Orientation and Moving to Massey

This is my second day at Massey, having been in the IFSA-Butler orientation in Auckland since Sunday. Orientation was an absolute blast. On the first night, we took a hike up the lush green hill from the YMCA Lodge past the cows and pigs, then down to the beach. The air is so clean here.

On Tuesday, we tried rogaining. Rogain, which stands for Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation, consists of finding certain clay tablets that are scattered all over the 100+ acre property in 40 minutes. Each tablet has a unique symbol on it, so you record each symbol and get back to the base within the allotted time. In-tense. The game was followed by various informational briefings, then an amazing kayaking trip. We paddled past a very old shipwreck in the harbor and to the opposite shore, which had a nice beach. The kayak instructors then taught us how to play rugby (with varying success) and we played a few tries of touch rugby. Good muddy fun.

The last day was incredible. We traveled to a Maori marae, or traditional meeting place. The marae includes a meeting house, dining/social hall, church, and impromptu rugby field. The Maori greeted us with the traditional sung ceremony, to which we were to sing back in the Maori language. After the ceremony of greeting and giving thanks, we watched the men dig food from the hangi, an underground pit which is filled with burning wood and food and then covered with dirt for several hours. The food was wonderful and smoky. Afterward, a dance troupe specializing in traditional songs, the haka (war dance), and poi (dances with a grass ball). the energy from the group was unbelievable. To conclude the evening, the village elders told the history of the Maori people in the meeting house.

Pictures from Orientation

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After a short flight to Palmerston North, we arrived here at Massey University. The campus is enormous and very green, with several parks and a small lake. My room has a lovely view of the hills and, yes, a sheep pasture. Classes do not start until the 23rd, so I have a bit of time after the international student orientation to explore the area and maybe even take a day trip down to Wellington. Who knows :)