A Kiwi's Adventures: U-turn

So there has been quite a big change in the plans for the next couple of years. I saw a job advertised at Wellington Girls' College about three weeks ago and this time last week I had just got off a zoom interview with them. About an hour later they offered me the job and my plans took a massive U-turn. Initially it didn't look like there was space in NZ quarantine until mid February but after repeated page refreshing on Saturday I have managed to book in for the 6th of February. I will be back in NZ exactly two years after I left. I am definitely feeling quite a rollercoaster of emotions at the moment. The job sounds wonderful, teaching German in a strong languages department while able to have independence in my classroom. I am also looking forward to being in Wellington and reconnecting with all the amazing people I know there (by the way, if any of you know of space in a flat from mid Feb, preferably a Christian flat, please let me know). I can't wait to teach without a visor on, not have to clean everything every 2 seconds, and be able to be closer than 2 metres to my students. Not having to have all the windows open in 2 degree weather will also be amazing! That said, I am deeply disappointed to be leaving without getting to do so many things on my list. I'm so lucky to have been able to see the things I have but I will miss the theatre, concerts, and National Trust properties. I have also been so blessed by the friends I have made here and am going to miss my housemates dreadfully. But, I guess holidays in the future will just have to be planned!

All this means I will be finishing up at The Ashcombe in 6 and a half days time which is bit crazy. I have a mountain of marking to do before then and will need to leave hand over notes for whoever ends up taking over my classes. I feel pretty bad leaving in the middle of the year, but sometimes you just have to do hard things. I have learned a lot working there and have also made some great friends - my colleagues are wonderful! It has also shown me how great it is to work in a school that actively promotes staff wellbeing and really works as a team to look after everyone.

On a completely different note, we decorated the house the first weekend of December to brighten things up - it gets dark here at 4pm at the moment. We are also doing house secret santa and will have a house Christmas the weekend of the 19th of December. My housemates will be joining their families in their "Christmas bubbles" from December 23rd and will be back around the 27th. My cousin Raywin will join me for Christmas and we are going to attempt to cook a Michelin starred meal - will let you know how we get on! After Christmas, Jo and I will hopefully make it to Ipswich for a couple of days and then down to Cornwall for eleven days. I am now praying none of us get sick and that the country doesn't go back into national lockdown....