Blog 3 Arrival and First Impressions

●     Describe your arrival in the host country, your initial cultural experiences, and first days at your teaching assignment.

I arrived in New Zealand Sunday Morning around 9:00 am. I went through customs and baggage claim before meeting the family I am staying with outside of the airport. Based on my research and what others had told me, I expected their biosecurity entrance to be more intense. However, I only had to fill out a form documenting what I needed to declare, show my passport to get through to baggage claim, walk through the line for those who were declaring items, describe what I was declaring, and then walk out to meet the couple I am staying with.

After leaving the airport, Marilyn and Russell drove me back to their house explaining what a few of the areas around were, pointing out the Sky tower, a few of the key volcanos, and the school I am in. We remained around the area for the first week, focusing on getting settled. My initial cultural experiences include learning about their beliefs about the increased push of the Maori culture in schools and around the city. The school has both the English and the Maori words for the majority of the posters and assignments. The city had both on street signs for a while but it is no longer required as there was more confusion around what the street signs were saying. I look forward to learning more about this culture. As a whole, New Zealand is more laid back. However, I feel that I was already this way and the couple I am with are not as much as others.

Howick College is a large school for students in year 9 through year 13 which is equal to our grades 8-12. School goes from 9 am-3:20 pm but there are meetings for staff Monday through Thursday at 8:20 am. On my first day, I went in at 8 am, met Farah Al-Obidi in the office, and attended a staff briefing. Afterward, I went with Cheryl Jaffar, received my schedule for the week, and discussed a few details. This week focused on observing multiple classes and determining what will work best for my requirements.

My favorite class periods have been when I am in their LSC, Learner Support Center. Those who are in this area feel to be the most similar to a mild/moderate intervention specialist. They have a list of clients they are responsible for checking in with and making sure they are supported throughout their time at the school. The other classes that I have been able to observe are taught by a general teacher but have a teacher aide in the room with them to offer support. As of right now, I do not know who will be taking the role of my cooperating teacher as I have observed in many classrooms under Cheryl's scheduling.

My first few days were a bit unorganized but as my confidence grew throughout the week it got better. I was expected to move through the classes on my own right away. Luckily many of the teacher aides helped me around the campus. It is a large campus where the buildings are arranged in blocks. I start each morning in A block but move around the school for each period. I have been in the most classrooms through my observation of the LSC. Some of the blocks are structured how we would envision a school building but most of them are prebuilt buildings that have been put together with a wooden deck for the hallways. I enjoy how much of the campus is outdoors. After talking to a few students I learned that this is the standard for their schools. They were shocked to hear that we typically have one large building for each school. I am excited to go back this week, on Monday, I will have another meeting where I hope to get a schedule set in place and be able to take on more responsibility.