As we fast aproach our two week mark here in NZ, we feel as though we are settling into our new home here at the Osterley Trial Farm. Jay has thought of everything so the lovely two bedroom cottage is fully stocked- we even had cold NZ beer in the fridge waiting for us. We walk every day and made a small fire pit in the backyard, under some Pine trees. There's plenty of dead wood around for fuel. John visited a special education school on Tuesday and was welcomed with great enthusiasm. They wanted to know just as much about the USA educational system as John wanted to learn about NZ's. They even had a cake with red/white/blue frosting with USA or NZ printed in each corner! This particular school deals with 26 students (ages 5-21)with severe physical/mental handicaps. They are taught very basic concepts. John will be visiting the Allenvale School soon which is the main hub of special education activity here in the Canterbury region. There was another aftershock yesterday (4.6) but we really didn't notice and the townspeople have begun to feel like the worst is over. We have so many choices here as far as day/overnight trips. Jay recommends Akaroa, a sea side town about an hours drive, built on the edge of an extinct volcano. The middle of the extinct volcano is the Akaroa Harbour!! The beach sand is crushed shale, various shades of grey, black and if you sift through it, you can find pieces of Agate, a type of Quartz. It's 5:30 in the pm and it's begun to rain. If temps drop tonight, we might find a dusting of snow tomorrow.
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