Exhilarating Lollygags: Giullermo gets suited up in his fancy kit to go f...

You two look great! Glad to see the two-wheelers are still getting a workout. We have a little more snow on the ground than you do though, but my mountain bike still looks good on the trainer in the basement. Love the pics :) BP from PEI!

Week 7, Australia Day 2 - Surf’s Up Australian Style, not New Zealand Tsunami Style

The morning arrives after the most restless sleep of life but we’re super excited to test out our surfing skills. I’m hoping my gracefulness on land transfers to the surf board... Ah hell, help me if it does. We grab a quick breakfast and head down to the gathering area for our surf debriefing. We get a quick lesson on which end is up and how to hold it to make it look like we know what we’re doing, then we squeeze into our wetsuits and grab a board and head to the beach. The rain has finally stopped and it’s a beautiful morning with lots of waves. On the beach we get another lesson about how to paddle, where to grab the board and how to pop up. Unfortunately my gracefulness is already transferring and we’re not on the water yet. I can see myself getting a surfboard in the face really soon.

We get out into the water and despite many near misses, no one gets badly injured by themselves nor anyone else and we all have a ball trying to surf. Neither Holly or I got to a standing position but I made it to my knees once and we both road the waves on our stomachs a few times. None of us wanted to leave but two hours later we had to get out of the water and get ready to hop on the bus for our next destination... Byron Bay.

It was a fairly uneventful ride to Byron Bay, many of us were exhausted from surfing and we’re attempting to get some sleep before we sea kayak with the dolphins later that day. It starts raining again and we really hope that it will stop in time for kayaking. Once in Byron Bay we throw our luggage in storage. The backpackers hostel looks like a five star hotel compared to the cargo bins from the night before. We grab a quick lunch and then head to another beach to put some wetsuits on and learn how to paddle our kayaks. We’re not strapped into the kayaks and that’s the only thing that makes Holly and I feel better considering our inexperience. The rain stops as we head to the beach but the waves are a-crashing, we have to get over those, in a kayak, by ourselves. Ah hell. Holly and I make it past about two waves before we realize we’re fighting a losing battle. All of a sudden this wave comes up over our heads and flips our kayak. The kayak is heading to shore at a rapid rate as we feel like we’re drifting away. When we get back to shore I say that’s it. We’re done. I’m not going back out there. That was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced and even though I know how to swim, the current is just too strong and I don’t want to do that again. One of the guys says he can paddle us out there one at a time, I say Holly can go but I’m not going. So off she goes and gets into the instructors kayak and the guy paddles back out for me. Even though I am scared beyond belief, I get in the kayak. What life without a little danger? A longer one. Oh well, no turning back now. No really, I asked about halfway out. He wasn’t turning back.

By the time we make it out past the ridiculous waves, I’m in full panic attack mode and they expect me to be able to paddle? Really? I’m having trouble breathing here. Holly is behind me going we can do this and I’m in front going, can we go back in now? Oh right, we have to go back over those waves, I think I may just float out here. To make us feel better, the instructor attaches our kayak to his so that we won’t float out to the middle of nowhere, we’re eternally grateful to this man. Although there are no breaking waves, the sea is not playing nice and gets a little rough. We were making our way to the dolphin spot when the other people in kayaks who were already there tells us the dolphins have left. They know what’s going on, they don’t want to be playing around in these rough waters either. I was really hoping we’d take their advice and leave too. No luck. The instructor was determined that we would see dolphins that day. I was determined to make it to shore alive. At that point, both goals were sketchy. We’re floating around, keeping our eyes out for dolphins and hanging onto the kayaks for dear life as the sea was just getting meaner when I started feeling slightly seasick. Ah hell. Not what I need right now. I yell back to Holly that I might end up getting sick and no sooner did she tell me to throw up outside of the kayak then I did just that. Now remember this moment because there seems to be a trend happening over the Pacific later. I am fully ready to head to shore when we all look to our right just in time to see one of the guys in our group, an experienced kayaker, as well as his partner, a non-experienced kayaker, riding on top of this incredible wave yelling “WHOOOO!” at the top of their lungs. It was magical. Our instructor nearly takes a heart attack. Oh geez, he can’t die, he’s my ticket back to shore. Once the wave riders make it back to our group they get a stern warning about not doing that again until he briefs everyone on how to do it. Turns out, that’s our ride back to shore and most people are going to flip the kayak trying to do it. Ah hell. To do this magical move you need to use a bit of your surfing skill, meaning, find a wave and start paddling to shore and that’s what Holly and I do once our turn rolls around. Once we “catch” the wave the person in front, myself, must lean back to tip the kayak up or else we will flip and the one in back, Holly, must steer us straight or else we will flip. Sounds easy enough... :S Somehow, with lots of yelling of instructions back and forth, we make it back to shore in one piece in the kayak. I have never been so happy to see land in all of my life. I literally could have kissed the sand, but I didn’t, that would be gross. We turn around to see how everyone else is doing only to see about 4 or 5 flipped kayaks and people trying to make it to shore. We just start hugging and laughing hysterically wondering how us, out of all people, managed to make it without flipping. Someone must really like us.

Once we’re all done and get our kayaks back on land and we rinse off, I retire my paddle. My sea kayaking career is officially over. I don’t want to tempt fate anymore. I’d rather waka ama any day.

Week 7, Australia Day 1 - We know how to start a tour off right

So we’re on our way to Scary-Bug Land but first we need to make it through check in... With our bags. Thankfully they have a weight checker before you go up to the check in counter and it was a good thing we used it. Fortunately nothing was crazy overweight and if our luck holds out that they don’t check the weight of our carry ons, we’re good to go. But this wouldn’t be a story if that happened. We get into the security area and there are people there checking the weight of everyone’s carry on bags... Seriously?!? I don’t know how, but we both pass and before they check the scale and find out it’s completely wrong, Holly and I quickly head to the next area.

We made it to our terminal and just relaxed for about the 5 minutes we had left in New Zealand and then boarded the plane. I checked my seat, no poisonous bugs waiting to jump out at me, I’m taking that as a good sign, and then we take off back in time to the two hours earlier Australia brings. Get off the plane and no bugs yet. Yes, I’m paranoid. If you had seen the bugs we had seen being in New Zealand and then heard all the stories about how much worse they are in Australia, you’d be paranoid too. Anyway, we go through customs/security and I don’t know how terrorist do it because I’m nervous getting through these things and we don’t have anything to hide! Turns out one of my bags (in my luggage, not my actual luggage bag) had bugs in it. Of course it had to be mine, it only seems appropriate. So sadly it got left behind. We make it through and then realize we’re not sure how we’re getting to the hotel. There isn’t anyone at any information desks so we had no one to ask. We then see a sign for the subway, find a map and decide to give it a try. Two transfers later and weirdly no trouble at all, we find ourselves coming up from the subway only to look to our right and see our hotel. That was easy, and I didn’t even see any bugs.

We seem to have a knack for finding places within the red light district and this place was no different. Like usual, we were completely overdressed for a Saturday night on the town and even more so in the red light district. So we find an internet area to send some messages to home and decide to call it a night. We had another roommate for the evening and she was already asleep so we didn’t want to bother her anymore then we already had plus we had to be downstairs for 7am. Apparently even vacations have an early start.

We get through the night, no bugs and a pretty sound sleep and we’re all up nice and early. We’re getting ready when all of a sudden an alarm starts going off. We all look at each other and wonder what’s going on. We then go about our business until the alarm in our room starts going off. Is that a fire alarm? Yeah, I think that’s a fire alarm. I smell smoke. Seriously?!?! Is this really the way we’re going to start Australia? The guy gets on over a loud speaker and announces they’re looking into the alarm meanwhile we hear the fire engines pulling up outside the building. We take that as a sign to hurry up. We’re still smelling smoke when there is a knock on our door. We’re asked by a fireman if there’s a fire in our room, we say no but we can smell it and he moves on. We get ourselves together and leave our hotel room only to find out the fire was in the room next to us. Apparently they found it in time as it never moved to our room, the smoke just smelled bad.

We check in with Contiki, our tour group, and find out we’re taking a 7ish hour drive to our destination at a surf camp. Yay, we just didn’t spend enough time on a plane, now we’re taking a minimum 7 hour bus ride. We get on the bus though and can’t believe how flash it is. Turns out it’s brand new and we’re the first tour to ever ride on it. Which means our bus driver is going to be a crazy person hounding us to keep it clean, it is his home after all. Really, turns out it actually is his home, he doesn’t have a permanent address. We get some pictures in Sydney to prove we were there and head out for our open road ride. Open road turns out to be traffic jam as there is an accident on the highway. It wasn’t so bad, we all got to know each other hanging out on the side of the road. Once we start going again we hit torrential rain. Holly and I are beginning to think we take the rain with us where ever we go. We get to the surf camp super late, in the dark and in the rain. We had an idea of the accommodation we were getting ourselves into but nothing prepared us for the cargo bins we were sleeping in or the puddles we had to carry our suitcases through. We hung out for a bit getting to know each other a little more but Holly, our roommate and I decided to get to bed earlyish in order to be prepared for our surfing lesson at 7am. That and we couldn’t wait to wake up and leave the cargo bins.

We’re all settled in and completely freaked out when Holly finds a remote for an air conditioner and asks if the air conditioner really exists. I’m on the top of our bunk beds and point it out to her only to nearly fall out of the bed in fright. Hello giant gross disgusting possibly deadly red spider. Guess who’s not sleeping tonight? All of us stand on the opposite side of the cargo bin and wonder what to do. We can’t kill it. We don’t know how quick this thing is and what if it jumps? What if it bites? Oh geez. Holly goes to get Sam, one of the workers at the camp in hopes that he can help us. It takes him a bit but he eventually catches the lightening speed spider and throws him outside. Apparently it’s not dangerous but we still have our doubts. We think he might have just been telling us that to make us feel better. It didn’t work, the only consolation was that it wasn’t a white bum... It’s going to be a long night.

Week 6 - Denial (Warning: This Post May/Definitely Will Get Sappy)

The week started off with everyone returning from their coaching clinic fully refreshed and armed with stories. The first thing they say to us though is, so this is your last week, are you sad? I tell them no, denial is a wonderful friend to me these days. We cannot believe we only have four days left with everyone and the minute we start thinking about it we realize how little time that really is. Six weeks seemed to have flown by as if it were one so we feel as though four days will go within the blink of an eye.

We spend the week getting our students to finish up their projects for us and getting as many pictures as we can as well as spending every minute soaking up all this amazing little community has to offer. Wednesday afternoon we were lucky enough to go fishing with the years 7-8 class. We didn’t catch anything but we had a lot of fun getting to know these students a little better considering they were the only class we hadn’t been able to spend a day with.

We felt as though we needed to do something for the students on the last day. They have done so much for us that we really wanted to repay them with something fun. We had been trying to figure out what to do for a while and it finally came to us at the beginning of the week. Any time not spent with the students this week was now dedicated to our surprise. We talked it over with Sue and she said we could have the general period for the years 11-13’s. However it wasn’t all of them so we put the offer out to the other teachers saying that if they would like a period off, we would gladly entertain their class. In the end, we had the whole senior school (years 9-13) for fourth period. As you have probably read throughout the last 8 weeks, Holly and I have been posting travel tips of things we’ve encountered along our way. We decided to cut those down and gear just under 50 of them to ones that related to New Zealand and specifically those the wonderful students at Manaia School had taught us and present our adventures in Kiwi Land complete with pictures and all the embarrassing stories. They laughed and seemed to have a good time so we hoped they enjoyed it. We followed our presentation up with a little Canadian trivia complete with music trivia by Canadian artists. We didn’t put in any Celine Dion, we thought it would be too easy, but we couldn’t resist ending it with a little Beiber. We handed out lots of lollies, which I’m sure made the rest of the teachers really happy with us because the students were bouncing off the walls when we finished. We took that as a sign of a successful presentation.

In the afternoon we had a big feast to celebrate the end of term. We’re going to miss sitting out and playing games with the students at lunch. I’m sure I can also speak for Holly when I say this school and community has stolen a piece of my heart. After lunch the school surprised us with a presentation for us. They gave us their school sweaters, a bone carving necklace and an amazing book. Then they sang. It took everything I had not to break down into tears, Holly didn’t make it. It was amazing to hear and yet so sad to know that would be last time we would hear them. Listening to the school sing has been one of the greatest joys we have had the pleasure of experiencing since being here. Monday afternoon Kapa Haka practice was always something we looked forward to, even if they didn’t. After the presentation, the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to music and each year got to play at least one song they had been working on this term. These students are so amazingly talented it’s not fit. There is nothing they can’t do and do well. It was a sad goodbye at the end of the day. I think we hugged just about every student in the school. It was a rough time, I would have gladly stayed forever if it was possible, I have never hated the saying all good things must come to an end as much as I did that day.

The last day was a teacher only day where we got to participate in a choice workshop about language and literacy for students learning another language. It was really beneficial because it gave us a first hand account at what it’s like to learn a new language. Although we both have experience learning and teaching alternate languages, sometimes you forget what it’s like to be lost in it.

Sadly we didn’t lose our passports and therefore had to leave the country to head to Scary-Bug Land AKA Australia. Everyone here had me believing I was going to be seeing all these scary poisonous bugs, plants, spiders, etc the minute I stepped on the plane and if not then, the minute I stepped off it. I have a feeling I will be spending the next week completely paranoid and constantly checkin my ceiling for white-bummed spiders...

Week 5, Part 2 - Games, Trains and Automobiles

*Don't worry our story isn't over, we just have not had internet in a while so expect an influx of posts for the next bit.

Our students had a great laugh about our white bummed spider story. We even had one of the students bring over a spider to have lunch with us. I obviously ended up on the other side of the playground. The spiders here must be on steroids, there is no way that is natural.

Wednesday we knew that the science and math teacher wouldn’t be here but she had said there would be someone to take over. Apparently Holly and I had done such a great job with English that we found out Wednesday morning that the people taking over would be us. Oh geez, first of all, do they not remember English? And second of all, this is science and math... Remember the joking about me helping out, I was not actually joking. Regardless we were now science and math teachers for the day. I think I asked more questions then they did but at least we made it through and the science lab is still in tact. I’m going to take this as a win and never attempt that again...

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday most of the years 11, 12 and 13 left for a coaching clinic in Hamilton so it was pretty quiet at the school for the rest of the week. We were curious to see what gym class would be like now that they weren’t doing Waka Ama and there was only about 15 people in all of years 9-13 left at the school. It was decided that they would do zumba. One of the students asked if Holly and I would be joining them and we told them there would be no way we would miss that. I had never tried zumba before and I must say it was awesome! If nothing else I got a workout just from laughing. After zumba it was decided that we would play a popular traditional Maori game. It involves people throwing the ball at a pole guarded by the opposing team while also trying to touch poles on the outside of circles while the other teams chases you and tries to tag you to get the ball away. So, basically a couple people guarding the pole will get beaten with a ball while the others will get knocked down being tagged, all this in a playground freshly rained on. Needless to say, we were covered in mud by the time we were done but we had a blast doing it. We also seemed to have entertained the years 4-6 class as they were all telling us that were watching us play from their class. We’re now officially distracting classes we don’t even teach.

Thursday evening we went for dinner at the principals house. I seemed to have gained a bug radar since arriving in New Zealand and no sooner have we sat down in the living room to relax then I spotted a praying mantis on the wall. Ah hell. I’m pretty sure we did not take our eyes of him the entire time we were sitting there. He can live as long as he stays on his side of the room. We tried to be on our best behavior but Martin and family have a similar sense of humor as us and that ended up taking over and before we know it we’re telling them all of the stories of our time here. It’s a good thing we’re already here and they have gotten to know us because anyone just meeting us would think we have a few screws loose. We just hope this doesn’t affect our evaluation. They laughed so we’re taking that as a good sign (regardless fingers crossed would be greatly appreciated). The dinner was lovely and it was great getting to know more of Martin’s family. The people here are so welcoming and hospitable that it blows our minds sometimes. Martin’s son was also nice enough to explain a bit of cricket to us. You would think I was obsessed with the sport considering the amount of people I have asked about it. It’s just so bizarre as it does not seem to have a point to it. Turns out the quick games are on average 5 hours long. Really?! Who would willingly play a sport that takes forever to play and only random people understand it? I believe they also had no idea about the sport when they started to play and by the third hour there was no turning back.

No sooner had the week started when it ended. Time goes crazy fast here and we can hardly believe we’re already in our last weekend in New Zealand. So of course I had to wake up with a cold and a voice that’s fading fast. This is what I get for talking too much the last 5 weeks. Sue (the English teacher) was kind enough to take us out for the day around the coastal areas. Good thing Holly was there because all you need to put me to sleep is a car ride so add in being sick and I was the most useless passenger of life. Holly briefed me of the scenery after we got back because I slept through most of it. The areas Sue took us to were absolutely beautiful. We made it all the way up to Port Jackson and back.

The next day Holly and I hiked it up to Driving Creek Railway because we had been constantly told it was something to see. We thought we had an idea where it was but as it turns out it was much farther then we thought it was. We luckily made it just in time but because of practically running and my lovely cold, I was a sight to see by the time we got there. Of course we end up sharing a coach with a couple other Canadians. I think we attract each other. If there is another Canadian anywhere in the vicinity, we will find each other. The views at the top were spectacular. We attempted to find Manaia but having no idea where we actually were, it didn’t work out so well.

As if taking us out all day Saturday and dealing with my cold wasn’t enough, Sue had us over for dinner Sunday night. We had lamb. I even tried it. Seriously. And it was good. Honestly. The whole dinner was fantastic and we felt overly spoiled to have two home cooked meals in one week. Another teacher from the school was also there and it was great to get the chance to chat outside the school setting. We learned about lots of interesting things including all the wonderful poisonous plants, insects, spiders, etc that Australia has to offer. I’m pretty sure Sue’s husband was personally trying to freak me out. At this point I’m not sure I’m getting on the airplane. We now only have one week to lose the passports...

Copenhagen

Soooo Copenhagen was awesome... we took the train there and back last weekend and it was gorgeous! Probably more than 15 degrees both days. We saw the Little Mermaid, the palaces and took a canal tour, it was excellent :) We did not want to leave on Sunday!

We have two teaching days left and then we are done, getting sad to leave the kids but looking forward to coming home.

Week 5, Part 1 - Everyone Needs A Trash Man

We started off the weekend with some rugby, I still have no idea what’s going on but we know some of the players so we just cheer for them and pretend we know what’s happening. After the game we head over to our trusty chai tea and fresh juice cafe. We’ve seem to have gotten to know the people working there enough for them to tell us about a BBQ on the beach that evening. The girl gives us basic directions and we thought it might be something fun to check out on a Saturday evening. In true Holly and Janna fashion, we get lost along the way and get home just as it’s getting dark. We have learned not to leave our cottage after dark as we don’t want another possum incident to happen. We have enough people in town who still remember the first one. We went back to the beach the next day curious to see if we could find the place in better light and as it turns out we had to go through the woods to get to the beach we were looking for. We should have known after the English trip.

Monday is the big Coromandel Clean Up which all the schools in the area participate in and ours was no exception. We all put on our hi-vis vests, our Michael Jackson glove and picked up a garbage bag and headed out onto the highway. Some of them are really into it, especially since there was a treasure hunt involved and whomever finds a certain bottle wins a prize. Our group seems to find theirs quite quickly but thankfully that doesn’t dull their clean up passion. There was a giant spider on a piece of garbage early on in the day so I’m mainly carrying the garbage bag while Holly fights off the giant bugs for garbage. You’d think that carrying the garbage bag may result in something a little less messy then picking up the garbage but that didn’t seem to work out so well. One of the students missed the bag and the garbage ended up all over my arm, it left sort of a pinkish tinge so at least it was pretty. Two of the students find this place on the side of the road that seemed to collect garbage so they’re pulling it out while Holly holds the bag and I take pictures. Apparently that’s not safe either because one of the students (incidentally the same one who turned my arm pink) was flinging sludge off a bottle before putting it in the bag only to be flinging it on me. So the other side of me was now a bluish grey. At least I was colorful.

We end off the day with a BBQ on the beach with the surrounding schools who also participated in the clean up. It was a fun afternoon, some of the students went swimming, others had a guitar, and I even learned how to throw a rugby ball. Still don’t know how the game works but I can now throw and catch it. The afternoon ended up with some singing by the students from our school. They were amazing as always. They have so much heart and passion when they sing you can’t help but be amazed by what they do.

We make it home, exhausted and covered in dirt and ready to jump into the shower. Holly had set up a skype date with Devin so I thought I would take advantage of the free shower and that was all good until I get out and notice something on the floor. My first thought is that it is my hair clip that must fallen on the floor. Oh how I wish it was my hair clip but of course this is Holly and Janna’s adventures where we both despise spiders and bugs of any kind and yet they all seem to find us. I think they can smell the fear. So instead the “hair clip” turns out to be a white bummed spider. I am already terrified of these things just from hearing stories about how they can be so poisonous that they can put you into a coma. One of the students had told us a story about waking up to two of them on his ceiling when he was in Australia (among being told about the many poisonous bugs, spiders, snakes, grass, etc that Australia brings) and I make sure to check my room every night before I go to sleep just because of that story. We just happened to be talking about that (or rather the student and Holly laughing at me because of my paranoia) on Friday again, I believe that is what brought the spider to our cottage.

Anyway I obviously freaked out but it’s pouring rain at this point so instead of running outside in my towel I just head to the side of the living room as far away from the bathroom and spider as I could get. Holly is done talking to Devin and sees the look of panic and the fact that I’m still in a towel and asks what happened. I can’t even speak because this is seriously the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life and I just point. Finally I manage to get out the words white bum without freaking out and all Holly can say is, “No, it can’t be” and I tell her that it has to be. She sees it and also proceeds to freak out. Meanwhile this white bum is just hanging out (not literally because they don’t make webs, they’re predators as the students so kindly point out) in the bathroom, not moving. They’re supposedly quick buggers so this makes Holly believe that it could already be dead. We’re not taking any chances though and Holly starts spraying household cleaner on it to see if it will move. About half a bottle later we believe that if it wasn’t dead before it has to be now. She gets out my trusty bug killing sneaker and squishes the already dead spider like no spider has ever been squished before. After transferring the unrecognizable spider onto a broom pan she flings his dead carcass where the beetle was just in case any other bugs decide to challenge Holly. We think that if teaching doesn’t work out, Holly can always be an exterminator. Let’s hope for my shoe’s sake that teaching works out.
To Be Continued...