Busy with classes, fun weekends and filming

Hey all, it's been a while since my last post. I've been pretty busy getting situated with classes and finding other classes to take. The two classes I came here for are only offered next semester, so I had to find different classes to take. I am taking a film class, although it's very similar to one I've taken at BSC. I'm also taking a TV writing class, a Maori culture class, and Radio Production. I won't have a radio show until mid April, and that's still not a guareentee. And access to editing labs is brutal, they only let certain classes get in, so I'm constantly trying to find people to talk to so I can show you all some videos or films I've made. I'll keep trying to find an edit lab somewhere.

This past weekend was great. We (about 80-100 international students) went to the Noho Marae weekend. It is an opportunity to learn about the Maori culture through songs, games, FOOD!, and other activities. It was an amazing weekend. We started on Friday with an international dinner, everyone brought a dish from their home country. I made homemade chicken noodle soup. We all ate food and and then we started to learn songs in the Maori language. There were a lot of countries represented this weekend, German, Holland, France, Austria, Mexico, Canada, USA, Sweden and Norway and the UK. We all went to a concert the school was holding later that night. The Black Seeds was the band. They are a fairly popular reggae/ska band and I was able to film them. Having an expensive camera can get you places (people thought I was part of a TV crew or filming a docu on them). I was soon pulled aside and I talked my way out of having my tape taken away. All I have to do is give them (the Program Committee or AuSM) a copy of my tape. Something about legal rights and copyright, but now my film will actually be used for some good instead of just sitting in my room! On Saturday we sang a lot, played this stick game which strengthen wrists for battle (the Maori are warriors) and also learned how to weave flowers and a ball with this seemingly unbreakable plant. And finally we learned the HAKA- type in All Blacks or Haka in youtube and you'll see an amazing and intimidating form of scaring the crap out of your enemies. We spent 3 hours learning the history of the Haka, the words, and movements to accompany them. It got all of us fired up and ready to go to battle. Slapping our thighs and chests until we began to bruise. It was so intense. There is supposed to be a leader who calls out the commands before everyone begins to scream.... I was that leader. I got it on film and once I can get to an edit lab you will see me lead 40 men in one of the most spectacular battle cries ever! And as I learned in the bar later that night with everyone else, I was the first international (in 8 years after 15 weekends) to hold this wooden weapon, normally made out of whale bone, during the Haka- a great honor. When we first began the girls sat in the front row, I guess we were able to put some fear into them, because they seemed to move back a little by the end. I assured all of my girl friends that I am not normally that angry or commanding. The girls did this dance and it was pretty awesome, I also taped that so you'll see it later. We all went to a restaurant/bar that night and there was a live band. We sang our hearts out (those of us who had voices left). The leaders (actual Maoris) bought me a drink, a great honor to lead these guys in the Haka. We all slept in the Marea, the meeting house that evening. And breakfast was at 11am. That after noon we had a closing ceremony where they left us with a song, and every country represented also sang a song from their country. In the Maori culture a song is the highest form of thanks and appreciation. "We sing, we laugh, we love, we live" (and go to battle). The US sang a compelation- American Woman, Kokomo, Sweet Caroline, and I've had the time of my Life......... and I owe it all to yooooooooooouuuuu. The other songs were also funny, mostly children songs and national anthems. The French taught us a shouting song where the international students yelled against the Maoris who taught us this weekend, a difficult task to beat them. We all recieved necklaces as gifts and left with a bit more knowledge about the Maori culture and New Zealand. It was a great weekend.

I'm eating well and am constantly meeting new people. The apartments are awesome, 500 people who love to hang out, talk, and party. Thank you all for your prayers, I know I'll be able to talk to some of you soon on Skype. Thursday and Friday I don't have class, so that gives me a nice 4 day weekend to travel, talk, and get some papers done. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about doing homework.

Jeremy, Mom, Dad and Waldo, I miss you. Looking forward to seeing you in a few months. Pat, Ryan, Karson, Lael, and all my WBIM folks we'll be talking soon.

Peace