A team effort
Monday, August 2, 2010
Jacob's Space
After an exhausting and cold experience rafting down the Tongariro River,and then almost burning of our skin off in the local hot pools, we arrived back to our designated camp at the Marae. We were completely worn out. Though that wouldn’t and didn’t stop 10 of us guys (and 2 girls) playing a very physical game of Rugby on the sacred grass outside the Marae. After an accidental fist into my face that resulted in a bleeding mouth, then after 8 great tries the game was decided by a beautiful intercept by Stefan (a late addition to the losing side) finishing the match 5 tries to 4. Good job Stefan! Lifting up the footy spirit I begged Stefan to let me go to the pub with Patrice, to watch the Eels smash the Roosters… What the rest of the night had in store was somewhat different to the ‘expected’. Stefan came up with an interesting idea which was to take all of us to the RSA, ‘The Retired Services Association’ to watch the game together. Thanks Stefan! I was irrationally excited as the rest of the night would prove. We arrived at the RSA an hour before the game began and suddenly realized that yes, we were the only people in this building under the age of 72. One man who I was talking to at half time, went on to tell me 3 times, on different occasions that he was 102. Apparently time doesn’t have the best effect on memory. At one stage during the night there was another unexpected occurrence… Nick Harrison (who has beaten me a million times at pool) was challenged by a little 9 year old boy (who was previously in the restaurant which was attached to the side of the club) to a game of pool. Nick had a large grin as he broke which was soon swiped across his face as young Troy hit 3 balls in on his first go. To Nick’s dismay and utter shock, Troy went on to win with flying numbers against Nick, who was almost 4 times Troy’s height. How embarrassing Nick! Though he was probably only half as embarrassed as I was, walking in with my Eel’s jersey and scarf, telling everyone I was 95% sure the Eel’s would massacre the Rooster’s, when in reality it was the Rooster’s who would be doing all the massacring! 42-12. Those numbers will continue to haunt me I’m sure. Anyway, after me being completely crushed to pieces after the game and everyone else being exhausted from a big day, hours of Doppel Kopf (a German card game), snooker, and pool everyone was a little surprised at Stefan’s and Phil’s decision to stay back late to watch the All Blacks do the haka and then get smashed by Australia. So we thought. It all seemed like disappointment after disappointment as we watched in horror as the All Blacks completely dominated the whole game! First my team then my country! All I could do was drown out my sorrows by comfort eating through 2 bowls of wedges and 5 bottles of Lemon and Lime Bitters… Luckily I had my good old friends to comfort and cheer me up in an otherwise disappointing night. Though I’m sure the Eel’s will come back next week on their charge to the finals. Peace out and Go the Eel’s!
Jacob (our latest addition to the class, the son of the Parramatta Eel’s CEO)
Imogen's Space
Imogen’s space
On the 31st July, day 11 of the class trip, the countdown began. Waking up at 6:15, freezing feet already, frost on the grass, and cold water to wash with, we got ready for white water rafting. I thought my feet couldn’t get colder, wearing two pairs of socks on the bus ride there, but I was wrong, an unlikely occurrence. The drive there was dismal, the sun had barely risen, leaving all the grasses and shrubs in a covering of white ice. Things didn’t look up. We got there, and it was wetsuit time. Due to my accident skiing, my knee was a tad screwed up. Putting on the wetsuit was a challenge, with two bandages on under my thermals, I gently pulled the wetsuit on. After a while, it was on, and I looked sexy if I say so myself… not really, wetsuits are not made to look good unfortunately. We all looked rather hilarious! Also added to my ensemble, was a knee strap, which Stefanie kindly leant me. After we were all rugged up, two fleece tops, waterproof top over, and wetsuit booties, we took to the road. After arriving at lake Taupo from the white water rafting headquarters, we got into teams, and had a little practice run. I was unfortunate enough to be stuck with: Joaquin, Julian, Emma, Akael, Meg, Jess, and our instructor Ben. Poor Ben... he was stuck with me up the back, squealing with pain and delight. On the first rapid, it was a very small one too, someone fell out. It was not her fault, for the guide had just recently come out of a 4 year retirement, and this day being his first back. Poor Emily fell out, onto a rock sneakily hidden out of her instructors view. We went through 65 rapids, all putting me in pain. Although I did enjoy the rafting, each time we went through a rapid, my bad knee would be knocked around, and it would hurt. It was silly of me for going! A lot us complained of the cold. I must agree, my feet had no feeling left in them! They were freeeeeeeeeeeeeezing!!!!!! Sitting in the cold 5⁰C water the whole 2 hours of rafting, you can only imagine the feeling we had left in them… NOTHING! Poor Ben and the others in my boat were subjected to… ME. I was screaming and squealing, shouting, complaining, but I was not the only one. But I must say I was the loudest J My group was nick-named the SCREAM TEAM, and Stef’s group, the YEE-HA’s! Akael rather enjoyed himself, feeling at home in the water, being the duck he is. Once the 2 hours of screaming and pain was up, we jumped into the water and carried the rafts over our head, out of the water. Then the bus ride back to headquarters, and we could finally get out of the wetsuits. Many were freezing their asses off, chattering teeth was all to be heard on the journey back. But they gave us some hot tomato soup with bread before we made our way over to the deliciously warm Takoona Hot Pools to defrost.
Imy x:)x
The last of Ruapehu in pictures
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Looking a little snow blown on Friday morning
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Mount Ngauruhoa (aka Mount Doom) on our way out
Claire's Space (part 2)
We arrived at the marae near lunch time (we got there sooner than I predicted) as soon as I got out of the bus I saw the great mountains behind the buildings. It is such a beautiful place, the flat plains rising into the great snow capped mountains.
I was nervous because I knew we had to perform a song to the Maori elders and exchange gifts. We started, the girls went first through the gates but we had to sit at the back. The Maori elders first said their speeches and songs, and then us. Daniel got up and was one of the speakers for our class, he said his speech and then sat down. Then Meghan said her speech and gave the gift, then sat down. All the girls got up and we did the song, it was quite good, the elders were humming along which was a great sign. We sat down and they did another song. They asked us to get up and we did the nose rub one at a time.
Claire
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