I, too am Auckland...

 

I had heard about this project and came across it and thought to share it with my blogging community. Interestingly enough, it reminds me of my first years at Auckland University back in the mid 80s with my sister. She was the first of our family to attend law school and I started the following year on an arts degree and was first to graduate with a Masters degree in my family.

 

Back then the comments that are shared here were surprisingly quite similar i.e. with the reactions of student colleagues in thinking that I had gone to a private or exclusive girls school but when I shared about coming from a public school in Mangere, it took many by surprise.

 

South Auckland had a bad reputation back then too, so much so, that I was aware that some people and businesses didn't want people to know that they were from Mangere with the phone number prefix of 275 or Otara 274 that they would request for a phone number change. 

 

I also became aware of correctly pronouncing Maori and Pasifika words rather than the Anglosized European pronunciation which I still do today.

 

I remember starting in my arts degree in English, History, Art History and Geography with a few Pasifika people in my first year in the huge lecture theatres or smaller classrooms, and then it whittled away to even fewer in my second year and by the time I'd entered my third year, in many of my classes there was only myself or one other. Of course, as Pacific and Maori students we would gravitate to each other and other people of colour but by the time I'd entered my Masters year, I was the only one left standing amongst my European colleagues.

 

And being in the department of Geography was even more interesting because most of the teaching faculty were older well travelled European males and my 'professor' or mentor was a Korean academic. Somehow, I didn't take it to heart and was encouraged or ignored but kept plugging on with my family as my best motivators and working part time on weekends in town. I guess, I had a bigger picture in mind, in knowing that I was the only Pasifika woman in this circle and kept my goal first and foremost to graduate.

 

It made me realise that perhaps it's time to soon return to teaching in a mainstream tertiary academic environment as I've been quite privileged to be able to work in an Indigenous environment with people of colour in that the tensions are quite different. But in listening to these tertiary students stories, I think there is still a mountain to climb in addressed covert racism and in some parts institutional racism but to not take things too personally in that it is not your personal endeavour to educate or change peoples' perceptions of you but rather continue to meeting those expectations of your goals.

 

You never know, you might be one whom they will seek help from in years to come...

Original Apia markets burnt down...

So sad to find out yesterday that the original Apia markets had burnt down. I remember going shopping there last November when we visited with our families and even more sad that my husband's sister had a stall there with her beautiful designs and hoping that she and many other stall holders will have the opportunity to develop their businesses again after a rebuild.

Now awaiting the news about when the rebuild can occur as I also read in a local Samoan Facebook article that some think that the present government may take this opportunity to build another government building there in place of the markets that would service Samoa's relationship with Chinese investors. I hope that this is not the case and that the Samoan people and particularly families and villagers of the stall holders will stop this as there are few places in the world where you can buy products directly from the so called 'indigenous people' in the capital or close to town.

In Waikiki, this was not the case as one would have to go outside of the main city centre and I would say the same for Fiji apart from the local fruit and vege's markets. In Australia, you don't see much in the way of indigenous Aboriginal arts in Brisbane and Sydney where I traversed in June of last year. And it is so important that indigenous people are able to be self sufficient in selling their arts directly to the public without having to have their arts replicated by corporates for the tourism industry.

Wishing my sis' and other stall holders the best in what the future holds as there were no fatalities and hopefully the best is yet to come...

Beware Chikungunya virus in Samoa...

 As my parents return back to Samoa after spending the Christmas/New Year holiday with us and having spent a short time in November in Samoa, I think it important to issue a warning for travellers there to be aware of the Chikungunya virus that 4 of my 5 travelling party came down with upon returning to New Zealand.

Our families living in on the Upolu Island were not at all affected but having travelled around to Savaii and then returning, somewhere along the way, one of our party first contracted it with a red rash like affect on her chest. It looked like measles but without a fever.

Within a couple of days, I had a very sore back and within days of returning, others in our travelling party came down with headaches, swelling on feet, hands and the rash spending around the body i.e. face, leg, hands etc. I was able to continue working, although it was a little sore to walk around and going upstairs was quite a mission. In fact, I felt as if I had aged overnight and it was quite sore to move at times. Others in my family were unable to work and just wanted to sleep it away.

Upon visiting the doctor, we were told that it was becoming more common in Samoa and that it was a virus spread through contact with infected mosquitoes; that it usually would start with a red rash (looks a little like measles) and then limbs can become swollen and sore and feels arthritic. We were also told that the best cure was prevention with lots of mosquito repellent to use at all times and upon reviewing our trip I realised that it was only in Savaii that we didn't use repellent.

So that would be my suggestion to any travelling to Samoa to be aware and vigilant as I am aware that there is a church party from my birth church, Mangere PIC, who will be travelling to Samoa in the next few days. "Be calm and wear insect repellent..." the consequences are very sore indeed!

5 things to do everyday...

 I read a Facebook article today about another writer's ideas of 5 things of what to do every single day even when life is stressful. Her ideas were:

• Writing a To-Do list
• Make your bed
• Get dressed in something that makes you feel great
• Do a load of laundry from start to finish
• Keep kitchen clean
• BONUS: Do something for yourself for 10-15 mins

When I read through it made me think about what the 5 important things I should be doing each day and also a good idea for you to consider what your list might entail.

My list is as follows:

1. Get inspired: starting the day with a positive frame of mind through prayer/meditation or Bible reading/inspirational readings etc. as my dad taught me.
2. Plan when to do the important things on your To-Do list already prepared from the night before. (Especially the things on your year goals list.)
3. Exercise for 30 minutes eg. YouTube clip etc and eat healthy meals throughout the day.
4. Demonstrate your love to the important people in your life.
5. Tidy a section of your house.

Back to work with a new outlook...

 One of the neat things that I like about my job in education is that I work with a diverse group of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds even work ethics and values. So that it makes for a colourful day and never a dull moment. Some of the background events that have coloured my world and has shaped my life, I've written into short stories and poetry that will be featuring in my writing to be published this year.

I'm hoping to start the year by launching my first poetry collection which has been a long time coming. I must say that I've been writing poetry for years and this collection will feature some of the poetry that I first wrote in the 1990s. I'll also be featuring some of the more currently themes that have become important to me over time as a writer and I'll be interested in getting feedback as the year goes on.

For me, poetry writing started when I became really interested in studying poetry at high school. I was intrigued in how English teachers were able to decipher a story from a poem that sometimes made little sense to me. Now, as a writer, and having taught poetry to senior students for exams and studied poetry in my University courses, I have a better understanding about what it's all about and hope to share some of my thoughts with an audience of readers.

I first started writing poetry seriously whilst taking a Creative writing course with Albert Wendt (a now distinguished Samoan writer) at the University of Auckland in the early 1990s. At the time it was a Certificate in proficiency Creative writing course that only provided 12 spaces for people to apply for and at the end of the course a short collection was published. Now one can complete a PhD in Creative writing at any of the bigger Universities. I remember writing and then having to share a selected piece with the group often sitting on the floor in a circle. I'm sure that Albert Wendt didn't 'get' my poetry at the time but over time I've discovered and developed my own poetry style.

Some of the poets that I've enjoyed reading over time have included the great English writer William Shakespeare (and more about his influence in blog posts to come), Maya Angelou (African American), Ruperake Petaia (Samoan), Konai Helu Thaman (Tongan) just to name a few.

Am looking forward to venturing out and sharing some poems that will be funny, some controversial, some developed to make one think and sometimes to just ponder over...

The wettest holiday summer weather yet ...

 This has got to be the wettest summer Auckland holiday weather in memory that I have. Having rained during Christmas and then New Year weekend and set to rain again this weekend it's unprecedented.

It's kind of funny too as when we were travelling last year, we seemed to hit wet weather in Sydney, Samoa and even Hawaii. So maybe it's been following us since and has now settled in and around New Zealand.

But I must say that I do love working in wet weather when all is warm inside and often it's windy or rainy and cold outside although I do remember working in the outdoors when I was much younger and it rained and I couldn't wait to come inside for a warm shower.

Being a geographer, I remember having to study weather patterns and rainfall having to do with seasons, the hemispheres, the seasonal wind patterns etc. and now the greenhouse gases but so glad that now I just need to know if it's going to rain or shine for my washing to be dry. Ha ha.

Anyway, wishing you all warm summer or winter whichever part of the hemisphere you happen to be in ...

New Year prayer week for 2016...

There's a tradition in my birth church (Mangere PIC Pacific Islanders Presbyterian church) of having a prayer week for the Cook Islands, Niuean and English speaking community in the first several days of the new year. It's a time to reflect on the old year and to look forward to praying for the year ahead.

For some reason the Samoan minister there doesn't advocate it but for those who are Samoan we are able to join in with the English speaking Monday morning group as I did this morning. This particular group was founded by a group of us as young single women but I'm the only one attending occasionally as my family now worships at another church which doesn't have this tradition, however, I found it refreshing and encouraging to be able to come together at 6 am in the morning and to reflect on a bible scripture, share and pray together.

Over the years, since around 1996 when we first started (when I was still single) some 20 years ago, I've seen prayers come true for many, including myself, and I now have my children attending whenever possible as my dad does when he visits from Samoa.

For this year's prayer focus, I'm believing for greater things to happen but also to walk humbly with my God. I hope that this year will be a fruitful year for you and your family too...

New Year, new look, new ideas and books...

Having been blogging for over a year now, I thought to change it up a bit and to try something different, hence the change in the appearance of the blog site and will be trying out some new ideas throughout the year as there's so much out there in the digital stratosphere.

Some of the upcoming changes this new year for me as an author/self-publisher/illustrator is the launch of an author website which has been a long time coming and with interest nationally and internationally. The big reveal will be announced fairly soon.

I also have a couple of exhibitions and book launches upcoming with a poetry collection in the first quarter of the year and will keep all the loop as I looking at starting a historical series on events that have shaped Samoa but have also personally affected my family's life as well.

I think it may be quite interesting as I never learnt any Samoan history growing up in South Auckland and only picked it up at Uni where I started asking my parents questions about different events that I was learning about. I even asked Fritz (my husband) who'd been educated in Samoa in his formative years and he expressed the same that it was only through talking to older family members that he learnt about historical events.

I'm hoping that this series will not only teach my children about the history of their forefathers (and mothers) but also to assist in helping them to understand their identities and to see how our ancestors overcame adversities. This is shaping up to being a very interesting year ahead and all the best in your endeavours as well...

Goal planning and Serenity prayer for 2016...

I've been big on goals ever since I was a kid growing up. I think I got it from my parents who really encouraged us to do well in school in seeing education as a key to understanding the world around us and in being successful (whatever that might mean to the individual).

I, in turn, have passed this on to my children and in my job as an advisor to degree students. I also encourage goal setting and planning at the beginning of the year as a big part of becoming successful in their studies in continually checking on those goals throughout the year to the end.

I often say that the key to success is not about having a smooth sailing year, it's about being able to problem solve along the way to ensuring that unless it's a life and death situation or emergency - what strategies/contingency plans/re-routing can be put in place to overcome the situation/s or is there something that I really need to stop and think about.

I know in my own 3 degree studies, it's never been plain sailing, and it's to expect the unexpected. The other most important part for me is being grounded as a faith believing Christian that most times things will happen that are out of my control and that I just have to give it up in prayer to a God who can handle it but to also have the wisdom to know about when I need to move on things.

It's that time honoured Serenity prayer ...

Wishing you a Happy New Year for 2016...

Wishing all my friends, family and readers a very happy new year for 2016. Looking forward to what the new year offers in opportunities and openings as a publisher and author but also as a mom, educator and entrepreneur great hopes for my family.

In regards to new year's resolutions, I gave up on doing that many years ago and instead have a goals sheet that I write out at the beginning of every year. It includes two goals in each category with a timeline:

• Spiritual / Physical / Family / Financial / Professional / Mental / Social / Community support

So maybe if you have given up on New Year's Resolutions like me, you could give this a go. I've been doing it for many years and have found that it keeps me on track and I keep it close and review these goals throughout the year. So yes, last year, I also had the goals of publishing two books and it came true.

Just give it a go! you never know unless you do...

Looking forward to the new year 2016...

 Great to be spending time with family from overseas as it's been a real blessing with a BBQ prep organised for this evening, a family swimming pool event and welcoming the New Year with a church service and a dessert for our family get together.

Yesterday, we (almost) finished my lil' sister's bedroom reno with the wallpapering and it's looking really good and ready for her first year degree studies and in anticipation of her upcoming birthday next month. My brother now wants to take on our parents hallway with a new paint job replacing the old wallpaper and they did an all-nighter last night to get it done. You go bro! :)

It's been great to take a break from the books but am already anticipating our first launch which will be either late Jan or most probably early February with my first poetry collection of earlier poems I've written and some more current offerings.

I thank God for a great year in 2015 and so 2016, here we come...

Counting down last days of 2015...

 2015 has been a great year for our family and have been busy painting up ceiling, door etc. in my lil' sis' bedroom for an update and reno for the new year where she'll be starting her degree studies in Social work.


Which takes me back to our visit to Hawaii where it was quite funny to see, in Waikiki shops, quite a bit of winter gear - I guess for those who would be returning to the 'mainland' US as they call it but also the main department stores at Ala Moana shopping centre in Oahu, with winter woollies whereas both in Hawaii and NZ we share warmer weather so house reno's and gardening are tasks often taken over summer.


Also beginning to hit the swimming pool and beaches as the warmer weather drives us out of our houses and into nature. Looking forward to New Year celebrations and neat to have my brother and his family visiting from Melbourne before both they and my parents fly back to their respective abodes.


Have had a neat year in 2015, roll on 2016...

Highlights of 2015...

Sunning on Waikiki Beach, Oahu - Hawaii.

So many highlights for 2015 and so much to be thankful for:




1. Travelling with my children has definitely been a highlight in being able to see different countries/Islands and observing the similarities and differences in societies. A better fieldtrip experience in Sydney, Australia; Samoa and Savai'i; and Oahu, Hawaii.


2. Self-Publishing 5 books: 2 performance plays and 3 Bilingual picture books has been a real dream come true for me with many more titles to come and currently working on a poetry collection to launch in the new year as well as to continue publishing more plays and bilingual picture books.


3. Keeping in touch with family in Samoa and abroad and keeping the faith strong. This has been an amazing year for our family and looking forward to what 2016 brings...