One very special girl!

Hope those of you who read my blips get to the end of the essay!
The title of my blip today refers to both me and the girl in the shot. She is a very special girl, R, who I have taught since she came up to year 9 from the primary end of our school.
Her mum was the first person in Murch to stop me in the street when I fist arrived. Literally stopping the car in the middle of the road and saying across the road ' My kids say I have to invite you round to tea, when can you come?' (all 3 of her kids at this stage were in the primary end of the school and had had only a few days to notice that I was some strange new teacher in school) I will be forever grateful for that simple act of kindness - it made me feel welcome, when up to that point all had felt was very alone and at the other side of the world from everyone I knew.
I have remained friends with M and the rest of the family and have seen all three children blossom into lovely teenagers.
The family came to dinner tonight as a bit of a goodbye (lots of them this week!) and R came in after work with a box of chocolates and a card and a speech. Which I have typed up word for word below........
Dear Liz
Thankyou first of all for being my teacher and putting up with me throughout the years. I have loved being your student and have enjoyed getting to know you as a teacher and friend.
Next I’d like to say, you are awesome, for supporting me in school activities and other various events i.e. giving me work so I could earn money and achieve my goals, or becoming extremely interested in conversations we have had in the classroom and out of.
I also believe you, among others, have inspired me to stick at my dreams and pursue them any chance I get. One being purchasing a camera to capture the special moments in life.
You have watched me grow and change in the time you have been here, as have I watched you settle into this great little community. But the one thing I will always remember and cherish, is the generosity you have shown my family in our time of strife. I am eternally grateful for how you took A and me into your home, how you helped mum laugh and cheer up. You have become friends with my whole family and I can vouch for everyone when I say we will miss you and wish you all the best.


Well as you can imagine I bawled my eyes out !

She too is setting off a new adventure. First she heads down to Dunedin to a science boffins week at the Uni and then she heads up to a bigger school in Nelson where she can do the subjects she needs to do to become a vet.

So she is one very special girl and I am one very special girl for knowing her.