Camping (alternative title: "Ew")

Summer has arrived in the land of the long white cloud. All around the country, people in the urban centres are packing up their trailers, utes and minivans and making for the countryside (yay!) to camp (say what?).

Camping. Sleeping on the ground. No running water or electricity. Meals cooked over a fire or small gas stove. The call of nature answered ... where exactly?

I know so many who enjoy camping, being in the outdoors, disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of modern living. But I myself am not so keen. Which confuses people sometimes. Aren't you from the islands where you may have had to live like this? That's precisely it, Einstein. When you have had to "camp" out of necessity and not for the fun of it, the word holds a completely different connotation.

The recent cyclone hit in Samoa took me back to the days of Cyclones Ofa and Val that hit Samoa when I was a child. I remember several neighbouring families taking shelter at our house as theirs were destroyed. I remember sharing bedding, clothing and pretty much all else we had with the neighbours. When meals were cooked in a huge pot over a fire surrounded by a crudely built "wall" to keep the cyclone winds out. When "entertainment" was singing and story telling and playing cards in the dim light of the moli matagi. The frequency of showers were directly proportional to the number of times it rained. And when the cyclone left, life continued that way as the neighbours worked on rebuilding their houses, and as the power and water people worked on restoring the infrastructure.

I definitely don't regret having experiencing such times, and I think I am a better person for it. One day, when the zombie apocalypse hits (or I move back to Samoa...whichever happens first), I may have to live like that again. And that is perfectly fine with me. But until then, until I actually have to, I will not stay in a tent, pee in the bush or go where my mobile phone doesn't have more than two bars.

Stay safe out there, campers :)

Get up

I think I've been living in New Zealand too long.

Today on the bus, an elderly man got on and it was already quite crowded. I sat there in my chair and watched him walk past me looking for a seat. It wasn't until he'd passed me that I realised I was still sitting in a seat. Not a big deal for some people, but for me growing up in the wop wops of Samoa, it's a big freakin deal. If someone older than you gets on the bus and there are no available seats in front of you, you get up and you move towards the back. Regardless of whether there is a seat elsewhere for you, regardless of how much older the other passenger is, you get up. It's a sign of respect and humility.

But today I didn't. Never mind that it probably meant nothing to everyone else on the bus, never mind that the man found a seat in the end, it felt absolutely horrible. No exaggeration. Teariness ensued. Possibly because I realised that I may have lost some of the things that I value and consider an integral part of who I am. The little things that seem so insignificant. Imma get them back.

Note to self: Tomorrow on the bus...GET UP!

It don't matter if you're black or white

Today at the supermarket, I was drooling over the chocolates that were not on my diet list, when the cutest little preschool-aged boy tugged on my dress and said "Mummeee, I want some this" pointing to some lollies.

Poor kid must not only have been lost, but he might have lost his colour sight. He was a blondie blue-eyed palagi. And I am ... well ... not.

Happy ending: his parents were nearby...cracking up at his mistake from the fruit section. Sounds about right though: fob in the chocolate aisle, palagi parents in the fruit and vege aisle. I don't know how on earth this kid mistook me for his mother.

Til we meet

I came across this post today, and blog hopping activities were halted while I had a little cry, which surprised me since it's been over a year now.

http://familylifeinfife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/saying-goodbye.html

Til we meet, little wing who flew away too soon.

Weekending

Word on the street is you can't beat Wellington on a good day. Make that a couple of good days, and it becomes a sweet weekend.

Time For Dancing, a little wander around Cuba Mall, indulging in the best sushi and best pizza in town, Butler's Chocolate Cafe dessert, a 40th birthday at the pub, and a cowboy themed 4th birthday. As Taylor Swift says, "Like, it's exhausting!" And we didn't even make it to the Botanic Gardens to see the blooming tulips. Oh the stresses of life.



Dancing comes first

Cuba mall stroll

Some window displays for World of Wearable arts (WOW) awards on this weekend

Mouth full of chocolatey goodness @ Butler's Chocolate cafe

Now come the photos from the 4th birthday party. These parents put a lot of thought and attention to detail to getting the cowboy theme of the party through! Makes my efforts look pitiful. And these are only the photos of the food. They made a tee pee from scratch, and had the place decorated up as well. A+ for effort. We're definitely keeping this friend. Lol!

Home made tee-pee cake

"Eagle Wings" and "Gold Nuggets"

Look at that! So cute, right?

More food!

Thanks for visiting :)

Faakupu feelings

Coz I haven't posted about this enough on social media, have you checked out this song out recently?

I have to admit I had never heard it prior to Willie Jones singing it at his X-Factor USA audition, which aired on NZ TV this week. So I went and YouTube-d the song, and found this clip of the original artist performing it live.

Nice song huh? Oso ai le fiafia. Lol! Enjoy.

Observerations

Some random thoughts on everything and nothing:

• How is it my daughter only knows 'Savalivali means go for a walk' from daycare, taught to her by her Maori and palagi teachers? Can't be because I'm a slack parent. When I find the answer, I'll be sure to let you know.
• Doing budgets is so exciting and saving is not. If I could save money using a spreadsheet, it would be so much more fun...I mean geeky and soooo boring (yay)
• I really dig the X-Factor (USA). I thought it would be a one-season-stand, but no, two years on and we are still so in love.
• I am old. The hubby and I just watched 'Gone in 60 Seconds' and reminiscing, and then 'Better Days' by Citizen King played during one of the scenes ... and you're like who is that? My point exactly.
• "Can't afford" is such an interesting phrase. You may "not afford" to buy lunch at work so you take a sandwich every day, but if someone close to you dies you can somehow "afford" to produce several thousands of dollars in a matter of days.
• I must be Samoan, because I just used death of a close family member as an example in a discussion of financial matters. Just another day in the life.
• 300 is on TV right now. What a wonderful educational film on history.

Ok, those may have made more sense as random Facebook posts, however the Facebook account is unavailable due to scheduled maintenance (of my mouth).

Until next time, remember you are beautiful. No, don't check the mirror, just take my word for it.