New Zealand oh New Zealand

Few months back, there was a mention from a very famous New Zealand singer, Bic Runga, that New Zealand is a very racist country. It is a statement that kind of shocked me as Bic is a local here. So, what happened? I asked all my friends, and they also come up with one answer...Yes, this is a racist country.

When I first come here, the image of Maori is very strong. They have Maori names and words everywhere.....so I thought, ah well...this must be a better country than Australia in terms of Race Relations. I think it is generally known that in Australia, the treatment of the native Aboriginal people are dispeakable. Even my Australian friend said so.

After few years residing here.....I found that, Yes, this is a racist country. There are so many instances that shocked me. I am too shocked to react. I have lived in another western country before for many many years, but being racially discriminated and harrassed here in NZ has brought me to a new level of trauma.

Is the image of Maori that I mentioned before, was just a window dressing?

Happy Birthday Oli!

The birthday bash was fun. Lots of familiar faces turned up. The cake is so decadent! Choclate Mousse from de Spa, couriered from Christchurch! Yup...so decadent! Since Oli is doing more girly stuff nowadays, we decided that she should have a manicure set.

Myself, Caroline (the host), Davina and Gui

Myself, Caroline (the host), Davina and Gui
Originally uploaded by Imperatix.

The Tux and the jeans.JPG

The Tux and the jeans.JPG
Originally uploaded by Imperatix.

Caroline's Graduation Party

My fellow PhD colleagues has graduated! She has arrived! I am still thinking, when am I gonna start writing my Chapter 6. I am still rewriting my Chapter 1 till 5 and it has been almost a year that I have been doing that! Anyway, back to the party.....lots of people from Zimbabwe there! I went there with Yusuf (thanks for accompanying me!) and it seems that he had a good time. We went crazy with the camera after the party. The food was good and the dance....it was quite cool.

The Outfit

Nice outfit. Got me some new acquaintance from friendster.

The Boulcotteers.JPG

The Boulcoteers.JPG
Originally uploaded by Imperatix.

The Colours of Malaysia

The Malaysia's Night was OK. It was the usual fun meeting others and performing. The food was good as usual....and in a usual tradition, I sweat from the spiceness of Malay cooking! I had a good table, where Brenda and Feng seated with me plus one lovely Cambodian girl who made an effort to come after seeing the ad poster in Commerce Campus. Now....I am impressed with that! She apparently asked her Kiwi friend to come as well. It is not really the power of advertising that fascinated me but the interest that she has on Malaysian culture. The footloose was a bit of a disaster as no one came to the floor and dance. My feet was itching to be on the dance floor....(hey..it was saturday night..!) but nobody was really prepared to go dancing with me along infront of hundreds of people.....which I don't mind. I did have a nice slow dance with Neene, over Frank Sinatra.

Keeping up with the theme.....it was painfully time consuming to find the perfect attire for the night. Originally, I wanted to wear my tux, but the tux was purchased in Birmingham 10 years ago!!!!!! I used to be so skinny (28-29 inch) and it reminds me of my difficulties in buying jeans esp. at my favourite stores where they only stocks 30inch and above. So, I ditch the pants and go for my newly purchased 'vintage' denim jeans. The tux shirt was bought based on goodwill....where I somehow managed to get more than 50% discount after being honest to the shopkeeper that I only have $18 in my pocket. Good thing that she is also the owner of the shop. And lastly....last minute details....bright red hanky and Red and White necklace in keeping up the theme of the Colours of Malaysia. The red colour stands out in every photos!

I am gonna miss this event when I return back to Borneo. Not really the event, but my friends that I went with......

Paintball War

I was just thinking....if I was in the army, I was probably be dead.....I am not even sure if my name will be carved in some stone at a memorial park. The paintball war is not even a drop of a real war and it is physically enduring....! Maybe it should be rename as pain ball war or pain in the ball war.

On the other side of the coin, it was a cool experience. Getting lost at the lower hutt is also a good experience. At least we got to see some nice mansions tucked in somewhere!

Bruises! Cuts! Naahh....that is normal...nothing to whine about. Watching people fell and stumble...now...that is something I can recall and laugh on my own.

Zahrin, Sean and I at the Colloquium

Zahrin, Sean and I at the Colloquium
Originally uploaded by Imperatix.

Council Chamber at Hunter Building during the colloquium

Council Chamber at Hunter Building during the colloquium
Originally uploaded by Imperatix.

Religion and Identity

Malay Studies of Victoria University of Wellington organised this colloquium on Religion and Identity. Totally irrelevant to my work but a rather interesting feed to my mind. It is quite interesting how plural can identity be (according to convenience). The colloquium itself was really interesting. Good papers and good food (a must for me since I am very particular in hospitality). There is one horrendous participant who is so disoriented and very hostile to every single paper. He should be shot! There is another presenter who is so gentile but when delivering his paper, he almost made me sleep into coma! All in all...it was a good experience, even just by watching the people!