January 6, 2011

Today was our first day of BYU classes, which we have at one of the churches near all of us. One of our professors from New Zealand taught us all about New Zealand and let us try some New Zealand food. We tried kumera, which is their sweet potato. It is much sweeter than ours in the states. We also tried L&P soda, golden kiwis, marmite which is like peanut butter but it tastes nothing like our peanut butter and meat pie.

 It was all really good. We also learned some Maori songs and traditions. It was so fun to learn some of the songs and dances. Their music is just so pretty.  Each time they start to sing a song they start with toru wha which means 3, 4. I like it much more than in the states, the Maori language is just so fascinating to me and I hope to learn more. During class we also played a Maori stick game called te rakau, which was really fun. It uses rhythms and song. I really want to teach to others when I come home. For the traditions we learned about how we will be welcomed into the schools through a Powhiri where the will be a welcome, speeches, songs, a hongi, and refreshments. A hongi is the way Maori people greet each other by toughing each other’s noses. We practiced this which was a first hard to do without giggling, but I really like it.

Today we also learned about the curriculum in New Zealand schools and how they are divided up into primary and secondary schools. It was so fun to learn so much about New Zealand and to be with the other girls. After class we went to a park with some of the other girls. We played on a small four person teeter totter and then met some boys who started to teach us how to play rugby. The people here are just so nice and welcoming even more so than hospitality in the South. Nancy and I then walked home though the park near our house. Shortly after getting home, we got ready to go to Zumba with our host mom. It was way fun and the first time I had ever been to a zumba class. Right before the zumba class Nancy and I met and sang for some kids from the ward that stooped by. They were so cute and sweet and said they would teach us to play netball sometime. After zumba we came back and had dinner. The people here eat so much more than I am used to and so much more meat, but it is all good food. After dinner our host mom taught Nancy and I how to twirl poi balls. It was a little tricky, but cool to learn. I want to learn to make them so I can take some back home and continue to practice.