Summary:
Today, we woke up in Rotorua to an absolutely stunning sunrise! We all took amazing photos (even those of us who weren't exactly photography connoisseurs), and it just looked spectacular. Then, we all clambered aboard a "Duck" (an old amphibious vehicle -- they could drive on land and in water -- that was used in WW2) and went on a Duck Tour. We drove around Rotorua and into at least two lakes. It was really cool, but also frightening at the same time. I kept expecting for us to sink! Also, it drove very slowly through the water and up hills. But, it was unlike anything I'd seen in the States. (They do have Duck Tours -- or something similar -- at Wisconsin Dells.) Next, we went to a geothermal Maori village named "Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao", but the locals just call it Whaka Village. It was really interesting to see typical Maori culture, and to see how much around the geothermal vents, etc. the villagers' lives circulated. They use the vents to cook their food, heat their baths, and for medicinal purposes. My roomate bought some of the mud meant for facemasks, and we used it tonight. Already, my face feels so much smoother! It also feels cleaner, ironically... We went to a sheep-shearing show at the Agrodome, which made me sad, but it was interesting otherwise. Later, we went zorbing, which was amazing, even though I fell down the whole time!! (Personally, I still like luging better...) To finish the day, we went to a traditional hangi dinner and dessert, where we also learned the Haka and watched Maori warriors perform traditional ceremonies. It was all very fascinating.
Any cultural experiences from today? Compare and contrast the cultures of the Maori and the Native Americans and their respective countries.
This morning, we went to a geothermal village named Whaka Thermal Village in Rotorua. A geothermal village has a lot of hot springs and geysers, so there's a lot of hot steam rising from the ground all the time. Also, it makes the air smell like rotten eggs, because of all the sulfur in the surrounding area. Even before we set foot near Whaka Village, when we first arrived in Rotorua, I could smell the sulfur in the air. Luckily, it didn't smell as strongly to me as it did to other people (I thought it just smelled like scrambled eggs with too much salt). I really enjoyed our tour of Whaka, because it was really wicked to see a native village that incorporated both its ancestral heritage and the geographical features of the land into the daily lives of the Maoris in the village. Also, I felt it was mint that the people used the steam vents to cook their food. After we left Whaka, we went to a Hangi, which is a Maori traditional dinner and concert. I really enjoyed it, because we got to see Maori dances and songs that sounded and looked amazing. Stephen was elected as our Big Chief, which was pretty hilarious, because he was very awkward about all the formalities and gestures being exchanged (probably because he felt uncomfortable -- I know I would, too!). But in actuality, he was fine and it all went without a hitch. Near the beginning, he needed to pick up a sprig of leaves from one of the warriors, and (as they later told us) if he didn't pick up the sprig that was considered to be an act of war upon the host tribe by the visiting tribe. Thankfully, he accepted the leaves! The concert was really cool, because it showed how much the Kiwis (New Zealand people) appreciate and form their culture around the history of the Maori. The native significance really struck me, because here in America, especially up until around the mid-early 1900s, we Americans have persecuted and shunned the Native Americans and ignored their cultural contribution to our country. Sadly, although we now openly embrace the Native Americans, there aren't many pure tribes anymore, and their traditions still haven't been reintroduced to our culture. This contrasts severely with the Maori, because they have been welcomed into New Zealand culture and their customs have become a large part of daily life in their country.
This morning, we went to a geothermal village named Whaka Thermal Village in Rotorua. A geothermal village has a lot of hot springs and geysers, so there's a lot of hot steam rising from the ground all the time. Also, it makes the air smell like rotten eggs, because of all the sulfur in the surrounding area. Even before we set foot near Whaka Village, when we first arrived in Rotorua, I could smell the sulfur in the air. Luckily, it didn't smell as strongly to me as it did to other people (I thought it just smelled like scrambled eggs with too much salt). I really enjoyed our tour of Whaka, because it was really wicked to see a native village that incorporated both its ancestral heritage and the geographical features of the land into the daily lives of the Maoris in the village. Also, I felt it was mint that the people used the steam vents to cook their food. After we left Whaka, we went to a Hangi, which is a Maori traditional dinner and concert. I really enjoyed it, because we got to see Maori dances and songs that sounded and looked amazing. Stephen was elected as our Big Chief, which was pretty hilarious, because he was very awkward about all the formalities and gestures being exchanged (probably because he felt uncomfortable -- I know I would, too!). But in actuality, he was fine and it all went without a hitch. Near the beginning, he needed to pick up a sprig of leaves from one of the warriors, and (as they later told us) if he didn't pick up the sprig that was considered to be an act of war upon the host tribe by the visiting tribe. Thankfully, he accepted the leaves! The concert was really cool, because it showed how much the Kiwis (New Zealand people) appreciate and form their culture around the history of the Maori. The native significance really struck me, because here in America, especially up until around the mid-early 1900s, we Americans have persecuted and shunned the Native Americans and ignored their cultural contribution to our country. Sadly, although we now openly embrace the Native Americans, there aren't many pure tribes anymore, and their traditions still haven't been reintroduced to our culture. This contrasts severely with the Maori, because they have been welcomed into New Zealand culture and their customs have become a large part of daily life in their country.
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