School Days

After 5 days we were all mostly adjusted to the time, had visited the boys schools, had tea & lovely home made cakes with Anne-Marie, Zhang Ji & their kids (our future landlords), gone to Quaker Meeting & got to know the lay of the land in the area where we will be living. 

By Monday August 2 the boys were ready for school.  Henri headed in to meet his colleagues in the Civil Engineering Dept, Ben to Kirkwood Middle School, Eric to Ilam Primary & me to search out our second phase of housing.

In New Zealand all kids wear uniforms to school.  The kids are attending regular public schools near the University.  As you can see the elementary school uniform is something kids can play in.  Eric says it's very comfortable.  The intermediate school uniform is a bit more formal/British.  Yes those are really long wool socks Ben is wearing.  The boys tend to wear shorts all winter (rugged NZ culture).  The girls wear green & black plaid skirts.  Ben has PE every day at school & the PE uniform is green knit shorts & a white polo shirt.  Both have school fleeces (blue & green)...a NZ concession to winter.