Welcome back to school! The new school year started in New Zealand last week. NZ has public & private schools, both offering girls, boys or integrated schools. It appears as though all school children wear uniforms as well.

Still on the job hunt... There is currently only a 4.4% unemployment rate in the country - the lowest for about 15 years. Minimum wage is about $8-9/hour, although I've been told to expect $15-18 within the city.

The sun has come back out today and it appears that the monsoon has left us. It drenched the country in some of the most intense rain I have ever seen. Monsoons hit NZ about 4 times per year and bring about a week of rain each time.

As for excitement... last night we went to see a movie preview but didn't get in in time. Realizing the theatre was an air-conditioned break from the high humidity, we went to see Veronica Guerin. It was a fantastic movie, based on the true story of an Irish journalist who fought the war on drugs. It was a powerful story and we all really enjoyed it. It also made me realize how much I love Ireland and how much I made it my home. I hope New Zealand becomes the same.