 times a week after school and cricket twice so he's pretty active. His uniform consists of light blue short-sleeved shirt, navy shorts and black open sandals - no socks! It doesn't take him long to get dressed in the morning! All the pupils, even the Seniors wear this. The teachers are very casually dressed too - the men wear shorts and there are no ties to be seen!
I'm not looking for a job at the moment but spending my time on housework, doing the school run, reading, driving around and exploring the area, house hunting, drinking coffee in lovely cafes etc... What a life!
Hawkes Bay is the hottest and driest part of NZ with a Mediterranean climate. It's known as the food basket of NZ because so much produce is grown here. At the moment the apple orchards are full of pickers harvesting the Royal Gala crop and next week the Braeburns will be ready. See how knowledgeable I am?
This is also the main wine producing area. The vines are turning a lovely golden colour and the grapes will be picked in a few weeks. There are dozens of wineries around, with cafes and restaurants attached so there's plenty to do.....
The temperature outside is about 25°C and I'm sitting in a lovely cool air-conditioned internet cafe so it's a real effort to get up but I'll have to.
Mrs McCaughan
