Startling to settle in to uni

Update for this week, here we go!!!

Monday I awoke very happy after my wonderful week of tramping. I looked up my work and realized I actually had some! Monday evening found me taking part of an IFSA-Butler event: A night on the town. We met at Te Papa, Welly's museum and went inside where a theatre is located. The "play" was called Mark Twain & Me in Maoriland. I say "play" as it did feature some singing and was not really a narrative, felt much more like story theatre in presentation but without a concrete idea of where the story was heading. What was it about? Good question! I'm still asking myself that. It was about colonialism in Aotearoa (NZ) from the eyes of Mark Twain, who despised such ideas secretly in his journal when he visited New Zealand and saw the clash between Maori and the Europeans. It was well done, i think, I'm just not sure what was done.

After dinner we got a real treat: any dessert we wanted as Strawberry Fare!!! Where desserts are served as dinner portions (though keep in mind NZ dinner portions are not American dinner portions). But they were still pretty large! I had Pavlova, a traditional NZ dessert that has enough sugar in it to make anyone diabetic, or so Hannah quickly surmised. And boy was it sweet! The dessert was created in honor of Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballet dancer. There was much debate as to whether it was created by NZ or Australia, but apparently it's NZ. It's essentially egg whites + sugar whipped up inside a hard meringue shell. It was served topped with Kiwifruit and Passion fruit sauce. Actually I had my first Kiwifruit in New Zealand that night! Though apparently they aren't a native species...whatever still delicious. Apparently they used to be called Chinese gooseberries (as they are from China), according to my prestigious source (Briar Rose Davies, one of my lovely flatmates, if you remember and remember her you should!).

Tuesday found me at Uni in class and learning a bit of new Maori as well as some Maori songs with gestures, though I must admit the music class moves quickly and I failed to pick up on much of it. It time I will! But anyways,

Ko Johnny taku ingnoa. No Chicago ahau. Kei te pai ahau. Ko Jim toku tuakana. Ko Nancy toku whaea. Ko Larry toku matua. Kei te pehea koe?

Translation: I'm Johnny. I'm from Chicago. I'm good. Jim is my older brother. Nancy is my mother. Larry is my father. How are you?

Pretty basic in terms of my vocabulary, but the language is quite fun! A very different structure than spanish or english and it focuses much more on one's relationship and place in life. There are 6 different ways to say "my" because in Maori you identify if your possessions/friends/family are superior/inferior to you. Also most words don't have a plural form, instead you change the possessive word like my to indicate more than one. I also had my first tutorial and now have a vocabulary test next wed and a listening assignment due thursday, which I'm proud to say I've completed!

Maori music has kept me busy with an essay due monday. though i've yet to start writing I have been able to find some good sources by visiting the library this morning and getting a library card for Wellington's library! My essay is on Ngoingoi Pewhairangi, a Maori contemporary composer most famous for her songs E Ipo and Poi E.

Criminology is still quite interesting, today we discussed green and human rights criminology, both very unique approaches as well as peacemaking criminology, which is inspired by Ghandian and Buddhist principles.

Wednesday was St. Patrick's day! An Student night! So everyone was out and about and green. Quite a big holiday here as well. I attended a Kiwi party with Alan and Briar (flatmates) and then hit up some places in town with some of the Americans. It was a nice night.

Thursday I made sweet and sour chicken and fried rice for dinner, spending far too much time on it in an effort of procrastination. When I finally arrived at the library that night I ended up uploaded the 100 best NZ songs onto my computer. Procrastination? Yes! So happy with my decision? YES! And E Ipo and Poi E are on the best list and I need to listen to them for my essay anyways, so it sorta counts, right? Things I learned from the best 100 that How Bizarre was composed by Kiwis! I had no idea!

Friday found me getting that library card (which involves proof of residency, ID, second address, phone numbers, etc.) and finding more sources! I also went to town with all four flatmates (Sophie, Anna, Briar, and Alan) and we found a cheap place to eat delicious food and an outdoor summer cafe with live music for a spot of coffee. It was a very nice summer night, which was a welcome change as it's been quite cold this week.

Tomorrow I have another IFSA Butler event. More details to come...

Questions/Comments also welcome!