Christchurch - a Year 8 view

After our time in the southern lakes we came to Christchurch and at about 6:30 we were met by our host families. They took us back to their home to sleep after a long day of travelling. The next day we had about 5 hours of free time; which most people used to buy presents for their families back in England. There was an excellent market with lots of Maori bone and greenstone carvings. There was also a giant chess set to watch, and tons of souvenir shops. At 5 O’clock we met in the Cathedral Square and went to Christ’s College for dinner in the Great Hall with Christ’s College Choir, our hosts, and after this there was a rehearsal with the Christ’s College Choir. At the end of this the Choir taught us their Haka. This was confusing and scary. Ed Spragg was noticed by the leaders of this Haka and made to join in their leadership of the Haka. Our hosts picked us up and thus ended our first day in our last town.

The next day we were at leisure with our host families up until 2.30 when we had a rehearsal for the concert that evening. This rehearsal was mainly made up of Tom Gaynor getting used to the organ (superbly – ed.) and rehearsing the Chichester Psalms. We went back to our host families and got changed into our school uniform and had dinner. Host families then escorted us to the cathedral for the concert at 7.30 PM.

The concert started with a bang. We walked out of the vestry and to the east end and began Chichester Psalms, or as some year 7s call it, the Mental Piece. The rest of the concert went similarly to all the other concerts - very well, that is. At the end of the concert we sang Riu Riu Chiu as an encore. Our hosts took us home then, and we all went to bed.

The next day was mostly free, again. Today we had a very successful evensong, as it was Sunday. We also had lots of free time with our hosts. The evensong was excellent, and everyone there said they really enjoyed it and that they thought the singing was beautiful. Again our hosts took us home.

Monday is our last day and we’ve been to Akaroa, a French town on the east coast. Here we had ice cream on Mr Toyne. We are now going back to Christchurch and to go to the Antarctic Centre which simulates conditions in the Antarctic. Then we will check in to the airport and fly off to Auckland for our return trip.

Thomas Rushton (Year 8)