One-by-one I have solved the various technology issues. I am hugely pleased I bought and brought the EEE PC as it would have been painful accessing internet and email on the Samsung Global.
The EEE PC connects easily to a wireless network so it has been easy getting emails and checking the NZ Herald. I had two frustrations which I have overcome.
I couldn't get the EEE PC to pick up my digital camera. Even after checking the Help Manual and following the instructions I was being unsuccessful. I then hade a hunch that one of the screens I needed to check should have had an Apply button. Sure enough it was hidden right at the bottom and I could just see the top of it. After checking that and following my nose I was away!
I couldn't post to my blog. I am not sure how I solved it but it came up with HTML errors. Not knowing anything about HTML I simply deleted some of the HTML code and eventually I was successful. What a clever nerd!
10 days into the trip I attempted to call home and found I couldn't make calls on my Samsung Global even though I was sending and receiving texts. I had been careful, before departure, to organise global roaming and write everything down in my notebook. I emailed Leigh who contacted the Helpdesk. I had been phoning 001647 before the Opotiki number, but I should have been phoning 011647. Problem now fixed.
the only problem I still have, which I am sure I could solve given time, is loading photos onto Flickr. I'll check that out some time.
Preliminary Review of EEE PC
This is an excellent travelling machine. It is very intuitive and does not really need a manual. On start up you simply choose a tab (Internet, Work, Learn, Play or Settings). When you click on Internet you get a number of big buttons. I just clicked on Wireless Networks which gives me a series to choose from and then I click on the Web button to access internet. Very easy.
Clicking on the Work Tab gives you access to another large set of buttons for word, excel, powerpoint and pdf equivalents. The most used button is File Manager which holds My Documents etc.
The Play tab gives you a series of buttons for photos and music etc.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Yesterday was the last day of our Harvard course and as I reported I was feeling a little slow as a result of a large Margarita bucket. We had to sit in our small groups and had a three hour presentation from Bob Fogel on leading big cultural change.
He used a case from the US Navy from 200 years ago to explore why cultural change is difficult. We then did a case study exercise on the NYPD.
This exercise had huge potenytial as it broughht together all of the learnings from the course and could provide all of us with a workable plan on our return to our schools. As well, he was an entertaining and knowledgeable presenter.
However, once again we did not have enough time and having it on the last morning meant we were all tired and thinking of taxis, flights etc. This session needed a full day with all of us given an opportunity to develop a change management plan based on his model of congruence with the support of our facilitators and our colleagues.
Pamela then led us through the closing ceremony. We were given time to express our thoughts and for these to be received quietly by evertyone else. I thought I was at a funeral!!!! People spoke solemnly, reverently and almost depressingly giving pearls of wisdom about our learnings and the challenges in front of us.
I had to restrain myself from leaping to my feet, cracking a joke, telling everyone to lighten u8p and enjoy themselves!! I was too scared of Pamela, because the day before she publically admonished two of the presenters who had 'violated the value of respect' by using the word 'faggot' in describing what a child said to another. Apparently she received a complaint. A lot of these people are a bit uptight!
You can imagine how some of my comments may have gone down!
We received a nice photo, certificate and faacebook from Melissa, our facilitator. I gave her a copy of our YES Company Maori Recipe Book. Terry also gave a gift to his facilitator. Wasn't common practice we noticed.
We had lunch with Aussie John who had similar thoughts on the farewell. I also farewelled Dave from Cashmere College who is heading home from a Woolf Fisher and waved goodbye to Elizabeth from Rangitoto College.
Terry and I hunted out a Post Office to find out about sending stuff home, headed back to the DoubleTree, packed our postal boxes, did laundry and headed inti Harvard for a lasst feed.
We went to the Margarita bar (not for a Margarita!) where we had great fajitas for tea and a couple of cold beers before our final walk along the Charles River to the hotel.
This morning we taxied up the road and posted a box of course documents and T shirts home, checked out and taxied to South Station for our trip to New York.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
So Many Posts
Make sure you scroll to the bottom and click older posts as there are heaps of posts and they don't all fit on the page.
Next posting will be from New York.
Next posting will be from New York.
Sabbatical Part 6
The morning session by Jim Honan was a look at a case study involving a mass of data for a Florida school. This session sort of horrified me. Most states test every kid from Grade 3 upwards and the results are high stakes – so much so that the kids seem to practice test all year and teachers drill down to see what questions kids get wrong, and then put in place strategies to help them get the questions right, and Principals oversee this and hold teachers accountable, and they in turn are held accountable – frome Grade 3 up!!!!
They have got to stop weighing the pig and feed the poor critter. It will grow! Kids need to learn and develop an enjoyment for learning! I was horrified after this session and had to contain myself – I am a guest here after all.
Principalsd need to take a stance against this madness. Teachers who work collaboratively to share best practice, who engage in effective formative assessment and use the results to inform further strategies (around learning and not test scores) bring the best out in kids. Look at the Pisa results.
The second session from Lee Teitel was on developing productive partnerships. He had some interesting ideas about making partnerships transformative rather than transactional.
The small group session was neat as we all wrote little messages to each other which were great to read.
After that we headed to the Campus pub and had a Clambake – Lobster, chowder and lots of beer. After dropping stuff off at home we joined other mad fellas for a Magarita and then a few more beers at a Karaoke which was a great student pub, with some middle aged principals thrown in.
Pubs are great here as you have to be 21 and Ids are checked strenuously. Makes for a pleasant scene.
Bit slow and tired for last morning of Harvard!
Sabbatical Part 6
Since it was Sunday they let us have a late start – 10.30am – with a 1.45pm finish. I slept till 9.00 but couldn't help thinking that a normal 8.30 start with a 11.45 finish would have made more of the day available to enjoy the city.
After watching the first 2 games of Federer v Nadal we duly walked to Harvard for the first session. This was Pam Mason's, the Institute's Director, and it was very disappointing. It was on effective literacy programmes, but I learned nothing.
Her session was followed by a very interesting and quite entertaining presentation by Hunter Gehlbach on surveying. He produced a list of Top Ten Tips for surveys which will prove very useful.
We then went to our small group session which we hold every day. I find these extremely valuable and are disappointed when they finish. A suggestion I would have for future courses is to make these sessions longer. Having enough opportunity to discuss and synthesise the thoughts going around is vital or else it will be lost.
Our facilitator, Melissa, does a great job in involving all of us and getting us thinking. The members of the group are diverse and we could learn so much more from each other if we had more time to discuss and argue.
We began a great discussion today which would benefit from further time. I made the observation that the system in which US principals carried out their complex job was quite brutalising and based on low trust. I dont think I expressed myself well but I was trying to say that the view that I was gathering of their job was one in which:
they were hamstrung by protectionist unions which had little interest in the promotion of the interests of the profession i.e. improved teaching and learning.
they were held accountable at a microscopic level without seemingly being given the means to perform
they are forced to focus on the short term rather than long term
they are seen, and see themselves, as administrators rather than as educational leaders
there is a clear differentiation between 'them and us' when it comes to principals and teachers (they call themselves administrators)
This experience has made me more determined to protect the position that we as principals have in NZ and to push for even more high trust mechanisms.
The reduction to zero suspensions in our school, the significant improvement in attendance, the high levels of retention, and the very high levels of achievement (all of which are outstanding achievements for a decile 1 school) have come about because I (and my predecessors) have been able to be educational leaders, not administrators, and have been able to take a medium to long-term view to problem solving.
I have been in my school for 16 years. The average for the rest of my group would be about 2.
Enough of that. I'm getting tired and still have tomorrow's readings to do.
Terry and I trained into Boston after class and booked our train tickets Boston to NY for Wednesday, NY to Philly for Fri and Philly to Boston on the Monday. Barbara behind the counter has been the first real helpful official we have come across.
Bostonians must still be a bit like their ancestors – reserved. I have greeted many people on our daily walk to class and back. I usually receive anything between ignoring and ignoring unless they are another tourist!
We found a cool bar where we had a couple of beers and a burger watching Nadal defeat Federer. We came back 'home' after seeing Paul Revere's grave and then pooped out to a neat local bar down the street called River Gods for Pizza and beer.
Feeling much better today!
Time to read and begin my evaluation (which I will share with you of course!)
After watching the first 2 games of Federer v Nadal we duly walked to Harvard for the first session. This was Pam Mason's, the Institute's Director, and it was very disappointing. It was on effective literacy programmes, but I learned nothing.
Her session was followed by a very interesting and quite entertaining presentation by Hunter Gehlbach on surveying. He produced a list of Top Ten Tips for surveys which will prove very useful.
We then went to our small group session which we hold every day. I find these extremely valuable and are disappointed when they finish. A suggestion I would have for future courses is to make these sessions longer. Having enough opportunity to discuss and synthesise the thoughts going around is vital or else it will be lost.
Our facilitator, Melissa, does a great job in involving all of us and getting us thinking. The members of the group are diverse and we could learn so much more from each other if we had more time to discuss and argue.
We began a great discussion today which would benefit from further time. I made the observation that the system in which US principals carried out their complex job was quite brutalising and based on low trust. I dont think I expressed myself well but I was trying to say that the view that I was gathering of their job was one in which:
they were hamstrung by protectionist unions which had little interest in the promotion of the interests of the profession i.e. improved teaching and learning.
they were held accountable at a microscopic level without seemingly being given the means to perform
they are forced to focus on the short term rather than long term
they are seen, and see themselves, as administrators rather than as educational leaders
there is a clear differentiation between 'them and us' when it comes to principals and teachers (they call themselves administrators)
This experience has made me more determined to protect the position that we as principals have in NZ and to push for even more high trust mechanisms.
The reduction to zero suspensions in our school, the significant improvement in attendance, the high levels of retention, and the very high levels of achievement (all of which are outstanding achievements for a decile 1 school) have come about because I (and my predecessors) have been able to be educational leaders, not administrators, and have been able to take a medium to long-term view to problem solving.
I have been in my school for 16 years. The average for the rest of my group would be about 2.
Enough of that. I'm getting tired and still have tomorrow's readings to do.
Terry and I trained into Boston after class and booked our train tickets Boston to NY for Wednesday, NY to Philly for Fri and Philly to Boston on the Monday. Barbara behind the counter has been the first real helpful official we have come across.
Bostonians must still be a bit like their ancestors – reserved. I have greeted many people on our daily walk to class and back. I usually receive anything between ignoring and ignoring unless they are another tourist!
We found a cool bar where we had a couple of beers and a burger watching Nadal defeat Federer. We came back 'home' after seeing Paul Revere's grave and then pooped out to a neat local bar down the street called River Gods for Pizza and beer.
Feeling much better today!
Time to read and begin my evaluation (which I will share with you of course!)
Sabbatical Part 4
Had a great sleep last night thanks to the drugs which have reduced the cough and snot – just have the hedaches and sore eyes to deal with. Am hanging on to the belief that I am on the road to recovery. Terry is in the same condition as me.
This morning we had an entertaining presentation from Lorraine Monroe who is a Black American woman who has been an effective principal in Harlem schools. She is a strong and passionate woman who kicks arse and is a great example of someone who leads by the force of her personality. She also offered a simple model of lesson planning which ensured that teachers were planning and which could easily be monitored by school leaders.
Her premise is similar to that of Jeff Howard – have high expectations, have a strong sense of care for every child, be personally resilient and provide clear and simple structure for students and teachers.
Terry and I are coming to a similar view that the role of being a principal in NZ is quite different to that in the USA. They call themselves administrators, see themselves as the boss and appear quite frustrated that their people wont do whaat they are told!
We see ourselves as educational leaders who work with teams of people who commit to a similar vision for our kids, who explore interesting and new ideas to solve lingering problems, who build on the strengths in the team and who grow leaders throughout the staff.
Saturday 5th July
Had an interesting night out last night. Terry and I trained into town with the intention of having a feed, looking around and then getting close to the river for the fireworks. We grabbed a feed of burger and chips to discover this meant potato chips! We then dropped into the Cheers Bar for a beer.
On our walk to the river the cold symptons began resurfacing so I took some more of the drugs I had bought here which seemed to be working real well. After getting in amongst 100s of 1000s of people on the riverbank and hearing the Boston Pops playing we finally found a small space amongst the throngs where we could see the fireworks which were due to start at 10.30. I started to feel quite odd and at about 10.20 I fainted and Terry grabbed me and then I fainted and hit the ground. I felt better quite quickly and was able to see most of the fireworks which were spectacular! I started to feel odd again so we bailed out 5 minutes early and made our way through the crowd and walked the 5k home.
It was a very odd and disturbing feeling but believe it was the combination of the cold drugs and two beers just before I took more pills.
Felt a lot better this morning but decided to take the day easy and to take no more pills.
This morning's session was from Janice Jackson who presented on how to develop a personal mission statement. This was a bit light.
The second session by Kim Marshall was on teacher supervision and was very interesting though he had to rush to get through in the three hours allocated. He should have had a full day. While the situation is quite different in each country he has developed some useful models of teacher supervision and feedback that were time efficient, appreciated by staff AND contributed to improved teaching and student learning. Workshopping with his material would have been very helpful.
After class we went to the Irish Bar with Aussie John and Canadian Ed where they had a couple of beers and I had a lemonade (no drinking today either!) then headed home to summarise the work today and to prepare for tomorrow.
Boston Sights
Terry taking cover from the rain.
The Charles River which we walked along each day to class.
Downtown markets.
Cheers, Terry.
The Harvard Gentleman's Club
Terry and Daphanae comfortably fit into the exclusive, traditional surroundings of their alma mater.
On Arrival
On Day 1 we headed into Boston to greet Paul Revere and then headed back to Cambridge and wandered through our new university, Harvard from which we have just graduated.
Project Adventure
Silvio makes his descent and joins the ground crew while Felix perches at the top. His and Jim's progress will be in the next post.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sabbatical Part Three
Thursday 3 July
Still as crook as a dog and not getting better so found a drug store and bought drugs today. Yesterday we had a great session in the morning from Jeff Howard who is the equivalent of Russel Bishop. His programme of efficacy stated that all kids can achieve to a high level and if they don't it is the 'fault' of the teacher and principal. His recipe is one of high expectations, clear targets and no let up in finding a way for each kid. Challenged quite a few people there. He made it very clear that it was not good enough for teachers to not know the actual performance targets they had for each student/class at each year level and for the students to not know and for their progress not to be measured regularly against them. Being able to do so begins to define us as professionals rather than as practitioners.
The second session was not very good. It was by Kitty Fowles and was on professional development. Her 'innovative ideas' are pretty commonplace in many NZ schools.
We found a good bar with our Aussie mate and had a feed of fish and chips! and then a pleasant walk home.
Had a terrible night and woke up worse than I have been. On the way in we found a drug store. Hopefully the drugs will make a difference. Have certainly dried up a bit, but the cough and headache are still a problem.
The first session this morn ing was from a brilliant presenter, John Collins, and his school-wide writing programme which improves student achievement across all subjects. He was hugely funny and presented a simple model which will fit in nicely with our EPF contract which rrequires us to develop writing across the school next year. He also presented the three factors that were present in all highly successful leaders in any field:
Time – they worked long hours and had done so for a long period of time (at least 10 years)
Feeling – they had a passion for their work and people
Focus – they could identify the one thing they were trying to do.
If you displayed only the first two you were a workaholic, if you displayed all three you were effective.
The second session was more low-key but was great because it created quite a mood of defensiveness. Barry Jentz put forward a model for difficult conversations, had role plays videoed and then analysed them with us. His model is the same as the one we follow but I liked the way lots of people were stirred up.
After a 'ice cream social' which is everyone getting a plate of ice cream Terry and I took a new way home and had a nice feed in a local restaurant. Currently have no appetite for food or booze, but enjoyed the cajun mahimahi.
Some good reasons why it is good to be sick (compiled by Terry and Maurie in their moments of misery)
1. If we felt good we would be up earlier to go for a run (though we are walking 1 – 2 hours per day)
2. If we were well we would be drinking a lot of booze.
3. If we were well we would be eating more.
4. Therefore, if we were well we would be spending more money.
Still as crook as a dog and not getting better so found a drug store and bought drugs today. Yesterday we had a great session in the morning from Jeff Howard who is the equivalent of Russel Bishop. His programme of efficacy stated that all kids can achieve to a high level and if they don't it is the 'fault' of the teacher and principal. His recipe is one of high expectations, clear targets and no let up in finding a way for each kid. Challenged quite a few people there. He made it very clear that it was not good enough for teachers to not know the actual performance targets they had for each student/class at each year level and for the students to not know and for their progress not to be measured regularly against them. Being able to do so begins to define us as professionals rather than as practitioners.
The second session was not very good. It was by Kitty Fowles and was on professional development. Her 'innovative ideas' are pretty commonplace in many NZ schools.
We found a good bar with our Aussie mate and had a feed of fish and chips! and then a pleasant walk home.
Had a terrible night and woke up worse than I have been. On the way in we found a drug store. Hopefully the drugs will make a difference. Have certainly dried up a bit, but the cough and headache are still a problem.
The first session this morn ing was from a brilliant presenter, John Collins, and his school-wide writing programme which improves student achievement across all subjects. He was hugely funny and presented a simple model which will fit in nicely with our EPF contract which rrequires us to develop writing across the school next year. He also presented the three factors that were present in all highly successful leaders in any field:
Time – they worked long hours and had done so for a long period of time (at least 10 years)
Feeling – they had a passion for their work and people
Focus – they could identify the one thing they were trying to do.
If you displayed only the first two you were a workaholic, if you displayed all three you were effective.
The second session was more low-key but was great because it created quite a mood of defensiveness. Barry Jentz put forward a model for difficult conversations, had role plays videoed and then analysed them with us. His model is the same as the one we follow but I liked the way lots of people were stirred up.
After a 'ice cream social' which is everyone getting a plate of ice cream Terry and I took a new way home and had a nice feed in a local restaurant. Currently have no appetite for food or booze, but enjoyed the cajun mahimahi.
Some good reasons why it is good to be sick (compiled by Terry and Maurie in their moments of misery)
1. If we felt good we would be up earlier to go for a run (though we are walking 1 – 2 hours per day)
2. If we were well we would be drinking a lot of booze.
3. If we were well we would be eating more.
4. Therefore, if we were well we would be spending more money.
Sabbatical Part Two
Tuesday 1 July
Where to start? I have developed an atrocious head cold which makes me miserable during the day and keeps me awake during the early hours of the morning!
Despite that we have had 2 great days at Harvard. Yesterday we walked in and registered and had two great presentations. They were close to three hours each, but were very interactive – with 200 people in a cramped lecture theatre.
The first was by Roland Barth who ambushed us into identifying the conditions in which we best learn and then asked us why our schools and classrooms weren't like that. This would be a great whole staff exercise.
The second was by Robert Keegan who took us through a 4 column process which started by expaining that, despite our best intentions, we rarely achieve goals to bring self-improvement or change but that we could be successful if we addressed the underlying commitments we had to keep doing things the same way.
We then met in the small discussion groups we will be in for the rest of the course. Our facilitator is Melissa and I met with our wonderful group of Daphne, Sheila, Kim, Jim, Phillip, Alvin, Curtis, Connie, Rose, Sharon and Silvio.
After that I bumped into an Aussie, John, so after finding Terry we headed off for a quick beer and then to the Harvard Club for a flash dinner in very traditional surroundings – think flash gentleman's club.
Today we were up at 5.45 to get to the bus by 7.00 for the drive out to Project Adventure. We didn't get away until 8.30!!!! but what a great day. We worked in our discussion groups, got to know each other much better. The highlight was completing the high ropes activity with my partner Silvio who has led a remarkable life. It was awesome, also, to see other group members either completing the high ropes or assisting others to do so. Our facilitator there, Angel, did a great job and we now know a lot more about each other.
I've got some neat photos I'll put up but I can't get mine or Terry's camera to talk to the EEE PC I have. Will figure out a way as soon as I can.
I am writing some magazine reviews on my return about the EEE PC. Apart from the camera issue it is proving to be a great machine.
We're now about to head out for tea.
Where to start? I have developed an atrocious head cold which makes me miserable during the day and keeps me awake during the early hours of the morning!
Despite that we have had 2 great days at Harvard. Yesterday we walked in and registered and had two great presentations. They were close to three hours each, but were very interactive – with 200 people in a cramped lecture theatre.
The first was by Roland Barth who ambushed us into identifying the conditions in which we best learn and then asked us why our schools and classrooms weren't like that. This would be a great whole staff exercise.
The second was by Robert Keegan who took us through a 4 column process which started by expaining that, despite our best intentions, we rarely achieve goals to bring self-improvement or change but that we could be successful if we addressed the underlying commitments we had to keep doing things the same way.
We then met in the small discussion groups we will be in for the rest of the course. Our facilitator is Melissa and I met with our wonderful group of Daphne, Sheila, Kim, Jim, Phillip, Alvin, Curtis, Connie, Rose, Sharon and Silvio.
After that I bumped into an Aussie, John, so after finding Terry we headed off for a quick beer and then to the Harvard Club for a flash dinner in very traditional surroundings – think flash gentleman's club.
Today we were up at 5.45 to get to the bus by 7.00 for the drive out to Project Adventure. We didn't get away until 8.30!!!! but what a great day. We worked in our discussion groups, got to know each other much better. The highlight was completing the high ropes activity with my partner Silvio who has led a remarkable life. It was awesome, also, to see other group members either completing the high ropes or assisting others to do so. Our facilitator there, Angel, did a great job and we now know a lot more about each other.
I've got some neat photos I'll put up but I can't get mine or Terry's camera to talk to the EEE PC I have. Will figure out a way as soon as I can.
I am writing some magazine reviews on my return about the EEE PC. Apart from the camera issue it is proving to be a great machine.
We're now about to head out for tea.
Sabbatical Part One
Saturday 28 June
This has been a long day! After 45 minutes at school in the morning, a final check of the packing and a last walk around the track I finally took off from Whakatane at about 2.45pm. The first half of the flight was great, but the last half was very bumpy.
I had a couple of hours to kill waiting for Terry so read the paper and hung around. Ran into Mathew Lack and his Dad who are on the same flight heading to ian nternational disabled athletics event.
Terry turned up and after check in we had a couple of beers, bought some water and boarded the plane. We had great seats – the back row set of 2. Plenty of leg room and no others in our row and right by the wharepaku. Terry has picked up quite a cold so was a bit miserable and I developed a mean headache. Flight was uneventful and long (12 hours) with restless dozing. We had one screamer of a kid a couple of rows in front of us, but managed to block him out for most of the trip.
It was bedlam when we arrived in L.A. We got three different sets of instructions to find Terminal 7 and eventually walked our way there. We then tried to check in which was a huge hassle because it is self-check-in and the helping dude wasn't very helpful. We finally found a woman behind a desk who helped us. There was some issue with a security check on Terrry.
We then went through security to the gate area for our flight to Boston with a 6 hour wait in front of us. We were both selected for a thorough search (it happened to me in Auckland as well!) so were patted down and our carry bags searched and tested for explosives.
We're now sitting in the gate lounge and it is only 5.00pm Sat 28 July! We board in just over 4 hours for a 5 ½ hour flight to Boston where we will arrive at 7.00am Sunday morning! My head still hurts and Terry still feels miserable! We want our money back.
Sunday 29 June
It's now 6.00pm on Sunday night and still haven't slept in a bed. We finally boarded our flight to Boston and found we were seated separately on a full plane. Hadn't eaten since a pizza at about 4.00pm to discover you had to buy your food on the plane! Bugger that!
It was a 5 ½ hour flight and I dozed and slept most of it though it was quite bumpy. Much less chaos at Logan airport. We quickly found a taxi and arrived at our hotel shortly after 7,00am to be told our room wouldn't be ready until 3.00pm, but that they would try to get it ready earlier. We really wanted and needed a shower!
We walked into Harvard Square (about 2k) along the banks of the river where there were heaps of runners and cyclists and rowers (on the river). We went to Peet's Coffee and had an average coffee and tea and Danish. Lots of academic type people as well as runners ending up there. We then spent a couple of hours walking through the grounds of Harvard University. It is certainly impressive. Brick work everywhere and lots of acknowledgement of history and tradition.
We decided to head back to the hotel at about 11.00 to see if room was ready. We walked along the other side of the river. The fog/mist was starting to lift and it was now warming up. Thankfully our room was ready. We decided we would freshen up and head by train into downtown. As soon as Terry lay down after his shower he was asleep! He woke himself up snoring at 1.00 so we headed off.
Our room is quite flash which is great considering we are here for 9-10 days. The beds are very small, but we have a nice lounge and plenty of workspace for our assignments!!!
Downtown we had a horrible feed in a food court and wandered around down to the port checking out a few historic sites (Paul Revere) until we found a seedy Irish Bar for a couple of beers while watching the soccer final. With bladders bursting we made it back to the Hotel where we are now relaxing and starting to think about our Harvard course which begins tomorrow.
Headache's gone but Terry is still struggling with his cold and cough.
Phone works as Lucy has texted me a couple of times. The EEE PC is great because of its portability. It has successfully found wireless connections at airports but you have to pay for them. I have just found that there is free wireless in Harvard Square so will try there tomorrow.
This has been a long day! After 45 minutes at school in the morning, a final check of the packing and a last walk around the track I finally took off from Whakatane at about 2.45pm. The first half of the flight was great, but the last half was very bumpy.
I had a couple of hours to kill waiting for Terry so read the paper and hung around. Ran into Mathew Lack and his Dad who are on the same flight heading to ian nternational disabled athletics event.
Terry turned up and after check in we had a couple of beers, bought some water and boarded the plane. We had great seats – the back row set of 2. Plenty of leg room and no others in our row and right by the wharepaku. Terry has picked up quite a cold so was a bit miserable and I developed a mean headache. Flight was uneventful and long (12 hours) with restless dozing. We had one screamer of a kid a couple of rows in front of us, but managed to block him out for most of the trip.
It was bedlam when we arrived in L.A. We got three different sets of instructions to find Terminal 7 and eventually walked our way there. We then tried to check in which was a huge hassle because it is self-check-in and the helping dude wasn't very helpful. We finally found a woman behind a desk who helped us. There was some issue with a security check on Terrry.
We then went through security to the gate area for our flight to Boston with a 6 hour wait in front of us. We were both selected for a thorough search (it happened to me in Auckland as well!) so were patted down and our carry bags searched and tested for explosives.
We're now sitting in the gate lounge and it is only 5.00pm Sat 28 July! We board in just over 4 hours for a 5 ½ hour flight to Boston where we will arrive at 7.00am Sunday morning! My head still hurts and Terry still feels miserable! We want our money back.
Sunday 29 June
It's now 6.00pm on Sunday night and still haven't slept in a bed. We finally boarded our flight to Boston and found we were seated separately on a full plane. Hadn't eaten since a pizza at about 4.00pm to discover you had to buy your food on the plane! Bugger that!
It was a 5 ½ hour flight and I dozed and slept most of it though it was quite bumpy. Much less chaos at Logan airport. We quickly found a taxi and arrived at our hotel shortly after 7,00am to be told our room wouldn't be ready until 3.00pm, but that they would try to get it ready earlier. We really wanted and needed a shower!
We walked into Harvard Square (about 2k) along the banks of the river where there were heaps of runners and cyclists and rowers (on the river). We went to Peet's Coffee and had an average coffee and tea and Danish. Lots of academic type people as well as runners ending up there. We then spent a couple of hours walking through the grounds of Harvard University. It is certainly impressive. Brick work everywhere and lots of acknowledgement of history and tradition.
We decided to head back to the hotel at about 11.00 to see if room was ready. We walked along the other side of the river. The fog/mist was starting to lift and it was now warming up. Thankfully our room was ready. We decided we would freshen up and head by train into downtown. As soon as Terry lay down after his shower he was asleep! He woke himself up snoring at 1.00 so we headed off.
Our room is quite flash which is great considering we are here for 9-10 days. The beds are very small, but we have a nice lounge and plenty of workspace for our assignments!!!
Downtown we had a horrible feed in a food court and wandered around down to the port checking out a few historic sites (Paul Revere) until we found a seedy Irish Bar for a couple of beers while watching the soccer final. With bladders bursting we made it back to the Hotel where we are now relaxing and starting to think about our Harvard course which begins tomorrow.
Headache's gone but Terry is still struggling with his cold and cough.
Phone works as Lucy has texted me a couple of times. The EEE PC is great because of its portability. It has successfully found wireless connections at airports but you have to pay for them. I have just found that there is free wireless in Harvard Square so will try there tomorrow.
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