Ok.. so what is a Liger ???

Dear Blog !
Did you know that there is an actual species called a LIGER ? Its a cross between a lion and a tiger ! It is huge ! Its soo unbelievable. We were shown one in the first part of history today. History at Branksom Hall as well as T.O.K (Theory of knowledge) are the most enjoyable classes that I have because they are the most interesting ! Not just because of the subject itself but how they are taught. We at Tamaki do a lot of book work, (which I love, nothing wrong with it) but there are more discussions which I personally think makes you think more, because copying out of a text book is just kind of too easy. Anyway, in these two classes they do more discussions about questions, and with 80 minute classes a lot can be achieved ! History is full of discussions and right now we are learning about Joesph Stalin and we have come to the part where we talk about the way Stalin eliminated religion then used it again to his advantage . That of course got the discussion of religion going and once again Christine was the minority ! In T.O.K we talked about how tradition is being lost and its not really encouraged to learn your own background & tradition. Christine was the minority again ! After coming from somewhere , where I am part of the hundreds who go to church & love learning about traditions and history , it's hard to believe that people across the world do things differently. Today is Friday 29th. I think its the 29th :) anddd this week coming up is ALL ABOUTTTT SPIRITTTT WEEEK :) orange orangeee & orangeeee .. thats the colour of my clang (house) & we have cheer practice on Sunday :O They seriously go all out here when it comes to competition :) Plusss , if all goes well , I may start my investigation on whether "Environment effects maturity" which will be sooo interesting. My new friends here will be helping me produce a film noir for school :) which I cant wait for. Going to love it . :) Well that's how my trip in Canada is going soooo far ..
Keep you posted .
Oh and ps - I am nailing biology :) Mr Dewan went over Enzymes about a million times last year and they have just started the unit this year :) I feel like a genius !!!

Christine xx

Me in the snow!!!

Blizzards!!!

Yaaaay !! I have started with more regular blogs, because I have more friends and more to talk about ! :) I had my first snow blizzard this morning ! I wasnt expecting it , and we had like a cm of snow in less then 10minutes . As cold as it was , I was actually pretty guttered when it stopped. Funny story. People here are dieing to get tattoos, and funnily enough, I have one. I said it casually to one of the girls I met and she was sooo shocked. Made me laugh . Anywaaay - back to important issues. I seem to be having a real big problem here , nothing to do with bullying or anything absurd like that , but - just the fact that like , everything is so different. After being here for 26 days you would think that I have adjusted ! I haven't actually. My Samoan culture ways are fully colliding with the way they live here. Quick example - independency is something that you don't get till your like 104 ! but here, its different. Anywhere , gooo .. be freee ? I know of some people in New Zealand who get the same treatment, but I've never lived somewhere where, its NORMAL ? Its everywhere ? (shows how far I've been in life) Hahaa. Oh and they regularly speak French here? Hard to understand. Nothing like Samoan . :) ObviouslY !! The winter Olympics are starting up here soon. Not going to be watching it though ? && today im going to be attending a photography class. Photography and art is huge here ! and the people are amazingly talented . At Tamaki , our music classes are huge right ? there a popular subject but here its art & photography. Music classes have like 7 people ? I am officially over being home sick and am looking forward to the days to come becaaausseee - there is A LOT of preparation for spirit week happening, which is intense here. Everyone is practicing like there is no tomorrow. There is the Formal too, which once again is still buzz of the moment. Dramas with formal partners & everything have already been happening. Did I mention this ? I met Greg Mortenson , he's the famous author for Three Cups of Tea & Pennies for Peace, an organisation which helps to raise money in order to build schools for girls in Pakistan :) He came to speak at Branksome and it was sooo moving . :) Good man. Hes a good man . :)

Got to go . :)
Keep you updated on everything else that happens.

Christine :)

Lock downs and Spirit Week!!!

Dear Blog . Lol ;
Okay . Love it here . Actually have begun eating salads ! Hahaha . There's a first ? Anyway , we had a lockdown drill yesterday and I didn't know what it was about, or why we did lockdowns until one of the other students told me that it was for if like if criminals are on the loose nearby ? FREAKY ! The closest Tamaki has gotten to a drill is like , Fire drill ? :) . Problems :- there is a huge culture difference here , and after coming from a place where everyone is mainly Christian, its weird to come here and have a majority of people here believe in Darwin's Theory of Evolution and most people do not even believe in God. I'm actually pretty much a minority here and it feels soooo different. Anyway , I've moved out of Sarah Roseblats house and I'm now staying with Cara Neel , which is awesome for me ! Cara , isn't the person coming back to New Zealand though ? I actually dont know if there is anyone coming back to NZ ? I shall keep you posted. Updates for BranksomeHall ? Next week is SPIRIT WEEK ! It is going to be a blast, there are competitions all through out the week and crazy dress-upss . :) Cant wait! Also , next week is the ball (formal) & I'll be taking waaaay more photos to keep you all updated on that !
Take Care . Good luck with the first weeks of school .
(message for both teachers and students)

Keep you updated .
:)

Oh ! and I forgot to mention the weather ! Before I came to Canada , I fully packed sooo much clothing and wore sooo many layers ? Everyone saying I would freeze my face off . Liars :( It's not as cold this year ! Which is lucky for me . The temperature has only been between -3 degrees and 7degrees . Its not that bad and I'm loving the snow ! There's not much though. sadly ! :)



Great uniform eh???

When I first got here......

I wrote this when I first got here.

Day one ! I can not believe that I actually made it. After practically creating a waterfall with the amount of tears I've shed. I can very well say that I have settled in. Hello Tamaki. Well today is JANUARY 4TH, also the same day that one of the most important people you'll ever know was born . MEE ! Today is my birthday, but instead of being happy about it, I have to get ready for a new day tomorrow. I start up at Branksome ! Excited? try the words terrified ! Attached are photos of the snow, because right now that's all I have to offer. I went shopping today at Yorksdale? It makes Sylvia Park look TINY ! literally. I have been eating a lot of bagels ! :D good food here, good food. Anyway, its nearly dinner time, so I best be off. I might go and make myself a cupcake and sing happy birthday to myself. sweet. Good bye !

Christine's First Post from Canada...

Dear Blog . Lol ..
its been approximately , 15days since I set foot in the land of all snow - Canada .. and its been 10 days since i started school at Branksome Hall . it is fully different ! Toronto Canada looks nothing at all like Glen Innes , there's tons of snow ! so everything looks purely painted white . The houses are much bigger , ( i haven't seen a single one floor house yet ) . Its like living in the city , being surrounded by buildings which are like sky tower high . Its kind of ridiculous .. Missing the comforts of home . School is soooo different , let me list the differences - There are no boys (most obvious difference) , the library is quiet ! all the time . There are about four levels to the school and they have half floors too ! (Honestly why would you need a half floor!) They only have one lunch :( and there are four classes in the day , all one hour and 20 minutes long ! Time passes really quickly though , and school starts at 8.30 finishes at 3.30 .. no tutor time ? .. The buzz at Branksome Hall at the moment is the Formal (Ball) and Spirit Week (a week where all grades battle it out against each other in games, lipsyncs, dances . Its crazy and even I cant wait for it .. Oh yeah , and the school is fully student run ! The prefects do everything , set up things for up coming events , run the entire assembly , they are the backbone of the school. Its kind of inspiring in a way ? lol .
Anyway , visited the McMichael Art Gallery ! sooo pretty , the Inuit art is something sooo different. Haven't done much , other then that . BUT ill keep you posted on everything that occurs while i am here in Canada..

See Yaa
- Chrisitne :)