School holidays, it is presumed that teachers go on holiday for two weeks, chilling out and doing nothing. I'll let you into a secret, that is partly what we do! But face it, 25 children every day, 25 personalities, 25 individual people all wanting you and your attention... we need a break! Within schools, it is well known that the holidays mean a break for our bodies, which also means, we get sick! All of a sudden, the lingering bugs that the snotty nosed children have passed on to us have a chance to take over our bodies. These school holidays, it did just that.
I had planned with great delight, to head off for a roadtrip for a few days of the holidays. Although I was headed out on my lonesome, I had planned to visit friends down by the mountains and also near the lakes. After a five hour drive, I arrived in the mountains. Within one night of staying there, I could feel it. Creeping from my shoulders, to my neck and onwards to my head. It was taking over.
One evening I was sat in front of the fire, shivering. With a fever and general feeling of crap, I felt like a burden on the guys I was staying with. Appart from feeling like a Zombie, I very much appreciated being looked after and being surrounded by good company. Everyone hates being alone and sick. Making your own medicine and generally having to look after yourself far more than usual! I can always relate to feeling like a child when I am sick, dependent on someone to make me feel better, to be waited on hand and foot and generally be cared for. Everyone feels like that Zombie at some point in time, this is an appreciation to people that have the patience to care for others at such times.
My second part of this blog reflects on the first week of holidays with my mum.
When school finished, I went to visit my parents for a few days. As usual the weekend was full of conversations, wine and home cooked meals! The conversation of exercise came up, we chatted about motivation to go out and try things. Mum and I agreed most people just need a kick up the bum from a friend to get out and try out new activities and exercise classes! In my motivation state of mind, I persuaded Mum to come to Zumba with me. As the HOT new crazy in New Zealand, I was interested to see what it was like and have a good giggle. Mum and I spent an hour wiggling our hips and trying to step to some sort of rythmn! It was a great experience and we thoroughly enjoyed laughing at each other.
I had heard from a friend that there was a local badminton club that run on Tuesday mornings. As I was on holidays, I persuaded Mum to come along and have a hit with me. We were greeted by a fantastic bunch of retired folks, most had had hip or knee replacements! Two hours of frantic badminton, I had blisters on my hands! I can openly admit that those old folks ran rings around me! I couldn't believe just how active they were! It was great fun and exactly what Mum and I wanted to find! Nothing too competitive. All in all, by the time I left Mum and Dad's and headed back to Auckland, I had pulled many muscles in my arms. BUT, it felt great to do something out of our comfort zone.
Stepping out of that comfort zone and doing something different did wonders for our self-confidence! Later that week, when I went on my roadtrip to the mountains, I stayed with people from Argentina. I found myself a little out of my comfort zone when it came to talking and listening, helping the guys practise their English and allowing them to teach me Spanish! Was great fun, but challenging at the same time and I came away more confident with not only my own language but that of Spanish as well.
This blog is very topsy turvy! Sorry! But I have completed Z...! Now to go back to X... I may postpone it for my new blog.
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