Tutorials

(I am not sure as to why this sign is funny, it just is)

(gift of postcards given to Morgan & partner, Adam)

(new work, 4 plait & 3 plait flax ties, Fiji WC patterns)

Word: Snibbley- annoying- (desk partner made up this word)

Book: Gross Domestic Happiness and Development

I am paid to tutor Geography 112, the study of South East Asia, 2 times a week (as well as prep time and what not). Today for 15 minutes I chatted it up with a 24 “snibbley little first years” (felt like something out of Harry Potter to write that). We were then rudely interrupted by impending doom (a fire alarm) for most of class. When everything cleared half of the first years resumed to a very unproductive 20 minutes of question asking. Lame.

Last Sunday was yet again, odder than average. During Saturday’s weaving class (which was a semi-disappointment being taught by a Dutch man, instead of a person of Maori decent) I met Huriana, a 20-year-old mother of an 18-month-old. We laughed the entire time at our collective failed attempts to weave. Huriana was the Dutch man’s granddaughter. Somehow the fact that we both went to church became known, and on Sunday I met up with her and Sarah, her daughter to go to yet another Pentecostal church. Pentecostal in New Zealand is really Pentecostal-light. Nobody’s getting slain in the spirit. The most Holy action you get around here (observationally marked) is arm raising/waving, and the occasional “Yes Lord” and “MMMMMmmmmm (whilst slow clapping/eyes closed).” Anything beyond that is raising attention to yourself, and loud behavior is not popular in New Zealand. Going with the flow of mainstream culture heaps of Christians live with their partner. It’s the laid back Kiwi way.

After church Huriana and I wheeled Sarah around a crowded festival in Newtown (artsy-fartsy district = heaps of white people dreads). She introduced me to a handful of family members. Coming from a land of many cousins myself it was nice to meet them, some without shoes- which just an extension of island culture in NZ. It’s very common to see (mostly males of all ethnicities) walking around without shoes. No big deal. Unhygienic? Huriana and I talked of gangs, happiness, God and life. It was great- instafriend through weaving at the Newtown community center.

Went out and had a few drinks with new friends this weekend, very nice. Some friends and I got down at a place named Boogie Wonderland, what a name.

Got another tutorial tomorrow, hopefully I won’t be so clueless and befuddled as to how these tutorials are run (now that I know their function = haggle first years to study). So much to learn everyday, it’s draining but heaven