Making re-useable face masks...

The fight against COVID-19 in this second wave has brought about some new learnings that are being encouraged around the world as well as the stay home in your bubble, washing hands, disinfecting spaces, social distancing at 2 metres etc.

Wearing of face masks has now also joined the battle against COVID especially as initially health experts and governments all over the world were in two minds of the effectiveness of using masks although many Asian countries were encouraging the use with some even making it mandatory.

New Zealand has now weighed into the conversation with our Health Ministry encouraging everyone to wear a face mask when outside in public to stop the spread of the virus. They have stopped short of making it enforceable because then it becomes problematic with lots of viral videos around the world showing how many dislike being forced to wear masks even if it does save lives.

In watching this conversation unfold earlier, my mother sewed up some masks in our first lockdown which we used with the support of my younger sister and her YouTube videos. This time I thought I'd try my hand at it with my newly purchased mother's day sewing machine (on sale) that was purchased and to give it a workout.

The fact is that the reusable face masks aren't always easily purchased at your local store although the once use only ones are easily found but can rack up costs if used only once per day. Upon researching on YouTube videos, I combined a couple of ideas and made up some of my own with left over materials so that they are lined with an outside and inner materials. 

I've also cut up an old Tshirt (my daughter's idea) as she wanted a black facemask and that's the beauty of creating your own facemasks in that you can use any thinly woven materials such as those pictured here with pastel colours, pacific tapa, Christmas cotton etc.

I couldn't come up with any elastic, so have gone for ribbons instead that's because with my corsage and buttonholes flower art that I love to create, I also had some leftover ribbons. So I would highly recommend to view some ideas on YouTube and then venture to make your own. There are some also that you can make up that don't require sewing or you can hand stitch instead.

I gave some out to my family members and they have been rigorously tested as I did in taking a fast walk around our neighbourhood with our masks on when it was dizzyingly and they definitely passed the test. Especially as my glasses would usually fog up when using my former facemask (although they did when it started raining and it was cold).

Otherwise, I'm also looking at how I can make up (with a team) some to give out to our local church community and to those who desperately need them in our communities as when I went shopping yesterday at our local supermarket, many weren't wearing masks. Perhaps with a koha (donation)?

More food for thought as we battle this virus, look out for each other and also keeping ourselves entertained with creative mask making....

Baking starts again...

In this second wave of COVID-19 Lockdown level 3, out comes the baking trays, recipes, baking ingredients and new innovations like our eldest's chocolate and peanut butter/caramel centred cupcakes.

As we've been encouraged to stay home, save lives and not go out unless you need to go for essential shopping etc. So from our last experience, we started baking as many bakeries are still closed and it's worked out better and probably saved a lot of $ too.

We've also found it to be a good way of sharing the love with our neighbours and those needing food support such as our seniors (elderly) and those not working etc.

Baking is also a good way of using older fruit such as banana, apples and pineapple etc. to make crumbles, cakes, pies etc. It's also a good idea to bake together with children and this teaches skills that help to encourage them to continue baking even after the lockdown is over (which we hope is soon).

Anyway, happy baking out there and long may the yeast last longer in shopping aisles as well as flour etc...

Second Wave COVID-19 Lockdown...

This is a pic of my beloved yesterday, as he completed a  Facebook live pushups challenge as our family waited in the line of a local COVID-19 testing station (incidentally still awaiting the results) as there has been community outbreak in our community with someone testing positive at a local school and Early childhood centre.

If you look in the background, it's a local hotel that has been turned into a Quarantine facility for those returning from overseas. We were able to observe a perimeter fence with people exercising in the carpark now make-shift courtyard and a security guard onsite ensuring that no one would leave the facility. They also had Courier drivers dropping off parcels at the edge of the fenced-off area wearing masks and keeping their distance.

This was yesterday on our third day of an Alert level 3 lockdown with another announcement that was made last night by the Prime Minister that we would be extending our level 3 Auckland lockdown for a further 12 days until the 26th of Aug at midnight with another review to be made on the 21st of Aug of the progress made to that date.

It's becoming very real, in this second wave as with the first wave there were few areas that our family had been in contact with that had been diagnosed with the virus but this time it's within our community. It's also a reminder to be very vigilant as the source of the origins of this second virus is still unknown to date and a timely reminder to stay home and save lives.

This time, after I teach morning classes via zoom during the weekend, I'm thinking to try my hand at sewing up some masks as my mother did for us during the last lockdown, some of which have gone astray. I'll be using the new sewing machine that I received for Mother's Day during the last lockdown.

I'll post up my creations with more thoughts on this second wave but most importantly to keep vigilant and to keep praying for our families and our nation at this time of uncertainty. As repeated in the messages "we can do this", "we've done it before", "stay safe" and "stay kind"...

Cook Islands language week 2020...

Kia orana, this week is Cook Islands language week where schools and communities all over New Zealand get to celebrate the various languages of the Cook Islands and to learn more about the different islands that make up this archipelago.

In being brought up in a church with Niuean and Cook Islanders, I learned to appreciate the similarities and differences between our nations and it was like having a wider extended family that stretched beyond ethnic and blood relations to families of faith.

I even joined a church dance group, many years ago, whereby I learned Cook Islands and Niuean dances which are so different from Samoan dancing in hand and feet movements, as well as music. The Cooks have more of a drum dance and hip-swaying movements which I love and are similar to Tahitian and Rapa nui dances.

I visited Rarotonga back in the 1990s, so I'm well overdue for a trip there and would love to take my children for a visit too, perhaps if our NZ border controls are lifted? We had considered having our wedding there, as many have many years ago, but because Fiji was within our budget then Rarotonga remained as a second choice.

Most recently in the last few years, there's been talk about changing the name of Cook Islands to a name that is more fitting and indigenous to the people, however, to date there hasn't been a unified voice of agreeing to a name and the Cook Islands has remained although I don't know what Cook had to do with founding the islands because they were already present hundreds of years before he even arrived on their doorstep as an explorer.

Over the years, I've taught many Cook Islanders and have learned so much about the different islands and their features i.e. Pukapuka, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Penryn, Manihiki etc. and the various dialects or languages formed due to the isolation of some of the islands.

Meitaki (thank you) and enjoy Cook Islands language week ahead...

MARKS OF MANA - FULL DOCUMENTARY — Coconet

MARKS OF MANA - FULL DOCUMENTARY — Coconet: Across the Moana the art of tatau is legendary - but the marks for women contain stories and meanings that are often little known, especially for new generations. 

These age old symbols of the Moko Kauae, the Fijian Veiqia, the Papuan Tep Tok and the Samoan Malu were made to celebrate the significance of the female role, but many were also created by female tatau artists. 

'Marks of Mana' explores the female history of tatau in our cultures, and the meaning behind these patterns linked like a necklace around the Moana.

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I highly recommend this Doco (documentary) to watch in gaining an understanding of the importance of tatau or even tattooing females in the Pacific. It's not everyone's cup of tea but in light of what we see with many women in Oceania or in the Pacific (including NZ) now becoming 'marked' it explains the importance why this phenomenon is...

Vast Oceanic history missing from Auckland's Maritime Museum...

This weekend, I was able to take my class to the Maritime Museum which is located at Hobson Wharf, near the viaduct harbour in Auckland city centre.

One of the highlights, even before stepping into the museum, was viewing the Tahitian 'Fa'afaite' waka that I had seen on video at last year's 250 year Tuia commemorations of Captain Cook's voyage to NZ.

The funny thing was for those initially celebrating Cook's 250 years to NZ was the realization from Maori and Pasifika communities that Pasifika communities had had over a thousand years experience of trans-navigation around the Pacific and Captain Cook had only just arrived 'yesterday' and was said to have "discovered" NZ when in fact inhabitants and been already living in Aotearoa for hundreds of years and that he hadn't even discovered anything (except for Europeans at that time).

In fact, to later discover that it was actually Tupaia, who was a master navigator and priest from Tahiti, who had helped Captain Cook to navigate to Aotearoa, of which Captain Cook main very little mention, if anything, in his captain's log as he wanted to take all the glory for himself.

Another fact was that it was in the journals of others who were aboard Captain Cook's Endeavour, who actually made mention of Tupaia, and it is through these journals that we find out that Tupaia played a pivotal role in Captain Cook's journey and liaising with Maori but he died before even reaching England in Indonesia of an illness he picked up there.

There have been some changes in the Maritime Museum, over the years, since taking my first class there a few years ago. The sad thing for me was to see that the film area which discussed the early navigation of Pacific peoples to Aotearoa had been taken out to make room for a cafe and Tupaia's replica map of the Pacific that had been drawn by Captain Cook was no longer exhibited.

All in all, class members discussed the interesting fact that even Maori sailing waka are missing from the exhibitions with so much importance placed on recent types of sailing craft. Even some indigenous types of canoes are displayed but none of the indigenous peoples of NZ.

Now that's something that would be interesting for the Maritime Museum managers to answer to because with so much missing from the Maritime Museum, it only tells a small part of the vast history of oceanic navigation of the Pacific by Pacific forefathers...

Fale o Samoa (Samoa House) Consulate...

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go with my father to apply for my Samoan citizen stamp on my NZ passport that allows me to have unrestricted rights to enter and remain in Samoa whilst my Citizenship remains valid.

This was neat to be able to complete it although it did set me back some $160 and for my dad it was renewing his for $110 on his new NZ passport. 

This was all done at the Fale Samoa (Samoa House) also known as the Consulate Office in Mangere, Auckland not so far from where I live and work.

If you've heard the story about a group of people who prayed for rain but only one person brought along their umbrella, it's the same for me in being prayerful and hopeful for the Pacific borders to one day open soon and then we will be able to visit Samoa.

It is concerning though to see that Australia is currently going through a second wave of COVID-19 infections and especially that community transmission puts so many people at risk. I'm very grateful that we are presently ok in NZ and although hopeful for visiting Samoa soon, it's also about ensure that we're keeping ourselves safe in the interim...

PhD Reading lists...

Current PhD reading list for Samoa's development

I recently saw a post on a blog discussing a post-graduate reading list and thought that it might be interesting to share some of the books on my reading list that my beloved and I have picked up along the years.

I don't have the time to go through each book as there's so much to discuss but these have been some of the staples over the years.

One the oldest book that I have, in terms of receiving it from my mum, is Pratts Grammar and Dictionary, of which I received in 1989 when I was completing my first Masters degree.

Probably one of the oldest books in terms of the information that was gathered would be (Rev.) George Turners (Siaosi Tana) Samoa A Hundred Year Ago and Long Before which was written around the mid 1800s.

It was a book that I referred to a lot in the late 1980s in trying to learn and understand what the ancient Samoa ideas around their environment was about although it was through the understanding of a European perspective.

There's a lot more to discuss but suffice to say that I've been really privileged to now have a better understanding of Samoan history, current affairs and the protocols that have changed as a result of Christianity, colonization and also the 'maturing?' of a developing nation.

Probably the book that came to challenge my understanding of my Samoan ancestors was a book that I picked up at University written by Michael J. Field called 'Mau Samo's struggle for freedom.' I think every Samoa student should read this book as a testament of the strong pride and stance that Samoa took as the first Pacific nation to become independent in 1962.

And this is not even the exhaustive list that I have on the other topics that I am reading, not even mentioning the hundreds of articles in current academic journals and the books written by Samoan scholars either.

So I'll just take one day at a time and read what is relevant and what comes to mind in writing the various chapters of my thesis. But one thing is certain, that this would not have been possible had it not been for a gracious God and a loving and supportive family without which this would not be possible...

Taulima (bracelet) tatau (tattoo) design...

Here is an example of a 'taulima' or bracelet tattoo by Cliff Cole of Tautua Ink in Avondale, Auckland. I like his designs because they're clean and sharp.

He renders Samoan cultural tattoo symbolism for new interpretations in this new millennia and I find his combinations of traditional Samoan patterns refreshing but still keeping it real.

To the keen eye, the tanoa (special kava container) is depicted within his design but it also could be interpreted as stones as well.

There are several patterns but that's what I like about leaving it to the Master tattoo artist to choose a design that is gifted to the receiver.

For other cultures, the receiver chooses the design and the artist must then try to duplicate it as best as possible on the area decided upon. The service becomes a transaction with the receiver in the powerseat.

However, when the power is given to the master tattoo artist then there's a certain trust between the two and a certain magic can happen...

Ancestral Oceanic Navigational skills...

This week, I'll be heading for the Maritime Museum in Auckland city with my class to view the Pacific/Polynesian exhibition section at the museum. Over the last few years, I've taken my class groups to have an understanding of the amazing feats of technology that Pacific ancestors would have had to circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean to land on islands that they made home.

Part of the curriculum course that I teach is understanding the symbiotic relationship that these amazing navigators had with the land, ocean and skies etc. This would have taken hundreds of years of observation with that information passed on to the next generations.

To now learn that way before Captain Cook was even born and before Europeans had even discovered steel that our Pacific ancestral navigators were voyaging around the Pacific making their discoveries and testing their own theories of finding lands and inhabiting them with intentional voyages.

The above video discusses some of these amazing feats that aren't being taught well in our schools (or even at all) and in which our youth need to learn about in order to realise that they come from an amazing legacy of knowledge and understanding that had been lost for a time but that is now being reclaimed.

Often in NZ education, there is a discussion about the 'brown tail' of educational underachievement of Pacific and Maori students. If they were taught much more relevant information like this about amazing ancestral cultural innovative legacies that they came from and not just about being good at dance and art, then perhaps things would be vastly different...

Oral hygiene and good dentists...

Going to the Dentist is a harrowing event for some but since I had braces early in my teenage years, it's a regular occurrence that I've gotten used to.

One of the things that I've learned about Dentists is that you get your good ones who make you feel at ease and you pay reasonable costs for.

But then I've also experienced those dentists who like to charge their customers exorbitant fees with services that they didn't really need to pay for like injections for cleaning teeth when they're not really required.

I currently have a dentist whom I've had for the past couple of years and I would highly recommend his practice with the professional service that he offers customers as well as the advice he gives for keeping oral health a priority in our lives.

I've also encouraged our eldest to complete her dental care appointments before turning 18 years whereby adults will then have to pay for all of their oral health services. That's on top of encouraging daily brushing and good oral hygiene to keep their for lifelong living.

So if you haven't got a good dentist and need to see someone then happy to PM you the details and you can check out the services for yourself. I must say my pocket is not broke from seeing them and I'll never go back to the ones I had before...

Local driving range family outing ...

Driving range family outing

One of the interesting sports that our eldest has been enjoying with her friends has been going to the local driving range and learning to hit a golf ball with a golf club as far as you can.

As a result, my beloved decided to have a family outing, during the weekend, to the driving range to 'show how it's done'.

Fortunately for me, my hand/eye coordination is pretty good so that it wasn't too long until I got the hang of it and was able to hit the golf ball after a couple of misses.

What was interesting about going there was that there were lots of people at the driving range and it was busy with many awaiting their turns in teams, families with members of all ages, teens, dates, a good mix of people etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would like to go again sometime when I'm not so busy doing important things that don't require physical exertion. I'd also highly recommend it to any who like to take time out to wack a ball out into the stratosphere (if you can hit it that far).

Suffice to say that it was an enjoyable family experience that I hadn't been on for a long time although it's only a 5-10 minute drive away from our house. The buckets are of around 100 balls for $14 and a driver for $3.

Next time, I'll take the right shoes :) ...

"Red shoes" movie review...

Yesterday, was the first time that my family and I had visited a movie theatre since the lockdown of COVID-19. We went to watch the family movie "Red Shoes" as it was the only movie playing during the time slot that we had available to watch it.

It's an interesting story as it reminded me of Shrek movies with discussions around the themes of conventional beauty versus inner beauty and the issues that the characters had regarding them. I don't know that it successfully resolved the issues but it did make me wonder about what would happen to the two main characters.

All in all, it was entertaining, although the protagonist or the witch character's appearance reminded me of the mother of the main character of the Disney movie "Tangled" and the seven dwarves reminded of the Snow White fairy tale.

And don't forget to wait until after the credits have rolled as the storyline continues after people have walked out of the theatre. Now that was funny because I remember thinking that the film hadn't resolved the problem for the other 6 dwarf characters.

I can't say that I would highly recommend it, storyline-wise, but it was interesting to watch and the animation was pretty good. Just not sure that it resolved Red Shoe's issues although it did solve Merlin's issues. Something to consider watching if nothing else to do...