Bonjour!
Somehow that jolly wet weather from NZ has followed us over here and stuck! We woke again this morning to a bleak outlook from our deck and consistent rain. We greeted the kids when we got to school and I told them that it's often fine out at the Lighthouse, even if it's not good in Noumea......
So, we headed off in the bus for the wharf at 7.30am. I thought it all looked pretty quiet down there, but we all got off, lined up as good TIS students do (even though we looked like wet, bedraggled cats!) and walked over to the 'Mary D Enterprises' building. The bus by this stage had departed so imagine how I felt when a staff member told us that the trip had to be called off today because of the weather! Baz and I looked at each other thinking, "what now??" They said they hadn't taken a contact number from Veronique who booked the trip and therefore they couldn't let the school know this morning that it was off! Luckily we noticed that some of the market were still open, so we all traipsed over there with the kids in their "Yesss! We can spend some money" mode. We were only there for 15mins when Vero rang me and said that the bus had turned around and was coming back to pick us up and take us back to school. The reaction from the kids was to be expected! They thought they were going to be snorkelling, swimming with turtles (and sea snakes!) and generally frolicking in the sun, and here they were being driven back to classes at Jean Mariotti!
We had a period together in a spare classroom where the kids did some of their workbooks and we had our daily catchup together. Every single one of the kids seems happy and is trying hard to adapt and make the most of their experience, even though they have found some aspects hard. I'm really proud of them!
One of the staircases at school. Each step has a positive thought written on it, such as 'a small positive thought this morning can change your day', ' you never lose; you win or you learn' and 'education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.'
Waiting to head to the wharf - are we on a tropical island???
After our hour back at school, we walked down to the Aquarium at Anse Vata. We had planned that for Friday, but if the weather is OK on Friday, we will go out to Phare Amedee. The Aquarium is great and the kids loved seeing the huge variety of tropical fish that inhabit these waters.
There are probably a few of you who wouldn't mind removing one of these puppies from the water onto your plate!
He was huge!
Four kids were having lunch in the canteen before they went home today, but the rest went home at 11.30am when school finished for the day. Anya said to me that she felt so much better now that she knows her billet better and she's not so scared! They are all more relaxed which is great to see. I'm sure you will be asked to start making crepes when they get home - or les galettes, which is a savoury version. Last night Winter went out to a restaurant and had a galette and then a fruit and ice cream filled crepe! Many have sampled them and love them. They've eaten a variety of foods but also pasta, pizza, rice and ratatouille which are common also. Jayla's host mother is Vietnamese and she's had some beautiful meals although they are stretching Jayla's limited taste palette! You may be surprised in a couple of weeks, Jasmine, with your daughter eating a wide variety of foods, spice and all! The most common comment regarding food is of course how much food has chocolate in it - biscuits, drinks, milk, cereal, desserts and so it goes on! Nobody is complaining though!
We are off to the Melanesian cultural centre tomorrow - Tjibaou. The architecture of the building is amazing and is one of the not-to-be missed sights in Noumea. I had a chat to the kids this morning to prepare them for the sight of the very tall carved wooden kanak figure at the entrance. I said that because they had just finished their puberty unit and knew all about these things, that I was sure they will be mature enough to handle the sight without rolling around the ground with laughter! The large carved figure has the most enormous erection heading skyward up to the man's head! I've found it always pays to prepare them for the sight beforehand. It all led to a good discussion about the importance of fertility and symbolism among indigenous tribes throughout the world so we shall see how tomorrow goes!
Tjibaou
That's it for now from the damp TIS crew here in Noumea. Looking out our windows now the weather is clearing and I can see the horizon. Bring on the sunshine!
Au revoir!
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