I started off the week off being a couch potato for the first time in over a year. My friend Mel kindly let us stay at her place in Auckland even though she was in the States, so after dropping Dallas off at the airport, I returned to get some rest and motivation to drive back to Tauranga. As it turned out, it took several hours to muster it up. It was Waitangi Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Maori chiefs in 1860. The Maori TV network was broadcasting a special program that traced the history of the English representatives’ trip around the country attempting to obtain signatures. Naturally some chiefs were more interested in signing away their sovereignty than others, and much of this appears to have been related to the way in which the treaty was translated to them. Still today, there is no consensus of opinion regarding its implications. One Maori who was interviewed said that the chief of his tribe at the time of the signing was cognizant of the “Great White Wave” (the influx of Europeans) that was coming and found the Treaty with the English to be the best way to ensure ownership of the land. He pointed out that Maoris today fare much better than indigenous peoples of other countries such as the Aborigines in Australia. Their participation in NZ’s coalition government suggests that this is the case. Anyway, I really enjoyed having a chance to just veg out in front of some quality TV, but I would have loved to have been back up in the Bay of Islands that day, as representatives from all the nearby tribes paddled their wakas to the marae for a traditional feast!

Back in Tauranga, I was able to watch the impressive local air show from the marina and catch up with people via email/skype. When I told her it was already Sunday in NZ, my friend remarked, “You mean you’re calling from the future?!” 

The air show passing over the boat

I’ve hung out with Martin several times this week. I went to watch his team play netball, a game very similar to basketball minus the dribbling and the defense as we know it, since you have to stay 3′ away from other players. The ball (like a volleyball) is passed from player to player until it is in the hands of a designated offensive player who, without someone in their face, can be very leisurely in taking a shot, the catch being that there is no backboard. It was very fast-paced and fun to watch, but it would be more fun to be on a team, so I’ll have to work on that.

I also have managed to make some new friends. Martin and I went to a local pub Monday afternoon to watch The Who (Martin’s favorite band) play at the Super Bowl half-time show, and it was there that I met Matthew, an American pilot, and his wife Goril (pronounced like gorilla without the a), a Norwegian yoga/elementary school teacher. They are trying to establish permanent residence here and seem to have settled in quite well. I feel like they have taken me under their wing by telling me about local activities (e.g., the $2 entry at the hot springs on Mondays), inviting me over for drinks and introducing me to their friends, and last but not least, introducing me to Bikram yoga! I attended my first ever yoga class yesterday, and it was awesome. I was completely unprepared for the experience, though. I showed up without a towel or water and was pretty caught off guard as I walked into the 104 degree room, but Goril was an excellent instructor, providing personalized assistance as needed during the one and a half hour session of intensive stretching and flexing. I have never sweat so much in life, but it was surprisingly invigorating. I can imagine how cathartic it would be after a stressful day. I suppose that’s why some of her students attend class EVERY DAY!

Pura Vida hasn’t changed much since Dallas left, although I relished in completing some odd jobs–installing a bilge pump, tying the trampolines back up, repairing a broken anchor locker hatch, and marking/stowing the newly galvanized anchor chain. I also discovered that sewing might be something I’m capable of under the right conditions, as our machine is much easier to operate now that it has been serviced.

I sewed leather from an old briefcase into Dallas' new tool roll

 

Don't look too closely at the craftsmanship!

 

What matters is that it's functional, right?

 These small tasks pale in comparison to the productivity of the rest of the crew at the moment. Wes landed a 6-month, electrical engineering contract position in Houston, and Tiff is in nursing school there. Dallas is already working 60 hours/week in San Diego and trying to squeeze them into 5 days this week in order to have some time to catch up with good friends of ours in Orange County this weekend. I can’t imagine a more abrupt transition to the working world, but he seems to be doing OK. Tired, but OK.

That’s all for now. I regret not having more photos to include in this blog, but I am uploading the rest of the photos from our excursion to the South Island today, so check them out if you have some free time at work or want some vicarious warmth and sunshine. ;-)