So Much To Share!

It has been over two weeks since I posted last and believe you me there is so much to share.  We have had a shooting here in our own backyard which resulted in the motorway (freeway) being closed for 18 hours. We have had very cold (3 degree C) mornings and lovely new days of 11 degrees C. We have had wind and rain but no hail this week. We have had earthquakes and the sinking of ships. We have had news from the All-Blacks, the Tall-Blacks and other blacks. Just because I miss a few days or so it does not mean that things are not happening here.  I hope you always return.

The second July is Maori Language week. They really try hard to keep this part of the New Zealand culture alive and in the forefront. Part of that is determined by law as set out in the Waitangi Treaty. We were helping to clean out the area office this last week and I actually found an interactive CD all about the Maori people and their culture. I will have to share parts of it later.

The way I found out about it being Maori language month was by going to the grocery store. I was greeted this sign first since the bakery is the first place I go after the produce. I have to remind myself that if I go to the store too early (before 9 am) or too later (after 6pn) there will usually be not bakery bread. Sometimes there is still a chiabata which is great because if there is one it will have been marked down to half price.

Many of the words will have a repeat of the first past like this one. Names of people and cities also reflect this pattern.

Usually a word like pepa will be pronounced with an "R" at the end although it is never written there. 

Nothing to say about this one although they give you an idea of how it is to sound. 

Doesn't sound any more appetizing to me in Maori than it does in English!

Another example of an "R" added to the end of the word although there is not one there.  The Kiwi's do this with English as well.  

And that is all I have to say about that!