This week marks my last full week in Wellington and the end of an era feels very near. Tomorrow Jen and Brynn return and we get two weeks of adventures together in New Zealand.
Today I said goodbye to students at the high school I've visited most days. They brought "American" food and said very kind, sweet goodbyes. A few weeks ago I said goodbye to the Fulbright group when we did our final presentations. Last week my friend Daniel came down from Auckland and left me speechless with his goodbye gifts for me. Yesterday I said goodbye to my friend and advisor, Linda. I've even managed to return all the books I borrowed and the bike I had on loan. A draft of my Fulbright paper is finished, feedback surveys are completed and tomorrow I have an appointment to get the tattoo I've been thinking about...
New Zealand is dream come true and I would love to live here someday. I've had the opportunity to read more than I have in years (see next post) and visit so many different schools. In reality, back home, we never have time to watch one another teach, let alone visit schools without an agenda and just soak it all up. I've had more friends visit me here than will probably ever visit me in Minnesota! And the best part is all the puzzle pieces fit together so that Jen could take a leave of absence and Brynn could join us for a month. I feel so lucky and so thankful to everyone who helped make that happen--Torey and Kate and Chris especially. This really has been the trip of a lifetime (and I still have two weeks left!)
I'll miss the lifestyle, but in a few weeks I'll be ready to go home and start figuring out my life in Minnesota. I leave here with a renewed sense of excitement about teaching and a commitment to learning about Minnesota's Native American history. I can say I'm genuinely excited to be back in the classroom this fall. I don't know what's in store beyond that. Stay tuned...
Today I said goodbye to students at the high school I've visited most days. They brought "American" food and said very kind, sweet goodbyes. A few weeks ago I said goodbye to the Fulbright group when we did our final presentations. Last week my friend Daniel came down from Auckland and left me speechless with his goodbye gifts for me. Yesterday I said goodbye to my friend and advisor, Linda. I've even managed to return all the books I borrowed and the bike I had on loan. A draft of my Fulbright paper is finished, feedback surveys are completed and tomorrow I have an appointment to get the tattoo I've been thinking about...
New Zealand is dream come true and I would love to live here someday. I've had the opportunity to read more than I have in years (see next post) and visit so many different schools. In reality, back home, we never have time to watch one another teach, let alone visit schools without an agenda and just soak it all up. I've had more friends visit me here than will probably ever visit me in Minnesota! And the best part is all the puzzle pieces fit together so that Jen could take a leave of absence and Brynn could join us for a month. I feel so lucky and so thankful to everyone who helped make that happen--Torey and Kate and Chris especially. This really has been the trip of a lifetime (and I still have two weeks left!)
I'll miss the lifestyle, but in a few weeks I'll be ready to go home and start figuring out my life in Minnesota. I leave here with a renewed sense of excitement about teaching and a commitment to learning about Minnesota's Native American history. I can say I'm genuinely excited to be back in the classroom this fall. I don't know what's in store beyond that. Stay tuned...