Written by South Pacific Overseas Educators, Mary and Sushi
Our beloved belayers, queens of the Daintree, goddesses of Aotearoa, BBs. Our dearest SOPAC ’24,
Wow, what an incredible, magical journey we have embarked on together through the South Pacific. We are so proud of each and every one of you for the leadership, the growth, the openness, the bravery, and the Aroha you’ve embodied every leg of the way. You are the reason we love doing this work! You are more than our students, you are our whanau.
What a special flock we are! We have a weka (Caroline), a tui (Julia), a fairy-wren (Grace), a cassowary (Clivia), a fantail (JT), a kookaburra (Susannah), a kiwi (Ash), and an owlet nightjar (Gabe). 🙂
The first week during orientation, we shared with a Māori proverb with you all:
“E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū”.
The proverb means “it takes all kinds of birds”; a deeper message to celebrate the unique gifts that each individual brings forth to the collective. This rings so true for the community we created – this trip would not have been whole without a single one of you. Thank you for being you, and for sharing your heart with us.
What a highlight it was to watch you all shine this past week during Student Directed Travel, taking us along for the ride as you navigate the path ahead! You fiercely balanced the budget, arranged activities, slayed our stays, and directed the driving. Woohoo! From pancake rocks to Hokitika Gorge, kiwi conservation to Wicked, hot pools to a hanging bridge, what a blast we had!
As we sit here reminiscing in a Christchurch caravan park, ready to cry, humor helps us fight the heartbreak. Therefore we are going to share a written version of a semester bloopers reel with you all.
Here’s some LAUGHTER we are never FORGETTING:
– y’all mind?
– 7 zambonis
– Nighttime stories at Sheoak
– Sprite
– Bert’s booty bump
– Ellen (apple sorbet) and Uncle Ernesto (Venus)
– Halloween night… everything that occurred
– Sunshine rain cloud icebreaker (…and the Port Douglas edition LOL)
– BREAD PUDDING
– Sleep deprived and unwell KFC walk
– the really hard psychiatrist round when Grace was guessing
– The abandoned water park hot pools
– Naïm: teacup, honey bees, chainsaw, bicycle, no shoes. You know the vibe 😛
– Barney’s AI poem
– Being abandoned at Shipwreck Bay
– Moo off: Tiaki vs. Caroline
– The branch in the fire (Eli’s favorite)
– Olive’s story??
– Theo’s enthusiasm…
– Tim tam slam AND #timtamslam
– Fit it Felix and his cows
– The vibes of the Whenua Iti bus: alphabet music, wet clothing smells, shapes in many flavors
– THE GREAT EXPLOSION OF THE APRICOT YOGURT COOKIES
– The van door… rarely being closed 😑
– Fighting for our lives in the sea kayaks… KAKAAAAW
– Probably… tacos. With chocolate!
– Belting playlist
– Mud fight(s)
– The first apple dance without your OEs (IYKYK)
– Marinating and cooking always
– Water guns (and Susannah’s tiny croc pistol)
– Dr. Organix
– Marcus’ slang trivia
– Loving mushy food 😉
– Uno games …and the whispers
– Crashing out
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for such a remarkable ten weeks. For your mauri. For your humility and openness. For your gratitude. For your hilarity. For being our favorite student group. 😉 We could go on and on, but for now, we will say “ma te wa”, and see ya later, our sweet little birds!
Fly far with each wing, and use your voice to sing (…or belt).
We are always here for you as a nest of love. Can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures.
Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.
Love your two OEs,
Mary and Sushi (Marshi, not Mushi!!!)