Impressed by dance practice

Six in the morning is generally a time I greet with the same amount of enthusiasm that I would sleeping on a bed of nails or bathing in a vat of lava, but when presented with a delicious breakfast of French toast and wonderful company a mere 50 minutes later, all that disdain vanishes. Everyone had a bright smile this morning, and seemed excited and ready to get started with what we all came here to do; make a positive impact on others.  After my day at the Titikaveka College, and after hearing the other team members recap their days, it is safe to say we are all off to a good start. Haley and I were met with warm smiles and very friendly staff and students at our school, and we got a chance to work with some very sweet kids and young adults who were very open to help and seemed to really want to learn and improve themselves, which was nice.  We were fed a delicious and unexpected meal of potato salad and chicken before we left for the day.

After the rest of our group members returned from their schools, we headed to the library and museum. The local artwork and history that was documented in the plastic cases of the museum was so interesting and I feel like I learned a lot just in the few minutes we were there. I noticed everyone else was as intrigued as I, so I’m sure the experience was a unanimously positive one. 

After the brief visit to the museum, we got to sit in on dance practice. I was so very impressed by the calf muscles on all the dancers, as well as their groovy moves. To say I was in awe would be an understatement. I think we all really enjoyed watching the children dance. I would recommend sitting in on dance practice to anyone, but particularly to anyone who needed their day brightened, because it was possibly one of the cutest things I could ever imagine.

After dance practice, we had the most delicious meal of curry, rice, various fruits, chocolate mousse, salad, and coleslaw. Post-meal conversation was full of laughter, and one of my favorite parts of the day. Getting to hear stories from “Papa Bob” and the other team members was completely awesome. Overall, I’d say our first day was a success and a wonderful start to a great adventure!

                                                                                   

Entry submitted by: Kendra

Message of the Day: “Patience is a virtue.”

Arriving in the Cook Islands! Kia Orana!

Kia Orana!

Our team arrived on the same flight from Los Angeles, but originated from Seattle, Boston, and Kentucky. Our team brings a variety of skills and experiences as it includes students, professors, educators, and me, the stay-at-home mom. The Kiikii Motel with its beautiful sunrises is “functional” with spacious rooms, helpful staff, and a great central meeting area. Today we discussed our goals as individuals for our time spent on Rarotonga. As a group, we concluded that our goals were:

1. to learn

2. to make global friends

3. to use our skills and experiences to leave our mark on the local community.

Then, we defined the characteristics of an effective team as the basis for our team contract. James, our team leader, helped us understand the mechanics of the native language, Maori, even though it only has thirteen letters, the different sounds will require some practice. Mid-day we went out on our own to explore the area. At dinner, we discussed our local encounters and adventures on the bus. All went well and team members found locals personable and helpful. We finished our night off with an excellent dinner. The marinated swordfish is a definite must.

Entry submitted by: Suzanne

Message of the Day: “Your basket and my basket will feed the nation.”

Farewell Progressive Dinner

Everyone had a good time at school, Carol with reading groups, Joyce individual students and reading, Fran library work and school office work and Yolanda maths testing. We all had a restful afternoon, Carol visited the island living store, Joyce home via town, Fran home to sort out her IPAD and Yolanda a final walk and swim at Muri Beach.

Our highlight for the evening was being picked up at 5.00 with a group of 20 other people to attend a ‘Progressive Dinner Tour’. Our first course was at the Home of Dan and Jane Kelly who have retired from owning 3 duty free stores. We were give a tour of their property with talks about the different plants trees and animals they had. The entrée was Raw tuna marinated in lemon juice and served in Coconut milk, tomato and spring onion – divine! Also arrowroot, and Pawpaw with mayonnaise curry. On to the Main course, a beautiful big house on the hill above the airport and gym with a lovely couple. We prayed before and after the meal. There was lovely pan fried tuna, salad, kumara, taro, vege sauce, chicken and spinach. Chatting with our tour driver, he told us that he used to be the chief secretary to a former prime minister- and this has made him more cynical about politics.

Our dessert stop was with the tour owners family. His wife and nephew and family hosted us. We had Banana Cake, chocolate cake, meringue, ice cream, fruit salad and tea and coffee.

All the while at these three homes, music played and also on the bus we sang many songs to the Ukelele. A great night was had by all.

 

 

 

Library Lessons

In the morning we met for breakfast and then had the morning meeting with James. We discussed what the schedule was for the remainder of the week and we decided that there were still a few things on our to do lists but fewer days to do them.

At school Carol began her morning reading to the preschoolers. Fran and Yolanda team taught classes most of the day at Takitumu on the proper use of the library to each grade level (e.g. How to treat books, return them, use the fiction and non fiction areas etc).

The objectives of these lessons were to identify children that will eventually help out in the library. The youngest group to do the library lessons was treated to a story by Yolanda. The 6^th graders adapted a shelf of picture books for the day pulling out were misfiled and putting the rest into the proper alphabet listing. A group of older girls were thrilled to help Fran with labeling.

After school the team met to help Sister Margret at her homework project. When our workday ended Yolanda went to Te Vara Nui for the cultural tour. Greg from Esther Honey Foundation saw Fran, Carol and Joyce at the bus stop and offered us a ride. Joyce was pleased with her purchase of Pawpaw jelly. Dinner was catered at 6.00 and we had the caterer leave some food for Yolanda.

 

Ordinary Day

Today one might call an ordinary day in the Cook Islands. The ocean was a beautifully colored blue, the breeze swept through our classrooms and the sun shone to begin our day. Fran said she did what she had come here to do – to be of service to others. Highlight of the day was Bernice a student, who saught her out and read to her. Carol was busy at school and felt that her time was well spent with lots of students and some time at the pre school. After school she went to the Edgewater for a massage.  Yolanda helped organise a classroom visit to the library tour. Each class will come and learn how to use the library responsibly. Yolanda and Carol started to tidy up the Teachers resource room. Joyce had a busy day with students and stayed back at the Pacific resort for a late lunch. Tonight a special surprise – Chinese food brought to the Kiikii by James and Debi.

 

Meeting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Friday was the last day for 5 of our group. Kristies week at the library concluded with gifts, hugs, tea, cake, photos and a request to come back. Peter and Trudy observed athletics day and a show about whales put on by the Juniors which included “We all live in the yellow submarine” Barbara and Yuri also got gifts and cards had dancing & singing and a highlight for Yuri was being able to ride to school on the back of a truck. Fran also got to have a ride on the back of a bike by Engia the principal. Fran, and Carol enjoyed the junior kids assembly. Joyce had a half a day and met Kristie at Trader Jacks for Lunch. Yolanda did the cross island walk with Pa.

We all got dressed up for our farewell dinner at the Tamarind House, got a group photo and tucked into our delicious entrees, mains and desserts. A surprise was in store for us. One of Debis and James’ friends who was waitressing for a special guest and her party, mentioned to the PA of the special guest that there were some fellow countrymen who were volunteers from the States. Our table was approached by the PA and Joyce took the initiative to talk to her and tell her a little about who we were. The PA said that she would mention us to Hilary Clinton and from that mention we were advised that we could stop by and meet with the secretary of state. And that is what we did. Hilary was very gracious to us and shook hands with us all and chatted briefly with the team and then suggested that we have a photo together. She was very calm and relaxed and it was a treat for us all to spend a few moments with her.

Saturday dawned beautiful but rain was to come. Some attended the market while Yolanda splashed out on a day trip to Aitutaki. In the Afternoon a group of the team attended Te Vara Nui Cultural experience. It included a history lecture, a medicine hut, sacred stones, a talk about fishing and fish nets, a costume hut and coconut demonstrations. 2 stayed on for dinner and the rest returned to pack and our last catered dinner. As 5 leave us, four remain for the last week.

Hard At Work

The last day of August and the last day of work for most of Vaka 130. Fran and Barbara spent most of yesterday fighting various illnesses, though Fran was well enough to join us later on our outing. Joyce had an opportunity to meet the Swedish ambassador to Australia, NZ and the Cook Islands while riding the local bus. After she greeted them in Swedish, they chatted for the remainder of the ride.

Carol continued her work with her classes at school and for a change of pace, decided to walk to school with Yolanda. Yolanda reported that during a school break, one of the students climbed a coconut tree and used his feet to ply some of them off. They were opened and everyone enjoyed the fresh coconut water. Yuri continues to be in demand with his rap and hip hop performances much to the evident delight of the St Josephs students.

Peter and Trudy judged foot races at a sports day at their school handing out popsicle sticks to the place getters. After school they trekked in opposite directions to catch up on some shopping.

Kristie continued her work at the public library. In the morning a whaling kettle was returned to the museum from the whale centre, where it had been on loan. It took 6 large men and a dolly to move it. For our evenings entertainment we visited a local jeweler, a local brewery and were given an interesting lecture in Coconuts. Yuri successfully managed to husk a nut and we all sampled the different stages of the fruit.

Dinner concluded our evening, burgers and fries, island take out style and we were safely delivered back to the Kiikii under the light of a full moon.