Today was only half day at school which was full of swimming assessments for the boys. The great thing about today was that it was the start of the weekend away with the Kapa Haka group from school, where we going to Rotourua for the weekend. The Kapa Haka is the schools Haka group so it was good to go for a weekend and experience some Maori culture. We stayed at the Marae in this hut which was amazing.
We arrived at the Marae around 4 in the afternoon and the Maoris gave us a traditional Maori welcome followed by a haka by the boys which was excellent. Before too long it was dinner. So much food man, lol I loved it!!And then we just kinda of messed around outside playing rugby etc, I of course was being a responsible adult!
It was a pretty long day so we all crashed out fairly early. All 33 of us slept in the main meeting house, the Whare ( wh in Maori is pronounced like an f).So yeh, it was fairly cramped.
Saturday 1st September
The thing with boys between the ages of 8 and 13 is that they get up flaming early!!They were up and about at half 6 which was lovely.Good job breakfast was good though.
The boys were split into groups and they did workshops and stuff which was awesome. We started off by doing the taua which was a war dance with weapons. The adrenaline rush is amazing!!
Afterwards we went with Andrew to see the Maori church which the settlers introduced just across the way. The amazing thing about Rotourua is that is built on geo-thermal area which means that there are heaps of hot pools and bubbling mud everywhere, its just in the middle of roads, in peoples back gardens. The disadvantage is that it stinks of sulphur!
The church is an amazing building and round the back there is a cemetry full of Maori soldiers who died during service. Teariki and myself still managed to take some pics!
The scenery that the Marae was set in was just spectacular. We were right next to Lake Rotourua, which was the Lake that these particular Maoris crossed to settle in what is now called Rotourua. The lake water is really warm from the geo-thermal activity and around the edges reached boiling point which created all these bubbles. It was stil allright for the ducks to swim in though.
In the afternoon we went to the local pool and swam for quite a while. Being the youngest member of staff it was inevitable that I was going to get attacked which happened a lot and I survived many a nipple cripple.OUCH!!
Then the boys did a performance in the evening which was excellent and then more rugby, eating and other such things.
Sunday 2nd of September
The last day of our wonderful experience. A great sleep too which was pleasing and a good breakfast. Not much happened apart from the fairwell haka by the boys, more eating and taking pictures.
Emerson and myself
The Marae
Tepaki, Jono, Teariki and me!
Friday 14th September 2007
I thought that writing a blog would be fairly straight forward, you know after every day which had some kind of importance, you would come on here and write it all down. However, ive been sooo busy, ive struggled hence me not writing anything since the trip down Rotorua.
Theres been so much happening since then. School has been pretty hectic because ive had to do all these swimming assessments, which ive now finished as it was the last day of term today. But getting all those finished was a big priority for me.
Ive been going to church quite a bit and going to life groups and stuff which has been amazing. Ive made some great mates through CLCA which is great.
It was a sad today because it was Simon's last day at Kings as he's going back to England to start a new job in October, so now its just me Dougie and Carl which will be a right laugh lol im laughing just thinking about it. Its going to be mad!!
Oh yeh big news, my cross country team won the Auckland Championships. It was the Year 8 team and we'd been training for a bit so it all worked out. Its ironic because its the first time Kings has ever won the Auckland Champs and Dougie and Carl have been trying for years to win it and then i come along and win it-pretty funny eh!!
Anyway i need to go, im going with the youth group up to Leigh for the night which will be awesome!!
Saturday 15th September 2007
Well last night was pretty sweet AI, drove up to Leigh (how ironic) and then watched a couple of movies. Then today woke up early to watch the English get smashed by South Africa in the rugby.
Then we went to the beach for the day which was cool, i even went swimming-blinking helk it was cold. We played volley ball which was mean and we did all these acrobatic dives!!Pictures coming soon.
Then went back to the batch for lunch and kind of monged around a bit, listened to music, played poker and ate lots of food.
Later on in the afternoon we decided we'd have a walk and we came across all these waterfalls that were just stunning. Again, pictures are coming, i didnt take my camera so im waiting for Leah to send them to me because there are some crackers!We then drove back after dinner. Was a great time away!!
Sunday 16th of September
Luckily for me i was going to go to the evening service which meant i could have a lie, especially after i made the decision last night to stay up and watch the All Blacks smash Portugal. So i was really greatful for the lie in.
Then at about 5 Jared came to pick me up to go to church. It was a particularly special service because all four of the churches all met in a stadium as it was the launch of the church's new name and magazine. The church is now called Life which I thinks a pretty cool name. They played a prank and said it was Hillsong New Zealand and the whole place went quiet, was really funny. It was a great service though!!Especially because there were free muffins!YUM!!
Oh yeh also i thought id put some pictures up of the school and the views and stuff cause its pretty spectacular!!
