Status Update: No Internet

Kia ora everyone. Sorry for the long delay in posts. As those of you on Facebook will have seen, the update is that we still have no Internet in our new flat (which is otherwise wonderful). There have been major issues and delays, and we're not sure when actual Internet will happen. Which is a pity, because I'd like to show you some pictures. But it will happen eventually, and then the pictures will abound.

In the meantime, I have figured out this short stint of Internet that will allow me access to my blog (unlike the library Internet) in order to tell you that J and I are happy and healthy (mostly) and enjoying Wellington.

J's job is going well so far. He is taking on responsibility and feels good about his contributions, although it is a lot to learn at first. He has his commute all figured out. We have efficient, frequent buses to ride, and his drops him off right at the door of his building. The only tricky bit is that we live at the very top of a big hill, and the last bus stop is at the bottom of it. Not a big issue in the mornings, but hiking up that hill at the end of the day is a workout. But exercise is a good thing, so we're both taking it as an opportunity. I have only successfully biked all the way to the top once so far, but I'll just keep building up those muscles!

I'm not sure when I'll be posting again, but I assure you that it will be almost immediately after the Internet starts working at our flat. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Ka Kite Ano (See You Again) New Plymouth

Our move to Wellington yesterday went well, considering the number of difficulties we faced as it approached. I'll elaborate on that later, but I want to dedicate this post to our wonderful home in New Plymouth, Taranaki, which I believe is the most naturally beautiful place we've ever lived.

You'll notice that almost all of these pictures are from my bike ride to and from work. While this is a fairly narrow slide of the abounding beauty in Taranaki, it is the part that is closest to my heart, and the part that I am already missing, so it is appropriate for it to be massively overrepresented. Mount Taranaki is also prominently featured, but I'm not sure that it could ever be "overrepresented," because it is the pride and joy of Taranaki. I will miss my repeated feelings of surprise and awe whenever I looked up and saw it. 

Note: I have posted more detailed accounts (and different pictures) of everything in this post, so if you want to see more, look back over past posts.

Mount Taranaki, with the Te Rewarewa Bridge in front of it. I don't think I'd ever photographed it from this far back, but I actually love the effect.

A fellow biker saw me taking pictures one morning and offered to take one of me in the amazing surroundings. I took some of her as well, and we had a lovely little conversation about how stunning Taranaki is.

Mount Taranaki over Lake Rotomanu.

This is on my way down to East End Beach, where I went walking with Rachel almost every weekend. I will so miss our walks and talks!

This is when I'm almost to work. It's this little swampy area that seems incongruous with the flax, beaches, rolling grassland, and ocean all around it. But it is beautiful, and I love it.

These two horses have been my good friends for over a year and a half. I said good morning and good afternoon to them each day. Also, they taught me the interesting lesson that horses can actually lay down to rest, if they want. (J says that American horses don't do that). I wish I could have captured the best part of this in the picture - the horse that is laying down is reaching out with her long lips and munching on grass. Lazy, but wonderful!

Another view of the Te Rewarewa Bridge over the verdant green grass.

Coming up to the bridge, there are beautiful rows of huge harakeke (flax) plants, and I love the view of the bridge peaking over them (on the right).

Looking down from the peak of Paritutu Rock, we discovered the Mermaid Lagoon from Peter Pan! Isn't it magical? And if you look closely, you can see that there is a waterfall on the far side, which is perfect.

Mount Taranaki from the peak of Paritutu Rock.

A fitting finale: From Paritutu Rock, you can take a picture of the snowcapped Mount Taranaki and the ocean. We are privileged to have lived in such a uniquely situated and beautiful place.

I know that this move to Wellington is a positive one for us, but I have learned to love New Plymouth, and am sad to leave. As always, when we move away from a place, it is very difficult to leave the people to whom we have become attached, and that is true now as well. But I think that this is the first time that I feel so sorrowful to leave the actual, physical place. Looking at these pictures, and those that I've posted in the last year and a half, I think you can understand why.

Fortunately, I have great things to look forward to in Wellington, which is also a beautiful place. And with that positivity in my future, I am able to be thankful for the time I did get to live in New Plymouth, rather than sad that I have now left it. And that's a good place to be.

Weaving Harakeke

We are moving in less than six days, and there is a lot to do before then, but we are feeling much more on top of the situation now that we have a lovely little flat in Wellington. It is going to be a very busy week, but we'll be just fine.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some pictures from a wonderful experience I had at kindergarten a few weeks ago. We had an Enviroschools Day, during which we had visitors come to learn about our Enviroschools practices at kindergarten.

One of the moms at kindergarten is very connected with the local iwi (tribe/extended family), and does lots of things at the local marae (sacred meeting place). One of her skills is weaving harakeke (flax), and she offered to teach the visitors (and teachers) how to make something out of harakeke. We were all very excited for this, and it was just as awesome as we anticipated.

This is an illustration of a harakeke plant. Our weaving teacher taught us that you never cut the Rito (child) part of the plant, because all the rest is there to protect the child, and so must you. You also leave the Awhi rito (parents - direct translation "care for child"), only cutting the Tūpuna (grandparents). You are also careful to cut them at a downward angle that discourages water from being able to flow into the base of the plant, which would make it rot. All of these things are to show respect for the harakeke, and to keep it growing healthily.

Our weaving teacher had cut harakeke for us, and died some bits blue so that we could have some pattern in the kono (eating bowls) that we made. 

You can also see some flowers that she made from harakeke. She has given me some of these flowers in the past, and they are stunning.

The whāriki (mat) we are all sitting on is also made out of harakeke.

This is the beginning of my kono. We used clothespins to hold the weaving at various stages, because your hands quickly get tired from holding it.

Our teacher was so patient and helpful, as all of us got stuck or confused at one stage or another.

Here is a later stage, as I made the second corner.

As my kono started taking shape, I got the hang of it a little bit better.

Here is a finished kono (eating vessel). Pretty cool, eh?

This experience was so much fun, and gave me such respect for the knowledge and ability involved in traditional tikanga Māori (culture)! I would love to spend more time learning to weave harakeke. That will have to be something I look into when we are settled in Wellington.