Jenny George - New Zealand

Disclaimer: I'm Kenny's wife! (so you'd think I be prejudiced, but I'm actually the critic in the family)

This trip to New Zealand was amazing! I felt an instant comradery with the other teachers and we started sharing our thoughts and questions immediately – pulling out our phones to share pictures of our classrooms, etc.  And before our trip was over, we were also able to become a support group for each other as people shared their teaching struggles and challenges. Many stay in touch, so if you want teacher friends from all over, there’s that part (Hey Rachel in NY!)

Then there is the place – NZ is magical: Dr. Seuss plants, fairy sized ferns and tree ferns, rolling grassy hills dotted with sheep, geothermal mists, bubbling mud pools, rocky beaches with seals, unique birds and more…

Wellington is a friendly, windy, walkable city with delicious food and free museums. The country is eco-conscious and is not only working to repair the environment, but also their relations with the indigenous people, the Maori. You are greeted first with the Maori greeting, kia ora, their national anthem is sung first in the Maori language, then English, and the children are taught about the Maori customs starting in preschool.

Because I am a preschool teacher, I sought out several preschools to visit, there was one right next to our hotel, one under the art museum, and a Waldorf one within walking distance. These visits were so inspiring, how they use learning stories, for instance. As a group, we spent several days in a primary school, who welcomed us into their setting with a Hongi, the tradition of sharing the breath of life, becoming part of their tribe.

The schools there are not consumed with testing and avoiding lawsuits and instead, allow the children to play twice a day, free to be barefoot or climb trees or go “into the bush” without constant hovering adults! The parents walked right into the school yard to pick up their children and there was a sense the school was a part of the community - It was beautiful to see the trust they have in the children and their city.