New Zealand - the North!

Hi All!

I have been prizing myself on losing a 'bit' of weight on my travels, it has been a struggle, but I felt good for it. And then...well then I came to Helensville and started working in houses supporting people with disabilities and I don't seem to stop eating!!! Oh well, I am sure I can shed it again in Africa! Anyway...

On arriving in Auckland I stayed in the YHA which is lovely but if you are going there go for the international one because the one up the hill from it is also YHA (the one I stayed at) and when I say up the hill...I mean...up the hill! Walking up it without a rucksack was bad enough but with a rucksack killed me! Purple faces always seemed to be coming in to the hostel...unless they came by car. And so...Auckland was nice, it is a city and city's are a bit busy and same same but different, and so I took a free bus ride round with the 'kiwi experience' and that was good...mainly coz it was free. Apart from that I got a wee foot massage as I have grown accustomed to a wee foot massage now and then from my asian countries. And nothing much else happened there - the 'sky tower' was pretty cool and I watched some people jump off it...they were harnassed, but it was still cool to watch. I wouldn't mind doing it but I am thinking of money and I am sure I will do other cool stuff.

From there I caught the bus up to the 'bay of islands' and especially to a place called Paihaia, it was lovely up there and I went on a lovely boat trip and relaxed and swam and watched yet more dolphins and enjoyed all the little islands spread around that area. Very pretty. From there I have travelled back to Auckland, stayed overnight in another hostel to avoid the hill and ended up sleeping with 14 other people in a dorm, 2 of the 14 were literally sleeping together and 3 of them told me off for putting a light on when I came in to the room at 9pm and accused me of 'messing' someone's bed up because I put a t'shirt on it for 2 seconds! I love backpackers!

Then I was picked up and brought to Helensville to start my next volunteer placement working with adults with disabilities. It must be said, they are all wonderful and I have grown to love all of them, they make me laugh and they make me feel so special and important in their eyes. They are just the best kind of people there is, so non judgemental and so accepting and yet so much fun! And so there is 4 people in the house where I am working, we live on a farm and there are a few workers who live on the farm as well. I love all of the people I have the opportunity to work with for different reasons...there is Kevin who just grumbles and few words now and then and loves slap stick comedy and has a giggle all the time, loves hugs, loves to dance, chops wood, and loves to touch everyone's chin! Sandy is so great because she has a lovely heart and wants to help all the time and never really gets upset, always laughs and loves to be chased around, she loves to be joked with and our current joke with her is that she was watching naked men the other night - ie the full monty, and at the pub for lunch the other day she had a 'beer' so she is slagged for her men watching and beer drinking, she just laughs and shouts 'no'! Rachel is very thoughtful, she also loves to giggle, and sometimes bursts out in song and starts dancing around, when she laughs everyone laughs, she is also very good on piano. And then there is Tom, he is very sweet, he loves to make noises of different animals, he loves his family very much, and when he meets you he will say 'hello' 100 times and then hold both of your hands at once shaking them up and down in the process! When you ask him to get in the car he gets in sits down, gets up walks out, comes back, walks away, comes back, turns round, then sits down and puts his seat belt on! I have been told if you go after him he will just run away! I also get to work with other houses with other people just as wonderful and sweet. I must admit I have enjoyed very much being here and working with them and their personalities, they remind me of the wonderful people I worked with in the 'GESH' in Easterhouse who helped me raise money for my projects and helped me plan and prepare for going away.

I have enjoyed especially working with Atawhai, she is a lovely little Maori woman who has more nieces and nephews than most catholic families in Ireland and now thats saying something. Every time there is a visitor to the house they ask for her and then tell me they are a niece, a great niece, a nephew, or some form of family. She makes me laugh especially as she is so in to 'trade me' which is like ebay and she is like a child at Christmas when she has bought something, come to think of it...thats a bit like my sister Fiona!!! Robert is really cool as well as he has had a life time of various experience and he has a quiet patience and a great respect for the people he works with, I feel there is a lot to learn from him and not just about this kind of work. The other workers I have not been around as much as Robert and Atty, but they are also very dedicated to their work, including Andrew and Tanya who are married and have a baby along the way and are living in-house - now thats commitment! (Personally I think I would be divorcing my husband if I had to work and live with him, I am looking for someone who has a vocation in the armed forces or maybe working on an oil rig if any one is interested!) The health worker who is also related to most people who work with the project - Mnt Tabor Trust as well as to Tom is Marie, and so far I just think she works too much, she must be sneaking a wee something from her centre now and then as she never stops and seems to be go go going all the time, I am thinking amphetamines! Kidding Marie! (probably just a wee 'upper' of some sort!)ahem, anyways...

I am enjoying being here, but planning on travelling down in the south islands from the 13th April, by the 29th of April I will be on my way to South Africa and then by June, I will be home. Before then I have some things coming up like going to the local 'Marae' which is a very sacred and important place for 'Maori' people, well I am going there for a party - karaoke! And there is a 'Hangi' where they cook food on heated stones in the ground, I will probably be able to tell you more after the event, its a bit vague in my mind at the moment. Oh yeah and I am enjoying driving around in the vans, drove my first 'automatic' here, its so special!

Ok, ok, time to go. And it must be said...'All the best to Anne Therese' on her travels - proud of you doll! Remember to get yerself a blog so you can bore...I mean tell other people about your experiences!

Big hug to all.

Sylv
ps Had a lovely time at the Marae, the 'Hangi' was a lovely big spread of meat, potatoes and veg.