by Angela

We have now completed 1/3rd of our time here. The end of “Term 1” is approaching and the start of some breaks where we will be travelling and spending time with visiting family. I rather like the setup of the school calendar here. The terms last 10 weeks with 2 week breaks in between, except there is a longer 5-6 week break over the summer. As the end of the term approaches, so does the end of Learn to Sail Level 1 for Charles and Audrey. Assuming nothing disastrous happens for their last couple of sessions, I think this will end up being one of the experiences here to cherish for years to come. And not because they found a deep love for the sport (although Audrey would continue if she could) but because it’s just a neat novelty for us. Even as a spectator, watching them out on the water with the ocean sparkling under the sun, each one communing with mother nature’s wind… it brings a sense of satisfaction as well as gratitude, because where and when else will they ever get the chance to learn to sail.  Am I living vicariously through my kids… maybe! 

The thing about sailing that I’ve learned is that it is entirely at the mercy of the wind, for better or worse. I regret not being a spectator several weeks ago when the wind was strong. I heard the story after the three of them got back that day. According to Danny, all the kids were lining up their boats to launch when Danny mistakenly pushed him out too early not realizing the lack of an instructor in a motorboat to supervise/tow. Charles, with very few skills under his belt, was taken by the wind and started getting swept away from everyone. Several people were trying to shout out instructions, but he couldn’t hear them or understand. Eventually he turned his boat and let his sail out and came to a stop. He sat there for a while not moving, likely letting his nerves subside. I don’t think he was in any real danger, but I imagine it was unnerving for him. And then he recovered and started sailing again. Last week’s session saw the opposite with hardly any wind and the kids looked like sitting ducks on the water. For a moment, I thought, Why aren’t they moving? What are they waiting for? Then I realized they were without power. The instructor taught them how to stand on the boat and move their bodies to try and create wind. They played a slow game of boat tag and by the end they were capsizing for entertainment. 

Signing up for sailing lessons also requires signing up to be a community member at the Maraetai Beach Boating Club. So say hello to your new Boat Club members (without a boat haha)! I am new to this concept of a club that brings certain privileges exclusively to club members and I generally I tend to steer away from such things. On our first date night here, Danny and I decided to try out the clubhouse restaurant. We had to text a number to book a spot. Only members or their guests are allowed entry into the boathouse and since we hadn’t gotten our membership card, we had to ring a doorbell for someone to let us in, sign our names in a book, and wear name tags. It’s actually not that fancy yet there were definitely feelings of discomfort being there, like we had “not really boat club member material” written on us.  But the excellent food, view overlooking the ocean, and alcohol helped me feel at ease. Only later, just last night actually, did we attend an information session for new members (along with free beer). It was quite interesting hearing about the club- 1400 members total, around 900 boating members and about 500 community members. They have lots of social gatherings. The emphasis at the meeting was on the members having ownership over the club and feeling welcome. The social events don’t seem geared to kids so it’s unlikely we will be doing much in that regard, but we are planning to take our family visitors to the restaurant. I could definitely see myself being an active club member if I was retired, it seems pretty cool. Are there clubs like this in America??

I’ve been hearing and learning about South Africa a lot lately and what I’ve heard has made me think. So many people I have met, mostly white people, have left or as one person put it “escaped” South Africa to come here. I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to what is happening globally. Only recently and partly as a result of homeschooling, have I taken on some interest in the world’s affairs, attempting to catch up in knowledge. What I knew about South African knowledge included Nelson Mandela fighting injustice (from reading children’s books) but that’s about it. At this point, I’ve had somewhat heavy conversations with at least 4 different people about the conditions in South Africa.  According to their firsthand knowledge, South Africa is a beautiful country that has slowly been going downhill since parting ways with Britain and becoming a republic in the 1961. Unfortunately, the leaders that came after Nelson Mandela did not share his vision and values. Given that black South Africans are the majority (>80%) and have political control, one person noted that whites (8% of the population) are now the target of discrimination and the last to be considered for jobs, meanwhile unemployment is high. The government is laden with corruption causing infrastructure failures such as power outages and water shortages. Having your power purposely cut for hours and hours at a time has become the norm. Crime is so ubiquitous that it surprises a South African to come here and see children walking freely and safely on the sidewalk or houses without bars on the windows. I realize there is bad stuff happening all around the world but being here it has hit closer to home. I’ve never shared social circles with so many people, people I consider similar to myself in many ways, that have faced such realities. Some will have no option but to return to such realities depending on their visas. For those of you that keep up with international current events, has South Africa been on the news at all back home? 

Along with sailing pictures, I am including some pictures of Maria’s birthday. We tried to make her birthday special by going snorkeling, a first for the kids. I think we succeeded. We went to a place called Goat Island, about 2 hours north of here. It is within New Zealand’s first marine reserve so has been protected for a while and now has a lot of fish and marine life. It is also close to the shore, so easy access for divers and snorkelers. We spent about an hour in the water swimming through kelp forests and spotting different fish. Even with wetsuits, Maria and Charles got a bit cold but we all enjoyed it. After a birthday inspired dinner, we went to the park and spotted several pukeko birds. There is a short list of things Maria says she will miss here and the pukeko is on that list. They are a bit smaller than a duck, they walk around on the ground like a hen, and are a beautiful blue color. Luckily for Maria, we see them quite often. 

The weather here is getting cooler especially in the mornings although it is still reaching a perfect 70 most days. I’m not ready for the days to get shorter again. I do miss Spring back home and the feeling that comes with the rebirth of plant life and knowing the days are getting longer and warmer. I realized with the weather changing that we never took the time to jump off the Maraetai beach wharf, a favorite activity of the local children and something that can only be done comfortably while warm and when the tides are high. So I waited for the tides to match up and a warmer day wondering if we would get the chance.  When one came along, I wrangled up the kids and headed to the wharf. They didn’t last long as the water was cold but I’m glad we got to try it before we leave. My brother asked me if there’s anything about being here that’s hard. I said, I think it’s hard knowing your time here is limited. Then again, maybe that’s what makes it more memorable.