So many things I can't even handle it

 Week 3, the DTS has begun!  Already these students are blowing me away with their talents, hearts and willingness to put themselves out there and make friends. It is unbelievable to be apart of. It’s also crazy to hear about how world events that seem so distant when they were learnt in school become very real- such as Chernobyl.  Two student’s families have been impacted by that disaster, one student’s sister is now mentally handicapped because the mom was exposed to the radiation during her pregnancy. It’s just so tragic. Anyways, we went to some local waterfalls on Tuesday and from Wednesday to Friday we were camping and went to the town of Dargarville and made it to a beach on the west cost called Bayllys Beach. It was very cold camping, we are still in early spring and there were no fires allowed. There was a beautiful lake, but no one went swimming because the wind was so strong and there was no hot water. We made blow darts and  It was an experience to be sure, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. We hiked in the morning and afternoon, played capture the flag and had all the students give their life stories. There are HUGE sand dunes at Baylly’s beach and it goes on for miles and miles- unbelievable landscape. Driving 5 min inland you would never know you were even close to the ocean. The lakes we were on are fresh water.  It’s been an amazing time, the students are so open, I wasn’t expecting this much transparency until half way in the  school, but all these kids are so gung-ho!

 

This Saturday the school went docking on a local farm, we cut off the tails of shrieking lambs, clipped their ears to identify male and female and castrated the former. :S I was a bit green for my first one, but after the blood spurted on my face, I got over it- just like the rest of the school. We all came back from the pasture (called a padox) tired, hungry and happy. The farmer made us an enormous meal – mutton of course and played redicous games all night; it was so much fun! Tomorrow we’re off to church and then finally Monday is the first official week of lectures. So exciting! It was a packed week, and Im so glad I have this blog so I can recount all the activity that went on, I’m sure I  missed something, but It’ll be in my pictures for sure. 

Oh, and I'm also in the process of spinning wool, I have raw wool, but it's neither carted or washed. :s Everyone is eager to help me learn, but no one seems to know exactly where to find someone who knows how to spin... more on that later. :)