David Woodfield

I’m a New Zealander. I was born in Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand and grew up there with my older sister and younger brother. After graduating with a degree in English literature, I moved further south to the university city of Dunedin. After working on campus in Dunedin and doing further study in education, I got married and moved to the Kansai region of Japan where I lived for 15 years. That is where my children grew up. In 2005, I moved back to Dunedin and I have lived here ever since.

Design is my passion. I enjoy reveling in the beauty I see in the world around me whether it be in a flower, the trees, mountains and streams or whether it be in a poem, a novel, a sketch, a song, a painting, an interior, a garden or a building. For me a ceramic pot, a stone garden or a room that brings me to tears is a reflection of divine order and the mind of God.

In my free time, I like to wander in the hills surrounding Dunedin, taking in the vistas. I also enjoy listening to a wide variety of music from medieval church music to sixties rock and contemporary jazz. In addition, I like visiting museums and galleries and reading about art, architecture and Christian thought.

As you all know I’m a teacher and I enjoy this job because I like working with students from a wide range of cultures and exploring language in all its wonder and intricacies.

I’m looking forward to reading about you all on this blog.


Comments

  1. moanaMarch 10, 2022 at 6:43 PM

    You lived in Japan for so many years. yesterday(or the day before yesterday), I was surprised that you used some Japanese words in a breakout room, but now I know why!

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    Replies
    1. David WoodfieldMarch 12, 2022 at 3:58 PM

      Yes, I did live in Japan for a long period of time. I look back on that time fondly though. There is so much I learned through the experience. It was an enriching one for me. :-)

      Delete
  2. Minori SatoMarch 10, 2022 at 6:51 PM

    The picture is so beautiful! Is this your design?

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    Replies
    1. David WoodfieldMarch 12, 2022 at 4:01 PM

      Thank you Minori. Actually my wife took this photograph. It was taken at a temple in Bangkok called 'The Golden Mount.' You have to climb up steps which wind their way around a hillock until you reach the temple on the top. The views from the top are quite spectacular. Here I am catching a rest in the shade on the way up. :-)

      Delete
  3. Shogo MoroMarch 10, 2022 at 7:10 PM

    It must be fun for me to spend free time as you do, too. I like being in nature because it removes everything annoying or worrying and I feel happy just by being there. Someday, I definitely want to visit New Zealand, which is said to have many beautiful landscapes.

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    1. David WoodfieldMarch 12, 2022 at 4:03 PM

      Hi Shogo it is indeed a blessing to get out into nature. I loved to do this when in Japan & I like doing it back here in NZ as well. :-)

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  4. AnonymousMarch 10, 2022 at 7:16 PM

    I imagine from your blog that there will be a lot of nice places to walk in New Zealand, which makes me very excited! Actually, I have recently started climbing mountains with my university friends, and I realize how enjoyable walking is!! I would like to hear your favorite places to walk in New Zealand.
    Besides, I am really happy to hear that you lived in Japan for so long! I would like to know your favorite places also in Japan!

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    1. David WoodfieldMarch 12, 2022 at 4:11 PM

      Hi Erina, I would say my all time favorite place for hiking in Japan is Yakushima. It is well worth going on a 2 or 3 day hike up Miyanouradake. The forest vistas there are stunning. In New Zealand, any of our 'Great Walks' are well worth it. The Milford and Routeburn Tracks are probably the most stunning though.
      Happy hiking in our two stunning island realms. :-)

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  5. YUE XUMarch 10, 2022 at 7:34 PM

    I really want to visit New Zealand someday and to see the beautiful moutains and rivers!
    And thank you for your class, I really enjoy your class :).

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    Replies
    1. David WoodfieldMarch 12, 2022 at 4:15 PM

      Hi Yue
      Thanks for those kind words. China has many stunning natural environments too. I have very fond memories of hiking up Emei Shan near Chengdu in 1991. What a landscape! Hope to see you in New Zealand some time in the future. :-)

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  6. AnonymousMarch 17, 2022 at 6:45 PM

    I was really astonished to know you were living in Japan for such a long time. I have wondered why you are so familiar and so confortable for us , e.g. your warm and frequent smiles and kind enough to devide us into breakout rooms very often, which are finally understood by me as your consideration for Japanese from your experience and acknowledge you had through cultural exchange with people in Japan. I feel how deep and sincere your belief is enough to sense a reflection of divine order and the mind of God from a ceramic pot, a stone garden and all the beauty. It was really pleasure to see you.

    ReplyDelete

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