Rugby evening

Everybody in this part of the world love ball games. Whatever channel you choose on TV, there is almost always somewhere going a game of cricket or rugby. Therefore it is certainly one must-do thing here to go and watch at least one game. We bought tickets to a play on Saturday evening, the game was between Sharks (South Africa) and Blues (New Zealand). The weather was wonderful, pleasantly sunny and warm. And the game started, yeah!

I have to say i have never seen a group of adult and sporty men doing anything so silly. Yep, silly in the good way :) The funniest part is when eight men are together like a scrum, known as the pack or forward pack, binding together in three rows and interlocking with the free opposing teams forwards. At this point the ball is fed into the gap between the two forward packs and they both compete for the ball to win possession. (I am not myself so clever about the rules, i copied it from wikipedia).

I also did not know anything about Rugby union before, which involves Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. Therefore the games are played between any of those union members and we happened to see the great victory of Shark on Saturday. Was fun fun fun, will definitely go to watch any other game in the future again :)

Autumn is coming to New Zealand

By now i've been spending here a few days more than a month. I've loved being here so far, though i think there has been a hidden stress inside me for a while as well. I couldn't understand it unless last weekend when it was just raining and raining heavily and my thoughts took me home. Missed home for the first time during my stay here.

The autumn is coming closer. Heavy showers and very breezy nights sometimes, a few leaves fall down from the trees which change leaves. But when it is sunny day - and 5 out of 7 days in a week it is - then the sun is really bright, high in the sky and feels really hot in skin. I would say sunny days here in March are like really beautiful summer days in July in Estonia.

I've got closer to the understanding how newzealanders live, what are their worries and desires. They are proud of their beautiful country and push a lot to keep it natural, just like it is. Some of them don't like Maori people that much, they say that the way how Maoris bring up their children is that much different from how Europeans do it. For example if there comes a baby to a Maori family, all the members of the family are responsible for the kid. It is almost like nobody is responsible, nobody personally. And that's how their kids grow up, not being so carefully looked after.

I think i haven't mentioned here an acquaintanceship with a kiwi man, Ellis. Me and Marge, we were going to Auckland downtown in one morning and waited for a train in our station. One friendly man started to talk with us, we hopped together to the train and we talked and talked until the train reached the downtown. About everything: what are we doing here or hope to do, he told us much interesting about the country. He is 65, retired now and has lovely family here. We exchanged numbers and stayed in touch later. He also invited us with his family to his beach house in Coromandel, but unfortunately we couldn't do it at that weekend in February.
Yesterday, when Marge had headed to Christchurch, Ellis made a call to me and had a plan to show me around here. We spent nice time together, driving around in North Shore and in Auckland, saw also lovely part of Auckland city called Parnell.
Does it sound weird to read it in Estonia, to spend hours driving around with someone almost stranger? I guess it does. But not here.

Pics of a walk in rainy Saterday 28th February and few pics of me and sunny Sunday 1st March are here.