schools and pools

Yesterday we had an appointment with a principal at one of the schools down our road that Kogen and Mia could attend.  The schools here are more like little campuses, with disconnected buildings around central courtyards.  This school has students in years one-eight, which translates for us grades kindergarten-seventh.  Mia of course was not sure she wanted to share a school with Kogen, having her autonomy back at home at central, Kogen being at the middle school and Alex being up at the high school.  Having juggled all those schools and all their activities and schedules, the thought of 2 of the kids sharing a school sounded great to me!  The secretary and principal at Westburn school met us in their casual summer clothes and were warm and welcoming.  It was an easy going meeting, despite the fact that I had no idea what I was doing and had to keep reminding myself I was an adult capable of such an interview.   Mia had also seen a website for a different primary school she was set on, so at first was uninterested, but by the end of the meeting she called it “her school.”  There is a large international community here, part due to University of Canterbury being in town, and part due to New Zealand being a melting pot of Asian and other cultures and immigrants.  If the kids want to join, there is a haka (maori dance) group, lots of sports and swimming opportunities and a huge focus on music-chorus and orchestra!  The setting and structure did bring to mind a typical british primary and intermediate setting, complete with uniforms.  At this, Mia’s eyes swelled with tears-she did not want to wear a uniform!  We had talked of this possibility, and here it was.  The principal explained that Christchurch was historically a british settlement and the schools reflected that in their standards and customs.  Being a sensitive principal, he did remark at how much he liked Mia’s tie-dyed beatles t shirt and was she a fan?  Yes-we all are she said.  He was super impressed and admitted being a huge fan himself, then launched into the questions usually reserved for Kogen to badger on about- what is your favorite album??  Well, little did he know that discussion could go on for days…we left there soon after with a great feeling for the school and the principal, and went to play on the playground.  Mia insisted that she would not wear a uniform, and that she dresses the way she does because she likes standing out and looking unique, and her custom made converse would have to stay at home…

From here we ventured to find a park nearby I had seen on a map, but that we couldn’t find the night before.  We had bought scooters for the kids the day before and they were a godsend for getting outside and moving around.  Our new favorite park, jellie park, is beautiful: windy paths, playground areas, a small pond surrounded by willows and flowering bushes and lots of ducks.  We passed an Asian family with little boys getting excited to feed the birds, but the next time we saw them the whole family had climbed up onto a bench to escape the squawking masses that had flocked to them!!  Hilarious!  Part of this park is a rec center with an outdoor pool with waterslides-kids and families filled the place, and it being one of the first really warm and not too windy days since we have been here it was packed-put it on the list for another day for us.  I realized today one of the reasons I enjoy listening to kiwi’s talk- it is almost as if they are singing in their speech- from the check out girl to the librarian, there is a lilt and cadence that reminds me of song!

 Part of our finding the familiar here was getting to the library and checking out books, and one of the quietest afternoons we have had so far was after completing this task, everyone happily soaking in their new books.    Later this led to them finally collaborating on a quarkstudios film they have been bickering about, but were able to join forces to get some good footage before dinner-look for stink lock dope to return!

Dessert tonight got us into our second tub of hokey pokey ice cream- trying different brands for variety sake!  They are not created equal!   Mia’s reaction to Paul when we got home from the school meeting: “I have to wear a uniform to my new school”-her turn around time is getting shorter!