Celebrations of Light and gratitude! With love from us all

 Before we even realized, the calendar alerted us to Hanukah's arrival.  So early and with such long days here, doesn't feel right.  Having left the menorahs stateside, we rallied, group effort style-Jack's idea and Maggie's efforts-and welcomed Hanukah into our home just in time last night.  The shell theme is perfect.  Hard to wait for sunset (8:05 pm last night) here to light candles that have a 3 hour burn time ( the only ones I could find at a moments notice!) without having to blow them out.  Fortunately boys were up late watching some movie so the fire hazard was averted.

As we lit candles and said our prayers, we were able to offer thanks to me, Mom, for bringing us here, for life for having us all together, and for all those family and friends we are missing and can't wait to see and share Hanukah with next year.  And to Herschel who is keeping the goblins away from us here as well!

And what is end of Nov without a proper Thanksgiving??  Thanks to efforts by Spokane friend Dawn Picken who has organized an American Thanksgiving here tomorrow night, while you are all feasting on your turkeys, we will enjoy turkey and the works picnic style outside if the rain holds off.  I gave it my best at homemade pumpkin pies-no such thing as Libby's in the can here!  Really hard to fathom!

Looks good, will report on taste later.

And to all of you who care to read about us and our silly adventures and lives abroad here, we wish you the best at this time of year!  So much to celebrate, so much to be grateful for-especially all of you, and so much love to share!  Thanks for being a part of our lives.  They are all much richer and deeper knowing you are there.  With much love, 

Noah "Man, I am looking so good these days!"

Maggie and Deb "Girls just want to have Fu-u-un!"   and Jack "YOLO, pretty cool, eh?"

Down to Middle Earth II

If you have looked into travel recently to NZ, there is a lot of marketing based on the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit destination location.  Seems a bit silly really, and Middle Earth didn't mean much to me until last Sunday morning.  Up early to enjoy a few quiet moments as children slumbered, I took a walk through downtown Rotorua.  A brilliant sunny AM, a few others out, black swans and their young touring the lake's edge, wandering the streets and then it hit me,  In every direction there was steam emanating from a variety of places: backyards, vents in the streets, all over the city park, restaurants, you name it.  The city park I discovered was sitting on top of an entire geothermal playground: steam vents, bubbling pools of hot water, blurping mud pools, and the not so sweet smell of sulpher everywhere!  Must get used to it if you live there but a bit pungent on first take.  The place felt so alive, so connected to those interior recesses of the Earth's interior.   At last I had found Middle Earth!  

Returned to hotel to share my exciting discovery with rest of the gang, and sure enough on our hotel property was bubbling hot water in streams along the driveway.  Amazing!  We sought a big breakfast and ended up at the Fat Dog cafe, a local favorite, with great coffee drinks, huge plates of food, and a colorful crowd.  And to make my point more real, I then walked us through the city park to see and smell Middle Earth as I knew it.  Funny as one can pay lots of money to see other geothermal areas with geysers and colorful pools, but I have to say what sits midtown there in Rotorua was equally as impressive.  Also to know that at one time, the hot pools there were used for bathing and washing, relaxing in after school and work.  What a concept.  Now fenced off for protection, still a great asset to this city.

Warm pool for soaking their tired feet and then mud pool on the right, photo does not do it justice.  

Steam and more steam, bubbling pools of piping hot water from below.  

Despite the kids' persistent urgings to go to the luge, I held out as there were still a few things on my agenda to see and do.  Wanted to walk through the amazing redwood forest, and check out the great mtn biking trails there for future reference.  En route, in a moment of spontaneity, detoured up to Lake Tikitapu or Blue Lake, a few kms out of town.  Couldn't resist a quick swim and game of king of the raft to cool off.  It is a gorgeous lake, great for kayaking, swimming, relaxing, and as usual on a gorgeous sunny Sunday, only a few others there to share it.

Made it the Redwoods and turns out these are the same trees we have in places like Muir Woods.  They have been transplanted from CA as the conditions here are great for growing and they thrive, growing quickly and densely.  Magical forest and well used by many, though again you wouldn't know it as crowds were none.  extensive network of mtn biking trails to enjoy at later date as well!

And have I mentioned anything at all about the public toilets in this country?  Dear Cathy, you would LOVE it!!  This is your kind of place.  From the toilets in the shopping mall with glass railroad tiles in great colors, to the always well equipped and CLEAN toilets at the base of the Mount to these fantastic metal sculptures hiding the toilets in the Redwoods, I have yet to find a toilet that was not cozy and comfortable and clean!  Maggie and I were excited to be able to share this one with two toilets, sink and electric hand drier.  Life's simple pleasures!!

And then we were off to the luge, not before yet another minor adventure (no photos, sorry) in search of the great Ciabatta bread bakery for lunch.  We saw some yummy loaves at the SAt Market and learned of the bakery so went in search.  Turned out to be amazing find not only with divine sandwiches, but the head baker took us all into the back and had us make our own "go-nuts"-combination croissant/donut with cream filling and chocolate icing!  The kids could not get over the man's generosity and Noah and I have agreed to return in March when he will offer bread baking classes.  

Finally the luge.  Enough said really. I think earlier post talks about this as well: small plastic cars on concrete tracks, fast and faster, really fun!  As the ad says, once is not enough.  Despite the helmets, it can be a bit harrowing.  Noah will trying to rescue the flip flop that was coming off, crashed into a barrier, flew off the luge car, acquired a fe abrasions we are still hearing about 5 days later, and had a bit of ego bashing as it occurred just under the return chairlift.  I of course knew this was karma for some earlier behavior!   It was hot there but really good time for all.  Kids also decided that we have to take Buddy to the luge when he comes as he will love it as well!  Feeling the need for Speed, Dad?

An easy return home after a full 36 hours, and when asked, we all had to agree that none of the things we did were a flop.  Turned out to be quite the successful adventure!  Jack and I got in a bit more surfing Sunday night to seal the deal.  Surprisingly the Maori event and the Redwoods were among the favorites of the kids despite earlier protests.   One never knows I guess.  I am just happy to have had the chance to do it!!  

back to work and school this week....

A Trip to Middle Earth part 1

Boys had Friday off so I decided to load up the gang for a trip to Rotorua.  Known for its abundance of geothermal activity, Maori cultural experiences, and adrenaline laden activities, figured there would be something for all of us there.  Good time to leave the iPads and computers at home, and spend some good family time together, despite the adolescent groans!  We were up early to get in some surfing before heading out.  Under a cloudless sky, we tried our best to stand up on those boards, some of us more successful than others.  Mornings like these I look around and can hardly contain the gratitude that floods over me.  We step into the warming waters of the Bay, all of us excited about the idea that we may stand up on that board yet, Noah helping Maggie while Jack and I paddle out to the bigger break, and it isn't even 7:30 AM!  I hold these moments tightly, knowing in an instant the moment can change, but for now we are happy, so grateful for what we have been given!

It is an easy hour drive to the land of steam and sulpher fumes.  As we approached the edge of Lake Rotorua, we came upon a most unexpected scene: the 2013 World Rafting Championships.  One of the things I love love love about travel is the spontaneity it can bring if we are open to it.  Hungry and eager to see a kiwi bird, and yet we had to stop to take in this exciting event! WIth 23 countries represented, we pulled up along the banks of the Okere River just in time to see the Head to Head heat.  USA vs Czech Republic, Brazil vs Great Britain, men's and women's, masters and U-19, all happening right there.  A sport we learned was not allowed in the last Olympics, we had to acknowledge we were among some of the world's best.  

This was one of 4 events, the only one to be held here as slalom would be on a different river the following day.  We ran up the trail to catch the boats navigating some good Class 3 rapids which eventually culminated in a good drop over some falls before the finish.  Strong teamwork and strategy it seemed were the key,  not to mention some gnarly biceps.  The kids loved seeing the various countries represented and cheering on the US men and women.

After a tasty lunch at the Okere Store to take care of that growing hunger, we landed at the Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park where the trout abound and the kiwi is cultivated.  They do their bit to help foster the protection of this endangered bird.  We toured through the quality exhibits, including multiple ponds with HUGE Rainbow and other trout, learned about and saw examples of many native NZ birds and saw the only native NZ reptile whose name I can't recall.   A pretty prehistoric looking thing no less.   Got to see our first kiwi  bird in its special enclosure-very exciting for me and Mags.  It was even better when we went back to the park after 9pm to see the kiwi bird night exhibit.  They are a funny bird, long beak, big body, Jack thinks they look a big walking tick.

And like any good tourists, we had to experience a Maori (pronounced something like "moldy") cultural evening, and no place better to do this than Rotorua.  We were picked up by bus at our cosy hotel, entertained by the driver en route to the "village" and then brought into a bit of the Maori world as they taught us many of their cultural activities and traditions.  We got to play games, learn some songs, and even do the haka.  The evening culminated in a lovely dinner that had been cooked in the hangi, underground steam pit utilizing the areas geothermal abundance.  A bit like going to a luau, but NewZealand style.  The traditions are very similar and related in some South Pacific/Australiasian way.  At weekend's end we all agreed this evening of culture was one of the highlights.

We ended our day back at the Wildlife Park so we could see the Kiwi birds in the night exhibit.   Pretty neat!  As my head hit the pillow Friday night I felt we had reached yet another mark in our journey.  It takes getting out of what is familiar, the routine, what we are used to open ourselves up to the new.  The newness brings with it a freshness, excitement,  and joy that I find hard at times to feel in the daily routines of home.   stopping to see the rafting today, watching the boys do the haka, quietly listening for the rustle of the bush and the Kiwi behind it with Maggie brought that excitement out in me.  Makes one feel alive and on the edge.  Feels the same at work here as each day there are new faces and issues to deal with, new colleagues and the personalities that go with them, new systems to learn.  I am grateful for this freshness and the joyous moments it brings.

Recent musings

some thoughts of recent days:

1. 'a year is not so long' / 'managing expectations'
When planning this sabbatical it never occurred to me I would want to extend this time beyond a year.  12 months away from all that is comfortable and safe felt like an eternity. When friends living in Costa Rica for a year decided to extend their stay, I couldn't imagine.  But after only 8 weeks here, I get it.  12 months is only the beginning.  A full cycle round the seasons, all 12 pictures on the wall calendar-and even then it is only the beginning when trying to know a place and its people.  Embarrassed to admit, but I think I imagined we could land in our new town, fit in, be embraced, build a life, find community, get involved.  I mean who wouldn't want to have us as friends??!!  How narcissistic could I be!  I was so excited about getting involved in the surf rowing until I fully understood the extent of the commitment and where I stood in the scene.  Came to realize kiwis are not the most forthcoming with certain information, nor very direct, and it took a bit of digging on my part to realize I needed to put in the time, get my lifeguard training, prove myself really if I wanted a seat in a boat.  All well and good, but 12 months will not be long enough to find myself a permanent place there this season.  Too bad cuz it looks really cool!   Time to move on to surfing!
I have come to realize that this expectation of building a true community for myself and the family will not be happening in our time here, and that is ok.  We will forever walk the outside of the circle.  and that is ok.
Challenges connecting with folks when I tell them I am here for only a year.  It's like a switch gets turned off and they no longer want to put any energy in my direction as I won't be around that long.  Not true of all for sure, and just this week I am making connections with a few folks.  Who needs more than that really, esp with work and kids and all the fun there is to be done here.  It is taking time for me, the social animal that I am, to figure all of this out, and there is more to come I am sure.   Today while hiking up the Mount I had to recognize that normally at home I would never be walking or running or playing alone.  Always use that time to connect with friends or be with AW.  Here I am always alone unless the rare time Maggie or the boys decide to join me.  And this is a good thing.   Can't complain about the location and being able to enjoy the sunshine and turquoise water while on my own.  Just having time to settle in with myself proves beneficial.
All this being said I have met two women, one MD colleague, married with 3 kids-daughter that will babysit for us and son the boys' age who will hang with them-who has extended herself to me in the kindest ways. And then there is Dawn Picken, from Spokane who is now living and about to marry to a kind Kiwi man.  She is great to share a meal with and talk about all of this transitional adjustment.  And truth is I spend more time with the kids than I know I would at home.  A disguised blessing more days :) We watch movies together, we play in the ocean, we explore the area, we carpool back and forth and I am still expected to tuck them in and snuggle them all every night!

2. the tidal shifts of puberty, does the moon have any effect?
Need to start charting what goes on around here, but there is definitely a wave effect.  Currently we are in an ebb tide, both boys relatively sane, but at any moment there will be a tidal surge and the alien I've come to refer to it as will invade one of the boys and the "fun" will start all over.  Amplified by the need to separate not only from me but their twin, the emotional wave will crest and all the rest of us can do is hang on for the ride.  As I come to understand the cycles, my patience and understanding grows.  Now I can laugh instead of cry.  And then I realized maybe being close to these boys all these years is making this process that much more challenging as the needed pushing away, becoming more independent is that much harder.  Who knows. All I know is today the waters are calm.

3. weekends are so much fun! boys off to rowing regatta early Sat AM (wish I had a picture for you of them in their gold and maroon singlets but there was no way they would let me take their photos!)  so Mags and I took in the farmers market, drank Chai lattes, then it was off to the Gypsy Fair.  Surrounded by colorful caravans, we hula hooped and she got her face painted.  We passed on the Tarot card readings though I sure could have used it.   Later another hike up the Mount, dinner prep, and pick up boys who had a a great time Noah rowing in an 8 with the older boys and Jack coxing the U 16 boys.  Big day for everyone.  Ended with girls' beach walk to see the almost full moon rise.
Today was even better-Maggie had Nippers at the surf club, Noah was on lifeguard duty at the club, Jack was rowing and I had an hour to myself to read and relax!   Surf lesson for the 4 of us was the highlight of day.  And Maggie was of course the best of our bunch!  She got up more times on the board than any of us.  So this week will see me buying some boards I'm afraid....

Love to all!

 Deb

Photo catch up

Nice Rope swing as well!

 A nice side trip only 20" from home is Kaiate Falls.  Upper and lower falls on a well maintained trail with some great swimming holes to explore.  Made for a great outing when AW was here.   A bit chilly time of year, but this did not stop he and Maggie from jumping in!

Here's Noah working hard as lifeguard!  He and Jack chose separate patrols so they can do their own thing.  Job varies between beach watch, going out in the zodiac to patrol from the ocean, and riding the dune buggy up and down the beach.  Jack's favorite.

Here is the Nippers AM gathering, this is where Maggie gets to participate in surf lifesaving activities.  Each age group dons a different color hat. she is orange now.  At her age it is all about getting in the water, getting used to it and learning to love it and feel comfortable with the waves  No problem for this girl!  She leads her pack and is so eager to get up on a board!