6 down, 6 to go?

This post is a month or so overdue, but anyway it's time for a summary of my first 6 months in NZ.  Since my last post I have been indulging in skiing a lot (of the downhill variety).  Cross country stuff here is not as common as in Oz- your only option is apline touring and for that you have to be able to ski really good and know about avalanches and stuff (three skiers in the backcountry have died in avalanches in the last month over here).

Anyway, a summury:

The Good:

- No traffic

- Good biking

- Good hiking

- Good skiing

- Good photo opportunities

- Lots of great places to visit within a couple of hours drive

- Relaxed pace of small town life

The Bad:

- Supermarkets aren't open past 8

- No decent takeaways (I really miss: Italian food, Nandos, Chinese food, Pancake Palour etc)

- No one seems to be able to make a decent bacon and egg sandwich around here (who'd thought you could actually screw that up even?)

- (Last on the food I promise) Fish and chips are pretty sub par around here.

- Small town living (it has it's downsides as well)

- Missing the music opportunities of Melb

- I do even miss my faithful readership (of 1 or 2).  I notice the Victory haven't had the best of starts to the season.  

The Ugly:

- The job.  Pretty much over it nowadays.  The kids are a mix bunch, but the worst are really energy sapping.  A couple of weeks ago it was 'throw things at Tim' week.  I ducked a chair.  Had a stone hit me in the foot (in fairness it was really thrown to hit me I don't think).  Net result of both incidents - not a whole lot.  I thought at least the chair throwing chick would get suspended, but no she eventually was forced to mumble something that may have been an apology. (After refusing to do so for several days.)  

-Restorative Justice (the results of which are above).  School's discipline model is based on this system.  No punitive punishment, only RJ.  Sorry, but I much prefer to be feared and respected than to be in an equal relationship of power with my students.  (At least with this kids anyway).  Maybe I'm just bitter because in this whole year I don't think justice has ever been restored to me.

So where does this leave me?  Seriously considering returning home at the end of the year.  Julie can go back to her old job if we return within 12 months.  A big financial carrot given our combined income at the moment is less than what one of us was been making last year.  Having said that though, the thought of leaving so soon pains me... but the thought of another 3 months in this job (let alone a whole year and 3 months) pains me equally.  

Jobs back in Melb for next year will soon be advertised so I guess decision time will be soon.  Annoyingly I don't really want 5 days of classroom next year, but finding instrumental work from over here may prove difficult.  Bah, enough musing for now.