We have decided as a family to take a break, a pseudo-sabbatical to visit the down-unders, learn about their culture, present at conferences, and generally focus on de-stressing and self-improvement. The 3 kids are out of school, and will be getting intensively tutored by Annie and me.
People’s reponses have been universally positive, including our colleagues in Sainte Justine, and the children’s teachers. So far no-one has said ‘but what about the kids missing 3 months of school?’
Tuesday, on our trip down here we had an 8 hour break in San Francisco, so we decided to go to the California Academy of Sciences, as recounted in the blogs that the kids have set up to keep in touch with their class mates: Axel’s blog is tentacules and Violette’s is simply Violette’s blog: even Tai is guest posting on Axel’s blog!
Then on to the antipodes for our 3 month break in the sun, or so we thought… so far New Zealand and sun seem to be antonyms. The countryside is beautiful, and the birds are noisy, but the rain has been almost constant.
Since our arrival in Auckland we have been exploring a little, we have seen most of the indoor attractions of Auckland, which fortunately has an interesting Museum and Art Gallery, and even an indoor mini-golf! we have had a couple of days without rain, just cloudy skies, the first we went walking among the tree ferns at Hunua ranges. The tree ferns are beautiful, and many are unique to New Zealand, this specimen was over 10 metres tall, with epiphytic bromeliads growing from the trunk.
Close to the car park this pool with waterfall
Another day we climbed a volcano, Rangitoto island in Auckland bay is a volcano that erupted about 600 years ago. I don’t fully understand the lush vegetation, I thought it took longer than that to create good soil from new volcanic rock. This is a view of Auckland from Rangitoto, showing a typical cloudy sky, looking over the lava poking out of the water and the mangroves.
The Auckland museum has a reconstructed Maori dwelling, with this couple as the base of one of the door supports.
Neonatal Research 
Having a great time in New Zealand. Hospitality was exceptional from the Auckland neonatal group, it was an honor to visit their unit.
An inspiration for me for many things.
Top NZ so far: walks and nature, hospitality, Maori culture and the the ubiquitous integration of the Maori culture (very unlike Canada and other places I have visited), NZ coffee, locally grown foods in supermarkets , many clean toilets everywhere (much easier with children).
Keith may be in denial, but I have answered all the ‘but what about the kids missing 3 months of school?’ questions many times, including to myself, met the teachers, organized the tutoring, etc.
Keith is the Blog Chief of Operation.
I’m the only one who doesn’t have one!
Ma belle Annie,
Quelle belle manière de rentrer dans 2015!
Quelle belle aventure vous faites là! Un moment pour votre cocon familial. profitez à fond. Les enfants en garderont des souvenirs impérissables.
Maria, Martin et Gabriel 3ans1/2
xox
Enjoy your trip in family and have fun 🙂
G’Day Keith, Annie and family. Looking forward to seeing you over here in Melbourne. I’ll even find a mango or two for Annie from the Mango girl.