Monday, August 13, 2007

Work and beyond...

I have worked at Unitec for the last 7 years teaching English across different programmes. I trained originally as a primary classroom teacher, with my speciality being music. However, my masters degree was in teaching English and I spent a few years doing this overseas before coming back to NZ. So I guess I've been teaching for the last twenty five years or so. My husband and I took a year off to travel overseas in our twenties, the Kiwi OE (overseas experience), and we worked in London for a few months during this time - NOT teaching!

I love spending quality time with my family, although at the moment I am doing some extra study and so it is hard to juggle everything. However, I'm lucky that I work part-time as this gives me a bit more 'space' in my life. Time to read (other than study books) and make music. I also enjoy socialising with friends - getting together for a meal or going out together.

And the other thing I try to do in my free time is to keep up with the several blogs that I have...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

you have done lot of things in your life already.That is seems to me great.Your overseas experience was very good and I think every body should follow your life experience.
Thank you
Mahmudul Huq

Anonymous said...

Hi, You are amazing you have done lots of things in your life, which is very good.I hope I can do the same.

Anonymous said...

Hi,Karen:
You have got good qualification for teaching and lots of teaching experience.I enjoy your classes very much.

Anonymous said...

You have very lovely family. Do you have any plan to go overseas with your family for holiday?
You can get a cheap ticket to Thailand in April but you need to book it in February with flight centre.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen, you are great being a mother also can juggle in different thing.I hope you become a succeed women in the future.

Karen Haines said...

Jaeb, I would love to go to Thailand for a holiday. We have been there several times for before and always had a good time. Why is it cheap in April?

Karen Haines said...

Thanks for all your positive comments. I'm sure that all of us have interesting, although no doubt very different, work experiences.

Anonymous said...

Dear Karen,
I would like to tell about the cheap tickets in April because it is low season at that time and you can go to see Thailand most popular festival

"Songkran - The Water Festival"

Songkan is celebrated once a year on April 13th marking the Thai new year. Known the worldover for its characteristic tradition of water-throwing ranging from a courteous sprinkle or a polite splash, to harmless water pistols and showers from garden hoses to the well-aimed bucket or water-cannon delivered in a festive spirit. Without a doubt, on the practical side, Songkran is a refreshing solution to "beating the heat" in the hottest season of the year.

There is a however a much deeper significance to "Songkran". Apart from marking a new beginning, Songkran is also a time for thanksgiving. It is an important time for individuals to reflect upon the many acts of kindness and thoughtfulness each has personally experienced and to remember how such acts of generosity and compassion bring peace, happiness and well-being. Songkran is also the time for reunions and family ties are renewed.

The underlying significance of Songkran is the process of cleansing and purification - the purging of all ills, misfortune and evil and starting the New Year afresh with all that is good and pure. Water is symbolic of the cleaning process and signifies purity.