Blessings of cultural knowledge...

It has been a very busy past few weeks in working on my exegesis for my PhD, teaching, family, chairing our ECE (Early childhood education) pre-school, Elder church duties etc. with so many things to do and write about that I haven't had the time to write so much in this blog.

Suffice to say that there is never a dull moment and it seems that things are coming together in such a way that I wouldn't have been able to do it all myself and in a very special way, it feels that my late father is there with me support and guiding in so many things that I otherwise would not have been able to think about or do in my own strength.

In faith, it also means that I feel blessed in upholding that there is a greater power as in a God who cares and is immeasurably more able answer prayers in ways that otherwise one would not be able to pursue in their own strength. I can definitely testify to that.

There is a Samoan muagaga (phrase) that goes 'o le aso ma le taeao' which translates as a day and a morning which means to me that there is a time and a place when things will happen and that there is no need to stress or panic but to walk in such a way that when things happen that it was meant to be.

I think about how I came about the topic of 'measina a Samoa' that it 'fits' with what I have been brought up as a diaspora Samoan living away from the homeland in that I've met many people who were born in Samoa but have not been afforded the information that I have been gifted with even though I was not born or lived in Samoa for long periods of time. 

There are so many unexplained pieces of the puzzle that are beginning to 'fit' that I had otherwise would not or could not have known were even things that I would have considered to write about in the exegesis but they have become important as I continue to walk out the journey.

And this weekend, I'll be facilitating a workshop on the 'tala o le vavau' (ancient Samoan stories) or books that I have re-written to an audience of our Aoga (pre-school) parents to talk about the stories and important meanings that they draw from each story. 

I am so thankful, in that this is a project has been funded by the Ministry of Education through its Pacific Innovation Funding in being able to fund our Aoga to have such workshops that support our parents to share their cultural knowledge inter-generationally.

 

COVID-19 2nd Booster shots...

 

It's been interesting to listen to people discussing the COVID vaccinations with the 2nd Booster now being rolled out for those who are in the vulnerable category particularly those over 50s with underlying health conditions and especially targeting Maori and Pasifika peoples over 50 too.

There are many who have caught the COVID virus and are deciding not to get more shots because of the antibodies that they believe that now have. Some have even contracted COVID variants on more than two occasions and have said that catching the flu or cold was worse.

Despite the different feedback and conversations I've been aware of, I'd decided to continue with my shots, in being on the cautious side, but am still aware that it's not everyone's cup-of-tea.

This artwork on the left was one that I found really interesting when I visited a COVID vaccination clinic. It has various New Zealand iconic birdlife that one is to try and find but I forgot to include the caption as I was more interested in the beautiful artwork that doesn't credit who the artist was.

Suffice to say that it kept me occupied in having to wait the usual 15 minutes in case of an allergic reaction after getting the booster and I think I found most, if not all, of the said birdlife. It was quite relaxing and fun but they really should credit the artist.

I also took along my youngest to get the flu shot as that's been a real difficulty last year when getting sick with the cold or flu from attending school on multiple occasions. That's the first time too that flu shots have been encouraged for pre-teens.

All of this before the school holidays...