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What is it with the time here? I seem to find myself continually busy, with practically zero time to go into town and update people. Everyday is a new adventure, with new responsibilities, and new tasks to conquer. So what’s been going on? Let me tell you.
This past week was the start of our official schooling here in Kaikoura. At the Convent, we only take one class a week, which may seem totally awesome, but fitting a whole class into one week tends to be extremely stressful. The class we took was entitled “Intro to Sustainable Community Development,” taught by a man by the name of Mick Duncan, a pastor turned speaker from Auckland. While the idea of “Sustainable Community Development” might conjure up some images of learning how to compost and garden properly, or how to reduce your carbon footprint, the class focused an a lot of issues surrounding the concept of war, and how war is a major deterrent to sustainable progress. We discussed causes behind economic failure, debt cancellation, the causes of war, various statistics regarding war and development, as well as the concepts of holism and shalom. Throughout the week we had a debate on Pacifism vs. the Just War theory, we preformed skits regarding pathways of development, and worked on a large (20pg!!) critical review of various articles presented in class. WHEW! What I came expecting from the class was completely blown out of the water, and I was challenged personally on a variety of levels. All of the topics we discussed, while not altogether unfamiliar, were topics that I had failed to wrestle with on my own. I found that before this class I really did not have an opinion, or rather lacked the knowledge to create an opinion, but in talking with Mick and listening in class, I was urged to confront the issues head-on, and decide for myself what my views really were regarding war, development, and social action. It really was a tough and stretching week, and as whole group, we all struggled to reconcile our beliefs with this new information and reconcile opposing views within the group. While it was a hard week, it was nonetheless a week that I am grateful for.
Following class of Friday, we met up with our home stay families for the weekend. The program selected various families out of the community for students to stay with for the weekend so that we may get a chance to interact with real Kiwis and make connections within the community. I was assigned to stay with Ted and Alisa Howard. Alisa picked me up in her little station wagon with her dog Sandy in the back seat. Alisa is a tiny little woman…barley reaching my bra-line and we were a funny-lookin’ pair to say the least. She almost had to run to keep up with my long strides, despite the fact that I tried SO hard to walk slowly. Alisa too me back to her and Ted’s place up at the lookout near Kaikoura. High on the cliffs they have a million dollar view. From the comfort of the deck chairs you can easily see the mountains across the bay, hear the roar of the sea, and watch some horses idly grazing on a plain below, basking in the sunshine. As Anne of Green Gables would say, “So much scope for the imagination.” Their house is full of eclectic things from the flax baskets that Ailsa weaves to the many botany books that both Ted and Ailsa use in their line of work for the Fish and Reserve committee. Both were just so very interesting, full of sage advice and great stories. While at their home, I met their daughter Jewelia (14) and William (24), and we all had a family dinner sitting around their very small and cluttered dining room table. After dinner, Jewelia, Ailsa and I watch New Zealand’s Next Top Model. Yep. It was just too funny, and for some reason, everyone one the show was literally 16 years old! What is up with that? I guess that I am too old for New Zealand’s Next Top Model…and too tall for Ford Modeling Company. True story.
Anyways, after watching a bit of TV, they brought out a mattress to put on the floor, and their wonderful dogs, Sandy and Huia, and me all piled on the bed and spent the night in a cuddly little ball. I just love dogs so much!! Ah! BRIDGER!!!! The following morning, Ailsa and I got up really early and headed to Mt. Patutu with her friend Jerv. The drive to the trail is right along the coast, and I just sat in utter awe with the scenery around me. It just never gets old, ya know? We arrived at the trail and found out that Ailsa had forgotten her water, Jerv had forgotten the stove to make coffee at the top, and I had failed to pack the all-important chocolate. We all got an F – - on our tramping card for that. So minus water, coffee and chocolate we headed for the top, a moderate 4 hour hike. We took breaks every-so-often so that we could take pictures and catch our breath, and right before the last stretch we sat and had a little lunch to gather our strength for the last bit. The last bit of Patutu consists of basically bouldering up a mountain. The terrain is super steep filled with slippery grass and loose rock that likes to give out. We scrambled up the mountain for the better part of 45 minutes, until we FINALLY reached the top. 7 months after transplant, I have successfully climbed two mountains…climbed, not conquered. Nonetheless…I CLIMBED TWO MOUNTAINS 7 MONTHS AFTER A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT!!!! Who is proud? Bahahaha
After spending the better part of an hour soaking in the beauty from atop Mt. Patutu, we slowly made our way down the rock face and down the trail to home. My legs were literally like Jell-O for the better part of the hike down, and it still amazes me that I didn’t just eat it on the way down. I can’t say the same for Ailsa, who fell four times…at least. Poor woman! In order to remedy our Jell-O legs, we did some yoga when we got home and just lazed around and visited with Will and Ted. That night, I passed out and didn’t move from that spot until morning. I was just SO tired.
The next morning, we all took it slow and easy. Ted left to go and play a round of golf, Jewelia and Will slept until noon and Ailsa taught me how to weave using the flax plant. It is a Maori tradition to weave with the flax plant, since they arrived in New Zealand with no modern tools, thus rocks and the flax plant became a major source of gathering and serving food. In order to gather flax for weaving, one must abide by the traditions of the Maori women. First, you must find a frond that does not have a split top, for the best results, you want a frond that is complete, no holes, gaps or tears. When you identify a frond you want to cut, you must peer down to the base of the plant and make sure that the frond you want to cut is not part of the family unit of the plant (in other words that it is not the mother, father or baby….for it you cut any of those, you might kill the entire plant). Once you have made sure that you can cut the frond, you must offer up a prayer for the plant, thanking God for allowing the plant to thrive and grow and for giving you the knowledge and the ability to weave. Throughout the day, Ailsa taught me how to make little flowers from the flax plant, and I even completed a woven basket (with constant supervision of course)! While it might seem a lame way to spend a Sunday afternoon, I had a great time! It was truly a fun skill to learn and hopefully pass on. Finally, in the spirit of passing it on, you must give away the first thing that you make, so to honor that tradition I gave my first flower as a gift to the Maori during our trip to the mare.
Following home stay weekend, we visited a traditional Maori mare (pronounced mAr-eye) or sacred meetinghouse. For a couple of days we practiced a song to perform and talked about proper etiquette for the experience. When time came to visit the mare, we walked slowly and quietly to the gate of the mare where a Maori woman sang to us from across the lawn. After she finished, we were allowed to enter the property and made our way down a rough pebble path towards the meetinghouse, girls in front and boys in back. We walked down the pathway until we got to a set of benches where we filed in and sat down, this time boys in front and girls in back. From across the lawn on another set of benched, our guide, Brett rose and began making a speech in the Maori language. While we could not understand what he was saying, you could definitely tell that this was a special ceremony, and one that deserves silence and respect. After Brett finished speaking, our male representative, Tyler, arose and delivered a speech thanking the Maori for this opportunity, and presented them with a gift of money and the flax flower that I made (Yeah!). After Brett accepted our gift we proceeded to shake hands and embrace each other in traditional Maori fashion. After grabbing hands and saying, “Kia Ora!” you press your noses together and share a breath…not necessarily sanitary, but really cool. After everyone was greeted, we then shared food together and went inside the mare (where no photos are allowed L) where Brett shared with us a lot of traditional Maori stories explained through the many carvings upon the walls of the mare. It was a really great experience, not only because it opened our eyes to a new culture, it allowed us to extend the bonds of friendship across cultural and racial lines. Brett was a great guide, and I think that all of us really enjoyed the experience!
So that brings us up to yesterday where we visited friends at their sheep ranch high up in the mountains of Kaikoura. As we drove in to the Topp’s ranch, Mr. Topp walked out of their sheep shearing shed, looking just like a sheep rancher. He was picturesque in his rancher-ness. He, and his home were perfect. The Topp’s home is nestled between two gorgeous hills that are surrounded by mountains and FILLED with sheep. They own about 3,000 acres and have about 3,500 sheep. And the lambs? AH! I almost stole one. While at the farm, our group watched a couple of sheep being shorn, got to feed their pet sheep Stewie, Quick, and Phui Phui some bread and got to hold little baby lambs before they got tagged with the Topp’s signature ear mark, and W or M, depending on how you look at it. But let’s get back to those lambs! AH! They are just the littlest little guys and are so fluffy and cute. When they bleat, they stick their little tongues out and AH! It’s almost too much to handle. So after reveling in baby lambs, we played with some chickens and some of the dogs at the ranch. The Topp’s have a total of six work dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier, two chocolate labs, and a mother and father dog used for breeding. I definitely got my dog therapy in yesterday! I am completely convinced that I will need a dog the moment I graduate. I just can’t live without them! Ehhhhhhhh…problem.
So in closing, these past couple of weeks have just been a whirlwind of trips, activites, reading, writing and learning. We just seem to never slow down….it’s been three weeks and I STILL haven’t had time to do all my laundry. ECK! (Wish me luck on that front) Furthermore, the business shows no signs of slowing down, for on Friday (in two days) we leave for Samoa for two weeks. Can you believe it? I sure can’t wrap my head around it! So, I am so very sorry if you have emailed me, or written of Facebook, it’s just been a crazy time here! Great….SO great…but crazy. So know that I am NOT ignoring your or leaving you out, it’s just I need to learn a bit more about biking to town faster and a lot more about time management. I love you all!!!
XOXOXOXOX
