Kia Ora whanau! (Hello family!)
“Kia ora whanau” is a common greeting here in Aotearoa, even the professors say it. I’m slowly but surely picking up on all of the New Zealand slang. “You’re alright” is translated into “You’re welcome and “Ka pai” is a common Maori phrase, meaning “understand”, “ok” or “good.”
Classes are going well. There are 200 students in my Maori society paper, which is the most students I have ever had in a college course. At Rollins, student count per class usually doesn’t exceed 25. This has been the biggest change I have come to get used to here in the academic realm. However, it is very easy to get one-on-one time with your lecturers if you need to meet with them.
The University has an incredible museum. There are no entrance fees and it is a 2 minute walk from the main campus. There is a massive Polynesian and Maori exhibit. I have no class on Fridays, so this past Friday I spent my day at the museum. In the Pacific Island exhibit I found a traditional waka (fishing canoe) from Rarotonga. This was really cool from me because Rarotonga is where my dad was born!
Rarotongan Waka
Traditional Cook Island fishing and hunting hooks
Maori culture is very rich at Otago. The museum introduces Maori culture and customs with Maori carvings and marae (sacred meeting house).
Papatuanuku and Rangi- Gods of earth and sky
As a Maori who grew up away from Aotearoa, I never got to hear te reo (Maori language) being spoken by anyone else other than my dad. One of my goals here is to pick up on the language, enough to have a decent conversation with my dad when I see him next. I’ve learned how precious the Maori culture is and how delicate it is. I have grown to have such a deeper appreciation for my culture and people. Daily, not only am I discovering places of Dunedin but my roots, my history and myself.
Marae model
Ka kite!