Thursday August 31st
Bonjour!
I'm sorry I didn't have time to write a blog tonight. We got home from school at 4.30pm and were being picked up at 5.40pm to go the the farewell so there was only time for a shower and a change. After the farewell party we were taken out to dinner. We have just got home at 10.15 and I have my bag to pack yet. We leave our apartment at 6.45 in the morning to shift into the hotel with the kids.
This will be brief but I want to tell you that the kids had an interesting day in the classroom this morning and then an awesome afternoon over at Isle du Canard snorkeling. They saw heaps of fish and the weather was brilliant! It was hot walk back to the school for billet pickup.
I will upload some photos for you tomorrow.
Au revoir!
Colleen
Thursday, 31 August 2017
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Le Cagou
Wednesday 30th August
Bonjour!
It's weird sitting down at this time of the day to write the blog! There is no school on Wednesday afternoons so everyone has gone home - a practice our kids all think TIS should adopt!
The day is cooler today and overcast, so walking around the big forested parc was great. Before we left school though, we had the first period in a classroom. It's always so interesting to hear in detail about what they've done, heard and eaten! Emma has truly 'discovered' cheese! She's tried a variety and last night a particularly smelly one! She couldn't get over how something could smell so bad and yet taste so good! They all agree that the french LOVE chocolate because there is so much of it flavouring so many things.
We then caught the bus with the billets to the Parc Zoologique et Forestier. This is a large area where we wandered along a network of paths through gardens of native shrubs and trees. Intermingled through them( in cages or just roaming free) were native species such as flightless cagou ( which is the symbol of Noumea), les rousettes (flying foxes/squirrels), the natou pigeon, and various parakeets, along with some exotic animals too.
Our welcoming party!
The kids were in two groups so Baz stayed with one and I was with the other so I'm sorry these photos were with the same kids!
Bonjour!
It's weird sitting down at this time of the day to write the blog! There is no school on Wednesday afternoons so everyone has gone home - a practice our kids all think TIS should adopt!
The day is cooler today and overcast, so walking around the big forested parc was great. Before we left school though, we had the first period in a classroom. It's always so interesting to hear in detail about what they've done, heard and eaten! Emma has truly 'discovered' cheese! She's tried a variety and last night a particularly smelly one! She couldn't get over how something could smell so bad and yet taste so good! They all agree that the french LOVE chocolate because there is so much of it flavouring so many things.
We then caught the bus with the billets to the Parc Zoologique et Forestier. This is a large area where we wandered along a network of paths through gardens of native shrubs and trees. Intermingled through them( in cages or just roaming free) were native species such as flightless cagou ( which is the symbol of Noumea), les rousettes (flying foxes/squirrels), the natou pigeon, and various parakeets, along with some exotic animals too.
Arriving at the Park
The rear end of a blond peacock!
The Cagou
These birds are flightless and their call sounds like a dog's bark! Traditionally they make their sound at sunrise and sunset. They are very territorial and they do this to advertise or reinforce where their area is. Some of our kids have been lucky enough to see them in the wild when they've visited the Riviere Bleue, a beautiful National Park about 90 mins drive from Noumea. Alana visited it at the weekend.
The Riviere Bleue
We were all taken on a guided walk through the Park first to have species explained to us and then everyone could walk freely, taking photos etc. I shudder to think how many photos some of them have taken! No moving creature, scenic image or unusual sight for example has escaped Connor's attention. Be prepared for a very long slideshow when we all return!
When we all arrived back at the main gates we took a group picture and then our boys taught the haka to the french boys - they have been chanting the words together but didn't know all the actions and were busting to know how to do it properly! I don't know how culturally appropriate it is to have a frenchman perform the haka, but we're sharing our culture and that's what it's all about over here.
Haka training!
The bus drove us back to school at 11am ready for host pickups at 11.30. There were many things planned for them on their afternoon off so it's good they can enjoy activities without getting too hot today. It's just under 23deg so feeling cooler - we are acclimatising though. We'd think it hot back home right now with that temp, wouldn't we? It is a drop from the 26-27deg we've been having!
As our time here draws to a close, I always reflect on the impact the trip has had on our kids. How great a culture shock have they experienced, how have they adjusted to the life with their billets etc and what will they take back home with them. Every year some find it harder to adjust than others but I hope that they are just that bit more tolerant and understanding of differences between people when we return.
Many aspects of life here are very similar to our own though. Nouméa, was always envisaged as the French Riviera in the South Pacific and this vibe lives on in the architecture of the city, the lifestyle and the profusion of French products available everywhere (they have about 40% import tax on all products, except if it happens to come from France and then its reduced to 20%). Nouméa is so developed that there are few items that are unavailable to the locals and the standard of living is high, roads are good, public transport (mostly) works, people are (marginally) more punctual than in the rest of the Pacific, and most people speak at least a very little bit of English with musicians often singing in English in bars.
But then along side this you get struck with just how different it is, from the palm trees and the parrots to the crazy fish you find in the market, to the profusion of tropical flowers growing on every hedge, to the prolific sunsets, the lack of anything that could be described as a winter, the general unusual way the country is run, the outside lifestyle and the fact that the stock of any supermarket changes daily. On the way over I sat in the plane next to a young guy from Hamilton who was a rigger, usually working on oil rigs, but he was part of a crew, along with two other crews, who had been called over to Noumea to help float a container ship off the reef. They had to sleep on the ship and each day were to off-load the containers onto waiting smaller boats in the hope that they could float it. Businesses onshore were screaming out for their supplies of course, because they all rely on their supplies that are imported and arrive by container ship. Apparently the ship was only 3 months old so I guess that captain was due to have an awkward conversation with his boss at some stage!
The hill behind Anse Vata beach looks stunning in parts with bouganvillea cascading down the slopes. It grows like a weed everywhere.
Well, another day draws to an end and we are three sleeps from home! Sort the weather out before we reach NZ please, so we can cope with the temp drop a little easier!
Au revoir,
Colleen
Weary Body Day!
Tuesday 29th August
Bonjour tout le monde!
Well, I know for sure that everyone will crash tonight after our morning of orienteering. I've done it before with our kids and we've walked down to a nearby reserve area and the kids loved it. This year we did it with a new PE teacher and we went to a whole new level of orienteering!! We were taken to the Ouen Toro Forest Parc for our exciting adventure and had to climb quite a way up a really steep gradient of red shingle to even get to the start ( the red colour indicates a high level of nickel in the composition). The view from our base was stunning, although the photos don't do it justice because it was overcast. Thank goodness it was though, because it would have been far too hot for our kids to complete the course! It was bad enough in the conditions we had.
Assembling in the car park after we were dropped off by the bus.
.............and the torture begins!
The teacher had organised a great version of orienteering. After they had found one marker at a station, the kids had to bring it back to the teacher and answer a general knowledge or cryptic question before they were given the next clue. They were in groups of four with two french and two TIS kids in each. Now to fully understand how taxing on the body it was, the temperature was a mere 23deg today but the hills that the kids had to climb up and down over and over were steep. Ours were wilting after half an hour but still had another 1 1/2 hours to go!
I'm over this....
Much-needed water break
Time to stop, Miss.....
It helps if you can stay upright, Charlotte!
Having details explained by the french P.E teacher
Amazing views!
Even the Jean Mariotti kids were lying down absolutely had it by the time we stopped!
When we'd finished, we walked down the hill to the bus and were taken back to school. We then walked down to the beach at Anse Vata to the Quick restaurant for lunch with our kids and their billets. 50 kids in a building with lots of glass and a tiled floor - need I say more?? The kids loved it though which was the point of the exercise.
We walked back to school - 15mins away and waited till everyone was collected. Definitely a very full day in which enjoyment was measured by level of fitness! Early to bed for all me thinks!
Au revoir till tomorrow!
Colleen
Bonjour tout le monde!
Well, I know for sure that everyone will crash tonight after our morning of orienteering. I've done it before with our kids and we've walked down to a nearby reserve area and the kids loved it. This year we did it with a new PE teacher and we went to a whole new level of orienteering!! We were taken to the Ouen Toro Forest Parc for our exciting adventure and had to climb quite a way up a really steep gradient of red shingle to even get to the start ( the red colour indicates a high level of nickel in the composition). The view from our base was stunning, although the photos don't do it justice because it was overcast. Thank goodness it was though, because it would have been far too hot for our kids to complete the course! It was bad enough in the conditions we had.
.............and the torture begins!
The teacher had organised a great version of orienteering. After they had found one marker at a station, the kids had to bring it back to the teacher and answer a general knowledge or cryptic question before they were given the next clue. They were in groups of four with two french and two TIS kids in each. Now to fully understand how taxing on the body it was, the temperature was a mere 23deg today but the hills that the kids had to climb up and down over and over were steep. Ours were wilting after half an hour but still had another 1 1/2 hours to go!
Even the Jean Mariotti kids were lying down absolutely had it by the time we stopped!
When we'd finished, we walked down the hill to the bus and were taken back to school. We then walked down to the beach at Anse Vata to the Quick restaurant for lunch with our kids and their billets. 50 kids in a building with lots of glass and a tiled floor - need I say more?? The kids loved it though which was the point of the exercise.
Quick restaurant
Photo shoot on the beach with our billets
After lunch we had a short walk to the Aquarium which is a fabulous collection of all the sea life found in these parts.
Au revoir till tomorrow!
Colleen
Monday, 28 August 2017
Civic Reception and Ecole Daniel Talon
Monday August 28th
The day dawned a bit grey this morning and there were light showers on and off by the time we left for city hall, or Hotel de Ville as it's known here, at 7.45am. We were led straight into the Council chamber where the kids got to sit in Councillor seats and were warmly greeted by one of the deputy mayors. (There are many of them!). The Mayor herself gave her apologies as she was very much occupied with handling a strike that had appeared outside council chambers this morning! There were buses all double parked along the street with large banners hanging from the windows. Baz did ask what it was about but answers weren't very forthcoming. The french are renowned for striking.
Our breakfast this morning: reblochon cheese, baguette, jambon(ham), brioche (with chocolate in!), papaya, melon and strawberries. Yummm!
A view of the sea on the way to work this morning.
The kids were full of their weekend when they greeted us! Charlie had gone hunting and they caught a pig! He helped drag it all the way back to their ute and was very proud! It was Myra who had gone horse riding up the river and she survived it well. Renata had stayed over on an island for Saturday night, supposed to be camping in a tent but he said it was so hot, him and his billet slept under the stars in hammocks! The kids all seemed happy and had had a fab weekend.
The Deputy Mayor giving out a bag of goodies for each of us.
A very informative Powerpoint was shown that explained how New Caledonia was governed and that it is a collectivity of France like the islands of Martinique and Reunion and French Polynesia. After a few speeches the kids were all given bags and then shown to a room upstairs for a 'snack' of delicious pastries and a drink.
We then boarded the bus again for Daniel Talon primary school to the north of the city. It was lightly showering when we arrived so all the kids weren't outside. We waited until they were all brought out and then we joined them in a large covered area. Each of us then had a lei placed around our necks to welcome us and we were shown to our seats.We sat and watched singing items from each class that they had spent quite some time practising. It was great!
Concert time
The soccer pitch!
Playground with gravel surface
The day dawned a bit grey this morning and there were light showers on and off by the time we left for city hall, or Hotel de Ville as it's known here, at 7.45am. We were led straight into the Council chamber where the kids got to sit in Councillor seats and were warmly greeted by one of the deputy mayors. (There are many of them!). The Mayor herself gave her apologies as she was very much occupied with handling a strike that had appeared outside council chambers this morning! There were buses all double parked along the street with large banners hanging from the windows. Baz did ask what it was about but answers weren't very forthcoming. The french are renowned for striking.
The kids were full of their weekend when they greeted us! Charlie had gone hunting and they caught a pig! He helped drag it all the way back to their ute and was very proud! It was Myra who had gone horse riding up the river and she survived it well. Renata had stayed over on an island for Saturday night, supposed to be camping in a tent but he said it was so hot, him and his billet slept under the stars in hammocks! The kids all seemed happy and had had a fab weekend.
A very informative Powerpoint was shown that explained how New Caledonia was governed and that it is a collectivity of France like the islands of Martinique and Reunion and French Polynesia. After a few speeches the kids were all given bags and then shown to a room upstairs for a 'snack' of delicious pastries and a drink.
We then boarded the bus again for Daniel Talon primary school to the north of the city. It was lightly showering when we arrived so all the kids weren't outside. We waited until they were all brought out and then we joined them in a large covered area. Each of us then had a lei placed around our necks to welcome us and we were shown to our seats.We sat and watched singing items from each class that they had spent quite some time practising. It was great!
Our students receiving a small welcome gift from their senior students.
As usual, our waiata and haka were well-received and our kids were great. After the concert we divided our kids into 5 groups and they stayed in those groups for the rest of the day doing traditional craft work and playing sport. The drizzle had stopped by 11am but it was extremely warm and muggy! We keep having to remind everyone to drink water regularly.
The kids all ate together for lunch in their canteen and the teachers ate upstairs in the computer room! All the food for us is funded by council and they always provide a lovely meal for us with a real effort put in to the presentation for us.
During the lunch break, our kids mingled with them all and played games with them. The Daniel Talon kids are fascinated by us, particularly those with blond hair. The only English they really know is basic questions so we get asked many, many times ' what's your name?' and 'how old are you?' I reminded our kids that it is such a special day for them and the only time they ever get to mix with people unlike themselves and from another culture.
View of the playground from the second storey of classrooms
The Principal's office!
The gate into the school building.
The farewell we get from the kids here makes our kids feel like rock stars! There is yelling and whistling and calls of 'goodbye, goodbye, goodbye' resonating from the throng of kids gathered at the gate as we leave.
Fond farewells!
Once again, a very tired bunch of kids was collected from Jean Mariotti when we got back there late this afternoon. Tomorrow is expected to be clear of showers and a bit cooler so we may not make the usual 26deg!
Until tomorrow, au revoir!
Colleen
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