It is actually Sunday here. We are 21 hours ahead of British Columbia. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to change the date and time to New Zealand time.
Aren't Sundays wonderful?! I love the peaceful rest that comes on the Lord's Day. I needed to rest and catch up on some much needed school work. I have been in a "lull" lately with regards to homeschooling. Could it have anything to do with the year coming to an end? Christmas? Summer? All of these have contributed to these feelings but I'm also afraid we haven't accomplished enough this year! Having moved to NZ only a year ago, we have struggled to change over to the NZ school timeline. That means starting a fresh new year at the beginning of February and taking 2 weeks off between 4 equal terms. It's hard to tell your children that they have to work while everyone is on holidays because we are still on the Canadian calendar. It doesn't really matter to me but their math books tell me that they aren't finished "Grade 3 and 4" yet and won't be finished until June!
Anyway, I'm glad I took the time today to prepare for the week because the days slip by and no one knows where they go?!
Being in New Zealand has been a wonderful Social Studies lesson. However, the boys are using terms like "lou" instead of "bathroom" and in this country you must ask to use the "toilet" not the "bathroom." Ben just asked me where the "plasters" are? He means "bandaid." Funny how quickly they pick up new words!
Not only has wordbuilding enriched their schooling, but map reading, Maori education, wildlife, and farming have also been important to their lessons. The bird life is especially exciting. We have acquired an Australian parrot, a NZ born Gala, 7 chickens, and two budgies. My husband is rather taken with these feathered friends and was hoping to buy some NZ birds. He was looking for a breeding pair and came across some Kakarikis (sp?) but when he went to buy them he was told that he would require a permit to own them. They are NZ native birds and like the Kiwi bird, one must house them in very high standard homes. The Kiwi bird must have a one hundred thousand dollar building! Ha! I guess because they are becoming endangered, they have to protect them. More about that next time...
Kia Ora! means Hello in Maori.
2 comments:
I'm missing church on what is now our Sunday morning. Minton and the girls have been gone for about three hours. So, they're due home any minute.
William has a cold, which can spell trouble at this time of year for him. So, I'm keeping him resting,as best one can with an active seven year old, and am praying that his puffers will keep a serious asthma attack at bay.
Not many more days until Christmas. And, in fact, we are having an early Christmas celebration with Minton's side of the family today. I'm waiting for the potatoes to arrive, so that I can starting cooking Greek roast potatoes to bring with us. It's potluck(which I think is harder to do than cooking a meal for your own family i.e. making food that's transport-able and still tastes good when reheated).
Good to hear that all is well. Don't stress out about the homeschooling to much. I just had my little panic time last week and had to remind myself, and be reminded, that there is so much more to an education than just the academics. Your boys are learning all kinds of wonderful things just living in paradise's backyard.
Praying you'll have a wonderful Christmas even in the heat and sunshine. (That would be a hard concept to wrap one's mind around. Christmas in the summer?!?!)
We have a mutual friend - Jan. Actually she was my neighbor and I truly miss her presence here. Her smiling face and bright eyes and laugh was always a pleasure. Anyways, I got your blog from hers, hope you don't mind me stopping by sometimes.
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