I've relieved at Lake Rotoiti school once before, so I set my alarm for an early wake up knowing it would be easy getting up to teach at this adorable country school.
The entire school's roll is 27 and there are only 8 children in the junior classroom where I was relieving. The kids are a pleasure to teach - respectful, well behaved, polite, kind to one another and eager to learn. Every teacher's dream!
The hour long drive was full of changes - the sun was rising which made the dark sky morph into various shades of pink before settling for a bright blue hue. Mist rolled off paddocks adding further charm to the early morning scene.
The children had an intriguing start to their week when a convoy of historic
military vehicles assembled across the road from the school.
The
New Zealand Military Vehicle Club had organised with Principal, Sue Ford, to
gather across from the school so the children could see the vehicles.
The
club’s iconic convoy of historic military vehicles is traveling throughout New
Zealand to commemorate WW1 history and New Zealand’s role in it.
Starting
from Rotorua on the 18th March the Armistice 100 Convoy are making
their way to the World’s most unique biennial airshow, Warbirds over Wanaka held in Wanaka on Easter weekend.
The
return trip will cover 3,500 kilometres through some of Aotearoa’s most scenic
regions. It’s expected to take three and a half weeks and will finish in
Taumarunui, a small town in the King Country of the central North Island.
The
procession includes 27 military vehicles, 4 military motorbikes and a
contingency of recovery vehicles with trailers.
10
Americans have also joined the convoy. In 2017 six kiwis with an interest in military
vehicles traveled to the United States and joined the Route 66 Military Vehicle
Convoy. Some of the American participants decided to organise a trip to New
Zealand, which is how this particular convoy gained its American contingent.
Lake
Rotoiti school children joined in singing the New Zealand national anthem and
listened while the American members sang theirs. Afterwards they were shown
around the various vehicles and were able to ask questions and gather
information.
With
lots of waves, toots and sirens blaring the Armistice 100 Convoy rolled out of
Lake Rotoiti to travel over the Rainbow Road to Hanmer Springs leaving 26 fired-up
children in their wake.
After a cruisy day in the classroom, I drove to the lake to take a short bush walk. Tuis chortling high up in the tree tops produced the perfect sound to wind up the day. At times a warm breeze wafted a sweet smell of honey from the honeydew that ran down the beech trees. The sooty mould fungi growing on the waste honeydew formed a dark sponge-like covering on tree trunks, creating a complimentary contrast to the many shades of green.
The lake, glistened in the sun, and although it looked inviting, it wasn't enough to tempt me in for a dip. However one guy wasn't fazed, he plucked up some courage, then sprinted along the pier before leaping off into the water.
Underneath the pier was a swarm of big, black eels. Watching them, gave me another excuse why I didn't need a swim.
An inquisitive swan patrolled the shoreline keeping an eye on the comings and goings.
A fisherman and his friend about to motor away in their boat received a visit from the swan (in the photo below). It swam beside them and looked over the edge of their boat checking out what was inside before gliding gracefully away.
I think the following quote by Lao Tzu is fitting to end this blog post.
'"Make your heart like a lake, with a calm, still surface,
and great depths of kindness.'
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