Kapa Haka in the cultural heart of New Zealand

Rotorua, is known to be the the cultural heart of New Zealand and home to the Maori people... Kapa haka is the song and dance that celebrates their heritage.

The kids joined the Kapa haka club shortly after we moved here and this week was the primary school Kapa Haka festival at the Rotorua Convention Center.

The "haka" is one of the components - a vocal performances used to make a point and to vent anger. The goal is to appear as menacing as possible - lots of aggressive facial expressions, foot stamping, chest pounding, and grimacing.

I can't imagine a better activity for elementary school boys...  if I could find a toddler training camp where Jude could let off a little steam - our house might be a more sane place to live.

Maggie adored everything about it and has redirected her career aspirations from fashion design to Kapa haka instructor.

Roses and a party

The house we are renting has a beautiful rose garden. I didn't used to be a huge fan of roses. They seemed too traditional, romantic (and prickly)... I tend to gravitate towards casual and unsentimental things.

If given a choice, I probably would have opted for a less formal garden filled with hydrangeas, zinnias, gerbers and cosmos. But I must admit... having fresh cut roses in my kitchen everyday has been a beautiful (sappy) blessing. I love them.

We took a small arrangement to a party this afternoon.  New friends, warm sun, delicious cake, and lots of laughter all around. It was a great day.

Baking Contest

On Sunday the kids entered a baking contest at the Rotorua Museum. Our chocolate cake with 7 minute frosting and multicolored sprinkles didn't win any awards but we had fun. The Government Gardens are beautiful this time of year...

Mufti day (and other New Zealand words & phrases we are learning)

Today the big kids had their first "mufti day" at school. We have been learning lots of new words and phrases... here are a few.
mufti day - casual day (no uniform)
rubbish - trash
jumper - sweater/ sweatshirt
chilly-bin - cooler
sultan - raisen (Sultan Bran - a favorite at our house)
bach - vacation home
capsicum - bell pepper
knackered - tired/exhausted
togs - swimsuit
mum - mom
lollies - candy
nappies - diapers
boot - trunk
heaps - lots (we got heaps of candy)
tramping - hiking
sweet as - cool or awesome
zed - z, as in the last letter of the alphabet.
cheers - good wishes/ thanks
yeah na - this is something I have yet to fully grasp

Equal Opportunity Tooth Fairy

There was a bit of concern in our family about whether or not the tooth fairy would be able to find us on the other side of the world.

Fortunately, she is incredibly smart... and as it turns out, an equal opportunity provider. New Zealand kids get approximately the same amount as kids in America.

As you can see, it has been a profitable season.






Update October 8th: last night Max lost another tooth and had a lot of questions about the tooth fairy.

"First of all... why would someone want to collect teeth for money?"

Hair and Electronics

Jude was the first in our family to get a "mom cut". It was traumatic for both of us. His hair got a little bit out of control (in the cutest way possible) while I was waiting for my step-up, step-down transformer to come in.

I read this and still don't understand how transformers works... so I took a laundry basket full of my electronics into town and asked a helpful sales clerk to order me what I needed.

Electronics are pretty expensive here, so a transformer was a good investment. I brought my sewing machine when we came and there were a few other things that I quickly realized I wanted... like clippers (because I am done paying for little boy haircuts) and a electric pencil sharpener that didn't cost $350 - what?!?

I ordered a pop-corn maker on amazon (microwave popcorn is also a bit expensive). Unfortunately that didn't work out... something about heat, watts and
burning my house down. We are having fun with
old-school "shake the pan and watch it pop" corn.

New Zealand Fashion Week

Maggie and I had our first "girls weekend away" at Fashion Week in Auckland, New Zealand.

We found out about it from Lucy McIntosh... a very talented designer, who also happens to be doing some part time babysitting for the Goodgame family.

We attended the YMCA Walk the Line Fashion Show, slept at the Auckland City Youth Hostel, and chatted in fun cafes throughout Auckland City.

We moved to New Zealand to make space in our lives for memory-making times like these. It was a special trip for both of us.

Earthquake

 

Grandparents Day

Today was grandparents day at the kids school (also our first day of collective, family, homesickness). The kids cried most of the morning and all the way to school. Ben and I were both able to attend - which made it a bit more fun for everyone.

Rotorua

Rotorua is our new home... come for a visit!