Noho Marae

My apologies for not posting sooner, and taking a while to finish my post before this.  I'm finally getting going with schoolwork and had my first big essay assignment due this Friday.  That's completed though, so I get to relax in Auckland for the weekend, and fill you in on last weekend. 

I got to spend a weekend soaking up Maori culture at the AUT Noho Marae weekend.  The first event was an international potluck on Friday, where we each brought a dish form our home country.  I made apple crisp.  There was SO much food and it was all so tasty!

After very full bellies, we relaxed a bit before heading out to the foam party put on by the students association on campus. 

 Here I'm with some of the new friends I met just earlier at the Noho Marae. 

 This is me with Stefan and Raul. 

 This was at the beginning of the night, even more people came out later.  It was an absolutely crazy event, but a lot of fun! 

The following day we went to the Marae again, the meeting house and place of learning in Marori culture.  We learned a new song. 

Then learn another song that went along with a stick game.  The stick games are taught to children form a young age and are meant to encourage hand eye coordination.  So as you can imagine I wasn't to good at this. 

After learning these songs we had a break for lunch, meat pies yum yum.

The Maori say, "we don't eat until we're full, we eat until we're tired." So when we were once again full and tired the boys went off to learn the Haka and the girls learned the Poi dance. 

We began by making our own Poi, a ball on a string.  The Poi was originally used by men to strengthen their wrists for battle.  Later though it was used by woman in dance, and is supposed to be an extension of our strength and beauty. 

She's already using her Poi!

After our hard work learning we took a quick break before our concert that evening where we performed all we had learned. 

I was impressed by the boys Haka, but I couldn't help smiling as they made their warrior faces. 

After a very busy day learned so many songs and dances, we had some 'Free Time' were we all visited and continued singing and having a great time.  By the end of the night we most certainly had become part of the whanau, or family. 

 Sunday morning was our Farewell ceremony.  We sang some songs, shared breakfast, and were given a good by gift. 

This is the necklace we were given.  This is how it was described by Lucky, one of the great people who made us feel part of the whanau, "Pikoura' - the twist - is a symbol for eternity, interwoven spirits and lives. The pikoura or twist design with its criss cross form represents the many paths of life and love and as such is regarded as the original eternity symbol. The single twist design shows the joining together of two people. Even though they sometimes move away from each other on their own journeys, they will always come together again sharing their lives and blending to become one. It tells how the strength of a bond of friendship, loyalty, love and whanau (family) will last forever."

To sum up the weekend. 

Sheep, Cows, and Dolphins

So this week had many firsts.  I went to my first classes in New Zealand.  Saw my first NZ sheep, cows, and dolphins.  I also spent my first night in NZ away from my Auckland apartment.

So I know you are all dying to know about my first classes, rather than my adventures with dolphins and waterfalls.  My classes all went well my professors are all very welcoming and passionate about what they teach.  I have four classes that are each worth four credits each.  They are each three hour classes held once a week, although I was very excited to learn that I have 5 weeks when my education classes aren't held(all of April and the last week of March). I have two courses for Education, my Maths (rather than Math here in NZ) and Reading, and then I'm taking two electives Maori Culture and Te Ara Pou a Leadership Course.

I was very excited when I walked into this classroom.

And don't let the chairs deceive you, we take off our shoes since it is a sacred Maori house and we lay on cushions on the floor!!  I must say I've been very happy with my course selections and the my first impressions of the classes.

I also had my first day in a New Zealand primary school.  I am placed in a Catholic school and a Year 4/5 class of 28 children.  I plan to go in almost every Thursday and spend the day in the classroom to fulfill my UVM requirements.  I got to share about the US and they ask me many questions, they also happen to be reading the Hatchet which takes place in Canada.  They were excited to learn about my experiences with moose and skunks.   I really enjoyed the class and the students are well behaved and very friendly.

Well if you want to know more about my classes you'll have to ask me, because I have a fun filled weekend to fill you in on!

Friday morning we headed up North to the Bay of Islands.  In the morning we had two 5 person rental vans that ventured out. We later meet up with a van with 8 other people and 2 people that rode on a bus.  So altogether there were 20 of us!!

On our way we decided to stop at the Waipou Forest and see some of the largest trees in the world, second only to California.

The largest tree in New Zealand. 

On our drive there I saw my first New Zealand sheep.

We also ran in a cow crossing!

It's just like home!!

MOOOO!! The people in my car found it very funny that I got so excited about the cows and was mooing and wanting to go pet them.

After viewing huge trees, some cows, and more pretty scenery we drove over to the Pahia Holiday Park where we would be staying for the next 2 nights. The place was very cute, with a community kitchen where we could cook our meals and even had trampolines and a pool. Once setting up camp we headed out to buy dinner for the 10 of us already there. It was yummy pasta and garlic bread. After a very large satisfying dinner we hung out and then turned in for the night.

The following day about 12 of us headed over to hike Rainbow falls and along the way we also found Fairy Pools, so it was a very magical.


After this we then decided to go take a look at the beach. Sadly when we got there it was rainy, cold, and cloudy.  So instead by stopped by the Whangeri Treaty Grounds, we saw the treaty and then headed out for lunch.

We went to Shippees restaurant for some fish and chips.

The food was yummy and it was so cool to eat on a ship.  We all left very full bellies as well!

Next we decided to go for a drive to a beautiful look out and beach.  The beach was great, but the journey there on winding gravel roads (thanks to google maps for that) was rather nerve racking.

We made it though, and went for a swim and did some exploring.

Here's me, Taylor, and Brett at the top of the hill/rock/mountain we climbed. 

After our climb we headed back, this time on the ferry not the winding gravel roads. We had a delicious barbeque and just relaxed for the evening. 

The next day we saw the Bay of Islands as it was meant to be seen, from the water.  We spent most of the day sailing around the islands on a very nice sailboat that fit 18 of us.  We had great views and even got to kayak and snorkel off the boat. 

Dolphins!! 

Here's Emma, from Northern Ireland,  and Jay Vermont (I'm not joking that's his name!), from Cali. 

We all had some much fun and were so happy with our day on the water.  After arriving back on land most of us drove back to Auckland to get ready for classes that Monday. 

Exploring Auckland and Even a Bit More

Kia Ora (hello in Maori, native people of NZ)! I've been up to a lot in the last week.  I've had a nice little mini vacation before school starts.

On Tuesday I went on a sunrise hike to Mount Eden, a volcano crater in the middle of the city with a great view.  It was amazing to watch the sky go from beautiful city lights to radiant sunlight.

After getting some more breakfast and a quick nap I met up with some other gals and we headed to Takapuna Beach. 

It was a beautiful beach. The exploring, swimming, and relaxing was great. 

This day sure was busy because it doesn't end here.  On the way back from the beach we ran into other people who were headed to The Sky Tower to watch auditions for the NZ version of X Factor, so we tagged along and enjoyed some free music.  Surprisingly the candidates were very good and some of my favorites were only 15 or 16 years old!

After this we just grabbed some pizza and called it a night.

The next day was my Education Orientation which was rather uneventful,  and since it's on the North Shore Campus we were already half way to Takapuna Beach, and so we returned for more beach fun.

The next day (Thursday) we headed to Waiheke Island by Ferry. 

We had a beautiful walk along the coast, then headed to the beach.  

After a lunch of yummy fish and chips and some beach time, we headed up the hill to a winery.  I had my first real wine tasting.  I would say it's not my favorite, but it was a fun experience.

After wine tasting we caught the bus and explored another beach. 

Then we ventured out for dinner at the adorable Oyster Inn. Where I had the best macaroni and cheese I've even had!

After our lovely dinner we headed back on the ferry and almost all of us were lulled to sleep on the boat. 

The next day I rested from my adventures and then that evening I went to see the Auckland Blues play rugby.  It was a great game and the Blues won!

On Saturday morning I went to a very cute farmers market and bought a lot of veggie at good prices, which I used for a stir fry, salads, and snacks throughout the week.  Someone selling veggies also gave me free flowers since I was a visitor to Auckland. 

Right by the market were huge bean bag to sit and relax on!

After a free lunch I headed over to The Auckland War Memorial Museum.  It was a very impressive museum with three floors and great exhibits, and all for free!

After this I hung out and made my first real meal in NZ, a huge stir fry. 

Then on Sunday we had a final Hurrah before classes started and rented vans and drove to Piha Beach. A beautiful black sand beach with great surf, although it can be dangerous. 

On the hour drive to the beach it began to rain and was foggy, getting us worried that our beach day might not go quite as we hoped. 

Luckily though the rain and fog didn't last long and we just went on an exploration walk and by the time we finished the sun was shining!

The beach was great and we had a lot of fun in the surf!  after having a nice picnic lunch we headed to the Kitekite waterfalls.  It was amazing! Even the walk there was pretty, it looked like a rain forest. 

After a VERY refreshing swim (the water was freezing at first), we returned to relax on the beach.  I also took a walk up the gigantic rock in some of the first pictures, Lion rock, and the view was spectacular, but my camera died so I couldn't try to capture it. 

After this we just headed home and rested before classes!

I'll fill you in on my first week of classes later, and also about my upcoming trip to the Bay of Islands this weekend.  I might post a little later again though, more like Monday.