School starts

Excitement, nerves, anticipation, and curiosity greeted the boys’  first week of school in New Zealand. Here in New Zealand, Kindergarten is called grade 1, so both boys bumped up a year number from their grades in the US - Kobe started year 4, and Ike started year 8. Ike wore his formal uniform to meet all of the new students arriving at the school for his day one, complete with jacket and tie.  Kobe walked to school for a full day with his new full class and teacher, excited to sport his mandatory sun hat and school shirt.  He realized right away that shoes were optional, and happily ditched his shoes to play barefoot before the bell rang. Here in New Zealand, shoes appear to be optional for kids, and about half of the kids at school didn’t have shoes on.  I’m still trying to understand the expectations around shoes - I’ve seen folks in the stores with no shoes, and kids in casual restaurants shoeless as well.

Kobe’s school started the day with a whole school assembly: a Haka to welcome new students and families.  We new families were given instructions: women and girls in front, since we ensure the continuity of future generations, and men and boys in the back to support the women and girls. We walked into the assembly filled with students and teachers, greeted by a Maori song.  The principal gave a speech entirely in Maori, students sang songs in Maori, and then the Principal awarded each new student with a welcome certificate.  Maori culture and language holds a strong presence here and the kids will both be learning it in school.

Ike’s first day ceremony, which was on his day two, included the whole school and new families as well.  About 1300 people sang together in a Maori call and response speech/song followed by speeches and prayers in Maori. It seems most people understood.  I absorbed it all more energetically as I couldn’t understand what was being sung/said.  It was powerful and moving as the gymnasium full of students, staff, and families participated.

The boys had a great time in their first week. Kobe loves his teacher and got to go to the school pool, which they use regularly during the summer term. As it turns out, swimming is part of their school day twice a week, and the kids have the option to go swim during their recess break as well! Ike is excited about his classes and met some kids right off the bat who play soccer and futsal.  Nonetheless both boys are missing friends back home something fierce and the moods pendulum between excitement and deep sadness.  This triggers my sadness too.  I have put so much energy into getting us settled and being a positive presence to keep the family’s spirits lifted, that I haven’t given space for my own feelings, so through the kids’ emotions, I too am forced to be reminded of the incredible community of friends and family who are now so, so far away.  The lesson I've learned so many times in my life, of how crucial friends and community are to wellbeing is being driven home yet again. I got my first letter in the mail and it definitely helped to cheer me up and feel a little less lonely.