Formality, friendships and Fun

What a big day today!  I am tired out and I know the kids are.  We had a very warm welcome at City Hall with the Deputy Mayor greeting us and taking us into the Council chambers. That's pretty much a big deal over here (sort of like a royal enclave!), and we know how priviledged we are as not many people get 'inside' here if they're not members of Council!  We only get this invite each year because Taupo is a sister city to Noumea. The Deputy Mayor ( the actual Mayor is always away or too busy so the D. Mayor fills in)  He speaks in french to everyone and someone tranlates for him.  The kids all listened well and he had some real pearls of wisdom about the importance of cultural exchanges with young people because the future of the world is in their hands. Actually we just missed John Key as he was here on Sunday to sign a treaty with New Caledonia to encourage and extend contact like ours with young people between our two countries.

The kids walking in once the gates were unlocked this morning.

Sitting in Council Chambers - note the big welcome for us on the screen

Waiata time

The boys in action and they did us proud

It was nice to see the NZ Consul there again. The Consul always comes along and supports our schools. The last Consul was an older guy who was great and randomly invited Bill and I up to his Consulate digs to watch the All Blacks play someone one year - I can't remember who we were playing- but Bill had intimated he was getting desperate because we'd checked out all the bars and no-one had Foxtel so chances of watching the game were looking pretty slim! This guy didn't hesitate and being a fellow rugby fanatic asked us up for dinner and watch the game. It was a lovely evening. The new Consul though is a Maori guy born in Tokoroa. He's great and always tells the boys how much he loves seeing the haka from his homeland performed.

A final photo of us and the billets before we leave Hotel de Ville - a rather flash sounding name for Council!  I always think it sounds like some swanky hotel!

We had a bus waiting to transport us up to Daniel Talon Primary school which was about 20mins away. Every year I've visited here has been a fantastic experience.  The kids come from the poorest of backgrounds but are so warm and friendly and excited about our visit. It is a school of 180 students with just one European face amongst them.  They are mainly Kanak kids with a few of Vietnamese heritage. Our kids looks sooo pale next to them all - especially in white shirts!  Each part of the school performed songs and dances for us and it was fabulous.  The little ones are so cute.

Waiting for the concert to begin.

                                     

We received a traditional welcome with each of us getting a strand of shells placed around our neck and some getting a woven headband the kids had made for us.

The older classes hung with our kids for half an hour until lunch. It was so funny watching the interactions.  They are always so fascinated with smooth pale skin and fair hair.  Obviously they do see people like us but not at close quarters. Deanna had a young fellow next to her on a bench seat who was transfixed with everything about her!  He just watched her every move and kept asking the same questions - as they all did. What's your name? How old are you? How are you? As I said to the kids,you all started out with those same questions when learning french. 

The kids then had lunch in the canteen and we went upstairs and had a great spread for lunch with all the staff.  The Director of Education in the South of New Caledonia was there along with a representative from Council regarding exchanges with other schools. They hold our exchange in high regard and are aiming to help Daniel Talon to send a group of students over to us next year.

    

Next they all went to classes doing either a sport or a craft activity.  Some made a jewelled tree, others flowers, some learnt how to weave and two groups played sport. Baz taught a group how to play touch rugby. The kids loved it! He draw the short straw though because he was out there for ages because the ,kids didn't want to stop and it was so hot!

The Principal was so grateful for the huge bag of presents we left for their kids. I'm sure there will be great excitement when 'good' kids get a prize!

They love having their photo taken!

Baz earnestly explaining to some keen listeners where NZ is - with the help of a stick and some gravel!

                                                               Outside the Junior block

                                                                The soccer pitch!

                                 Basketball - some can really move around a basketball pitch.

Great artwork to be seen all around the school.

Making flowers

Weaving

Finished flowers and smiley faces

We left the school at 3.15 to return to meet our billets.  The kids saw how a celebrity lives when the whole school came out to the fence to wave goodbye to us. They were screaming goodbye, whistling and shouting for us to come back.  Many of ours commented that they felt like a movie star!

Well another day draws to an end. I am off to bed and will go out like a light I think!  Hope all is well in Taupo!  The kids loved getting their comments from you this morning.

Bonne nuit!

Colleen