life in the bus lane

I have lived in several different areas of suburban Auckland, all of which have led me to commuting to the city and over the years I have found myself consistently astounded at the shocking bus etiquette Auckland has to offer.  There seems to be 2 rules about 99% of the time when it comes to giving up ones seat for another.

Rule 1 .. do not stand for an adult if you are a school student

Rule 2 .. do not vacate a seat for elderly where you are younger than the elderly person and very much able bodied no matter the number of passengers

It is at this point I start to feel my age and grow a deeper appreciation for some of the times (and only some as I am still growing up!) when the Rents would speak of younger days because back in my day I would not have thought twice about giving my seat to anyone older than me.  Heck, I still do it now!

As soon as I saw an elderly Indian couple get on my bus last week I was straight out of my 2nd row seat.  When I turned to face the front of the bus poised and ready for take-off, the little old lady had paused blocking the aisle, caught my eye and smiled a smile of appreciation as brilliant as her sari before sitting on the seat I had moved from.  As I smiled back, I felt joy.

I know I cannot change people so I do my best to be considerate to my fellow passengers and I occasionally think what a world of good it would do for the selfish ones to ride a bus in Samoa.  We all know what would happen if they played by the aforementioned rules over there and Lord knows they would deserve it!

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

#31WriteNow day 7

Today is day 7 of the #31WriteNow blogging challenge and I am struggling to keep up so I have decided on three themes to help me on my way to a blogging achievement.  For Tuesday Tunes please refer to previous post, Throwback Thursday will be some sort of tale from my past and Steamy Sunday will be all about hot bods with tattoos.  As for the rest of the days in the month, I just pray to the writing Gods that I can churn something out!

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

blurred lines

I have decided to dedicate Tuesdays to sharing tunes because my life without music is a life less lived.

When I first heard Blurred Lines I instantly wanted to jump up and dance, much the same as when I first heard Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up which the all knowing Wikipedia says helped to inspire this song.  I quite often get songs stuck in my head for what feels like weeks and this song that brings a sense of elation is it right now.

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

my dream new zealand

Cook Islands Language Week has begun and will go till Saturday.  I don't know about you, but I like the concept of having language weeks to raise awareness and celebrate our Maori and Pacific languages in a country where maintaining these treasures is something of a struggle.

While doing my last minute research for this post, I was a little sickened to find an article quoting the Minister of Education and Pacific Island Affairs, Hekia Parata as saying "it's not possible for the government to produce teachers in all the languages that communities might like".  I do agree that community support is key to the cause of language maintenance in New Zealand because without a communal buy-in, nothing can be sustained, however I have to side with Labour MP and Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson, Su'a William Sio in saying that responsibility cannot be solely placed on the community for the survival of their languages.

When it comes to language, the face of education would change in my dream New Zealand.  At the very least, te Reo Maori would be a compulsory subject in all primary and secondary schools as well as having the option to study a selection of Pacific languages, particularly the languages of the Cooks, Tokelau and Niue.

I believe it is completely possible.

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

steamy sunday

Here is a collection of my favourite steamy tattooed bodies! 

Jason is the newest addition after watching Pani interview him at Armageddon.  Who wouldn't want Momoa?

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

talanoa tatau

On Tuesday night there will be a talanoa at Massey, Wellington with the tattoo art and design collective Taupou Tatau that I wish I could go to.  Ever since the day one of my big cousins came home with what was then one incredibly cool contemporary tattoo, I decided I wanted a tattoo too.  I was only a child and come to think if it, this particular big cousin was somewhat of style guru to me growing up.  Years on, I have acquired some ink, thanks in part to my style guru cousin and would be telling lies if I said I did not want more.  Put simply, I love tatau for the story and meaning it carries .. I also love steamy bodies that come with tatau!

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

#31WriteNow .. late again because my laptop died right on midnight

I have just gone through the FREAK OUT stage that I often go through when writing, only magnified times 100 because I have no idea what I am going to write and I only got home at 11:30pm and maybe I should just give up on this crazy writing challenge that I am going to suck at any way!

Now I am just writing through it because it is now 11:42pm.  SHIT!

Shit because the only thing I can think of to write about is related to work and I do not like talking about much to do with my job because my boss is a bit of a stalker, but I am going to do it anyway.  What else is there to write about?  Time is not my friend.  If you know me in real life, please please please no commenting on what I do to pay the bills.

Today I was speaking with a client from India.  I could barely understand what he was saying in general so when he decided it was a good idea to give me his email address should he need to be contacted, I did not know whether to roll over and die laughing or just roll over and die as he said "S for sun, I for iPhone, N for .."  I for iPhone?  He couldn't say infant, indigo, idiot or INDIA?  Aue, what is the English language coming to?

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

#31WriteNow day 1 .. an hour late!

It's after midnight and surprise surprise, I'm wide awake perusing blogs when I come across the #31WriteNow blog challenge via PIMPI KNOWS and Awesomely Luvvie to post something to my blog each day for the month of August.  Within minutes I decide to go for it .. considering my last post I think what better way to force myself out of my comfort zone and get writing than to rise to a challenge, even if it is self imposed.  I am calling myself crazy right now, however this is going to be a fulfilling adventure that I am both nervous and excited for.

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.

i'm back?

Well, I have been a bit absent .. ok, very much absent from the blog world.  The words above seem to capture best what has happened in the last few years - I keep letting others hold my pens, or worse I lose them all together which inevitably leads to one very neglected blog!  I started this blog anonymously and to my amazement, I have met some very good people along the way while managing to still stay as anonymous as possible considering how small my world seems to be.  I definitely want to keep it that way, yet still tell my little tales.  So, time to start paying this blog some attention, find some pens and start writing.

This is me - Teine 'Afakasi.