Wearable Arts

Before I get to the subject of this weeks thread, apologies for no post last week. I have a bad back you see, last week it was unbearable and I couldn't be bothered to do anything (still had to work of course, the joys of self-employment). I wont bore you with back pain details, anyone who suffers knows what I am talking about. I am trying the latest course of action (I have tried many) and am following a Pilates method, which involves holding stomach muscles in all the time to support the back, and you know what, it seems to be helping.

Any way for the last month or so Georgia's school has been spending a lot of time on a thing called "Wearable Arts". This is where each class has a theme and makes costumes to wear which are "artistic" in nature, hence the name. I do wonder whether these projects take up too much school time, shouldn't the little dears be working out the area of triangles and such? But the reality is I feel these projects are very worthwhile. The school held a performance of their creations last Wednesday night, and I have to say it was very good. From 5 year olds up to 11, all on a proper stage with light shows and music, in front of 700 people and no mistakes. What these projects achieve is the creation of teamwork in the design and making of the costumes and confidence in performing on a stage in front of so many people, skills which will hold them in great stead for their life ahead, and whats more they actually enjoy going to school. I just wish my school days had been so much fun with opportunities to shine. Georgia's class did a performance based around the mobile phone, it was excellent and the performance started with a film which was directed, filmed and edited by Georgia (she has a talent for that kind of thing). What you do find in NZ is that the kids are confident and articulate but their knowledge of the big wide world is sorely lacking. Georgia was doing a project on Julius Caesar and none of the other kids had heard of him and only one had any idea who the Romans were. I will go now, it is school holiday time and we are busy, and I still can't be bothered and my back still aches and .......

Take things for granted

You know when I say this phrase in my head I wonder if it actually means what I think it means, say it a few times to yourself and you will wonder the same. But in this instance I want to talk about those things around me, the things I see everyday but that have now become familiar and everyday, yet the first time I came here they filled me with awe. I bring this up now because last week I had a walk up the Mount. It must be a year or more since I have been up, and that is the crazy thing, our cafe is in spitting distance of the Mount, I look at it everyday and yet I so rarely walk up it. The thing is, when you walk up the Mount you are in another world, a world of strange contrasts, you could be in the Lake District or the Greek Islands or the Bush, the scenery changes with each step. When you reach the top you are out of breath but exhilarated, the views........The Maori revere the Mount as a place of Earth power, and you can feel it, open your mind and a clarity of thought flows through you.

It is also a place of extreme sports, from rock climbing, paragliding and sheep worrying. There are plenty of opportunities to fall on your backside and if you are feeling suicidal you couldn't pick a nicer cliff to throw yourself off.

I really think I should do more to re-explore the awe inspiring visual experiences that are on offer here, I will just have to make the time, and get out of the rut that I have slipped into. To this end I went to Hobbiton (Matamata) on Tuesday, not much there but the drive over the Kaimai range made the trip worthwhile. We then popped into Cambridge and got back just in time to pick Georgia up from school. A good day, away from the routine, that left me refreshed with a few ideas buzzing in my head. I will have to do a few more little trips before the summer season starts as I don't see the sun again for 6 weeks.

I will now spend some time uploading some photos, I have just seen a new icon on the toolbar that says I can add a video, (or has it always been there?) so I will give that a bash as well. (gave it a bash but got sick of waiting for it to upload)

p.s. just gone to the preview page an it says video has uploaded 29m 0f 59m so I will go have a cup of coffee and come back later and see what happens before I hit the cancel button.

Homesick?

So what is homesickness? I ask this question because it has come up in our expat discussion group (a bunch of drunks in the pub) and in one to one counselling situations (a cup of coffee at the cafe). I have come to the conclusion that it means different things to different people. From my point of view I have not felt any desire to return to the UK and I miss nothing. It is easy to have a nostalgic view of the UK, I have had some fantastic times with some great friends, but those days ended long before I came out here. In fact those days ended when Georgia was born. From being involved in our local bike club in a big way with great friends, we have a kid and become instant lepers. It is a fact of life that you only have friends for that period of time when you all share the same interests. So for me the break from close friendships was already made. Our lifestyle of weekend bike rallies and European trips was also at an end. We had become Mum and Dad and with that new responsibilities. It is hard to put away your childish ways, but a fundamental change takes place within your Psyche when you become a dad, and the desire to party loses its appeal. I enjoy being a dad and do the best I can. Georgia has seen things and done things in her 11 years of life that I would only have dreamed about at her age, and I know for certain that life for her in NZ is, and will be better than the UK. So if I ever think back to those wild exciting days and whimper, all I have to do is look at Georgia and the "dad thing" overrides all else. So for me homesickness is illusory, it is nostalgia for a time in my life that had had its day anyway. Having said that when things are hard it is easy to look back at those happy times and wish you were there.
So that is my angle, but for other people it seems quite different. Here are few of the points that people have made as they define what homesickness means to them. No family and friends support structure is there for you to moan to, to entertain you when you feel bored and unmotivated. Those places that you felt comfortable in, are gone. The familiar things from sports teams to Favourite TV programs, all different. The more stressed you feel the more importance you give to these things, and there is no doubt that starting a new life here is full of stress, and there are no happy memories (but happy times)here to give you comfort (when you look back in a few years time, you will see happy memories, but for now your mind will drag you back to the UK).
I feel life here is like a jigsaw, all the pieces are here, but they don't all quite fit yet. But what I do feel, is that you need to understand that you are a pioneer in a new country, you are starting a new family line, it is time to let go of the apron strings and to come to the fore as a truly independent person, with this realisation you will grow strong and confident and look forward not backward. (It's still alright to miss your mum though).