Friday, April 23, 2010
A visit to the Botanical Gardens
From April 19,2010
Christchurch is known as the Garden City. I have spent a lot of my time visiting it’s libraries and archives. So when some friends showed up from Ft. Collins, Jack went fishing with Joe Goodell and I took Kathy to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. I had never been there. It was a beautiful day, a nice place to view beauty and visit with a good friend. The rose gardens were lovely and I gathered some ideas for an arbor I would like to put in the back yard of our house in Ft. Collins. We went into the green house, donated to the city in 1908. It was old and majestic. They used heated water through pipes to keep the building warm for the tropical plants. Then out the back door we moved into the Begonia house. The woman watering the plants immediately apologized, saying that this is the end of the season and the blooms were small. We just stood there astonished because the flowers were the size of dessert plates. Kathy asked an interesting question, “How do you think Heavenly Father came up with all these beautiful flowers?” What a lovely day at a beautiful place, visiting with a good friend.
Christchurch is known as the Garden City. I have spent a lot of my time visiting it’s libraries and archives. So when some friends showed up from Ft. Collins, Jack went fishing with Joe Goodell and I took Kathy to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. I had never been there. It was a beautiful day, a nice place to view beauty and visit with a good friend. The rose gardens were lovely and I gathered some ideas for an arbor I would like to put in the back yard of our house in Ft. Collins. We went into the green house, donated to the city in 1908. It was old and majestic. They used heated water through pipes to keep the building warm for the tropical plants. Then out the back door we moved into the Begonia house. The woman watering the plants immediately apologized, saying that this is the end of the season and the blooms were small. We just stood there astonished because the flowers were the size of dessert plates. Kathy asked an interesting question, “How do you think Heavenly Father came up with all these beautiful flowers?” What a lovely day at a beautiful place, visiting with a good friend.
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A Very Traditional Graduation
From April 16, 2010
The yearly Lincoln University graduation was held April 16, 2010. You are probably thinking the same thing we were… why would graduation be in the middle of spring semester. We didn’t get an answer but we got to be there and I got to participate.
Soon after we arrived in New Zealand I read a flyer at the cafeteria here on Lincoln Campus. They were inviting people to join the university choir. I thought I would be the only none student, but actually, there were about four students and about thirty professors and staff. We were going to sing at graduation. We prepared several numbers, some I was familiar with. But I loved the opportunity to sing the New Zealand National Anthem, first verse in Maori, the second in English. We also sang a traditional German piece which is part of the British graduation tradition. Here are a few of our observations:
We were all to wear the traditional regalia. I got to wear the black gown, a master’s hood and the mortar board hat. It was fun to see all the other hoods from around the world, worn by teachers and administrators. I loved the hoods that were edged in fur. Graduation was held at Christchurch Town Hall in the auditorium. Graduation started with the in-house organ being played by a wonderful organist. The choir then sang twenty minutes, ending with a song accompanied by the organ, “Gloria In Excelsis Deo.” Then the graduates marched in. This was British graduation tradition with the Maori influence; then came the processional of the dignitaries, administrator and professors. The first man carried a gold scepter. Then as everyone was on the stage, in came the leaders of the local Maori tribe to welcome the guests. One woman chanted from the stage while three ladies in traditional cloaks chanted back. When the PhD’s got their diplomas…and everyone got their diplomas that day…the announcer read the title of each of their dissertations. Because 45 percent of the students are foreign students, it was very interesting to hear what the students were doing and how it was influenced by their home countries. A young man from Nairobi was doing something with chemicals in the soils of his country…and can I say he had on the coolest shoes. They were dress black European style shoes with the long narrow square toe but they had gold paisley designs on them. I wondered if we were distant relatives with my family’s need to wear sparkly, fun shoes at graduation. One of the LDS members of our ward graduated with her Master’s degree. She is Maori and wore her family Maori cloak over her black gown. She had had an emergency appendectomy eight days before and they had had to open her completely up. She even spoke in the graduation ceremony. What an impressive woman. But the thing Jack and I noticed most was the lack of air horns, no “Hi Mom” taped messaged on the top of the mortar board or balloons, no giant balls being pinged around the graduates, no flip-flops (Kiwis call them Jandles) and definitely no streakers. This ceremony was traditional and respectful. The students and professors were honored. It was lovely. I just kept thinking how much my mom would have loved it. I think we have lost something in America. We have become lax with many of our traditions. It was nice to remember why we attend and have graduations.
The yearly Lincoln University graduation was held April 16, 2010. You are probably thinking the same thing we were… why would graduation be in the middle of spring semester. We didn’t get an answer but we got to be there and I got to participate.
Soon after we arrived in New Zealand I read a flyer at the cafeteria here on Lincoln Campus. They were inviting people to join the university choir. I thought I would be the only none student, but actually, there were about four students and about thirty professors and staff. We were going to sing at graduation. We prepared several numbers, some I was familiar with. But I loved the opportunity to sing the New Zealand National Anthem, first verse in Maori, the second in English. We also sang a traditional German piece which is part of the British graduation tradition. Here are a few of our observations:
We were all to wear the traditional regalia. I got to wear the black gown, a master’s hood and the mortar board hat. It was fun to see all the other hoods from around the world, worn by teachers and administrators. I loved the hoods that were edged in fur. Graduation was held at Christchurch Town Hall in the auditorium. Graduation started with the in-house organ being played by a wonderful organist. The choir then sang twenty minutes, ending with a song accompanied by the organ, “Gloria In Excelsis Deo.” Then the graduates marched in. This was British graduation tradition with the Maori influence; then came the processional of the dignitaries, administrator and professors. The first man carried a gold scepter. Then as everyone was on the stage, in came the leaders of the local Maori tribe to welcome the guests. One woman chanted from the stage while three ladies in traditional cloaks chanted back. When the PhD’s got their diplomas…and everyone got their diplomas that day…the announcer read the title of each of their dissertations. Because 45 percent of the students are foreign students, it was very interesting to hear what the students were doing and how it was influenced by their home countries. A young man from Nairobi was doing something with chemicals in the soils of his country…and can I say he had on the coolest shoes. They were dress black European style shoes with the long narrow square toe but they had gold paisley designs on them. I wondered if we were distant relatives with my family’s need to wear sparkly, fun shoes at graduation. One of the LDS members of our ward graduated with her Master’s degree. She is Maori and wore her family Maori cloak over her black gown. She had had an emergency appendectomy eight days before and they had had to open her completely up. She even spoke in the graduation ceremony. What an impressive woman. But the thing Jack and I noticed most was the lack of air horns, no “Hi Mom” taped messaged on the top of the mortar board or balloons, no giant balls being pinged around the graduates, no flip-flops (Kiwis call them Jandles) and definitely no streakers. This ceremony was traditional and respectful. The students and professors were honored. It was lovely. I just kept thinking how much my mom would have loved it. I think we have lost something in America. We have become lax with many of our traditions. It was nice to remember why we attend and have graduations.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Special Thank You!
From Friday, April 10, 2010
A note of thanks: When Dick, Becky and Cameron were here in New Zealand, we took a circular trip over the Southern Alps, through Lewis Pass, over to the west coast and back over Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch. We were enjoying ourselves, having the best time and seeing beautiful country when the Mazda died..dead, dead, dead. It was an older car but in good condition, so we were surprised. So Jack and Dick left Becky, Cameron and I with the car to hitch a ride for help. Becky proceeded to teach me how to crochet hot pads while Cameron went panning for gold. Jack and Dick found a van driver who was taking a couple back up the road about 10 kilometers to the train which was heading back to Christchurch. We did have some insurance to tow the car to the closest town and we were able to rent a car later that evening. Now this seems simple in the telling but wasn’t quite so easy. But even later that night I realized some amazing things. New Zealand is a really safe place and the people are extremely kind and helpful. We were definitely blessed in our travels. But I think we were blessed with family being there. Dick was amazing at dealing with the situation. Cameron saw an opportunity to get a little extra cash…wished he had found gold. And Becky again showed her talent in laughing at the situation and being extremely adaptable. Thank you! Things were tense at times but wonderful memories were still created. Some of my most favorite memories were times when things didn’t always turn out: pushing the VW up Smith Hill in a rain storm trying get to Dad on Cedar Mountain for Family Home Evening, going to the St. Louis Zoo on the hottest day of the year when my car died, and Jack would say that going down with Coy and Tyler to have his brain tumors Gamma Knifed was one of his favorite days that year. And remember, it was Cameron’s first train ride; lemons into lemonade. Thanks Guys! You were wonderful.
A note of thanks: When Dick, Becky and Cameron were here in New Zealand, we took a circular trip over the Southern Alps, through Lewis Pass, over to the west coast and back over Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch. We were enjoying ourselves, having the best time and seeing beautiful country when the Mazda died..dead, dead, dead. It was an older car but in good condition, so we were surprised. So Jack and Dick left Becky, Cameron and I with the car to hitch a ride for help. Becky proceeded to teach me how to crochet hot pads while Cameron went panning for gold. Jack and Dick found a van driver who was taking a couple back up the road about 10 kilometers to the train which was heading back to Christchurch. We did have some insurance to tow the car to the closest town and we were able to rent a car later that evening. Now this seems simple in the telling but wasn’t quite so easy. But even later that night I realized some amazing things. New Zealand is a really safe place and the people are extremely kind and helpful. We were definitely blessed in our travels. But I think we were blessed with family being there. Dick was amazing at dealing with the situation. Cameron saw an opportunity to get a little extra cash…wished he had found gold. And Becky again showed her talent in laughing at the situation and being extremely adaptable. Thank you! Things were tense at times but wonderful memories were still created. Some of my most favorite memories were times when things didn’t always turn out: pushing the VW up Smith Hill in a rain storm trying get to Dad on Cedar Mountain for Family Home Evening, going to the St. Louis Zoo on the hottest day of the year when my car died, and Jack would say that going down with Coy and Tyler to have his brain tumors Gamma Knifed was one of his favorite days that year. And remember, it was Cameron’s first train ride; lemons into lemonade. Thanks Guys! You were wonderful.
Kiakoura
From April 7, 2010
Jack’s brother Dick, wife Becky and son Cameron came to New Zealand to visit. We had not been to Kiakoura so we went on a road trip. Kiakoura (ky-core-a) is located on the coast about three hours north of Christchurch. There are several seal colonies there and we were not disappointed. The first beach we went to, the seals were lying around, resting, and you could go right up to them. There were several on rocks but some in the grassy areas. It seemed like a “no brainer” to me…sleep on rocks, sleep on grass. The only thing we could figure was that maybe the rocks were warm. I took a picture of a seal sleeping on his back, which couldn’t be comfortable. As I was walking around, I saw the most unusual rock with tentacles coming out. You would see seaweed floating on the water. I took a picture of the rock because it showed how the seaweed roots cling to the rock for support. Talk about Medusa…
We drove about 10 K’s north to another seal colony. We were a bit farther away but still got a close-up view of several hundred seals…mostly moms and little kids. I took a movie of the little seals playing in a pool made by the ocean receding at low tide. It was amazing to me how they could chase each other over the rocks so well with just their flippers. There are amazing creatures on this earth.
Jack’s brother Dick, wife Becky and son Cameron came to New Zealand to visit. We had not been to Kiakoura so we went on a road trip. Kiakoura (ky-core-a) is located on the coast about three hours north of Christchurch. There are several seal colonies there and we were not disappointed. The first beach we went to, the seals were lying around, resting, and you could go right up to them. There were several on rocks but some in the grassy areas. It seemed like a “no brainer” to me…sleep on rocks, sleep on grass. The only thing we could figure was that maybe the rocks were warm. I took a picture of a seal sleeping on his back, which couldn’t be comfortable. As I was walking around, I saw the most unusual rock with tentacles coming out. You would see seaweed floating on the water. I took a picture of the rock because it showed how the seaweed roots cling to the rock for support. Talk about Medusa…
We drove about 10 K’s north to another seal colony. We were a bit farther away but still got a close-up view of several hundred seals…mostly moms and little kids. I took a movie of the little seals playing in a pool made by the ocean receding at low tide. It was amazing to me how they could chase each other over the rocks so well with just their flippers. There are amazing creatures on this earth.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Our Easter Picnic
From April 4, 2010
We decided to escape to Oamaru, Easter weekend. It is located about three hours south, on the east coast. There are some unusual rocks at Moeraki Beach which were amazing. For about 50 meters there are sphere shaped rocks, supposedly formed on the sea bed about 60 million years. As you look from above you wonder why these boulders are on this small section of beach. These circular rocks are nowhere else. There is also a blue penguin colony. But the most memorable experience for Jack and I will be the side trip we took up the McKenzie Valley. For those of you following on a map, we went west on Hwy 83 toward Omarama and around to Geraldine. New Zealand has taken the Waitaki River and dammed it in several places for electrical power and have created some beautiful lakes. It is also beautiful farming country. We had already stopped several times to take pictures before we had gone 30 kilometers. Omarama country is known for the Merino sheep. As we circled around Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, we could see Mt. Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. It was a windy two lane highway, but Jack and I didn’t have anything to do but watch the beautiful scenery. We stopped for afternoon tea at Geraldine and were home by 6:00 p.m. We enjoy the popular tourist sites, but we will always feel more at home in the country. We experience a peace among the solitude of the mountains and valleys. We both enjoy this.
We decided to escape to Oamaru, Easter weekend. It is located about three hours south, on the east coast. There are some unusual rocks at Moeraki Beach which were amazing. For about 50 meters there are sphere shaped rocks, supposedly formed on the sea bed about 60 million years. As you look from above you wonder why these boulders are on this small section of beach. These circular rocks are nowhere else. There is also a blue penguin colony. But the most memorable experience for Jack and I will be the side trip we took up the McKenzie Valley. For those of you following on a map, we went west on Hwy 83 toward Omarama and around to Geraldine. New Zealand has taken the Waitaki River and dammed it in several places for electrical power and have created some beautiful lakes. It is also beautiful farming country. We had already stopped several times to take pictures before we had gone 30 kilometers. Omarama country is known for the Merino sheep. As we circled around Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, we could see Mt. Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. It was a windy two lane highway, but Jack and I didn’t have anything to do but watch the beautiful scenery. We stopped for afternoon tea at Geraldine and were home by 6:00 p.m. We enjoy the popular tourist sites, but we will always feel more at home in the country. We experience a peace among the solitude of the mountains and valleys. We both enjoy this.
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