Wake-up Call 2.0

Thought I would use Pete's reference to everything being 2.0 these days.

The most recent wake-up call for me was not in relation to my 5.45am alarm, but to a situation that I was in last week. A situation that involved two cultures: Maori and Pakeha.

Firstly I want to say that I (Pakeha) am all for Maori culture: I do not stereotype or put them in a societal box; it is more often the case that I defend them due to my annoyance of how some Pakeha's treat Maori.

All right so last Wednesday I had an awesome start to the day, everything was just honky dory: went for a walk along the beach then got ready to go to Hamilton. My friend came to pick me up. Where I live, my flatmate and I share a drive way with two other households. I knew that my friend would not be coming inside the house so told him to come down the driveway. As soon as this happened the front household decided to be obstructing and put his car in the driveway on purpuse. I did not realise that this was done on purpose, so I tottled over to their house and asked ever so nicely (even took my sunglasses off so he could see my eyes showcasing open, friendly body language), "Hi, can you please move your car". The old man (Maori) came to the door, angry and started having a go at me, saying that visitors park on the road (I was not aware of such a thing), I do not belong here, neither does my friend and that he can not come down the drive because he is tresspassing and so on.

Just a little bit more of a background. I have lived in my flat since April and have noticed that whenever Pakeha people come to visit and park down the drive (not obstructing anyone) the old man complains. Complains even to the point that when they do park on the road, not even near "their" grass frontage, he asks if (whoever has parked there) they are going to mow the grass. In actual fact it is council property.

This can only been seen as one thing: Racism!

I have never experienced racism; and have never had any animosity towards the neighbours.

It took our Landlord (who uses the same driveway and is Maori) to say that my friend and I are friends of his. Once this was said, everything seemed to be A-OK! But in actual fact it should not take someone to say this.

This instance had me shaking and made me realise, however on a larger scale, what Maori go through in terms of racism which can happen on a day to day basis. This is a generalisation, but racism is normally Pakeha towards Maori as they are perceived to be the minority.

Personally I think racism is wrong. Everyone should be seen as equals. What is it going to take for this to change?

Uncle Sam

While reading the NZ Herald online about the current economic downturn it made me think: why do we, little ol' New Zealand suffer economically when the US market is low or other markets around the world for that matter?

If we have our own government, shouldn't the government be in control of making the economy better instead of going in a downward spiral?

So many questions, but is there a simple answer. Maybe the government is doing something that I am unaware of: I can be ignorant of politics at times.

Westpac senior economist Doug Steel stated in an article on the lower food costs "We are a food exporter so with world food prices falling that is unequivocally bad for the country."

Are we not exporting our products to the right countries to get adequate finances to uphold the New Zealand economy? Or is it due to the New Zealand dollar against the green back (US currency) being low that we are unable to import the required products to aid in the production of food to be exported?

America is such a large country that has such a strong hold on the world. This makes me think back to a poem from high school about Uncle Sam, America in terms of the war, if I remember correctly.

Does each country have it's own voice or is Uncle Sam depicting what we can and can not do?

Any thoughts???

Recession?!? Are you prepared?

“A significant decline in general economic activity extending over a period of time.”http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=X&start=1&oi=define&ei=FSTQSJSvEZLQsAO6kqXPDg&sig2=xyxrny21NJimPM9AvQnbsA&q=http://www.argmax.com/About/articles.php%3Fname%3Dsaved/blr.htm&usg=AFQjCNEfPSAzQsIjrBToET67RKahKXbbTw

We read it in the papers; hear it on the radio; watch it on the television; and hear people talk about it in the café while sipping coffee.

This is a serious issue, but has it really hit as to the consequence that may stem from the economic recession. It is scary to think that people that would never have imagined they would end up in poverty could potentially be placed in an awkward position. I for one, a student, flatting in Papamoa, commuting to uni in Hamilton, and only working part time; am in a vulnerable position. This is where budgeting comes in to the equation. Westpac have a website providing tips for budgeting.

This recession does not only affect the individual, but businesses as well. What can these businesses do to help increase their revenue? It just so happens that I have a proposition for these businesses; promo. Promo in a way that will see client numbers increase. You may be thinking, how is that possible? It is all to do with the selection of people to help promote the product or the service. As the public have needs, wants and demands: these can be met by the use of promo models and cheerleaders. Promo models and cheerleaders have qualities that will aid in effective promoting. For example promo models and cheerleaders are to be friendly, approachable and most importantly adaptable to the product or service. That not only look good but they know the product or service.

The use of promo models and cheerleaders may just be what the business needs; a pr stunt as Ang points out in her latest blog.

So yes we are in a recession, but there is no need to dwell on the lack of finance with prices rising, but focus on making a difference, getting out there and achieving goals that you have set for yourself.

"Becoming the BEST YOU Possible"

As a student of the 'y' generation there is an aspect of life that constantly needs attention: that is the age old thing of balance; student; work; social network; life balance. Without balance we find ourselves either consumed by one aspect in our life; or by a lot and find ourselves getting stressed.

It was after a conversation with Ang about stress of uni on top of other extra curricular activities that we tend to put our bodies through.

So, I went swimming (searching) and found Carolyn Clarke's blog which then led me onto an e-book of hers giving a guide to work life balance. The main thing that stood out to me was the signs of imbalance that were strongly related to stress symptoms. Just by reading down the list of imbalance you can decipher just how stressed you are. BUT, Carolyn stipulates not to judge yourself but instead to be interested in what you've learned about your stress and imbalance level. It is likely to confirm "that you need to adjust your lifestyle to include new strategies for a healthier you. The good news is, you CAN experience yourself and your life in healthier, happier ways...addressing six steps!"

The six steps are:

1. Tips for BEST YOU Physical Balance.
2. Tips for BEST YOU Emotional Balance.
3. Tips for BEST YOU Mental/Attitudinal Balance.
4. Tips for BEST YOU Social/Relationship Balance.
5. Tips for BEST YOU Creative/Spiritual Balance.
6. While at Work Tips for Balance.
   

These 'BEST YOU' steps cover all areas of life: the physical; the mental; and life.
A point that captivated me was when Carolyn stated that 'balance' cannot not be found but only created. It is the above six steps that helps to support you to create this for yourself!
I leave you with this quote from Carolyn,

"Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to make yourself priority enough to embrace coming alive and become the BEST YOU...... for a life in good balance!"

That is the mission; take it or leave it!

Kodak Moment

Don't you hate it when the one time you don't take a camera with you on an excursion of some kind, you wish you had.

I was walking along the beach, 30 minutes a day you got to push play, beautiful clear sky; sun setting, waves gently rolling in.

I had set my self a little goal of where I was going to walk to and that is it. However, I was just about to turn around to head home when a local walking her dog said, "marine watch down there, it is a baby seal". This abnormal mention of a seal acted as a kick up the backside and I decided to keep on walking: don't know where the burst of energy came from: maybe it was the traditional nosey Kiwi bursting within.

500m down the beach was a seal just chilling on the waters edge, not phased by onlookers in the slightest. The budding journalist, in training within, was wondering why there was no newspaper reporters, or if a member from the public had taken a photo and written a little blurb: considering the fact that it was "after hours". I would have taken a photo if I had had my phone on me, but I didn't.

As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!!!!

Always be prepared for the unexpected.

The whole way home I was bursting to write a blog (never thought I would be caught saying that). It goes to show that I too have been caught hook, line and sinker. The digital revolution IS the way of the future!

Laughing=medicine for the soul

Last night I definitely overdosed on laughing. I went to The Laughing Samoans ‘Crack Me Off” show in Tauranga. I knew that there would be a lot of laughing involved but who would have thought it was exactly what the doctor had ordered.

By the end of the week I am exhausted and last night all I wanted to do was curl up in front of the tele with a blanket, watch a dvd while the rain fell on the roof; a perfect night to hibernate. BUT I had a ticket and had been anticipating The Laughing Samoans for a good couple of months.

And oh what a night it was!!!!!

Had the best seats in the house; third row from the front bang smack in the middle. As soon as it began the whole of Baycourt theatre were in hysterics. Which continued for a couple of hours. So you can only imagine the sore checks and abdominal muscles. If anyone hadn’t done there 15 minute ab work out for the day, they got a whole weeks worth in one night.

Tofiga and Eteuati have built such a rapport with the Island and Maori community as they take the mickie out of Samoan’s and entertain audiences over New Zealand and the world.

The Laughing Samoans have their own website. ‘Crack Me Off’ is there latest show, but there other shows are available on dvd.

If you are feeling a little down in the dumps with this cold snap, then pop on down to the dvd store and get The Laughing Samoans out on dvd. I can recommend the ‘Small Samoan Wedding’ and ‘Off Work’

Where do I live again?

I just published a post, but as I was posting it, I sit here surrounded by foreign conversation wondering what country I am living in?!?!

Puzzled I decided to share this oh so delightful experience with you and maybe you might like to elaborate further.

There have be many a times that I have been working in the Hub and find myself constantly surrounded by conversation that can only make me think "what the heck?" Not only is it extremely foreign, but it is extremely loud. Might help if they took there ear phones out so they weren't trying to do two things at once.

Now the whole issue about being able to do two things at once could take me onto a whole other tangent, but I won't.

Any who; back to this foreign bubble that I seem to be encompassed in time and time again.

The fast paced, gibberish, laughter, volume and excitement is somewhat distracting. What I would like to know is: how do they get words and make sense of their language. I don't want to be cynical because if I was to go to their homeland and speak english REALLY loud and excitedly, they might just think the same. BUT then again, most countries these days speak English as their second language.

Do they not realise what they are doing? Or the fact that they are causing a distraction?

Hmmmmm……….