Aotearoa, Long White Cloud

Since we have hundreds (!) of photos and upload time is shower than snail pace (watching paint dry?), and I dislike long travelogues, I've been debating on how to best blog about our trip to New Zealand, as it is something I want to share with all of you. As I looked over all our photos (Jinnet's, too), it's interesting to see what we most photographed--scenery, of course!, waterfront views, meals and food we ate.

All three of us like to cook--and eat. One goal was to eat good food, especially foods we knew we wouldn't get to eat for another year. Many Volunteers tell me that their first stop is McDonalds when they go home or on holiday. That never crossed our minds! We ate lamb, hare, ribs, and venison. We ate whitebait fritters, slices, and meat pies, which are NZ specialties. There was excellent coffee, Guinness, and good affordable wine. Two of our B & Bs served a wonderful hot breakfast, and we never said, "No thank you." Once a day we gathered in a room for a meal that always included good cheeses among other yummy foods we craved. We ate in cafes, fine restaurants, and carry-out eateries. I will spare you the food photos.

What will be our lasting memories? What photos will mean the most in future viewings? Some memories, of course, can't be captured in photos. Those become ours alone, to be savored and brought out at will. Perhaps the sweetest of all.

The North Island: Auckland, Overlander train trip from Auckland to Wellington, and Wellington.  Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and sits toward the north end of the island. Wellington is the capital and is at the south end of the north island.  We took a 12 hour train ride from one to the other.

On the waterfront with part of the Auckland skyline behind us.

We attended the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Here we are as Twits. What fun to see this performance, which had an audience full of children, parents, and grandparents out for a special time.

On the Overlander and in the observation car in the back.

View of mountains.

Looking backward over a bridge.

We crossed many rivers, and one river many times.

New Zealand's seat of government in Wellington, the Beehive.

Wellington waterfront.

Wellington waterfront with a view of the city.

A Wellington beach. 

We took a cable car to the top of a hill to get to the arboretum. This is the view looking over the city. We then walked down through the arboretum and back into the city.

Arboretum rose garden.

Carving of a bee lady at the arboretum.

Te Papa Museum in Wellington.

Maori welcome to the demonstration of their culture.(Te Papa)

Maori guide poses with us. (Te Papa)

 The South Island: Dunedin, which is on the east coast, and quite far south and has the Otago Peninsula nearby; Te Anau, on the west coast and near Fiordland; Doubtful Sound (fiord), and the road to Milford Sound (fiord).

Dunedin's Railway Station.

The rose garden in the arboretum near our B & B in Dunedin.

Yellow-eyed penguin seen on the Otago Peninsula tour.

The boat ride on Manipouri Lake.

During the bus ride to the power plant our bus driver gave us time for photo ops.

Manipouri Power Plant, which is built entirely underground. (Ask us  if you'd like to know more about it.)

On the boat on Doubtful Sound.

One day we drove the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound, taking time to enjoy the sights.

One the road to Milford Sound.

Gunn Lake on the road to Milford Sound.

In a far, far galaxy... (or, same same, but different)

In other words, a Sunday School Christmas Program is pretty much the same here as in any church we've ever been to. We were invited to attend a program at an Anglican church. There was a Christmas tree and decorations, joyous Christmas music, earnest children presenting the message, and anxious adults directing them.  And it was in English! The biggest difference? A 3-hour program. A little long for American tastes and sensibilities, but normal here. Every class level had something to share--songs, dramas, dance, and most of all, joy. Each child received a present by name from the pastor, and delicious refreshments followed. Here's a small sample of the sights and sounds of the evening:

In a corner on the stage.

Older youth present a drama and dance.

Preteens sing and dance.

Another dance with holiday music and a message for the season.

An adult director dresses for the evening.

The littlest angel didn't quite make it to the finale.

We were invited to be a part of an International Volunteer Day program, and I wanted to share this music from it. The singing group is from Tupou High School, and the band from Tupou College.

Kalisimasi fiefia! This is our Christmas card to all of you. May you have a blessed Christmas with family and friends, and a wonderful New Year!

Pomp and circumstance, Tongan style

Students wait for the practice and others bring benches for additional seating.

Prizes for students vied with reports for room on the library tables.

I arrived in the library on Wednesday, November 30, to find the tables piled high with wrapping paper and "prizes" or awards for the top 3 students in each class. Teachers were wrapping, while others were completing their grades and reports. Outside a tent had grown in the playground overnight, and students were bringing the benches from their classrooms for the program's seating for tomorrow. No one wore uniforms, and many students elected to stay home. It was a 1/2 day, with only the practice scheduled for it.  At midmorning the form 2 students went through their marching routine, and students were taught how to receive their awards. The top 10 in each class would be recognized, and the top 3 would receive prizes.

A final sweep to the area before the big day.

Students are ready and waiting.

A class 3 student waits quietly.

It was not a normal day when I walked onto the school grounds the next morning at the usual time. It was too quiet. Only a few students were around and a teacher was giving the area a last sweep before the day began. Two Form 2 students came in the library and were already sad and nostalgic to see their years at Hilliard ending. A little before 9 the Beulah Band arrived, more people came, and it was beginning to look like something special was not only planned, but was going to happen.

Form 2 students march in and salute and wait during the playing of the National Anthem and the raising of the flag.

A student receives recognition for a job well done.

Top 10 class 6 students bow after receiving their awards.

The students of Form 2 marched in, the band played the National Anthem, there were prayers, hymns, welcomes and speeches before we got to the real reason for the day: the awarding of recognition to the top ten students in each class for their academic work and achievement during the past school year. Children were festooned with kahoa, (leis) and proud and adoring parents presented them with more. Photos were taken. 

The band played during a couple of interludes. My favorite piece was a medley of "In the mood," "Rock around the clock," and "Barbara Ann." The top Form 2 student made a short speech. 

Form 2 students getting final instructions before receiving their awards.

Valedictory speech by the top Form 2 student.

The National Anthem played again, and it was over. Another school year done, achievements acknowledged. It wasn't long before most had left, the band members were served lunch, and the process of putting everything away was begun. Now, a holiday break--a time for resting and recharging. Soon the 2012 school year would be under way.... A teacher and her husband had offered me a ride home, and as I crossed the playground to climb into their truck the thought was--how will I feel at this time next year?

Let's have some fun!

Last week exams were over and the days became unstructured and long. Why not have some fun? Our principal decided we’d have some sport competitions. The day before all the students, from class 1 to form 2, were divided into 4 groups and told to wear white, red, yellow, or blue shirts the next day. 

Some of the red teammates getting ready to compete.

After school got started the next morning, everyone came outside and gathered in their teams by color. There was singing, marching, and cheering. Then the games began. Our principal had been able to use some end-of-the-year money to purchase sport equipment and the timing was wonderful. (I hadn’t seen any equipment that belonged to the school before this.) Students competed in volleyball, tennis, ping pong, jumping rope, and relays.

The blue and white teams running relays.

Jump rope competition.

A teacher takes a turn at ping pong--not easy when you're holding an umbrella, but it was sunny.

 The teachers set up a radio and we had music blaring all over the playground. (At one point it was “Achy breaky heart.”) By the end of the morning, the games were over, but the students continued to play and have fun on their own. During lunch there were pick-up games of soccer and rugby. 

Always time for rugby!

 I am always pleased at how well they take turns and rarely complain about whose turn is next. Everyone just wants to have fun!

A Tale of Two Libraries

Peace Corps Volunteers who are teaching are often asked to also take care of, or set up, a library at their schools. As a person who is a "library-aholic" I'm always looking for libraries to visit. Any library! There are two libraries on the eastern end of Tongatapu that I was particularly eager to see, and both are run by PCVs who are leaving this month, so it was time. My Peace Corps Program Manager suggested that we go together, and the date was set. Field trip!

Our first stop: the Nakolo Community Learning Center.

To my knowledge there is only one community library on Tongatapu, and it was set up and is currently being run by a PCV. Her town officer was the force behind it, and he actually built on a room to his house to have the library (learning center) in his town of 400 people. He used a lot of recycled materials to build it, such as wood from shipping containers. (BTW: The town officer is 80 years old.) The Volunteer has gathered all the materials and books through donations of both books and money. As it is a community library, the collection has special needs as it is for all ages. There is a nice collection of children's books as well as fiction and nonfiction for adults. She found out what the members of the community would like to have, and planned accordingly, for example, textbooks and dictionaries. The nonfiction collection is arranged by the Dewey Decimal System as well as the books having colored stickers by subject, to make it easier for shelving after the PCV is gone.

Inside the learning center.

Inside the learning center and browsing for books. It's orderly, attractive and inviting.

 The second library we visited is part of Olive College (high school), which is a Wesleyan school. It's fun to see the differences in each library, often depending on the emphasis placed by the PCV. This one has nice windows with a view to the ocean (WOW) so it's bright and cheerful, as well has having neat shelves of books and displays and posters. She also has a small puzzle and game collection that she finds the students like and it's something completely new to them.  There are tables and chairs for the students to use for reading and study. 

Welcome to the Olive College library.

Nice displays. It's a bright and welcoming room.

Positive messages and books to browse.

A room with a view: that's the ocean out there.

 We talked at length about how they went about running the libraries and their ideas and thinking. The libraries are very different from each other, but each is fulfilling the needs of the patrons and starting to encourage, not only reading, but the gaining of knowledge and understanding. How wonderful to open new doors, in more ways than one!