from Hau Moana to Atauro - 2012 revisited
From research to publication, from salsa to tango,
sailing to snorkeling, listening to singing… From linguistics to language
policies – please enjoy whatever gets lost in translation
After a family-Xmas in
Wellington, 2012 started in the company of friends, delicious food & a
crisp wine in Haumoana, where the vistas extended from Cape Kidnappers to the lights
of Napier, and Picton & the magical Sounds – thanks to Kathryn, Brett &
Max; Lisa & Zao. The beginning almost felt like a dream until the thudding reality
and increasing urgency struck as the inevitable deadline, marking the
completion of my Masters thesis, darkened the horizon. To enhance my heightened nerves, the distraction
caused by the reappearance of an undesirable criminal who’d passed herself off
as my mother’s grand-daughter way back when, added a splash of drama and numerous
chats with police on untangling privacy laws & dropping trespass orders. Looking
back, those first couple of months of 2012 required a degree of perseverance
and a level of discipline unbeknown to me. I edited and re-edited to the point
where I could no longer make head, let alone tail, of whatever it was that I
was hoping to paraphrase. Thanks again to my draft-scanning team (Sally, Heather,
Rebecca & Dagmar). Fortunately Stephanie’s last-minute visit was so animated
that it prevented me from even trying to rewrite it all for the nth time. Once
handed in (deformatting & reformatting with Lina’s technical assistance),
it was time to catch up on life – salsa classes, learning to sail, celebrating
my cousin Kate’s wedding, and 90+/- birthdays with my mother and my aunt. Thanks
to all the encouragement throughout my studies, I got there in the end! Being
awarded a Master of Tourism Management with First Class Honours has certainly
given me the freedom to reach out to new horizons. And yes, after staying
firmly grounded for such an extended period, over two years in fact, my mind,
body and soul have been impatiently ready and waiting to venture out. Spending
some downtime ‘at home’, catching up on walks and talks, and continuing to do
visitor studies at Te Papa, allowed me the space to unwind and reconnect with
the world. In my dreams the romantic notion of the Silk Road initially grabbed
my attention as a potential starting place. I even caught a glimpse of myself
high up in the mountains speaking Tajik and eating plov.
My destiny, however,
was to be at sea level and below in the South Pacific – a region so close and
yet unknown to me. On arrival, in July, I was thrown into an almost frenetic and
rather surreal scene, unexpectedly attending the Tongan Crown Prince’s wedding
only hours after landing (a touch of traditional attire allowed me into the
church!), then spotting majestic humpback whales from the shore later in the
day. From the start, I had to learn to ‘kai lahi’ (eat big) & politely took
full advantage of generous buffet dinners – the evidence remains with a few
extra kilos which I appear to treasure to this day. Although Sundays in Tonga are
strictly for church and family gatherings, i.e. prayer, singing, food and rest,
I managed to cycle slowly around Tongatapu aimlessly; trying to look as if I
was going somewhere, showing no hint of actively engaging in exercise, which is
strictly forbidden on the Sabbath. Not sure whether it was all those Sundays
spent listening to choirs, those sweet harmonies resonating from the many
churches overflowing with families dressed up in traditional garb, or my sister
Finola’s up-coming film ‘Quartet’ which influenced my decision to join the Dili
international choristers later in the year. A short trip back to NZ in October gave
to time to see friends and family, and repack. My new destination with VSA
being Dili, Timor-Leste until April (& who knows…). With so much
stimulation around me, the weeks have raced by – thanks Sue, Nat & many
others for enhancing my social life, dance moves & vocal chords - slowly
coming out of denial about being a chorister & singing proud! Hopefully the
images attached speak for themselves & spark your interest.
As always, it’s
the people I meet along the way who make life special and experiences memorable.
With fond and funny memories of friends near and far, and those who have
departed early.
This year Xmas comes
early with suckling pig is on the menu – oddly, the idea of DIY slaughtering
& roasting was rejected early on. Spending a few days with friends from VSA
relaxing at the beach in Baucau and wherever else the roads may lead. If the heavy
rains don’t wipe out the roads, I’ll be tempted to head to coffee country or
climb a mountain… The New Year 2013 will
find me gazing at corals and marine life on the reefs of Atauro Island. Of
course, such adventures are mandatory for someone who dedicates life to travel
& tourism
To all my friends and
family dotted around the globe, Feliz Natal - happy festive season to all &
all the best for 2013, whatever it may bring!!!
Trisha
You’ll always find me
somewhere in cyberspace (& yes, it’s curious what comes up when you google
yourself!)
Skype: trishadwyer
+670-7800-3717
For Christmas movies:
check out “Quartet”
posted by trishatinker at 7:58 PM
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