Whangarei

Finally arrived at my school placement, much to the surprise of the school!! They were not expecting us until tomorrow! "It's all good" though. I got a tour of the school from the principal, but the whole time I keep glancing toward the beautiful ocean bay right out the front gate of the school!! Oh how awesome to work in such a setting. Jakki my host told me that the bay is treated like the school's swimming pool. They have several kayaks, access to a couple of outfitter canoes, boogie boards, and an assortment of sand toys. In the office resides a "Dolphin Bell". This bell is rung whenever anyone spots dolphins in the bay, and all the children come out of class and watch or even get in the kayaks and row out to them! Could my day get any better than this? Oh yes!!! another teacher, Anna, volunteered to take Jenn (another U.S. teacher) and myself "tramping". Tramping in NZ= hiking in US. The tramp began at the ocean edge, and wound up beautiful bluff, (Imagine heavy breathing here) to over look the most incredible vista of hills, cliffs, and ocean I have ever seen in my life. I'll post pictures tomorrow, but they will not even remotely capture the spectacle. I'm already in love with this country, even though I've only been here less than 48 hours. Tomarrow Jenn and I will participate in the school Powhiri, a traditional Maori welcome. The elements of the powhiri serve to ward off evil spirits and unite both visitor and host in an environment of friendship and peace.
For now time to alleviate the wee bit of jet lag I still have.