Rode the fast ferry to the other side of the bay to visit the scenic town of Russell. It was the first capital of NZ and then came to be a whaling/sailing port with lots of problems, and is now just a quiet haven to visit. We went specifically to see the Missionary Printing Press. It was one of the best school tours that I've been on. We saw the printing press and learned about it, but also got all the steps of the bindery. The best part was the tannery. It all started with the barrel full of urine and went on from there. I actually got to haul out a skin from the tannic pit and slop it up across the log. It was definitely a stinky process, but very interesting to learn about.
In the afternoon, we boarded the bus and drove to Kaikohe (?) to visit a Maori immersion school. The teachers were passionate about the importance of what they are doing to help save the language for the coming generations. We actually got to ask the students some questions. I was surprised to learn that after speaking Maori all day they go home and speak English with their parents and friends.
We also got to meet with a tribal official who gave us more of an open view of what is happening with the Maoris today. In many ways they are similar to the Native American population with alcoholism, unemployment, prison time, and drop-out rates very high. They are working hard to improve their conditions and believe that it is through education and strong family ties that differences can be made.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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The tannery sounds interesting. Do you remember when Cory (Linda's oldest son) tried tanning his own deer hide that he got from a butcher? He tanned his with brains from a blender, but it sounds like the urine-tanning process is much more successful! :)
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