It's Been Too Long

It has been a very busy year with school.  So I am typing a page that sums up all that has happened.

First Aid Training 

It was offered to the staff to complete a first aid training course.  Of course I jumped at the opportunity.  It was held on a Sunday, and was a really intense course.  It started at 8am and ended at 6pm.  Distinct Health ran the course.  They also bought us a wonderful lunch.  I am now certified in First Aid, CPR and AED recognised by the American Heart Association. 

 Swati and Myself

Lunch that was served.

The dummies we used for our exam.

Book week dress up. 

In the international schools I have taught at, there is the exciting week called ‘Book Week’.  Each class chose a book to read and discuss for the week.  My class read “Man on the Moon”.  We had a door competition where the children had to create different artworks to place on the classroom door.  We also had a book drive where the children had to bring in some old books so that it can be donated to a less fortunate library in the area.  Then the last day we had dress up as your favourite character, and bring the book with you.  A lot of fun.

 Myself and Bella went as Cat in the Hat.

Our classroom doors decorated for the competition.

The Principal, Helen, was a pirate.

We even had a Hong Kong author come up to read her books to the classes.

Judi’s Birthday Dinner  

One of the ladies at school invited me and some other friends to her birthday dinner.  We went to a Turkish restaurant.  It was a lovely evening with interesting foods.  But very expensive as it is a ‘foreign’ restaurant.

 Swati and Myself

 Judi - The Birthday girl

 

Sarah’s SAT  

Of course it was coming to that time when my darling daughter finishes her schooling.  And so we were off to Hong Kong for the day for her to write her SAT’s.  There were hundreds of children from all different nationalities writing.  The exam venue was at the convention centre which is right next to the Hong Kong International Airport.   It was a long wait as she wrote 3 exams over 3 hours.  So Paul and I wondered HK Airport till she was finished.  Needless to say, she aced her exams.  Well done Sarah.

 On the way to the exam venue.

It was so early there was no one on the metro to the exam venue.

Sarah leaving 

And then all good things come to an end.  It was time for Sarah to return to South Africa.  We could not take her to Hong Kong Airport as our passports were handed in for our new visas.  So she took the ferry from Shenzhen to Hong Kong.  The nice thing about that is once you buy your ferry ticket, you can check in your luggage at a airport check in desk.  And you see your luggage again at your destination.

Even though she had a smile on her face she did not want to leave.  :(( 

The Ferry that took Sarah to Hong Kong airport.

Bye Bye.  There she goes.



JUNE

Pirates day 

At school, every six weeks we have a new theme we work around.  During our Pirate theme, we teach about maps, graphs, compass, islands, and our English text was ‘How I became a Pirate’.  At the end of our theme we had a ‘Pirate Day’.  The children dressed up as Pirates and so did their teachers.  It was awesome.  They even had a lesson on fencing.

What a wonderful class.

Our Principal dressed up as well and came to speak to us about her sailing days.

The children also enjoyed fencing.

Dinner with Julian and Hana  

At the end of the school year, we invited Julian and Hannah out for dinner.  We went to the Chinese restaurant not far from our apartment.  They serve very tasty food.  An evening well spent with friends.

End of School Year Water Fight 

At the end of every school year, the Year 2’s have a water fight with the Year 3’s as a transition to Year 3.  It was a fun experience for all.  The children went out of their way targeting the teachers.

All these children with 3 teachers.


And their guns were enormous.  Needles to say the teachers were soaked.

I hope not to wait too long for the next post.

Keep reading and I will keep writing.