THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 37/04

THIS IS MY FINAL GOODBYE

This is really going to be my final goodbye, at least from the newsletter J. On Friday I am finishing my internship here, but no worries I will still be hanging around. It was nice meeting all you guys, a lot of you are finishing soon as well, and I hope we can still see each other….

So, Adios, and that’s it……

HELLO FROM SERINA

How is everybody doing? I arrived yesterday and will take over Sedina’s work. Most of you already met me last night at La Porchetta Pizza. It was very nice to get to know you – although I was pretty drowsy due to the long flight – and I am really looking forward to spending some time with you together. I am sure that we will have much fun together!

So far, I still live in Rockland’s Halls, but I try to find something else soon. My phone number is 021 2010653 and email Serina.John@gmx.de. I’d be happy if you let me know when you guys are planning a trip or just meet to have a drink.

By the way, Diana is not the only “Ossi” anymore… as I am also a born GRD citizen J!

NEW INTERN

On Friday another intern will join the WOX team in Auckland. Ulrike Engelhaeuschen comes from Bergisch Gladbach and wants to stay until mid-february. Unfortunately, I cannot add a picture since I do not know yet how to work the scanner… L

If it is ok with Nina, I will ask her if she feels fit enough to join the party Friday night.

WEEKEND SUGGESTIONS

Tiritiri Matangi Wildlife Bird Sanctuary is a conservation success story and a wonderful day trip. The island has been cleared of predators and planted with more than three million native trees. It’s home to many endangered birds, including kiwi and the extremely rare takahe. You can choose to explore at your leisure, but the Park Ranger Tours that are offered to all visitors are well worth the extra few dollars.

Fullers operate a day trip to the island on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Ferries depart from downtown Auckland at 9am and arrive back at 4.45pm and from Gulf Harbour at 9.45am, returning at 3.45pm.

Bookings are essential. For further information or to book your ferry ticket phone Fullers on (09) 367 9111 or visit www.fullers.co.nz

For more info check out: http://www.123.co.nz/tiri/default.htm

Great Barrier Island -It is important to remember that this is an isolated Island in the Hauraki Gulf which is 90km from the nearest city, Auckland. Weather conditions can change suddenly and as a result arrangements can also change suddenly with cancellations and delays. It is important to be flexible when going on a holiday to Great Barrier Island. Step into that 'laid-back' feeling and 'go with the flow' and know that your holiday will be much better if you can let go of any expectations to get anywhere on time. On the whole the services to the Island are excellent with very few delays. It is only in extreme conditions that the boats and planes don't go and it is only because of their concern for your safety. Enjoy the experience of going to an out of the way Island!

What you can do there? Well, experiencing untouched wilderness, walking trails, nature, beaches, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking and diving. A glimpse of what all of New Zealand must once have been like.

For infos on how to get there, check out www.subritzky.co.nz, the company is offering special prices at the moment: $55 for students, return ticket.

Accommodation: http://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/GBIVIC/backpack.htm

This truly is a nice opportunity to get out of the city for a weekend, without needing a car and still staying quite close to Auckland! Give it a try!

WHATS ON IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND

AOTEA SQUARE MARKETS

Every Friday and Saturday from 10am – 6pm

This is when Aotea Square is taken over by the colourful and bustling Aotea Square Markets The Markets offer a range of stalls from Pasifika arts and crafts to pot plants, flowers, underground designer clothes, jewellery, vinyl and CDs. In addition there is a range of fine food stalls Every Saturday from midday to 2.00pm the Aotea Square Markets are "keeping real" with an ever-changing line-up of bands and DJs adding to the atmosphere

TAKAPUNA MARKETS

Every Sunday from 6am till noon

That is when Takapuna’s Central Carpark (corner Anzac Street & Lake Road) transforms into an eclectic market that offers fresh produce, flowers, crafts, furniture, foods, antiques and more.

OTARA MARKET

Saturdays from 6am till noon, Newsbury Street, Otara

For an excellent Pacific experience, definitely visit the Otara Market, which is a pretty large Polynesian market offering exotic foods and smells, wonderful tapa cloth, flax mats and baskets and bone carvings.

NEW LYNN ORGANIC MARKET

Every Saturday, 8am – 12pm, Todd Ave, New Lynn

DEVENPORT HANDCRAFT MARKET

2nd Sunday every month, 10am - 4pm, Community House, Clarence Street

MATARIKI – Maori New Year Celebrations

June18 – July 17

Look out for the pyrotechnics display and food and wine festival in July!

Nationwide event details: www.tepapa.govt.nz

Auckland War Memorial Museum, Sun 20 June

The Living Treasures Day – talks, educational trails, live performances, kid’s activities & more…

Auckland City Libraries

Get creative with workshops and events showcasing Maori culture, performance and traditional arts and crafts, including kapa haka, taonga puoro music, ta moko tattooing and weaving.

For details visit: www.aucklandcitylibraries.com

COROMANDEL FROM DIANAS VIEW

On Friday evening we started our trip to Coromandel, a beautiful peninsula, only two or three hours away from Auckland. After having a funny evening with lots of laughing and talking we get up around 7 am, because we want to discover the “Hot water beach” which is only possible while low tide. We dug a hole and seat down into the hot water, some of us had burned their backside J but this doesn’t matter, because we’ve got a cooling in the sea. This was really fun! After this we had one of our groovy breakfasts. I like it very much to have breakfast with so many people together. After this we went to “Twin town”, where you can see two hills and each one is looking like the other one, as the name already says. After hiking on the top we had a wonderful view over beaches with white sand, blue sea and green hills. In my opinion a really great look out! In the afternoon we continued our tour to “Cathedral Cove”. One of the most beautiful beaches I had ever seen. It was so amazing to walk through the rock and to lie on the beach or to have a look at those ones of us who jumped into the floods J  we were so fascinated. That’s why we decided to be back for the sunrise on the next morning. That means to get up by 5 am, a terrible time, but we had all managed it. Well done! Unfortunately the weather was very cloudy and we didn’t get the view we wanted to have. But nevertheless it was also great to see how the sun is rising through the clouds and we took some really nice pictures of it.  After having lunch in “Coromandel Town” we made a short hiking tour up to “Castle Cove”. It was a really steep climbing experience and I think the notice “lives off” had its reason, at least for the unexperienced of us. But nevertheless I think all of us had lots of fun while jumping through the stones and trees (especially downhill) and we were rewarded by the amazing view. Great stuff! After this it was just 6pm and we travelled back to Auckland and in this way a really wonderful weekend comes to an end L It is really hard to describe exactly what it’s like. I would say it was one of the best weekends I ever had!

MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN

Hi Guys! Hope you are all enjoying the nicer weather here.  NZ comes into its own in spring and summer. 

As Sedina has mentioned in the previous newsletter, we will be having a new WOX intern working at the college from next week.  So thanks to Sedina for her work and for organizing all of the social activities, which I know a lot of you have been enjoying as well.  And for Serina (this will be confusing – Sedina or Serina, I will get mixed up a lot, no doubt!), welcome to the College and to Auckland!

As many of you know from your own experience, you are not the only Germans in Auckland.  This goes without saying really, but its always interesting how you tend to meet a lot of people from your home country when you are overseas.  Being a foreigner in a strange country gives you something to talk about with other foreigners.  Funny, isn’t it how with some people you wouldn’t have given them a moments notice if you met them in Germany,  but since you met them here you go out of your way to make friends with them.  Well, that’s what I have found with fellow Canadians, anyway. 

Having said that, some people make a point of avoiding other people from their own country.  This isn’t always a bad idea –part of the benefit of being in a foreign country is that you are exposed to new people and new ideas, and it is wasted to a degree if all of your time is spent with expatriates.  But some people are really, REALLY keen to avoid meeting fellow Germans, Canadians, or whatever it is you happen to be.  I have one friend from Germany who gets really angry when you introduce other Germans to her – maybe she is a criminal or hiding something?

Anyway, if you feel that you want to escape from all things German, here’s a couple of suggestions, to stop people coming up to you and asking “Are you from Germany?”

1) Don’t wear articles of clothing with German words or slogans on them.  But more importantly, don’t wear articles of clothing that have Kiwi slogans or words on them. Nothing says “Í’m not from around here” like a T-shirt with “I HEART NEW ZEALAND” written on the front in big letters.

2) Don’t hang around in backpacker bars.  Or at least if you must hang around them, wear a red Maple Leaf.  Then Canadians will come up to you and want to chat, dance, play ice hockey, etc..  And we all know how lovely Canadians are, eh!

3) Try to look frumpy.  Then you will fit in more with Kiwis.

4) Don’t tell any jokes.  Germans like to be more efficient and start laughing half-way through the joke to save time.  This gives you away.

Ok, well, that’s all of the stereotypes I could come up with today.  I was going to put in a German joke but neither Sedina nor Serina could tell me any. 

Jonathon

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!