Final Vocational Day

Today marked our last day in New Zealand. I was fortunate enough to spend mine with Peddle Thorp Architects in downtown. I got to tour several projects throughout the city, all at different stages of completion. Peddle Thorp is a great firm because of the passionate and driven people who work there. I will definitely stay in touch with the friends I have made there.

Another big thanks to everyone who made my vocational days such a wonderful experience:

Sylvie (my vocational coordinator)
Alec and Bren at Warren & Mahoney Architects
Chris at Woodhams Meikle Architects
Rebecca at the NZ Green Building Council
David at One to One Hundred
Micheal and Patrick at the University of Auckland School of Architecture
Richard, Brad, Brian, Wade, and Gilda at Peddle Thorp

Schools and Science

Yea! We got our kid fix today as we visited two level one docile schools near Auckland. The first school, Panmure Bridge School had a wonderful assembly where the children performed a Haka to welcome us. Then two students took each member of the GSE team for a tour of the school. That was a really endearing touch. Our time was focused on the students and was precious. I (Melanie) was toured by Leila and Suliasi, both year 6. One more quiet, the other a total ham and both as sweet as can be. They showed off their desks, blog and creative videos, favorite art, and then we explored this blog and the Mixbook.com site together. They were so excited to see new things and love all that Internet and blogging offers to express themselves.

The second school, Tamaki Primary, was an equally great experience. After learning about the school's curriculum and teaching techniques, we visited classrooms to observe. I was in a grade 6 class watching as student's worked on essays about marae and then how to post them to a blog.

After lunch at the Grange Golf Club with our Remuera hosts Tony, Richard, David and Gus, we visited Living Cell Technologies who are doing amazing and life-changing work to reduce insulin usage in diabetics. It is in the early phases, but they are having great success with their clinical trials and announced today that they have entered into an agreement to raise $3 million through a placement of shares to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., the research and manufacturing arm of the Otsuka group of companies.

The future is looking very bright!!

Curled fern - new beginnings

During our tramp up Rangitoto today, saw two curled silver ferns know as Koru, which is the sign for new beginnings, as well as peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of regrowth. The symbol is everywhere - greenstone, necklaces, sculptures, paper weights, t-shirts.... and now we have a picture of an actual one! Beautiful sight to see. Good eye Jennifer and Miguel to find this with all the bush around us.

Climbed new heights and said farewell

What a day. After seeing Rangitoto from every angle and part of Auckland and surrounding areas, we finally climbed/tramped her today. She is the youngest volcano of the 48/52 (debatable) volcanic cones in Auckland, at 600 years. Up was a nice workout - bit strenuous as neared top as pretty steep. It took about 45 minutes - but we veered off and went to the Lava Caves first. Loved those! Once up top - views amazing. We did a loop around the top after lunch and then ventured down another way. This one was 20 minutes built walkway comprised of mostly steps and then a dirt path for another hour. Much easier, but not as much to see. Volcanic rock on sides of path and crumbles of it in the path - so bumpy. It's amazing to now look at Rangitoto and think 'Did that' and 'Been at the top of that - and hiked to get there.' Really cool.

After working on it all day yesterday and bits and pieces as could today, the team gave our farewell presentation tonight. We leave for Tahiti Thursday and the return just to jump back on a plane home on the 19th. So hard to believe the farewell is already here. There were a great number of people there and many faces we were so so happy to see again. We've really fallen for these wonderful people and it was great to see them tonight and for them to support us and hear about our experience. The evening, after dinner, began with an amazing performance by uni students locally. It was absolutely amazing. I will post on youtube hopefully tomorrow and then post the link. A few nice words and then our presentation which the team did smashing! As team leader - I can say they did fantastic and give them big kudos. It was very well received.

Rotary at work

It's wonderful to spot Rotary's community ties. During one of my vocational experiences at Howick Baptist Hospital (equivalent to the U.S. nursing home), I found that Somerville Howick Rotary Club had made a significant contribution to the new building. They provided the furnishings for a family room in which family members can visit with residents. This space is especially helpful when families need time and privacy. Another example of how Rotary is doing great things around the world and in our local communities.

A cowboy welcome

Wednesday, April 6
Visited the Refugee and Migrant Education Center. They do amazing work for those that come from dire situations. Our day was hosted by the Papatoetoe West Rotary Club. Thanks to Glenys and Ray (and Shirley) for a great day. In the evening, we received a warm welcome to their Rotary Club meeting - everyone was wearing a cowboy hat. What great Texas spirit. Night culminated with us announcing the 'best of the best.' Thanks Papatoetoe West and Somerville Howick.

Miguel's Photo Book

http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/travel/group-study-exchange-picture-books-5140787

Melanie's Photo Book

http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/nature/melanie-hoffman-gse-team-leader-5130746

Jennifer's vocational experiences

Thank you to Procare Health Organization for hosting my first vocational experience and to Carmel for arranging my visit. Procare contracts with Auckland Ministry of Health to administer and deliver "Healthy Village Action Zone (HVAZ)". Through this program, and through vital partnerships, HVAZ presents evidence-based programming to different communities. These programs include the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management program, a fall-prevention program, and a community gardens program, delivered mainly through 42 different Pacific-Islander churches. People of Tongan and Samoan descent represent two of the largest Pacific Islander communities in New Zealand. I have also visited with the Tongan Health Society, which works with Procare to serve Tongan populations. The Tongan Health Society has 100% of their board being of Tongan descent. I visited with their nutritionist and viewed some of their health promotional materials available in Tongan. I also met their Medical Director to learn more about access barriers unique to Pacific Islanders. This was helpful as Christina and Valita showed me different services, including their community gardens, they provide as a Parrish Nurse and Community Health Coordinator. Thank you also to Sam as well! Finally, Mele- I learned so much from your enthusiasm and dedication!

Incredible day!

We got to fly over Auckland this morning with Chris and Phil before landing at Limestone Downs. The views were breathtaking and left us speechless for most of the trip. After a brief tour of the shearing facility at the downs, we headed over to Nikau Caves. The caves were just amazing. Check out their website below.

Nikau Caves & Cafe

Day of Adventure

Monday, April 4 We just came back from an amazing experience. Thanks Drury Rotary club, pilots Phil and Chris, and day hosts John and Trevor!! We flew to the west coast in two little planes. On way, we flew around the city of Auckland and Rangitoto. After visiting Limestone Village which is 8,000 acres of land with 2,500 cows and 8,000 sheep, we went Nikal Caves with Phillip as our tour guide. It was an hour tramp through open and tight spaces and a stream of water, and something we will never forget. It was exhilarating!!! There was one part where we had to sliver down and then crawl on our hands and knees - through the stream that runs throughout the entire cave. And there was another area where we turned off our torches (flashlights) and looked up to see the glow worms. It was like being in a planitarium. An hour to rest and then off we go to present at the Drury Rotary Club. Look forward to meeting the members and thanking them for hosting us this week and a great day! - Pictures soon!

So much to do, limited time to blog...

We have so much to share with everyone, but it seems that we are always running and have not had as many opportunities as we hoped to blog. Hopefully we will have some opportunities this weekend. Photos above are from March 29 during our day hosted by the Harbourside Rotary Club - one from their club meeting and the other during our tramp on the Takapu Refuge Walk that ended with a stroll on the black sand beach.

Check out our YouTube channel to see our daredevil stunts at the ropes course where Rotary Club Botany East Tamaki brought us on March 28, among other great places including Hunua Falls, Clevedon and a coffee stop along the coast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzC7qhPmmnc