Best Film and Prizegiving

Yehey! My daughter JJ will join the prizegiving/graduation on Monday 11 November.

She already finished HS in March and we arrived here in April. We were on a work permit and it would be expensive for her to go to uni. So we told her she had to go back to HS (sad but she had no choice)to earn some credits, use the time to orient herself with a NZ school and pray we get the PR before she goes to uni.

Since she already missed the first term she didn't have a lot of choice for her courses. She had three YR 13 and some other Yr 12 ones. I felt she was just going through the motions not really keen on doing anything of course it did not help that she felt alone. She missed the wonderful pleasure of having friends around, so much she would come home reporting every detail of her lonely day and enumerate all the friends she missed. Having no work I was there everyday and even if I was the mom-friend or friend-mom I knew there were just some connections I cannot fill.

I know she has tried to adjust and do her best given the situation. She did well in her courses in fact during the Parent-teacher conference all the teachers I talked to praised her diligence and excellent work despite missing the first term.

In her Media Studies class they were required to make a short Film for end of year evaluation. Unlike the others who were grouped in threes, she was assigned a partner, Daniel. They brainstormed, wrote the script, filmed, and edited their short mystery-comedy. On the 4th of November, we were invited to a screening of all films produced by yr 12 and 13. We thought we already missed their one (we came late - sorry) but soon found theirs was viewed last - just as well. It was not only the Best YR 13 film it was also Best Overall Film. In the next day's discussion, the teacher heaped praises on their work saying "it was one of the if not the best student film I ever graded".

This week her classmates were abuzz with who was going to graduate. She/we did not receive any notice yet although her classmates said she was sure to graduate and the notice might already be in the mail. Sure enough we got the notice informing us of the prizegiving as they call graduation here. So she is graduating but she will still be taking the NCEA later this month in which I'm sure she would also do well.

Jhodi's 11th!

It was Jhodi's 11th birthday and we were able to celebrate it thanks to very generous Aunts and Uncles.

After JJs birthday, Jhodi was already excitedly planning and looking forward to her 1st birthday in NZ. Much as I liked to be excited with her, I honestly couldn't given our current situation. Back home I could decide two days before and voila - you get a complete birthday. Here you have to count the guests and invite weeks in advance.

Two weeks before, I carefully explained to her how we might not be able to give her a party mainly because of finances.As I said before, we were still waiting for the permit and we were financially depleted. Even when the permit arrived still there was no extra to work with.

It was the generosity of an Auntie that finally made it possible. She asked us not to worry and that would take care of everything. And so given just a week, Jhodi made her invitations. It was Labor weekend here and usually people go somewhere so I told Jhodi not to expect all here invitees to arrive because they might have some previous appointments.

Jhodi invited three girls and two boys, which I didn't realize was a big deal here. It was fun, there were games with prizes, there was more than enough food and Jhodi loved her presents.

The party was at an Uncles place because our place is not the best place for kids to run around.

That weekend was also the gathering of Filipinos from all over NZ in Waikato and so later that day many arrived not for the party but to crash at my brother-in-laws place. Two of my former students and some others from all over Bukidnon.

So now no more birthday until the end of the year.