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| Kia Orana !!! |
What are the odds for a French-German 3.5 year old boy to sit on the equivalent of the Air Force One of the Cooks Islands?
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| We really are on the tarmac of Rarotonga International Airport !!! How more beautiful could it get? |
There
are places on earth where unthinkable opportunities are possible. And
one of those places is the Cook Islands, where we conveniently happen
to live. Or have chosen to live.
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| Keanui, Yann & Noah - That's how exciting it was! |
Yann started pre-school this term, only 2 months ago.
He's already learnt songs in English and Maori, can dig holes with a proper sit-on digger and paint "very nice open rainbows", which I am sure are very beautiful! He
loves being challenged, learning new things and playing with his friends.
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| A boy's dream: trucks, planes and friends. Done! |
At
only 3.5, he has traveled three times around the world and the first
stamp in his passport is from One Foot Island on Aitutaki, Cook Islands.
So it goes without saying that he loves planes and airports! When Aunty
Steph, the awesome principal of Black Rock Apii Potiki told her 45
little students that they would go on a field trip to the Rarotonga
airport, Yann was naturally over-excited. I must say that I was just as well
looking forward to this golden opportunity.
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| The whole of Black Rock Apii Potiki singing while waiting for the visits at Rarotonga International Airport |
Finally comes the day
that kids, teachers and parents all jump onto one bus for a 5-minute
ride from the school to the airport. In true school-trip style, everyone
started singing in unison... "The wheels on the bus go round and
round..." A big Meitaki Ma'ata to Cook's Island Bus Passenger Transport
for providing a bus and a driver (of course, one of Yann's girlfriend's dad - small island) free
of charge!!!
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| Casual bus ride - local style - singing to "The Wheels on the Bus..." |
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| I am as excited to discover his little world than he is to start discovering the opportunities of the Big World! |
Arriving at the airport the large group of over 60
people separated into 3 groups to visit 3 different areas: the Air
Rarotonga hangar, security check and the fire engine department. The kids
knew who their teacher was so parents only had to follow their children
to join a group: Aunty Rima, Aunty Tai or Aunty Elliott.
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| Aunty Rima's group - really well-behaved pre-schooler despite the excitment of the day! |
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| Aunty Tai's group - all a bit puzzled - are wegoing on the plane now? |
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| Aunty Elliot's group - by their superhero wall at pre-school! |
We started with the Air Rarotonga hangar - impressive.
Kids were shown the one and only jet in the country and were even
allowed to sit in it! Just like the Prime Minister of the Cook
Islands!!! (more to come in the next story...). Another big Meitaki
Ma'ata to Air Rarotonga and their staff for being patient with our little
ones. They loved discovering your world!
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| Checking the little storage area for baggage. Only allowed one 10kg carry-on per person when flying the jet! |
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| Is this really where the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands sits when he travels to the outer islands??? YES IT IS!!! |
We then moved onto the
security area. We all had to empty our pockets and walk through the
metal detector while our belongings were scanned. The curious
pre-schoolers were amazed by the funny X-ray images showing on the
screen!
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| We have all made it through the metal detector, now let's check what is in our bags on the screen of the X-ray machine! |
Last but not least, the fire engine department! Before
the fire brigade could talk about safety and fire, the kids were proud
to show what they already knew, in the mean of a song. With rimes and
mimes, the song talks about what to do in case of smoke alarm beeping,
smoke in the house or fire. "Get out, stay out, well done"!!!
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| Wow, is this a real fire engine? YES IT IS!!! |
The
highlight of the day would have been for most the chance to hold the
water hose! Excitement for the kids and refreshment for the adults! It
was such a hot day!!! One more Meitaki Ma'ata to the Cook Islands Airport
for allowing us to visit your place of work. It was fantastic!
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| Highlight of the day - action the water hose!!! |
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| Fire engine in full action! Fresh water feels so good on such a hot and beautiful day in Paradise! |
Back on the bus, everyone was hot and hungry but so happy!!! Time for lunch and that's a wrap...
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| Well deserved lunch for children... and adults! |
One
final MEITAKI MA'ATA to Aunty Steph, Aunty Rima, Aunty Tai, Aunty
Elliott and the other parents for such a fun, educational and
extraordinary day!
Now, how many firemen, security staff and pilots are we going to have? Rendezvous in 20 years!
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| We might have an engineer? |
Awesome blog guys!, The Cook Islands is a stunning place! Looks like you settled into the lifestyle easily. I lived on Raro for 3 years when I was a child, actually we stayed in the Rarotongan Hotel on its opening night :) Can you tell me, is there an entrance into the lagoon on Manihiki? Could a 8m wide trimaran that is only 900mm deep in the water get into the lagoon?
ReplyDeleteCheers Trevor