Important movie - "Sound of Freedom"...

 

One of the most important movies to watch of the year, if not of the decade, that I would recommend for viewers to watch (preferably adults?) is the movie "Sound of Freedom". I had heard about it earlier on the year and knew that I had to watch it but didn't realize the controversy surrounding it until I returned from overseas to find out that there was very little promotion about it.

Without going too much into the story, it is based on a true story about a 'freedom fighter' or former U.S.A. Homeland security officer who goes into rescue children who are taken and sold into the global sex trafficking slavery trade.

The horrific thing about it is that this has been an exponentially growing industry over the last few years with internet and growing faster than the arms race and catching up to the drug trade. How could this possibly happen?

And that's just information that I've learned in the last few days! when I purposed to read around the film and listen to the main character, Tim's story. I wanted to watch the movie to inform myself of what's going on in the world that would illegally allow (I mean turn a blind eye) for children to be traded as a sexual commodity for monsters! 

The children are the real heroes of the movie as well as the child/ren rescuers. Especially when they put their own lives on the line to help save these children that they don't even know. It's just unfathomable that this could even happen but it did make me think about this happening in New Zealand and Samoa right under our noses but we're not aware of it.

There's a real horror in all of this as it's like silent screams and I don't think that we, as the public, should turn a blind eye to this. At the end of the movie, there was an additional plea from the main actor asking for "story tellers" (like me and like you) to share about the importance of watching this movie and putting a stop to it.

He also talked of how it took five long years for the movie to come onto screen. That there were many blocks along the way to try and not put it out in the movies. What? what I have learned is that there are a lot of consumers of this industry who do not want people to know that they exist! in trying to keep it out of the public eye.

I actually think that it's something that every caring citizen should watch. The very young, children and the very old are our most vulnerable as well as people with disabilities etc. However, it's also biblical in a saying that says (which also comes up in the movie) that it's better to tie a millstone around your neck than to harm a little child.

Like Tim (main character of the movie) says that that's "Mafia style" Jesus talk. Something that you don't mess with - is messing with kids! don't even get me started! There's just something totally wrong with people (mainly men) who are exploiting children. Not only is it illegal but there's a certain reward that's waiting for them in prison and in the afterlife.

So what can I do about it? you ask? Check out the website: https://ourrescue.org and join up or keep informed with what may be happening near your area. Our support of such organizations helps children everywhere. Prayer is another powerful weapon as these aren't just people but also principalities and powers of darkness. Sounds like a horror movie? is it!!!

You only have to watch videos around the movie to know that there's a pervasive evil that is very real and festers on exploiting the most vulnerable - children and women. Many in third world countries but the consumers are mainly men with power and they're everywhere. 

It is interesting to note is that the main rescuers are men 'cause these sound like really dangerous missions with many women in aftercare support for the little ones but there are also women who exploit children in being in positions of power and greed similar to those who traffick children for the same spoils. Again it gets my blood boiling (figuratively speaking) as to how people can do this but it is real and it's something that we need to stand up against...

Winter/Spring nature walks continue...

I'm loving these wintery/spring morning walks with the crisp air and beautiful warm sunshine. It's neat to be able to enjoy the quiet of the mornings whilst most people are still in their weekend beds sleeping in. 

I count it a privilege to be able to take the time to go for a stroll. I notice that there aren't many people out and about at this time. But it's also a time that I get to enjoy God's floral creations like the kowhai tree.

It's a native tree to New Zealand and our unofficial tree that a lot of native birds like to benefit from. I think I don't see enough of them around as they're not often sold at gardening shops but we definitely need to see more of them.

I'm reminded that Spring is just around the corner and we're in our last official month of winter with our winter woolies still on. By now, we're starting to ditch the scarves and mittens. It's such a joy to be able to see so many buds beginning to burst and flowering trees. We reminded again that Spring is just around the corner...

Creating Appreciation cards...

This week, I took some time to make up some "appreciation" cards. They're cards that I've made up in bulk for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, loss and for general use.

I wanted to make these up as I saw that sometimes I'd be racing to the shop to look for such cards for those special occasions and it would take up time and money. Especially as cards can be so expensive these days and they can be inexpensive to make.

So instead of scrapbooking, of which I did for years when my children were younger, I've taken up card making as a creative way to spend some of that creative energy in order to keep that creativity flowing. 

Some of the medium I use includes: cutting up pre-made cards like those from the USA company "Close to my heart" which are already pre-set cards. Other times I just make up the designs myself and use stickers, die-cuts, stamps and scrapbook cards.

It's definitely fun and by the end of the time, I have some beautiful occasional cards that I can use or give away as gifts as I've started doing i.e. I bundle them up in 5's (card and envelope) then I cut a piece of string and tie them together ready for gifting.

So far, I've had an 'autumn' theme, black 'mourning' cards, travel cards, celebration cards with a lot more to come. It's something definitely worth doing if you're looking to try out your hand at designing something that doesn't take up too much time and later can come in handy to show your appreciation to others...

Measina Samoan traditional taupou costume...

A big thank you to my sis/cousin Aunei Lita who's amazing creative friend was able to fully dress my eldest for a taualuga (final formal Samoan traditional dance) at a family graduation party yesterday.

The traditionally inspired taupou (princess) costume is made up of several parts which was very amazing for me to witness from the tuiga or headdress, palefuiono or headband, the ula nifo or necklace of teeth (more symbolic), siapo (tapa cloth) on chest, two Ie Toga or special fine mats, coconut bangle and shell anklets on her ankles.

Her dance was, for me, the definite highlight of the evening and especially as a New Zealand born Samoan young woman. She had expressed that she wanted to learn the traditional Samoan dance and was able to dance on behalf of my family for our Po siva (or night of dance) earlier in the year.

What has been particularly interesting for me in my doctoral studies, has been the amazing opportunity of watching measina in action for diaspora Samoans like myself and my children. In living away from the homeland but still with the ability to be interested and learn about our fa'aSamoa.

In seeing the interest of my children, quite apart from my own interest, I am so glad that my parents were able to share their love of Samoa with my children. In having a second home in Samoa has been a blessing so that they can always call Samoa home...

 

Stepping up with lots going on tomorrow...

 

Went for my usual weekend 5km walk and then came back home and my lil' sister had the boom box on with her African beats so couldn't help but get those steps up with some dancing.

Hence, my steps up to 16,000 steps today as compared with some days when I'm barely scraping 3,000 steps in trying to concentrate on writing my thesis. But today wasn't one of them and feeling pretty good too.

Have been busy also in getting things ready for the graduation party tomorrow of my significant half. There's been so much to do but for once, I'm not the main organizer which is a real relief. Instead, it's our eldest who's getting everything ready.

It's also her 21st birthday next month, so that I've been busy organizing for in wanting to get something special for her with our family celebration next month. I'm just so glad that my parents were able to show me lots of ways of organizing for big events as well as smaller catering.

So tomorrow we'll be busy setting up the hall for the celebration with decorations and I was busy sewing organza table runners and sashes for chairs. Just amazing how expensive things are now but so glad that my mum taught me to sew so that it's not a problem to sew up with my trusted Singer sewing machine. So it's all go and ready to roll tomorrow...

Lunch and change of challenge captaincy...

 

Today, I had lunch with a work colleague as I relinquished my role as team leader for our work fitness challenge and passed it on to my friend Cindy who is our new team captain.

She is as fit as a fiddle and has been training for years with weights, cross fit, hiking - you name it! she's onto it. But as I'm supposed to concentrating on finishing my thesis, I thought it was the right thing to do by our team as I just wanted to kick start a team and then pass on the leadership.

We have 5 ladies in our team and we're getting there. I wished I'd finished my thesis because then I'd definitely give it heaps but right now the timing isn't so great when there's still so much to do in tidying up my chapters and sorting out my figures and referencing and the list goes on.

I'm also still working on the side with my new coaching programme and have finished sorting out the 8 week programme and now working on the 14 week deep dive programme. It's such a blessing to be even thinking about it but there'll be time enough when all this writing is over.

But for now, more time spent writing and re-writing. So much to do and so little time but it's getting there and that's what so exciting. So off I go, I'd better get back to what I'm supposed to be doing and that's working on the writing...

Spring is in the air!...

 

Spring is in the air! In going for my regular 5km walk this morning, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful pink blossoms of Magnolia trees all over.

We have one right outside our home and this was one was along the path that I was walking on. It's such a neat reminder that although we are still in our winter months in Auckland, that the promise of Spring weather is just around the corner.

I couldn't help but get caught in a little drizzle but it was nice to be able to get out again as it has been raining recently and the weather has been just too cold to go for a walk.

But today looked pleasant enough with the promise of rain but what's a little rain in the scheme of things? I'm just glad to be able to enjoy nature and the lovely blossoms that are beginning to peek out all over the place like daffodils too...

Draft PhD thesis finished with the polishing to start...

 

Wow! still in celebration mode with last week's graduation and now I have just completed my nine draft chapters (with more time for cleaning up) for handing in my doctoral thesis next month for examination.

Now the real work begins in polishing, checking my referencing and cross referencing. Visualizing the thesis as a whole, as I've been working on chapter by chapter but it is such a sigh of relief to finally have completed the bulk of the work.

I must say that it's taken the better part of five years to complete. Starting in 2018, and then having trouble with a first supervisor that I just didn't gel with on our ideas. 

That was an important hurdle to overcome as you have to get the right relationship with a complementary supervisor otherwise it won't work and if you don't gel on the offset then it won't work at all. I had to ask for another as I knew that the work that I wanted to do was far more important to me than it was to him.

Anyway, having the COVID-19 global pandemic hit in 2020 then trying to figure out how I was going to overcome this. Then the deep loss and mourning for my late father and my cultural mentor did not help but with the self-less question that my dad asked in his last weeks of when my studies would end. 

I knew that it was permission for me to continue the studies after he had departed and he gave me the impetus to continue beyond the vale. I wanted to make him proud knowing that I had finished (still finishing) something that we had started together.

So here I am, at the brink of finishing this thesis off. I feel like I've come a long way with still more to complete but with a lil' celebrating along the way like with the pavlova above. Yes, way to sugary but nice to start with and then finish with a cup of green tea...

Launching new coaching business at our local Sushi diner...

Yesterday, I launched my new coaching business over sushi and Katsu chicken bowls at a local Sushi diner close to our International/Domestic Airport not so far from where we live.

It was quite a surprise because I had been thinking about it and had started sharing the idea with my two eldest daughters and then decided to declare it to the world and see where it goes from here.

I also asked them if they would be my first two complementary "clients/customers" (still looking for another word to replace) as they are the ideal women whom I will be targeting i.e. women of colour who have goals and dreams, and walking alongside them to help them get there. I thought of myself when I was going through making big decisions and didn't always have that elder wise successful women who had walked down a similar path could have helped me back then. 

I'd thought about how many students I'd helped over the years in my classes, who had seen success, but wanted to support so many more in reaching their goals. I also have another two nieces that I'm going to ask to join the coaching programme, complementarily, as I begin working with my own family before going global. Yes, that's right! I'm thinking global!

You might ask, well don't you do that anyway as a mother or aunty would do? well, yes I do, but I also wanted for them to check out my paraphernalia that I'm creating for the business and to give feedback on what they think. I'm so glad that my girls agreed despite their busy schedules as they both work part time, have been studying full/part time, gymming and doing other things that young twentieth century (millennial?) adults do.

I'm excited at what the future holds in wanting to positively impact more women of colour or minority women (still working on this) and to reach out and support more to overcome many of the obstacles and pitfalls that come their way. I say this as an experienced jumper always trying to overcome hurdles with side swipes, climber over and sometimes crashing through to break those barriers.

I'm now writing my last draft chapter for my doctorate, and will then be cleaning it up ready for submission late next month. There's still a lot of work to do but "we've come a long way baby" as they say. It's like end of a old dream and the beginning of a new one...

Tukurua - Pacific Cuisine & Pasifika Theatre...

 

On the weekend, I went with my family to the Viaduct Events centre and witnessed an immersive performance of Pasifika theatre and Pasifika cuisine.

There were about 5 courses as we sat down and as a party of six and watched a theatre performance of an old Maui or Polynesian ancient story of Ti'iti'i and his quest for sacred knowledge.

It reminded me of my own quest for sacred Samoan knowledge but without all the drama with the gods and not quite so intense. However, it made for good theatre and a great dining experience and the first time for myself and family.

A big shout out goes to my colleague from our Samoan language class who gave out complementary tickets to the event to our class and it was so special for us to attend on our different times. It also reminded me of the very special time that I was able to spend with other like minded students wanting to learn more of the Samoan language even if it was for beginners.

Now looking forward to our graduation where we'll be meeting again together. Believe it or not, I don't have a qualification in Samoan. So this is pretty special to me as I have now three degrees and working on completing a 4th one but none in my own indigenous or native first language.

This was my first but will not be my last as I look forward to joining more Samoan courses (as I have in the past but never in receiving a qualification or certificate) and looking forward to meeting with more like minded people who enjoy learning more about Samoan language and the fa'aSamoa...

Busy weekend: Grad, show, visits...

 

It's been such a busy weekend with attending the graduation on Friday of my significant other with his Master of Philosophy degree in Film (moreso writing the script) and exegesis.

The flowers features in the pic are lovely orchids that a local flower shop had ready. I loved the woven matting as a background with greenery including flax that gave it a lovely touch. However, I took off the baby blue ribbon that came with it and gave it a touch of gold ribbon that set it right off.

Then having dinner with our girls up in the Sky City Tower in a nice restaurant with mains and lots of different courses which was a lovely surprise.

The next day we all met up in town at the Viaduct Events centre which is right at the waterfront where we watched a show that included a culinary theme and Pasifika show of an old legend about Maui. The name of the show was called "Takurua".

It was several courses again, and the theme of the dishes matched the story, which I thought had been well thought through. I'm very thankful for my Samoan classmate, Justine, who gave me complimentary tickets that we were again able to celebrate the graduation event and time together as a family.

Then yesterday, I had my cousin/brother's daughters (my two male cousins who are brothers both had daughters) who came for a visit. Their mother, my aunt had passed away when they were very young and we've kept in touch ever since that sad day when the three of us were there at her last breath at the hospital. There I promised her that I would look out for them and have kept that promise to this day.

Their daughters came to visit with my mum, myself and family, and we were able to share old photos, we visited my aunt, their grandmother's grave. We had dinner and dessert together and it was lovely to discuss those times and some of the things that happened i.e. in filling in the gaps of those earlier days in their dad's childhood.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend with so much happening with celebrations, enjoying lovely cuisine (especially where I don't have to cook) and enjoying times together as family. That's when the magic happens in being grateful for what we've been blessed with in life...

Arts Technology school exhibition...

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending my youngest's Technology exhibition at our local school that I'm a board member of. It was so neat to see how so many creative ideas were shared with parents at that meeting.

It was also the first Technology exhibition that I had seen at the school and the neat thing was that each child in the Year 7 & 8 Technology classes were asked to write about their created piece.

My youngest chose to carve and asked her Aunty (my lil' sister) for some advice and direction. Needless to say that whilst in Samoa, my lil' sister was busy with it.

The neat thing was that they had worked together on the project and were able to have it displayed at the exhibition was fun. I later saw the principal and suggested that it should be an annual exhibition that would bring in a lot of parents to see their child's work.

Some of the medium that they used as well as wood were: silk with dyes, lino prints, ink on paper, string and wood, video - film etc. I observed as other parents went around with their child showing them their work but also admiring other pieces as well.

Definitely something that I would encourage for all schools as with the theme of this year's exhibition on being about identity, it was really neat to see how each child interpreted that theme into their creation. Such a neat idea... 

 

Tau ora - work health competition initiative...

 

It's another year and it's been over 12 years since I first joined my work's Health competition Initiative which I simply enjoy joining every year. My youngest is the product of enjoying a healthy routine and then getting a lovely surprise in my first year of the competition.

I love it as it keeps me enjoying healthy benefits whilst working together with my word colleagues towards a common goal. In the past we've been gifted Tshirts, mugs and other work paraphenalia but as I was in Samoa and got back late, we missed out and getting the full start package.

But that's okay as I currently have a team of 3 and looking out for another 2 to join our team which I've named "Incognito" as we like to run under the radar. Ha ha ha (it's an inside joke!)

So here we go for another year. My personal aim is to make at least 10,000 steps a day and as the team captain, I'm expecting that I should lead the charge. We then upload our steps of other activities that are counted i.e. swimming, gym workout times, speaking te reo Maori (language - yes! even that's counted), biking etc.

Already, I've up loaded my first activity which was very little yesterday, and as you can see on the screen. We're no.1! but that's only for a few minutes because as soon as every team is aware that information can be loaded then we are in for the race.

I'll have updates on my blog now and then and I'm not sure of the finish line but already enjoying starting today with a better approach as was dancing this morning whilst washing the dishes. Yes, still enjoy keeping my days warm in mornings rather than using a dish washer! With much more to come...