Embassy CES staff are always thinking of new ways to ensure their students have fun, so it's nice to see them having some fun themselves.

On Monday 16 April 2007, staff at Embassy CES in Auckland celebrated the fifth birthday of the school, together with staff from Taylors College, which shares the same campus.

Above, you can see Ray Butler entertaining his colleagues with an 'off-the-cuff' speech. Later, Owen Hoskins (below), the Campus Director, praised all his staff, with special mentions for Rod Evans, the founding Principal, and Marj Woods, a team member who has been at Embassy CES Auckland since its opening.

"The prospects for the college going forward, are bright and brim with potential," continued Owen as he thanked staff for their continuing high level of professionalism. "We have a lot to celebrate!"

Owen Hoskin cuts the birthday cake

Auckland 'fifth best city in the world'

The Worldwide Quality of Living Survey is published each year and decides which cities offer the best quality of life. It looks at 39 different criteria, from health and sanitation to entertainment opportunities and traffic congestion.

Auckland ranks as the fifth best city to live in, while New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is also in the top 20.

Australia and New Zealand both do extremely well in the survey: Sydney is ninth on the list, ahead of Melbourne at 17, Perth at 21, Brisbane at 31 and Adelaide at 32.

Sun, sand and sausages at the Wenderholm Reserve

Ray Butler (in the photo below, with students) says:

Embassy CES is a great place to study but also a great place to enjoy the amazing scenery that surrounds Auckland. Wenderholm Reserve is only 20 minutes from the city but it has white sand, clear water, wildlife and ...international students! These photos show a day of sunshine, barbeques, memories and friendships that will last for years.

To learn English well you first have to be prepared to have a lot of fun! Auckland has the most amazing beaches within a short drive of the city and the Embassy CES teachers know how to get there in style.

We are from different countries but we all speak English and we have a lot that we can teach each other. "Having fun", however, is like a silent movie: it needs no translation.

Painted poppadoms

38 students from Embassy CES went on an Art Trail to celebrate AK07 Arts Festival week. The highlight for some of the students was the ‘Blow’ exhibition displayed in the BNZ Foyer in The Edge. Large balloon-like structures had interesting interactive activities, the most interesting being the painting of poppadoms. This highly unusual activity involved the students' portraits being painted on poppadoms and then transferred by the student to a microwave for 45 seconds precisely. One or two students overcooked their poppadoms so their much-loved portraits got toasted beyond recognition.

Celebrations at Embassy CES Auckland

At the end of the year students from many different countries enjoy a barbecue together to celebrate all their hard work. This year the event was held in the Domain near the school. The barbecue was followed by attempts to play touch rugby and football (the Brazilians won of course!).

Students take photos with their new friends and teacher at the end of another course. They have great memories to take back with them and new friends to stay with should they ever go to another country! They have also improved their English and learnt a lot about themselves.