We left 8:30 am Friday and went to a cultural center and heard about the Maori people. It was actually pretty cool to hear the man talk about how they made their clothing and purses and things like that. They used a type of plant. Then used a shell to scrape away the wax part. Then underneath was a strong string-like material. This is what they used. They would twist it and twist it again and it formed their materials. They found ways to make it different colors. This was my favorite part of the time we were there. Our tour guide took us to see a huge geyser. It was interesting. Not my favorite though.
We went to a program put on by Maori people. They did their cultural acceptance rituals. Josh was our “chief.” Then since he volunteered to be our chief we then got to sit in the front rows of the program. They did special dances and games where they tossed sticks to each other. Then the girls got up and did a game with balls and the boys did a ritual that was intended to threaten their enemies. We all ended in the gift shop. I bought more souvenirs. We stopped soon after we left the cultural center for lunch. We had fish and chips. They were really good. Then we had some time to look around at souvenir shops again. And once again I bought something. I am starting to wonder if I will be able to get all my stuff to China.
Then we headed off to Ragalan. We stopped about an hour after we left for fish and chips and met one of Brent’s friends. Him and his wife are living at a Bible college. They just moved here about a week ago. So we took a bathroom break at their place and heard a little about the Bible college. Then we got back on the road and stopped maybe half hour later for ice cream cones at McDonalds. Always refreshing. Then, we got on the road again and headed to Ragalan. We arrived in Ragalan and it had just started raining.
This time we stayed at a hostel. About half-hour from the beach. The hostel was full of young people. It was a nice atmosphere. Very laid back and everyone was super nice. We all cooked in the same kitchen. It was my group’s turn to cook Friday night. So we made cheesy pasta and veggies. It was a delicious meal.
I am sure that some hostels are not very nice. But the one we were in last weekend was pretty nice.
We stayed in caboose cars. The hostel was called Solscape. They were all about recycling and being green. The people there were mostly surfers. It was an amazing atmosphere. I loved it. It’s one of those feelings I don’t know how to explain. It was free and exhilarating to see them and listen to them talk amongst other travelers and surfers about their experiences. After dinner we all sat around and talked. We talked about our favorite music for hours and talked about television and movies too. It was so much fun. These are the moments I will truly remember. This is the reason I wanted to come on PacRim-for the relationships I would build and the friends I would make. It was amazing to just sit around and talk to each other and learn more about each other.
Saturday January 29th:
Saturday was a free day for us. We woke up and we had no water and the electric was out. That night before we had major winds and it rained all night so the power was knocked out. But I enjoyed the rain. It sounded so nice on our caboose’ roof. I love the sound of rain so it put me to sleep so well.
Our hostel was about a 30 minute walk from the beach. So, after the skies cleared up that morning we went to the beach after lunch. I walked down with some people from the group. Then Once we finally made the long trek down to the windy beach I was only there for maybe ten minutes. It was so windy and cold. But I still put my feet tin the water and walked around in it for a little while.
Then I walked back up by myself. It was a nice walk to think and reflect on what all we’ve been doing this week. When we are in a large group it’s hard to get time to myself. So, a walk was just what I needed. I stopped often to look back on the beach. The hike up was more difficult than the hike there since back up was all uphill. But it was still nice. I went to the look out for a little bit. Before I got to the lookout I was struck with emotions that came overflowing. As I was walking I couldn’t help but realize how much my dad would have loved that hike I was on. It was filled with beautiful trees all over. And birds were chirping all around me. I started to tear up and wish he was with me on that hike.
Those emotions stirred in me for the entire day then. Later that night after Brent’s amazing chili we went up on a hill for some worship and to watch the sunset. It was beautiful. We sat in tall grass on the edge of the hill overlooking the ocean as the sunset. It couldn’t have been a more perfect ending to my evening. As we worshiped my emotions stirred. I ended up laying in the grass for awhile just staring at the sky praying to God, and knowing that my dad was in Heaven with Jesus. It made me cry more. Then the sun set…and it was time to go back.
After our worship time and praying I did feel better.
We headed back to our hostel to make birthday pizzas for Matt’s birthday. Brent fired up the outside stone grill that was there. It was fun to make our own little pizzas and put them in the fire. Since it was so cold we also made hot chocolate. It was a gorgeous night.
Sunday January 30th:
We checked out of Solscape around noon. We headed to the nearby town of Raglan (I think…I can’t remember). And we did a little shopping. But I just looked around. I bought myself a few Frank drinks: one for that moment and one for later in the evening for the festival. Then we drove a little ways to have lunch at McDonalds-where else would we go. That’s like our daily lunch stop.
We arrived at Parachute Festival around 2 and met Matt and Angie Swank’s youth group. We stayed with them at their campsite for the afternoon and evening. We broke off in groups and walked around. Parachute was like fair with concerts going on all the time. I had never really been to anything like that before. But it was pretty cool. I bought a Parachute Band t-shirt.
Later that night after Matt’s group fed us hamburgers for dinner we went up in the stands and watched some concerts. First we saw two people I didn’t know: Henry Seeley, who wasn’t that bad and Brenton Brown-he wasn’t my favorite but ok. Then Parachute Band performed. I had never heard of the band before but I absolutely loved the guy and his band. Then Chris Tomlin performed and it was an amazing time of worship.
Louie Giglio spoke on how we are so small and live in a world, solar system, milky way, universe and so on so big all created by God. It was a pretty good message he had for us. Then after he was done Tomlin came on again to do more worship with us, and it ended even better than it started. It was just a great time.
Throughout the concert before Chris Tomlin came on I spent most of the time in the stands watching people. Noticing how they dress and act. They dress differently than most Americans. It’s what American’s consider what’s in style in the U.S. But it’s a look that only a select group of Americans actually decide to wear. It’s the look of leggings and shirts, and dresses. Everyone was wearing dresses. They were all dressed so nice. Some of them had t-shirts on but not many.
I felt out of place there wearing my t-shirt and jeans. I felt underdressed. I think Americans are sloppier (for lack of better words) than Kiwis. Sure I dress up for work and wear leggings and dressed to work but not out to a concert, or to a store. I like my jeans and t-shirts. And now that all I have packed for this trip is t-shirts I can’t wait to go home and wear all my cute clothes and look nice. I really felt out of place at the concert.
I also felt out of place because I felt like I was too old for the concert. It seemed that I saw a bunch of younger kids and high school age students there. Not many college students. Maybe they were there but didn’t look the age. That’s a whole other issue. But I felt like I didn’t belong, not because I was American, but because I felt like I was too mature for it and because of my apparel.
But overall the concert was still amazing. And I didn’t let my feelings of not feeling like I didn’t belong get to me. I wasn’t the only one who felt like that so we all talked about it together. But in the end it was a great night of worship.
Monday, January 31st
Today I’ve been thinking some about how the Kiwis and some of the people I’ve met the past few days live.
Some kiwis told a few people in our group that we are the nicest Americans that they have met. That was nice to hear. But I’m starting to see how Americans could have a bad reputation. The atmospheres here is so laid back and go with the flow kind of lifestyle. I thought I was pretty laid back but staying at the hostels this week I saw a different way of life.
The people there were from all over: Australia, England, France, and more places. But they were all so friendly and open to talk. Some of them were staying there for months others for weeks and some for a few days. It was crazy but totally cool to talk to people and hear their stories of what they are up to and where they have been travelling.
Hearing their stories made me want to travel even more. Non of them seemed to be homesick or anything. I am not yet…who knows I might be later but I’m not now. I just don’t see myself traveling around and living in hostels like they do and working spontaneously at places as I go. They are living in the moment and enjoying it.
I talked to some people who didn’t even know each other a few weeks ago and now they are traveling together for the next month or so. It’s just crazy. These people may never see each other again but are becoming best of friends. I would say these are the people who later on travel more because they keep in touch with the people they meet and have connections all over the world then.
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