Celebrations and upcoming visit to Samoa...

It has been an eventful weekend with the celebration of our youngest's birthday which we had at 'Denny's' Family Restaurant in Manukau where we're able to have a meal with dessert and a cup of tea for me too.

We also had a successful fundraising event by selling suppers for the purpose of supporting our Samoan bilingual Early childhood education centre but also in supporting our families who bring their young ones to our centre. It's definitely a privilege to be able to support these next generations in the knowledge of their language and important cultural practices.

We're also getting ready to visit Samoa again this weekend for a couple of weeks for family visits and there I hope to squeeze in visits to a couple of schools and donate some books and share some insights with students as appropriate.

In being an 'Indie' author, I like the independence that I have in being able to do different things according to the schedule and juggling various responsibilities that I have.

It's definitely neat to be able to see the next generation, with my children growing in the knowledge of what it means to know some of the ancient Samoan stories that I wasn't able to grow up with but in which they are able to learn about...

 

House warming Pasifika giving...

 

Here's a pic of my sister's Pasifika art pieces (acrylic on canvas) and my attempt at macramé using jute and beads.

It was like a house warming present to our younger niece as she moved with her husband and boys to a new dwelling to help them feel at home.

 It's such a blessing to see my lil' sis share her talent in this way in blessing others with her art and also with the commissions that she's done for me i.e. cover art for my self-published books. It just takes things to another level.

The moral of that story is that if you have a talent and it you don't share it with others then perhaps your depriving others of that wonderful opportunity/ies of gifting something that someone else would really be blessed by.

I know it works because when you give freely and without expectations of getting something back then you also receive things that you never would otherwise have been blessed with and I'm not talking about money but the pure joy of giving something for nothing has it's own rewards...

Fundraising for Samoa ECE...

 

It's that time of the year for fundraising for the Samoan ECE Early Children Education centre that I'm currently chairing (although supposed to be on study leave).

So the board decided on selling $15 Suppers that contains: chop suey, surimi salad, chicken thigh, sausage and rice with the option of a water bottle or Koko Samoa in a cup.

This should be interesting as it's the first Supper that I've been involved in that offers Koko Samoa but I can't take the credit for it as it was an idea from another Supper that our Team leader attended.

Koko Samoa is the unadulterated Cacao bean that gives you chocolate but for us is dried, shelled and roasted then pounded and molded into rounded shape.

When the koko has hardened, you then break some off and add it to hot water with sugar (if you wish) and you have a neat koko liquid that you have consume with or without the need for a sieve. I personally like to drink it without the extra bits but others prefer to enjoy it.

But now off to the Polyfest but more on that in my next blog. Over and out!...

1st Uber ride...

 

Last week, I took my first Uber ride. I'd heard about it before on ads plus my children use it whenever they need to be somewhere and the drivers of the family are busy.

They do have Learner licenses (stage 1) but you do need to have a Restricted license (stage 2) before being able to venture out. I'd prefer they get their Full license (stage 3) which would give me more peace of mind.

I suppose I've never had to use Uber before as usually I drive everywhere but since I had taken in my car to check for a grinding noise in the front left tyre, I was given the option of leaving the car over the weekend for them to fix and then to pick it up on Monday.

Because they didn't have any spare courtesy cars (you have to book them well in advance of at least 2.5 weeks) I had to opt for another alternative to take me home on my usual 15 minute ride. I decided that I couldn't take a bus as I didn't have a 'Hop card' and it was too far for me to walk to the nearest bus station.

I decided that it was too expensive to ride in a taxi, so I spoke to my eldest and was told that my probable best option (if not a bus) was to take an Uber which should be next best option. As I had never taken a ride before, I decided to give it a go. I downloaded the App, answered the questions, booked the ride and then waited.

It wasn't long before the driver came to pick me up and I took my first ever Uber ride. I couldn't help thinking 'welcome to the 21st century' as everything on the App and been quick and efficient, definitely welled managed and sorted that I didn't really have to stress on thinking about how to get home.

Even the cost was reasonable and I got to met and talk to the driver about his experience with driving for Uber. I definitely will be using Uber again to get to places when I am not able to drive myself. From me it comes highly recommended if you haven't needed to use it before definitely give it a go...

My happy place in Savaii, Falealupo, Tufutafoe...

 

One of my favourite ancestral places on the big Island of Savaii, also known as Salafai in Samoa in  the district of Falealupo and the village of Tufutafoe: (Top pics to bottom)

1. (Top left) Signs at Tufutatoe of the various sacred/historical sites there.

2. (Top middle) The sacred waters where the chiefs would bathe before going to Pulotu (spiritual underworld).

3. (Top right) The rock called 'Pa Sopo'ia' where the couple Matuna & Matuna turned into rock (different versions though when I visited in 2023).

4. (Middle left) The place where the sunsets at the most western point of Samoa.

5. (Middle) The place where the paths of the chiefs' spirits walk towards Pulotu. Also the only place where this particular 'pua' (name of native flower) only grows.

6. (Middle right) A new story of the bush that Va'atausili was catching butterflies with his net.

7. (Bottom left) Looking towards the vavau (sacred sites) from on top of the ridge where the paths of the sacred spirits walk towards Pulotu.

8. (Bottom middle) The hole of the cave that Va'atausili emerged from when he had wanted his body to increase to avenge the death of his brother Vaea.

9. (Bottom right) The two bowls made from rock that it was believed that chiefs from Savaii (one bowl) and chiefs from Upolu (the other bowl) would use when talking there.

It was such a blessing to have been able to go to visit Falealupo and especially the sacred sites at Tufutafoe. It was a little hard to get to and it was only that I had been there before that I knew where to go as roads had changed somewhat with new winding roads that no longer go directly to the sacred sites. 

Looking forward to our next trip which is later on in the month but won't be able to go back to Savaii due to the short span of time there. Wow! such a blessing and one of the places that I'm considering to have scenes of a novel that I'm working on (in my mind) because I have to finish this thesis first and then can get onto the more creative and fun things to do...

March 2023 - Sugar Free...

 

This next month of March for the year 2023, I'm going Sugar-free to support the Gut Cancer fundraising.

It's going to be really interesting because it's been a while since I've been sugar free but I also it's not only about support a good cause that it's also about promoting our own gut health.

Unfortunately in NZ, I've read that everyday there's 17 people who are diagnosed with gut cancer. Up until I read about the promo for this campaign, I had never heard about how serious those stats are.

So I'll be posting next month as I start this as it's the first of it's kind that I've been a part of as over the years I've tried to support all kinds of causes such as the World Vision 40 hour famine (over many years since being a teenager.)

I've also supported and sponsored Refugee Week where you support the cause financially and are sent a pack whereby you eat the rations of a Refugee for a week and see how you feel. I remember losing 5kgs in just that week alone in eating flour and water with oil pancakes much like Indian roti with sardines as a basic daily allowance for the week.

So this will be an interesting challenge in that it's about me being very aware about not having any sugar whatsoever in my diet in March which will include not having processed food with it's hidden sugars and even some sauces and definitely no fizzy! but I will keep you posted...

Recruiting for new classes for 2023...

 

Yesterday morning was a very time setting up a market stall at our local markets to recruit for new enrolments for the year for my class and other classes at our Wānanga (Maori Tertiary Institute).

I still think that it's still one of the best kept secrets (still a lot of marketing to be done) for these courses as most of them are free, with the exception of the degree courses and they are also especially good for second chance learners who didn't do so well in a western lead education system.

Since joining the Wānanga firstly as a student, a student support officer and then a teacher, I've found the difference for when one's cultural heritage is taken into account and valued more so than trying to pretend that every one is the same i.e. from a western cultural background when that is usually not at all the case.

So it's a real privilege for me to be able to share my successes with new students and sharing with them of some of the knowledge of achievement through the experiences that I've had. Plus it's more real and local rather than me being a professor in some university that only the privileged would attend...

High winds and Valentines day...

It was good to see the tail end of cyclone Gabrielle which left a lot of destruction and debris all over the north Island of NZ in it's wake. We were fortunate as in not having any flooding or debris flying our area but other parts of Auckland didn't fare as well.

Although we did have Valentines day yesterday with high winds and all, it didn't stop the celebrations and I also got a nice surprise with my eldest bringing some flowers and chocolates to add to our family celebration.

In fact, I believe that it's good to celebrate and have made it a family tradition to enjoy birthdays and graduations to encourage that spirit and hard work ethic of enjoying the hard work well done.

Even in the midst of turmoil, it's always important to take time out and thank God for blessings and protection as there's a lot of negativity and general nastiness out there that self love and sharing love and appreciation is very important.

So we took the time out yesterday to celebrate Valentines day and to enjoy our time together with dinner and dessert. I've also encouraged our family to interpret various holidays for ourselves and would even encourage those who don't have a valentines to treat yourself to flowers or chocolates or whatever you enjoy to celebrate love in your own special way rather than lamenting...

Awaiting Cyclone Gabrielle...

 

Whilst New Zealand awaits the next 24 hours with acute weather warnings with instructions to batten down any loose items around residential properties, I was aware when out shopping locally today that many people were picking up supplies such as food, water, toilet paper and other essentials in anticipation of the wet and windy storm ahead.

Even local universities and tertiary education institutions have instructed students to stay off campuses have any Zoom classes instead in order to not have students second guessing for what next week will bring.

As for Primary, Secondary schools and Early childhood centres parents have been asked to keep an eye on weather warnings to keep safe and have minimal travel plans over the weekend with only essential travel encouraged.

That's because the top half of NZ has been issued with the highest weather warning in awaiting for the cyclone named Gabrielle to pass over NZ sometime tomorrow. Some Aucklanders are already worried having already suffering from a surprising deluge a fortnight ago with massive flooding and to now await another with possibly more devastating and far-reaching weather phenomenon is very sobering for some.

As for my family, we are taking it easy and have been as prepared as best we can for the weather event with the essentials. Our thoughts are with those families who are again bracing themselves for this having already lost much that they won't have to suffer through another. Our thought and prayers are for protection for all over the next few days...

Weathering the storms with Tapa...

 

The devastation of the flooding in Auckland has affected many families on so many levels that we are again being warned to brace ourselves for the possibility of another onslaught this weekend with stormy weather predicted.

For the Samoan Early childhood centre that I have the privilege of serving and am currently on leave as the Chairperson (in trying to finish my PhD thesis), our centre also was affected with our babies' room being flooded.

So we were instructed, by the visiting Ministry of Education assessors who were checking through on affected centres, to construct a noise barrier for the new space where I babies would be placed. This involved measuring the area to ensure that it was compliant and also we were given some guidelines on what it could look like.

In the end, we opted to purchase two large room dividers that were secured to a partial wall partition with thick Tongan tapa draped over the dividers (as seen above). I thank my dear friend who gifted this tapa to my family with the memorial service that we had for him last year after a year of mourning. It was such a gracious gift that I know my late father would have wanted for our Aoga (school) to use.

So now awaiting to see if it passes the test of the Ministry of Education assessors and then we are good to go for our babies to return to the centre in their new space whilst awaiting for the church's Insurance assessors to allow for new carpeting after having taken out the wet carpet.

Hopefully, the predicted storm this weekend won't have the same devastating effects that the last one had but definitely keeping a watch out for new erratic weather as a result of the effects of climate change and global warming as we are told...

Hope and the devastation for some families with flooding in Auckland...

Whilst going on my irregular 5km walk, I came upon a lone red hibiscus flower on a neighbouring fence that I could help but take a picture of. It reminded me of the hope that there is with a single flower that more will blossom in time.

It's with sadness that I was able to witness some of the devastation that families have gone through the 'freak' storm that hit Auckland, within 24 hours, last Friday that left 3 people dead and 40+ homes written off with over 5000 homes somewhat affected from wet carpet to whole houses ripped off their foundations.

On many roads throughout my local area, there are large skip bins that evidence the tremendous toll that the freak weather had on families in communities. We have a local help centre that offers to support displaced families as some don't have liveable homes to go to or food on the table with livelihoods interrupted with some businesses going under.

It's so sad to see and so seemingly random as one house could be fine with no water damage at all and it's next door neighbour could be in dire straits. I've seen that bad drainage is a massive reason for flooding in many areas and also streams that have burst their banks.

What's so sad is that many children are also caught in this with the government calling on a week's deferment for schools to start Auckland wide but then changed their minds and allowed schools and Early Childhood centres to start if they were not affected.

Even my workplace has been affected with flooding and we have been encouraged to work from home until they are able to get everything sorted. This is a bit daunting as we are still recruiting but will see how it goes as this was a similar situation when COVID-19 struck.

Our classes have also been put back a week which gives us an extra week of getting things ready and also checking with potential students to see if they were at all affected by the floods and if they have been offered any help with their situation if needing attention.

All in all, I'm really encouraged by the support that's out their for out community peoples and families who have been affected. It's definitely not an easy time to be out of work or without a house with the cost of living soaring with inflation but there is hope, like the hibiscus flower, that there will be another day with many caring enough to lend a helping hand...
 

Sunny Samoa to Rainy Auckland...

 

Returning back to NZ earlier last week, meant that we missed the downpour of rain within 24 hours that sent my home city of Auckland into a 7 day state of Emergency. That's because flash floors in many places around Auckland occurred with the huge deluge of rain.

Thankfully, my family homes are fine but there are many who are not faring so well due to floors and slips that have reeked havoc on family homes and cars, not to mention many businesses and individuals who will now be clambering to Insurance firms to claim on their belongings.

Even Auckland International Airport was caught in the floods with many passengers now having to wait days until they are able to travel depending on their carriers and in trying to dry the waters within and outside the terminal that we had only days been through.

It's another unprecedented event, as many are saying that it is the largest downpour of rain that Auckland has on record within a day that caused so much chaos. With even buses having to pull of their fleet of the roads since some of them were flooded when moving between suburbs.

Even for my local church, we've been asked to stay at home and have church online with the State of Emergency that's been called. I'm hoping that the church wasn't damaged at all although we do have a low lying church hall that hopefully didn't get damaged in the downpour.

And so I miss Samoa, on days like this and reflect back to Savaii in the district of Falealupo where my family was able to view many sacred sites and to especially have my mum there with us was the biggest blessing to. 

Looking forward to returning back to Samoa in the not to distant future...

Circus of Samoa...

One of the interesting entertainment activities that we were blessed to have been able to view, with my family, whilst in Samoa was the Samoa circus of which I had heard about in NZ and most recently when advertised in Samoa.

We had the privilege of going together with my Aunt & Uncles "Return to Paradise" staff team to view the entertainment. It was very last minute as we were told about an hour beforehand that there were some spare tickets if we could get there.

Well, of course, I definitely wasn't going to miss the opportunity so we quickly got ready, jumped into our people mover van/car as another Aunt had brought the message to us.

Thankfully it was in the evening and deep behind my mother's village of Faleula where the Circus or Fiafia Park is located and it was easy to find with the directions of my Aunt.

Well we had a ball with VIP parking and with a real carnival atmosphere i.e. a Candy Floss machine (yum), pop corn, drinks etc. with rides such as a Ferris wheel, Carousel complete with animal characters, bright shiny lights all over and that was even before we got into the shiny yellow circus tent.

There were so many acts with a 30 minute intermission to boot whereupon you could purchase whizzing lights for the children to play with that would light up the surroundings. It was definitely a circus atmosphere that the children loved and I quite enjoyed as well.

A big thank you to the "Return to Paradise" team in 'hooking us up' with the tickets and also giving us a great night out that was definitely unexpected and totally worth the quick ride. I would definitely recommend the show if you ever get a chance to have a look next time you're in Samoa...