The new semester has begun and it seems to be off to a good start! It’s always exciting and nerve-wracking the first few days of living together. I love witnessing their first impressions of this beautiful place and of each other. It’s also a period of big adjustment to live with a whole new group of people, so it can be pretty tiring. Thankfully, it is now the long weekend post orientation week where the students head off to explore together and the staff try to get some rest.
We have five students this time around, which is our smallest group yet. I’m loving this group so far, but do get a little discouraged at times seeing low enrollment. I know we’re just getting going though! It’s a huge deal to start up again after 2.5 years of “hibernation”. We’ve been busy revitalizing relationships with North American schools – from future students to professors. That makes me optimistic for the Fall 2023 semester.
Speaking of next semester, it’s time for a life update! This week I received the longer term (2 year) visa that I was hoping for!!! It came much earlier than I expected, which is a welcome surprise. This makes my goal to be here in NZ working for CCSP through May of 2024 more feasible! I’m very excited to have more security with this visa.
The hope is to shift my role from Student Life Coordinator to some kind of Program Administrator/ Gardener combo next school year. That means this semester is my last as an SLC and I want to soak up every minute! My is plan is to say yes to more spontaneous adventures with the crew like swimming, watching sunsets, and looking at the stars . It makes me a bit sad to be transitioning out of this role that has changed my life, but it also feels right to move to a new one.
That’s about it for now! I’m sorry this post is brief and has such random photos. I’ll try to get back into the zone of taking pictures of daily life and the people I share it with. Tomorrow begins Sustainable Community Development with Mick Duncan which I’m the TA for. I’m looking forward to hearing what the students learn from class this week!
There and back again Brush 