WU vs. UC Round 1

As I'm nearing the end of the first term of my semester abroad, I've been finding myself comparing the University of Canterbury to Willamette. While I knew that I was going to a school that was much larger than Willamette, I don't think I was prepared for the lecture style classes. For a majority of my classes, I just sit in class while the lecturer talks at me. It's a style I am definitely not used to. I also constantly feel like I'm not really learning more than what is on the surface. I find myself missing the discussion based classes that WU offers and the interaction between Professors and students. While writing my first paper here at UC, I had such a difficult time starting because the paper topics seemed too simply. While the papers required me to do outside research, it really only required me to get a basic understanding of my topic. I'm writing about moko, Maori tattoo, and I found numerous subjects that would have been very interesting to write about, but my paper was to be focused on the overall structure and history. I think the one thing that I truly miss from WU is the controversy! I miss the truth!

I think I'd definitely have to say that Round 1 goes to WU.

Maori Weekend

This past weekend (March 15-17) we WU Christchurch students headed down to Dunedin to see the other WU students and to spend the weekend at a Maori school of learning. Bright and early Friday morning, we caught the bus to Dunedin. While the bus ride was long (about 5 and 1/2 hours), it was a beautiful day and we got see all the beautiful scenery that the east coast of the South Island has to offer. After finally arriving in Dunedin, we dropped our stuff off at one of our classmates flats and two of us took a walk around the area surrounding the University of Otago. It was great to be able to see how different that area is from the area around the University of Canterbury. That night we all went to Professor Stas' house to meet his family and have dinner. It was nice to have a real home cooked meal and good company =) We also got to discuss our fall trip that's coming up...can't wait for that!!! We are spending a whole week traveling to different places on the South Island including the glaciers, Queenstown, Te Anu, and Milford Sound.

The next morning we work up early and met Roka, who would be our host for the weekend. I was already excited before we even left, because Roka had a dog who had just had puppies in the back of her car. I already felt more like I was at home in this one weekend then I have the entire time I've been here. We then drove to Te Whare Wananga (A House of Learning), where we would spend the weekend with Roka and her whanau (family). We begin the weekend by participating in a traditional welcome ceremony. To begin the ceremony the woman walk in firsts followed by the men. As we walked in, Roka's daughter chanted welcoming us and Roka responded for us, since none of us knew how the traditional ceremony went. Then we sat down with the woman now in the back and the men in the front. This is not the first time that it's been explained to me that the reason the women sit in the back is for protection. In the old days when two groups were meeting for the first time, before you knew if the group came in peace the men sat in the front to protect the women. Roka's husband, Carey, welcomed us in Maori and then English. After that, he and his whanau sang us a song of welcome. Following there welcome, Stas spoke and behalf of our group in Greek and then English. Then Roka led us through a song, to respond to the welcome. The song we sang was called 'E Tore Nga Mea', 'There are Three Things.' This is the same song that the Christchurch Students had to sing during our International Orientation.

After the weekend, we put all of our stuff in the wharepuni, sleeping room, and then we came out to have 'tea and biscuits.' When we went to get our food we found trays and trays of food on three long tables. This was something that we grew use to over the next two days, lots and lots of food and tea =) We were definitely felt welcomed and were treated very well. After that we went into the town, or a short walk away, to support the local people there. They were holding an event that looked like a market or a large garage sale. There was an auction and different booths where people sold all kinds of things ranging from clothes to food. There were also many activities for kids like horseback riding or going into a tent of smoke to learn about fire safety. After this, we went back to the whare to eat again and then we had introductions. We went back to the wharepuni and each stood up to introduce ourselves. We were not the only students there that weekend. There were other students, ranging in all different ages, who were there to learn weaving from Roka and her daughter. Many of the other students could speak Maori, so did there introductions in the language, which was very interesting. The wharepuni was a beautiful room decorated with all sorts of carvings that students of the whare had made at one point or another. The interesting thing about the whare is that it began as a place for troubled youth. Roka, who is a trained social working, and her Husband Carey began the school to help children in need. At one end of the wharepuni there were pictures of those who had passed who were important to the whanau. While many were there own personal tipuna, ancestors, some were of students who they were not able to save who took there own lives. While there were a few students who chose this path, it seemed to me as if Roka and Carey were able to help many children. They used crafts, such as weaving and carving, to give the children a direction and knowledge.

After the introductions, we went down to Blueskin Bay to look for clams! It was much easier then I expected to find the clams, but it was still so much fun! While we were at the bay, we decided to walk along the water a bit and found a cool cave. We then returned back to the whare where Roka taught us a bit about weaving. We began be preparing the harekeke, which is the leaves the use to weave with. Roka taught us how to make a small basket to put our clams in at dinner and was very patient with us. It was a great experience and I'm so appreciative that it was part of the weekend. We then had dinner and after dinner Roka's granddaughter taught a few of us how to make flowers with the harekeke. She too was very patient with our slow learning =)

The next day we spent most of the day with Carey and Roka talking about why they chose to start the whare and what it meant to them. We also talked a little about ourselves and got to know them better. Roka and Carey were sure to tell us that we were now a part of their whanau and that if we need anything we could contact them! Before we left Roka shared with us some of the traditional garments she makes out of harekeke and even let us try them on! Right before we left, Roka and Carey gave us gifts. One of the gifts we each received was a shell necklace with a design on it that represents the coming together of different people, specifically pakeha and Maori. I had earlier asked Roka if she knew of a Maori- English dictionary I could buy for my Uncle and she just gave me one right before I left.

Due to the fact that I am in Christchurch, I don't know if I'll be able to see Roka again while I am here. However, I would be honored if I had the privilege to meet her again and if I don't, I still was very grateful for the weekend with her and her whanau. Not only for teaching us of the Maori people but also for inviting us to be a part of her whanau. Great weekend!

Go to the right...no the left...wait what?!?!

Stop...look both ways...then cross. But which way do I look first?

I knew that when I came to New Zealand that they drove on the left side of the road. But this didn't seem like such a big deal to me considering that I wouldn't be driving. However, I didn't realize how much this one notion could change so many different things. The first time I crossed the road in New Zealand I told myself that the cars come from the opposite side, so I looked right first when I crossed the street. Easy enough. It seemed like such a simple idea, but take it from someone who's experienced it, it's NOT! I can't not tell you how many times, especially during my first week or so here, I looked the wrong way and had to jump back on to the sidewalk to keep from getting hit by a car. It is amazing how difficult it is to fight your natural instincts. And trust me, you want to fight this instincts when they is a car speeding towards you. It's strange how something that you're not actually taught can be so engraved in you.

Also, it's not only when there is a car involved that being on the left side is dominant. When you're just walking around, if you're going to pass someone you pass him/her on the left not the right. More often then not, I find myself doing an awkward dance back and forth with someone because I always go right. Or when you walk into the building, everyone walks in on the left side not the right. While it all seems like things that can be easily adapted too, it's hard to fight against your natural reactions.

I can remember people telling me before I left that I would be confused when I crossed the street, but I never thought it would actually make that big of a difference. It's funny how the things you don't think will affect you when you leave end up being something that you have to deal with on a daily basis.