A canvas in the making...

 

This is the foyer of the 3 in 1 Early childhood centres that our Samoa Aoga (Early childhood centre) is located in.

I have big plans for it. So this is the before photo and over time I'll post an after photo. Interestingly enough it's a shared front reception area for the 3 language nests of the: Cook Islands, Niue and Samoan.

I'm thinking big colourful flowers such as the hibiscus and large green tropical leaves and perhaps a few other tropical plants that you might find in the Pacific.

This was thanks to an idea from a Ministry of Education representative whom I talked yesterday who gave me the idea to consider it as a large canvas to fill as these features have been there for quite a long time.

And I'm hoping to take advantage of the artistic license that I might be allowed if the other 2 Early childhood centres don't mind as it's a bit drab at the moment although they did do the best that they could with the resources that were available at the time.

Watch this space!...

Chillaxing and Painting...

 

Last weekend, whilst I was supposed to be chillaxing at home, I ended up painting and relaxing at our local church's Samoan Early Childhood Aoga (school).

That was with of the educators and board members just getting some last-minute things ready for some special guests that will be arriving during the week (but that's another story).

What I find so relaxing about painting is that you can be multitasking (as we women do) by having a conversation and painting at the same time, punctuated with the occasional joke and laughter (especially if you're Samoan).

I especially liked the colour scheme which one of our board members came back with and this colour palette is very appealing and uplifting when taking into account what it looked like before. We also had family members support in the painting with my beloved and middle child.

Now we can look back with pride at the outcome and it's just so amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a playground. We also brought some new toys for the children and just brought back some good old memories about when I was a kid and the laughter and fun we had with our favourite toys. Now to have a test run with the children of the Aoga...

Toloa Framework and song...

 This weekend, as well as having some R&R (rest and relaxation), I'm also catching up on some much-needed work that I'm a little behind in my studies and I've been particularly interested in the Samoa proverbial saying or alaga upu "E lele le toloa ae ma'au lava i le vai" which if literally translated it means - the toloa (duck) flies but always returns to the water.

Last year when our family travelled to Samoa, our girls would have a Samoan songs playlist that we would listen to in the car especially when travelling to Apia and back which is sometimes like a 45 minute car ride depending on traffic and weather. One of the songs that we would listen to a lot was a song that has the proverbial saying in its lyrics.

In my studies, I'm particularly interested in the experiences of diaspora Samoans regarding measina (treasures) a Samoa and also in the Samoan Early childhood centre that I'm on the board of we are also looking at developing a 'toloa framework' which looks deeply into the proverbial saying and taking a metaphorical understanding of what that lessons we learn from ancient wisdom of old that is expressed in proverbial sayings.

That's where I'll stop as there is a lot more to unpack but suffice to say that this song begins to discuss this important alaga upu regarding Samoa as a nation. Still I get nostalgic and miss the times that my family could easily cross the Pacific Oceanic ditch and look forward to a time that we can do it again but in the meantime, I'll just enjoy the music and dream...

Labour Day rest...

This labour weekend I'm taking it easy, although I do have some errands to run as it's all about having a rest from the usual "labour" that we have. In fact, according to some historical information New Zealand was one of the first countries to celebrate this day back in 1840 when an 8 hour day for work was negotiated and people celebrated this annually with parades.

Nowadays, it's all about the Labour day sales that are hardcore promoted with many rushing to stores to buy up before the item is sold out. I'll definitely not be doing that but perhaps instead will get some painting on for some more series like the one above that I gifted a friend yesterday on her 50th birthday.

The painting series gift was part of a gift hamper that I delivered to her that included a live plant i.e. gerbera, a bottle of non-alcoholic bubbly (who needs the hangover), a bottle of nostalgic perfume, Favourite chocolates, a couple of my fave books and a card.

This definitely beats buying out a hamper from a store during the labour day sales that don't always personalize what the receiver would like. Plus it's a whole lot of fun putting it together and dropping it off to the unsuspecting person.

So this labour weekend will be well deserved with so many of my projects beginning to wind up before winding down and with only two more months before Christmas shopping and all the needed rest that that season will bring...
 

Tomorrow poll close for NZ voting...

 

Less than 24 hours now to go before the close of elections. This year was the first year that I decided to go early and take the opportunity to vote early and then also with my parents.

It was also the first time that one of my children were of age to be able to vote and since we do talk politics at home with differing views on who we support and which party we vote for, it's neat to be able to listen to the other perspectives and agree or disagree without going into a fully-fledged war.

This was also the first time that we've had two important referendum topics to consider voting on and there have been some important discussions had over the differing views and beliefs that family members have had over the end of life and the cannabis debate.

This pic I took was at the polling booth before I voting and what was so interesting was that despite all the talk that was going on with the media about the varying debates going on between parties, I'm one of those voters who exercises my vote having watched, listened, considered the political landscape and who I was going to vote on long before going to the voting booth.

So it only becomes a tick box exercise for me as all the considerations had been done months and years before. But I'm also aware that there are many who aren't sure and not always interested in the political discussions that go on for us as a nation and that's fine too but difficult when you choose not to vote as that allows others (the majority) to define what that looks like.

It's been an interesting journey since growing into understanding the voting process and the background of NZ politics but also empowering in no longer allowing 'others' i.e. the majority to lay claims so that their voice is loudest. 

In being aware of what's going on allows us to share knowledge with those around us but then to ultimately allow them to make decisions for themselves. This time tomorrow we will know where NZ is steering. May the journey go well...

New Pamphlet for our Samoan Early childhood centre...

 

One of the neat things about being on the board of our local church's Aoga Fa'ata'ita'i Samoa PIC Mangere (Samoan bilingual Early Childhood centre) is having the opportunity to be a part of encouraging next generations to be at least bilingual i.e. to speak and/or understand Samoan and English or even multi-lingual adding te reo Maori etc.

As a bonus I get the opportunity to share in the design of the new pictured pamphlets (pictured here) that will now be shared and distributed to our local communities through postal drops, social media and advertising in shop windows etc.

I count it a blessing to be a part of this movement in encouraging our children to participate in passing on to them important Samoan language skills and cultural knowledge to ensure that at the very least, they are proud to be Samoans in whatever form that takes.

So if you are interested in wanting to find out more information about our A'oga, please contact through and information provided and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. As our next generations are worth it...

"The Secret Garden" movie review...

 School is back for the last term of the year and during the holidays, last week, my family and I were able to watch a movie together as a family. It was the above movie which was interesting having watched it an earlier version of it.

It stars Collin Firth, who's acted on so many classic English movies, however, in this one it didn't really interest me as much as it was shot with quite dark scenes (I suppose to show what it might have been like in those days near the moors) and although it significantly changes to brighter scenes in the garden it just didn't seem to have the same brilliance as the former version.

We also watched it having missed Samoan White Sunday or Lotu Tamaiti which was last week Sunday i.e. the second Sunday of October whereby children and teens (and sometimes adults) recite bible verses, act in plays, and sing biblical songs or dance and all finishing in with a big feast.

Although some churches went ahead and prepared during lockdown level 2, our church decided to cancel it for this year and will await next year to see if all is well to continue with this tradition. It was interesting to see that quite a few shops had white clothing for sale on their displays but probably fewer churches participated this year.

Oh well, looking forward to what next year brings and movies that are a lot more brighter...

Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi - Manukau campus...

This Saturday, I'm spending time with my tauira (students) at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in Manukau with other Tikanga (Maori protocols) and Te Reo (Maori language) students and their kaiako (teachers).

It's a real privilege to be here because we were welcomed onto the campus with a traditional (contemporary) powhiri or Maori welcome ceremony and it was good for some of my non-Maori students to experience this important Maori ceremony.

As well as that, we had a very important guest speaker: Rereata Mahika speak about many different matauranga (Maori knowledge) of some ancient Maori knowledge and wisdom of old and the morning's session was on 'taiao' or the environment. 

 What's really interesting is that I studied for year through high school and then 5 years at Uni to receive a Master's degree in Geography (Human and Physical) and the interesting was that the information that I learned in this short time (and the times that I've listened to him earlier) are mind-blowing.

The reason why is, is that in days of old our tipuna/tu'ua (ancestors) were keen observers of the land, seas, winds, birds etc. and we are now only learning about how amazing their keen observations were in being able to survive without the mod-cons (modern conveniences that we take for granted today) i.e. that of WiFi, internet, social media, Zoom, Skype etc.

What we as indigenous researchers are learning is that what we are only now re-discovering is only the tip of the iceberg. It's been an exciting journey to take my students on and I know that everyone who is attending these classes are leaving that much more aware of how our ancestors were able to manoeuvre back then.

But it's inspiring to know that that DNA is still in our genes that we only need to pray, believe and begin to rediscover what we are quietly capable of despite or in spite of our Western education and knowledge.

I'm leaving even more inspired to know that although there is much more to learn that I've started on this pathway and that I'm sure it will lead my students also in knowledge that when you have a better understanding of our real history that nothing can take away that amazing history that we come from. 

Now to put it all in practice for next generations...  

Sports watch for fitness...

 

Thanks to my lil' sis, I finally have a digital watch that is slim line black and actually works i.e. has the time, pedometer (steps), date, also takes heart rate, sleep cycle, other sports counters and also finds my mobile phone.

This is after having purchased a couple of earlier watches online and then when trying to download the App, something would always go work but now, no worries.

It's part of a work initiative that encourages employees to get into teams of 5 and register them on a website. We then are given these watches and can earn points for all sorts of physical activities as well as other non-sports activities.

We also get a diary so that we can write down our goals, activities and how we're going and it's pretty good when you see how your team is developing in their points towards an end goal.

The challenge is only for a couple of months and then it's over but there are many challenges that one can take and at the end of the challenge there is a free Tshirt up for grabs for those who have finished selected challenges.

Overall a neat way to get fit, or stay fit as a team through these challenges but then to also commit to continuing the fitness after the competition finishes...