A week in Keranse

Well after a week in Keranse I am absolutely in love with the place, especially the school. Almost all the teachers at this school were trained by our teachers college, and it really shows (not that I'm biased or anything!). The kids there are learning (some of the best scores in national exams in the area), well behaved and incredibly happy. The teachers love their job, love the kids and welcomed us and our student teachers with open arms. I'm really looking forward to spending time in the school and really getting to know the students and staff better over the coming months.

We had several organisational details to 'iron out' during the week, but it was great to see our student teacher embrace what is a pretty full-on training course. They are really getting stuck in to the work and life of the school. It's going to be exciting to see their growth and development over the next couple of years- there's so much potential there.

Miriam and I are living in a guest house about 15 mintues drive from the village in a town/village called Saanya Juu. It's basic but nice and we felt very well looked after. We have electricity in the house, as opposed to the other mentors who have it for only a few hours a day, so we feel pretty lucky. Its amazing how much more you appreciate things like electricity and drinking water when it's not always readily available like it is back home.

On a final note for today, I'm really thinking of and praying for all my Christchurch family and friends after the earthquake yesterday. Looking at the photos online I'm blown away by how this kind of thing can happen in little old NZ...its easy to assume it just never will. It's times like this that its strange being so far removed from everything happening on my home side of the world. Love to you all xx