Spring forward, fall back! That's usually how you remember whether or not to set your clocks forward or backwards during daylight savings time changes. Usually, you associate September with the beginning of autumn in Canada. In New Zealand, it's spring around here, the first day of spring was September 1st.
September 25th, 2011 - Daylight saving time begins - you spring forward, setting your clocks ahead by one hour.
If you're living in Toronto, and want to know what is a good time to have a chat with your kiwi mate in NZ, refer to this chart. The overlapping green and pink areas are the time slots where you're both likely to be awake (YMMV).
Although commonly used as a noun in North America (i.e. a big heap is analogous to a big pile), in New Zealand it is an adjective
Meaning: lots of, a large amount of
They like to use the word alot in New Zealand...in conversation...in commercials Example: There are heaps of people in New Zealand who use the word regularly.
Rugby World Cup everything! Right now, everything in New Zealand is about RWC 2011.
As a foreigner, it's a good chance to be inundated with exposure to the country's beloved sport.
Today's lesson, Webb Ellis!
Webb Ellis --> Is the name of the trophy presented to the winners of the Rugby World Cup. Apparently, the trophy is named after the alleged inventor of rugby, William Webb Ellis.
They have even introduced a coin with the Webb Ellis Cup on it! And the Canadian Mint sells it! Cool. But what isn't cool is the $100+ price tag. I shall admire through photos.
Are New Zealanders really that crazy about getting Webb Ellis?
Check out this song. It's not the official Rugby World Cup song (like this one, which is much more hopeful, dreamy), but you'd think that it was an anthem. I've heard it on the radio stations. It's pretty funny (warning, some coarse language), and it's a nice little history lesson on New Zealand's role in the RWC over the years. Basically, it's been 24 years since New Zealand won the World Cup. The song laments how it lost to France, and how they'll never get used to not getting their hands on Webb Ellis.
It has been raining pretty consistently ALL week. And we're not talking about pitter patter rain, we're talking about RAIN! There has been hail in other parts of the country. It's still not that warm around here either. But people still go outside. Heck, they even have races in this weather.
We went to see a rowing race last weekend called 'The Great Race'. The course runs along the Waikato River, upstream.
There was also a waka (traditional Maori canoe) that leads the teams of the two major races, the Harry Mahon Trophy and the Bryan Gould Cup, to the start line. These waka paddlers were shirtless. It was cold and rainy. They were brave.
There was some excitement, including a collision between Waikato University and Cambridge University during the Harry Mahon Trophy race. The race had to be restarted. This collision resulted in a broken rudder for Cambridge. Cambridge, whom had been leading initially now came out last as they steered with a paddle...a cheap yellow plastic one, one that you would get from the local hardware store, announced the commentator to the crowd.
The two main races are the University cup for the women's and men's rowing teams.
Harry Mahon Trophy (Men's Rowing)
first place: University of Waikato second place: University of Melbourne third place: University of Cambridge
Bryan Gould Cup (Women's Rowing)
first place: University of Waikato second place: University of Melbourne third place: University of Sydney
Brief clip (click here) of the University of Waikato women's rowing team on its way to the finish line during the Bryan Gould Cup.
Canada wins against Tonga, 25-20! But those in Canada might already know this since it has hit the news there.
One of the radio stations in New Zealand is running a poll on who is the hottest rugby player on the Canadian team - click here if you want to vote. The top picks, according to this broadcaster were:
a) Pat Riordan (Captain) - who apparently has to be on the list because he is captain
b) James Pritchard
c) Ed Fairhurst
d) Matt Evans
e) DTH Van Der Merwe (DTH??)
The rest were what they deemed too fugly, or just not good looking enough. Yes, they used fugly on air.
Canada has a pretty 'beardy' team. Check out Adam Kleeberger (photo cred) and Jebb Sinclair (photo cred)! The beards can accurately be described as epic.
Tonight, New Zealand takes on Japan, right in Hamilton!
September 12, 2011 is the date for this year's mid-autumn festival, a harvest festival celebrated by Chinese people (also referred to as the Lantern Festival). Traditionally, this festival is celebrated by eating moon cake, so we set out to find some.
There are a few small chinese supermarkets around Hamilton. The one we went to did not have much of a selection. We bought the last two moon cakes, imported from Hong Kong. They were about $14 - $15 each! Ouch! They tasted just like the ones they have back in Toronto...probably because they are imported, just like a lot of the ones in Toronto =P. Happy mooncake eating!
It's Rugby World Cup time in New Zealand. If you are living in New Zealand and you are unaware of this fact, you must be living underneath a rock.
Everyone is hyped up about the World Cup. It's all over the news. Yesterday was the opening ceremony and opening game. It would have been great to go to Auckland to check out the openers...except that Auckland is about 1hr 45min away...and there was a massive number of people there, and traffic!...and tickets are over $400. Instead we sat in the comfort of our living room, watching on the telly (they like using the term telly here).
Opening Ceremony - Spectacular
There were mobs of people in Auckland. Apparently, at the peak, there were about 100,000 people in the Central Business District (what we would call downtown). People were doing flash haka mobs in the street. A Haka is a traditional Maori dance. One popular example is the Haka performed by the New Zealand rugby team before the game starts.
Here is the coles notes version (shorter) of the opening ceremony and first game. You can get the gist in the first minute.
These next few links show the entire thing... the original footage is from a New Zealand TV station.
The ceremony incorporated many Maori cultural aspects. The Call, the Journey.
The area that the light show is projected on is about 100m x 70m, the size of the rugby field.
The Call - below 1min40s Maori woman performing a karakia, a formal greeting when opening a ceremony, calling the chiefs and champions together
2min50s it's like Lord of the Rings, travelling through New Zealands beautiful scenery via the light show
then there is a Journey and some boats representing how people had arrived to NZ many years ago
hammerhead sharks representing rugby, for how they hunt together in packs
9min or so - Haka - note the Maori traditional dress, and the classic bulging of the eyes, and sticking out of the tongues
Next - backyard rugby - little kid taking on some rugby players (the Gladiators). Some neat choreography.
my favourite part at 1min 56s - the try line moves and the kid scores a goal
The Prize - rugby past greats culminating into Jonah Lomu, who has more tries scored than any other player in any Rugby World Cup
the name of the trophy - The Webb Ellis Cup
at the beginning of the next clip, there is the Rugby World Cup Haka
after that there are some speeches by the NZ Prime Minister and IRB Chief (International Rugby Board) - not too exciting
then the next clip gets more exciting again with the fireworks show
you get to see the Auckland cityscape...reminds me of Toronto with the tower and all (3min7s, 3min14s, 11min06s is about the end of the pyrotechnics show)
Now, I think I heard that the light show for the Rugby World Cup was done by the same person(s) as the Vancouver Winter Olympics (but I haven't been able to confirm this). I found it pretty impressive.
Opening Game - New Zealand wins!
The opening game was New Zealand vs. Tonga. New Zealand beat Tonga 41 - 10 at Eden Park in front of about 60K spectators.
Okay, so maybe this blog isn't kept as up to date as it could be.
It's September already! It's been over a month now, and we're finally slowly settling in. There has been alot to learn and adjust to. You take it for granted that you know exactly where to shop back home. You know what stores sell electronics, and groceries. At home, you know what websites to go to, to look for jobs, rentals, cars to buy. You know who your internet and electricity providers are and how they are structured... That has all been part of the settling in process. It's taken some time, but it hasn't been incredibly difficult.
So now we have a place to live, and a car to drive - two big to do's on the task list checked off. Now it's time to enjoy New Zealand a bit more! We have done a few day trips here and there, but there is definitely much more to explore.
And now it's Rugby World Cup time! The city will likely be buzzing with much more activity for the month of September. Stay tuned!
