Students, why don't you have another homestay? Maybe this one with a Kiwi family? OK!?! cool!!

The following few posts entitled "homestay:" were written by our very own home-stayers.
This past week, all CCSP SoPac students were placed with real life families from around the greater Auckland area. Surely everyone's experience was unique and meaningful, but the next few posts will be a small, serene glimpse into the experiences of a few lucky CCSP gals.
No names, dates, locations, or words were changed or added to their re-tellings.

Prior to home stay week, we were visited, and are still being visited by a massive, cackling, laughing beast of the air. Native to Australia, we've been graced with the recent presence of a Kookaburra - a large and robust kingfisher, with a long broad bill, and a call that is like none other. It's a real treat to see this bird, which is rarely ever seen in New Zealand. Jen captured this silhouetted photo! Students have also been taking to the out-of-doors lately for their sleeping hours. The cool Waitakere air has been lovely to find rest in. Braving the heavy dew of the morning, many of us spent some moon-lit nights and some mornings as equally heavy with Tui song. Good morning Michelle!! So enjoy the home stay accounts. I'm going to watch "Roger and Me" as part of our Cultural Anthropology course this week. Peace Peace Peace

Homestay: Michelle Bomboooiiiiiiiii!!

Here is our lovely Michelle with her new family in front of the iconic Rangitoto island on the outskirts of Auckland Harbor!

Staying with the Airey family was great! I had a brother named Daniel, a sister named Sarah, and a temporary Japanese brother Yukinaga! It was great fun and my family took very good care of me. I visited One Tree Hill, Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium, Mission Bay, as well as spent a good amount of time in Auckland over the week/end. Dinner every night was fabulously cooked by Mrs. Airey, my mom, and I didn’t meet “dad” until Saturday due to him being in Vietnam on business. Overall, my homestay was a great deal of fun, and I plan on visiting the Airey’s in another week or so thanks to Debbie’s gracious offering of opening her home to me and some other CCSP students over mid-semester break. So.. as the Airey family would say “Good on ya, mate!”

--Michelle Bomboy

Homestay: Jen and Nicole!

"Jen Westrate and Nicole Aragon stayed with the Annabell family. David and Tracy have two kids Melisa 7, and Zachary 6. They are two rambunctious, fun kids. They wake up at the crack of dawn and run down the hallways and practice their piano. We got to sleep in Zach’s room. He has a tiny bunk bed with power ranger stickers posted everywhere. We had an interesting homestay because Tracy left fro Thailand two days after we arrived. Then the next day David and Zach left for father son camp. Nana came to stay with us. We had girls’ in weekend. Nana even stayed up late and watched movies with us, panic room. We were all a little jumpy at that point in the night. They let us cook them a meal one night so we made them tacos and they appreciated it very much. On Saturday night we decided to go to the rugby game. Blues vs. Bulls, the blues won 23 to 21, best game I’d every seen." -- Nicole

Homestay: Rachel "any man of mine" Hesselink

Here is Rachel. This is NOT the Wiklund family! These are the injured "Blues" players she sat by. She really had a case of the "blues" after meeting these Auckland beefcakes. Kevin said he could "take" that guy on the left.


I stayed with the Wiklund family this week. A little bio on the family:

Geoff Wiklund, dad, pastor, Eden Assembly of God. Interested in sailing, golfing, basketball, and rugby.

Joanne Wiklund, mum, homemaker. Loves telling Geoff what to do, and being sooo nice to everyone.

Jeremy Wiklund, 20 yrs, mechanic’s apprentice. Avid snowboarder, guitar player, card player. He was injured this week and had to keep his leg up.

Mary Rose Wiklund, 16 yrs. Student. In love with Thomas, the cardigan-wearing British boy with whom she went on her first date Friday night.

Taffy, Topsy, and Toomany (as in one TOO MANY cats)-the three cats who entertain the family greatly.

I had a nice week with the Wiklunds. Between going downtown to work on ISP and hang out with CCSPers and doing things with the fam I stayed really busy. I went to Bible study one night with Jeremy, and played cards with him and his friend Dean. I had to watch Geoff’s favorite movie, O Brother Where Art Thou (he couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it!) the first night I was there. He (of course) sang along to all the songs. Friday we were supposed to go sailing but it was too windy, so Geoff and Joanne took me for a drive down the coast that afternoon to see the islands and cute towns. Joanne thought that I would like to stop and look through the ‘darling’ little stores but Geoff figured that I wouldn’t because I’m a student and have no money. I just sat in the back seat listening to them talk about me. Of course Joanne got her way and we stopped at the shops.

Saturday night Geoff and Joanne took Cutter and me to a Blues game. We had seats right on the center line-I was able to see everything! The injured Blues players were sitting a few rows ahead of us and I got my picture with them . I think I’m becoming quite a rugby fan-two games in a row! GO BLUES! To finish off my week I went with Jeremy, Mary Rose, and a bunch of Jeremy’s friends to Wiranga after church on Sunday where we threw a football around in the thermal pools, raced down the waterslides, and watched an episode of Grey’s in the Movie pool.

Ben's Belated Blog Birthday

Whilst in Samoa, our boy Ben celebrated his 20th birthday!

We noticed while staying near several beaches in Samoa that Ben could be spotted walking slowly down the beach, scouring for small treasures. Usually he would turn up with small and delicate items that he noticed to show some of the rest of us.

So, we arranged for a nice embarrassing birthday song with everyone else at the beach resort. We made him a fashionable coconut bra, snazzy palm hat, and presented him with a Kava stick to be our leader. He adorned himself proudly with his new birthday costume for all to see, and proceeded to eat his breakfast. We then sent him along the beach to discover some items that we made for him to discover.


All the students and staff found an item and fixed a small note to it. Some were bananas, some were large shells, some were empty bottles, and one was even a discarded bag of hamburger flavored treats. We then carefully laid the items out along the beach, hoping to goodness that the dogs and children along the beach wouldn't trample or munch our precious treasures while we ran back to get Ben started on his treasure hunt. Ben was soon sent along with a palm basket to slowly walk down the beach and discover these items, taking his time as he walked. He returned with a basket full of birthday wishes, a big smile, and another year under his belt. Way to go, Ben, you did it!

Easter

Days like Easter are a cause for celebration, a call for an "occasion" Students and staff alike celebrated this glorious day in their own ways for the better part of the morning and the afternoon, until coming together at 4:30 for a memorable, and delightful remainder of the night.
Our dear gals Jessie and Julie orchestrated an outdoor evening meal, complete with dishes offered by many students, who cooked some things that represented some of their own home cooked Easter meal traditions. We ate among the breeze and the fading light together as we stuck blueberries in our upper lips for a delicious "blueberry delight" and said animal names to each other without showing our teeth. Try it, its tough to do without laughing yourself silly! Mark, (our beloved director) his wife Robin, nearly had an asthma attack because she was laughing so hard.
You might be asking yourself, "Hey now! Why aren't there any people sitting at the lovely Easter table?!"
Well, perhaps no one is there, because every person was off trying their darndest to find some of the 100 items hidden by Kevin and Matt for the 1st annual CCSP soPac mega Easter treasure/rubbish/trinket hunt!
Items were hidden all over our 13 h.acre campus and everyone was given 30 minutes to find those items, and proudly only two of them were not retrieved. Prizes were given, in exchange for the items, some good and some terrible - so it was a real surprise when Emma, proud of her retrieved item, found out that she would receive a "zerber" from Brett. She quickly declined that, not knowing what the heck it was.
Other, more "edifying" prizes included some little candy bits purchased from our dear friend Choi, who owns the superette at the end of our driveway. Pairs of pairs were given from our neighboring orchard, red peppers, favorite poems, ice creams, music compilations - and on the "lame prize side" some people took home envelopes of weeds, a bag with Kevin's underwear (sorry Nicole) and an old school paper jacket from an "iams dog show" (it is actually awesome).
The night eased on, and we closed together with a candlelit Community Worship time, curated by Nate where students and staff contemplated quietly for some time, journaling, and meditating. Soon, space was created for anyone to share worries or blessings or offerings or items of thanksgiving with the rest of the group - something that is quite necessary we think, for a group of people living as a community. A dessert smorgasboard rounded out the night, something that we also think is quite necessary from time to time, for a group of people living in a community!

Students look forward to their second "homestay" this week - this time, with a New Zealand family. Check the blog again soon to hear some primary accounts of their experiences! To our families, friends, and those we miss and to those who we don't know personally that read this blog- Happy Easter, blessings friends!

Auckland Rugby! Go Blues

This week, we've been letting our bodies and our minds unravel; just a wee bit, from a "hefty" time in Samoa.
But CCSP students are keen, willing, and able learners - and although we just finished debriefing our Pacific island time, we've no sooner begun wrapping our minds around God and Nature (week 1) with visiting professor Dr. Bret Stevenson. In a jam packed week of class, students began to consider foundational philosophy regarding humanity, divinity, the earth, and our place within those massive contexts. It seems like it could be a bit heavy on the mind, so to give us all some leisure space - WE SCORED SOME CHEAPS SEATS TO THE RUGBY!



We arrived massively early, mostly to assure that we wouldn't miss out on some good seats, but arrived in time to see some outlandish pre-game celebration: motocross jumping, pirate ship cannon ball shooting, jam band a'groovin! The home team Auckland Blues soon emerged from the stadium innards amid hoots and hollers and cheers from the Eden Park crowd. For all of us, this was our first professional rugby match - and we went home happy as the Blues pulled out a last second, "walk off" win against the Stormers of South Africa. Unlikely hero Ben Atiga converted a penalty kick with no time left to give the beloved Blues the 3 point victory! Most of us didn't know much of what was going on, but we had a blast cheering like hooligans when everyone else cheered, and yelling when everyone else yelled! The game featured several members of the South African national team (2007 World Cup champs) and the All Blacks (New Zealand national team and world powerhouse). We had quite a time, and everyone stayed out amid the Auckland city lights as the night wore itself out. I even heard that Emma sang kareoke! YESS!! Below are the Blues in a "scrum" Thanks for the pictures Mallory!

Return From Samoa

Greetings all!

What follows this post is our small attempt of unraveling our experience of Western Samoa together. Of course our observations written here are only a small glimpse into our experience, and we recognize retelling what happened as a process, and although we remained together as a group throughout the time, stories and perceptions of the three weeks will be individualized and unique. We encourage you, the readers of this blog, to ask your questions and to be a part of the Samoa experience of the students. Oftentimes, it is in the retelling and remembering of our journeys that we come to really know where we have been, what it meant, and maybe even come to know more of who we are.

For clarity: As you work you way down through the blog posts, you will be starting this small story at the last section of our trip and working towards the beginning.

Lalomanu, Marine Ecology

After departing Faga, we made our way to the last leg of our journey, the southeastern side of the island of Upolu in a village by the name of Lalomanu. Here we would stay for the next several days studying the marine ecology of the area. We met up again with Brian Stockwell, our professor for the course from the Philippines. Brian was as stoked as ever, and with him we spent some nice time studying the reef fish, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. Students were challenged to grasp a number of biological concepts, identify several families of reef fish, and understand the difficulties and purposes of reef, mangrove, and seagrass bed conservation efforts. But it was helpful to the students' understanding to be walking through, swimming in, and snorkeling about what they were studying in lecture.

Days were sunny and beautiful, despite this being the wet season in the tropics. Between our day trips to visit soft coral reefs and the mangrove and seagrass beds, our time was spent in the waters in the crystalline lagoon that sprawled to the breakers defining the darker blue waters of the Pacific, which in its own turn unreeled to the horizon.


This is a picture of a study break from morning class.
I'll call this: "A Regular Afternoon."

Faga Homestays

Our visit to Faga village was right in the middle of our whole experience. We had adequate time to acclimate ourselves to the tropical climate, the food, the mosquitoes, and have a small taste of the fa'a Samoa before we entered into three days of living in the company of Samoan people.

In our sojourn on both islands of Samoa, the Faga village homestay is where students more strongly delineate themselves not as tourists, but as travelers with deeper intentions. It is an opportunity for students to actually live within the care of a Samoan family in a village life setting, and attempt to catch glimpses of the Samoan way of life a bit closer to the interior.

After being welcomed into the village with a traditional Ava ceremony, students were taken by families about the village where they were given residence is a number of beach fales. All meals were taken with their host families, although some students were lucky enough to have their food served to them in their beach fales! Traditional Samoan food abounds, as well as the occasional meal prepared with special items such as cup-o-noodles, hot dogs and ketchup, and dough-nuts.

For the three days present in the village, students are given freedom of schedule to pursue any particular interests they have in either their host family or the Samoan way of life. Some students visited family plantations, some learned how to weave sitting mats, some spent significant time trying to learn as much of the Samoan language as possible, and some students greatly enjoyed just passing the time with their families during the day. And although three days is a short time, there is just enough to put fingers on the pulse of the way of Samoa; to witness the loving community care of a four month old, to hold sandy hands with young children in laughter, to regard the family elders in moments of family prayer and silence. It is quick but impressive and lasting.


The farewell of the village after our stay is the fia-fia, for which both CCSP and Faga village have spent long hours in preparation. And an added bonus was that our friends at Safua were in attendance as well, which added some energy to the already electric night. The fia-fia is an exchange of dancing and musical "items" back and forth for a couple of hours, and in the end proves to be a unique Samoan way of bidding farewell. We performed a number of American items such as Hanson's late nineties hit "MMMBop," Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time," and we even choreographed a strong and animated "Days of Elijah" song and dance. And we did all this exchanging of song and dance in our new shirts, lavalavas, and dresses graciously gifted to us as our families' guests.

For all of us, the highlight of the fia-fia night will not be easily forgotten, and will remain a steadfast memory in the rivers of our life experiences, just like the village homestay.

getting cultured

Beside being beaten upon by this magical waterfall, we all took part in an engaging week of cultural interaction where we were exposed to handicrafts, the resourcefulness of Samoan people and how they use coconuts, and countless other native flora for thousands of uses in their daily lives. We participated also in the preparation of the "umu" the earth oven that Samoans use to prepare their traditional feast. Coconut cream, fish, and roast pig, taro, palusami - these are just a few parts of the magnificent meals that we were eating all week long, all elements of the meal are things that Samoan people have in their plantations or in their waters. Amazing.

Cutter turns 21!

David Cutter, our dear boy from Calvin College turned 21 years old during our time in Safua.
This party was not to be missed by the village, and as the night progressed dozens of folks just started turning up as the songs and dances perpetuated into the southern hemisphere heavens. David was greeted in the morning with a throne of Samoan flowers as he ate his breakfast of free range (in every sense of the phrase) eggs and toast and tea. Throughout the day we composed for David (a poetry enthusiast) a poem that we entitled "The Cutter that Astonished Samoa" (thanks for the book Beth) and had him read it aloud at the beginning of dinner. Before that though, Cutter was treated to the pleasure of being the Westernmost person in the world celebrating their 21st birthday, as we traveled to the place where the zephyrs end, the closest we could get to the International Date Line without crossing it. Whatever time or day it was, it didn't matter cause Cutter was the man of the hour.
As dinner ended, the gifts began to emerge as the Safua friends treated David to a cake, some traditional gifts, and even a prized boar tooth necklace that once belonged to Chris (below)
Emily, David's galfriend from Calvin even surprised him and gave him a birthday dance. But she had to leave shortly after.

The places and people: Safua

These picture marks the end of the lava flow that hit Savaii in 1906. The lava ran right into the coast and today, wanderers can traipse the path of coastal lava cliffs as magnificent blue Pacific swells slam and spray all day and night long.

This is Cirisi, or Chris - our host in Safua. He is showing us his Samoan tatoo, a tradition that is still very much alive amongst the men and women of Samoa. Each part of it represents a piece of traditional Samoan life, from the canoe stretching across his back, to the full coloration of his knees representing the unity of family life in Samoa.

Ode;:Warren

While in Safua, we get the lifetime chance to have our days spent with Mr. Warren Jopling. Warren is a palagi (a non-Samoan person) as you can see, but he is very very much a part of Safua life. I'm not sure how to explain this, but Warren is like no one else on the planet. He is a 78 year old Australian geologist that has traveled the world and knows more about Samoan natural history than, I'd confidently say, anyone in the universe. Warren is a free thinking, free speaking, Noni-juice drinking man that really makes the excursions of our week in Safua relevant and thoughtful. With him we travel to Lava fields, blowholes, volcanic craters, spot Flying Foxes, climb ancient Polynesian mounds and travel to the Westernmost place in the whole world in buses with odd English words like "cool and unusual." This post is dedicated to Warren and the places he holds in the hearts of CCSPers past and present and future cause he's gonna live to be 300.
Here is Warren and Christy, the best of friends.

Safua

Safua - (8 days) These first days on the island of Savaii are where students first interact with the village life and the traditions of Samoa. Safua has been the "home base" of CCSP for years in our excursions to Samoa, and once again, they opened their home, their village, and their kitchens to us. Moelagi, her son Chris, and heaps of other members of their community roll out the "fine mats" for us and present students and staff alike with a week full of Samoan interaction.
Safua hotel is not at all a "hotel." It is more like a family that opens up some of their "fales" (small Samoan houses pronounced faa-lay) to us, with the intention of showing us their tradition through meals together, natural history excursions during the day, song and dance together at night, and good ol' conversation. These are the boys of the band that play nightly for us and whom we spend some good hours with joking with, playing rugby with, and sharing broken English conversations with. It's the best, really.

Upon Samoan Homecoming

"Welcome back friends!" were the words we were greeted by, as our dear friends and staff members Nathan, Jess, and Julie picked us up at the airport after a 3:20 am flight from Samoa.
Certainly, no amount of blogging can capture the experience, the feeling, and the formation that occurs during a three and a half week stay in Samoa, but for your sake, and for ours - we will try our best in the ensuing posts to do so. Importantly, we are back, we are safe, we are reflective, and we have grown individually and as a community during our past few weeks.
So over the next few posts, we'll try and capture some of our experiences in 4 categories
Safua, Faga, Lalomanu (marine ecology), and reflection.