It was a cold and blustery day but we did have a few warm moments.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Father's Day in September
Kiwis celebrate Father's Day on the second Sunday in September... and so did we. E and I took Eric to a Belgian pub for lunch. Afterwards we treated Eric to some chocolate ice-cream.
It was a cold and blustery day but we did have a few warm moments.
It was a cold and blustery day but we did have a few warm moments.
SAFE
Before we went to Fiji, I had started my new job at SAFE. SAFE is an agency (one of three in this country) providing counselling services for adult sex offenders and adolescents with sexually harmful behaviors. I am one of the therapists within the Youth Team.
I enjoy this job a lot. Working with teenage boys is extremely stimulating and rewarding, though challenging. Most of the boys have histories of trauma and victimization, which is what most of us focus on when treating them and trying to understand and help them understand their offenses.
My colleagues are a neat group of people. We are a fairly new team (there has been a big turnover at the agency within the last two years) but we are having lots of fun together. Having sense of humor in this line of work helps a lot.
I think that SAFE will be IT for me for as long as we are in New Zealand.
I enjoy this job a lot. Working with teenage boys is extremely stimulating and rewarding, though challenging. Most of the boys have histories of trauma and victimization, which is what most of us focus on when treating them and trying to understand and help them understand their offenses.
My colleagues are a neat group of people. We are a fairly new team (there has been a big turnover at the agency within the last two years) but we are having lots of fun together. Having sense of humor in this line of work helps a lot.
I think that SAFE will be IT for me for as long as we are in New Zealand.
Fiji, Here We Come!!!... Or "Bula!"
Enough is enough!
To save our sanity... and marriage, we decided to leave the wet, grey, and miserable Land of Kiwis and spend a week on one of the Fiji's little islands - Castaway Island.
When my bare feet touched the hot white sand and my tortured being was wrapped in the soothing tones of the welcome song (by the hospitable natives), I thought I died and went to heaven! I forgot I was a mother or a wife... All I knew is that I was dry, warm and the bar with exotic drinks was just there... on the left, above the dive shop!
We spent seven glorious days in the paradise. We ate, drank, slept, read in hammock, had babysitters attend to our child's needs, snorkeled, kayaked and hiked... We had a great time and these are several of the pics that I chose to share here. Enjoy!
Bula!
To save our sanity... and marriage, we decided to leave the wet, grey, and miserable Land of Kiwis and spend a week on one of the Fiji's little islands - Castaway Island.
When my bare feet touched the hot white sand and my tortured being was wrapped in the soothing tones of the welcome song (by the hospitable natives), I thought I died and went to heaven! I forgot I was a mother or a wife... All I knew is that I was dry, warm and the bar with exotic drinks was just there... on the left, above the dive shop!
We spent seven glorious days in the paradise. We ate, drank, slept, read in hammock, had babysitters attend to our child's needs, snorkeled, kayaked and hiked... We had a great time and these are several of the pics that I chose to share here. Enjoy!
Bula!
Sunny spells... Hooray!
There were a few brief but oh, how magnificent, sunny spells during winter time! When those occurred, we were out!
In the park to feed the ducks, geese swans, etc...
Oh, and Pukekoes!
And Eels! They were competing with the birds for some bread crumbs.
At MOTAT - supposedly, "New Zealand's largest and leading transport and technology museum, where one can embark on an interactive journey through many of the technological achievements that have helped shape New Zealand." (MOTAT Website) E was largely disinterested. We will not be back there until he is a bit older...
On the beach for a walk, to pick up some sticks and rocks, and enjoy a cup of hot, overpriced chocolate before heading back home to escape... rain!
The formation in the background is Rangitoto. Rangitoto is the largest, most recent and least modified volcano of the Auckland Volcanic Field. It emerged from the sea approximately 600 years ago. We went hiking there one brilliant Sunday in September.
It was not until I saw this pic that I noticed that E's eyes are shaped like Eric's...
In the park to feed the ducks, geese swans, etc...
Oh, and Pukekoes!
And Eels! They were competing with the birds for some bread crumbs.
At MOTAT - supposedly, "New Zealand's largest and leading transport and technology museum, where one can embark on an interactive journey through many of the technological achievements that have helped shape New Zealand." (MOTAT Website) E was largely disinterested. We will not be back there until he is a bit older...
On the beach for a walk, to pick up some sticks and rocks, and enjoy a cup of hot, overpriced chocolate before heading back home to escape... rain!
The formation in the background is Rangitoto. Rangitoto is the largest, most recent and least modified volcano of the Auckland Volcanic Field. It emerged from the sea approximately 600 years ago. We went hiking there one brilliant Sunday in September.
It was not until I saw this pic that I noticed that E's eyes are shaped like Eric's...
... And Some More Rain!
We thought July was bad... Well, August turned out to be even worse! Not only did it rain every single day but it got pretty cold too. I cursed the day we made the decision to leave beloved, sunny, warm, and dry California.
E was not the only one coming down with cabin fever.
E was not the only one coming down with cabin fever.
Rain, Rain...
July was just unbearably miserable. It rained every single day! While I was literally in need of therapy, E, cooped up in the house, was becoming more and more creative in his play. Just like the Polish saying "W czasie deszczu dzieci sie nudza" (When it rains, kids get bored).
Serenity on Piha Beach
Before I applied for the job at SAFE, I was briefly interested in working in the Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation area of Counseling. The salary offered for the position was unusually high (not only by Kiwi standards) and the "office" was situated on Piha Beach. Piha is New Zealand's most famous surf beach.
One Sunday afternoon I had an informal job interview with Murdoch, the founder of Serenity Clinic. While I was interviewing, the boys had fun on the beach across the street.
Situated on the west coast of the North Island (some 28 kilometers west of Auckland), this black iron-sand beach has a reputation for awesome surf. The rugged coastline and forested Waitakere Ranges offer a number of walks. The most famous landmark of the beach is the Lion Rock. It is a natural formation named for its similarity to a lying male lion.
The other, less famous, rock formation on Piha Beach is called Camel Rock.
After my interview, we all played.
In the end, I decided not to take the job in Piha. We would have had to move again and we were just not ready for that... Oh, well, my convertible BMW would have to wait...
One Sunday afternoon I had an informal job interview with Murdoch, the founder of Serenity Clinic. While I was interviewing, the boys had fun on the beach across the street.
Situated on the west coast of the North Island (some 28 kilometers west of Auckland), this black iron-sand beach has a reputation for awesome surf. The rugged coastline and forested Waitakere Ranges offer a number of walks. The most famous landmark of the beach is the Lion Rock. It is a natural formation named for its similarity to a lying male lion.
The other, less famous, rock formation on Piha Beach is called Camel Rock.
After my interview, we all played.
In the end, I decided not to take the job in Piha. We would have had to move again and we were just not ready for that... Oh, well, my convertible BMW would have to wait...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bay of Islands - June 2008
On June 2, Kiwis celebrate their Queen's Birthday. Interestingly enough, a friend of mine from the U.K., told me the Brits do not celebrate it... Since, as we say in Poland, any excuse to celebrate (and drink heavily) is a good one, Eric and I chose to honor the Queen by spending a few days in the Bay of Islands.
Here are some bits of information about the region:
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 240 kilometers (4 hours and 15 minutes) north of Auckland and it is close to the northern tip of the country - Cape Reinga.
"The first European to visit the area was Captain Cook, who named the region in 1769.The Bay of Islands was the first area in New Zealand to be settled by Europeans. Whalers arrived towards the end of the 18th century, while the first missionaries settled in 1814." (Wikipedia)
It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country. It is world-famous for its big-game fishing. Apparently, the Bay of Islands was found to have the second bluest sky in the world, after Rio de Janeiro... (Wikipedia)
On the way to Paihia we stopped in Kawakawa. Apparently, Kawakawa is the Train Town of the North. Well, from what we saw, the main attraction seems to be the public toilet:
We stayed at "Chalet Romantica" (I know!!!) in Paihia.
The bay has many interesting historic towns including Paihia, Russell, Waitangi and Kerikeri. Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, and dates from the early 1800s.
Christ Church in Russell is New Zealand’s oldest existing church and possibly the oldest building still used for its original purpose.
Kerikeri contains many historic sites from the earliest European colonial settlement in the country: the Mission House, also called Kemp House, which is the oldest wooden structure still standing in New Zealand
And the Stone Store, a former storehouse which is the oldest stone building in New Zealand, construction having begun on 19 April 1832.
While in Kerikeri, we also visited an old Maori village.
One of the main attractions of the Bay of Islands are the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Eric and I found our visit there very informative and the views from the grounds just stunning. Below you can read up a bit on the history of the Treaty and see some of the pics we took there. Enjoy!
"The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed." (Wikipedia)
"Until the 1970s, the Treaty was generally ignored by both the courts and parliament, although it was usually depicted in New Zealand historiography as a generous and benevolent act on the part of the Crown. From at least the 1860s, Māori looked to the Treaty, with little success, for rights and remedies for land loss and unequal treatment by the state. From the late 1960s, Māori began drawing attention to breaches of the Treaty, and subsequent histories have emphasised problems with its translation. In 1975 the Waitangi Tribunal was established as a permanent commission of inquiry tasked with researching breaches of the Treaty by the Crown or its agents, and suggesting means of redress." (Wikipedia)
"Today it is generally considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation; despite this, the Treaty is often the subject of heated debate." (Wikipedia)
Before we left the Bay of Islands, we took a cruise to see the Hole in the Rock (off Cape Brett) which had been etched by wind and wave.
Our boat sailed through the Hole (more like the eye of a needle).
The cruise itinerary included a brief stop on one of the many (144) islands - Urupukapuka Island. While I was exploring the island,
E was taking his mid-day nap.
He woke up just in time for us to take a pic and then off we sailed.
Refreshed, he spent the rest of the cruise time exploring the boat.
Here are some bits of information about the region:
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 240 kilometers (4 hours and 15 minutes) north of Auckland and it is close to the northern tip of the country - Cape Reinga.
"The first European to visit the area was Captain Cook, who named the region in 1769.The Bay of Islands was the first area in New Zealand to be settled by Europeans. Whalers arrived towards the end of the 18th century, while the first missionaries settled in 1814." (Wikipedia)
It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country. It is world-famous for its big-game fishing. Apparently, the Bay of Islands was found to have the second bluest sky in the world, after Rio de Janeiro... (Wikipedia)
On the way to Paihia we stopped in Kawakawa. Apparently, Kawakawa is the Train Town of the North. Well, from what we saw, the main attraction seems to be the public toilet:
We stayed at "Chalet Romantica" (I know!!!) in Paihia.
The bay has many interesting historic towns including Paihia, Russell, Waitangi and Kerikeri. Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, and dates from the early 1800s.
Christ Church in Russell is New Zealand’s oldest existing church and possibly the oldest building still used for its original purpose.
Kerikeri contains many historic sites from the earliest European colonial settlement in the country: the Mission House, also called Kemp House, which is the oldest wooden structure still standing in New Zealand
And the Stone Store, a former storehouse which is the oldest stone building in New Zealand, construction having begun on 19 April 1832.
While in Kerikeri, we also visited an old Maori village.
One of the main attractions of the Bay of Islands are the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Eric and I found our visit there very informative and the views from the grounds just stunning. Below you can read up a bit on the history of the Treaty and see some of the pics we took there. Enjoy!
"The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed." (Wikipedia)
"Until the 1970s, the Treaty was generally ignored by both the courts and parliament, although it was usually depicted in New Zealand historiography as a generous and benevolent act on the part of the Crown. From at least the 1860s, Māori looked to the Treaty, with little success, for rights and remedies for land loss and unequal treatment by the state. From the late 1960s, Māori began drawing attention to breaches of the Treaty, and subsequent histories have emphasised problems with its translation. In 1975 the Waitangi Tribunal was established as a permanent commission of inquiry tasked with researching breaches of the Treaty by the Crown or its agents, and suggesting means of redress." (Wikipedia)
"Today it is generally considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation; despite this, the Treaty is often the subject of heated debate." (Wikipedia)
Before we left the Bay of Islands, we took a cruise to see the Hole in the Rock (off Cape Brett) which had been etched by wind and wave.
Our boat sailed through the Hole (more like the eye of a needle).
The cruise itinerary included a brief stop on one of the many (144) islands - Urupukapuka Island. While I was exploring the island,
E was taking his mid-day nap.
He woke up just in time for us to take a pic and then off we sailed.
Refreshed, he spent the rest of the cruise time exploring the boat.
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