Noho Marae

Kia Ora
I have an extra whanau (family)! Always handy when you're far far from your own family..
Our stay (noho) at the Marae was initiated by a real welcoming ceremony. However, no Haka was performed.

The "new" people started at the end of the field. The "old" people started to sing and during our answer song we were walking forward. This continued untill we reached the benches on the left of the wharenui where we were seated. Our men were protecting us by sitting on the front row.

Then, the "old" people started to tell about their ancesters (and probably a lot more I didn't understand) and after that our spokesmen did it for us. They did it well enough to be welcomed into the family (partly).

So, both groups formed a line and slowly the newcomers passed by the old people. We were greating each other with Kia Ora and touching noses, for us women kissing and be kissed on the cheek as well. Pretty weird experience. Especially because when I reached one of the younger guys he said: Ah yeah, I like this...(eum well thank you, as if I wasn't feeling awkward enough already)

Then we were allowed to enter the wharenui, where we were seated on the right side until the ceremony was finished and we were allowed to use both sides. During this ceremony inside the wharenui the window was open to make sure the ancestors could listen in from outside...cool or what?

It was really special to be able to take part in this ceremony.

Of course, that was not the end of it, we were there to work! So a lot of excercises to do, quizzes te mea te mea (etc, etc) all in Te Reo Maori. The dinner was awesome, made for us by students from another course.

Too bad for me, I'm a light sleeper and there were 3 guys snoring incredibly loud, MY GOD, unbelievable they don't wake up themselves! At 4.30 I remembered I brought my earplugs...So after 2 and a half hours of sleep we were woken up by loud maori speech, no clue what they were saying, but it must have been something like: wakey wakey, it's a beautiful morning!

After breakfast we had to do our mihimihi (introduction) that was quite funny, but because we al "slept" together that night it was a very relaxed atmosphere, so no problems there!

Now i'm a member of the family and I can visit the marae and the wharenui whenever I want, there are always matrasses available if you need a nap in between classes (wiehoo!)

I asked permission to take photo's but they are all normal ones, so to see them....wait until I get back home...

Miss you!