28 February – Time flies fast!

I can hardly believe I haven’t added to my blog in nearly two weeks. In that time, yes, we got our internet service (hooray), enjoyed the Olympics, and spent a week in Auckland.

The details:

The week of the 17^th was busy firming up details for my Auckland trip, attending meetings in Wellington, and finding as much background materials as I can. Dick and I also attended an opening for an artistic change to a tunnel that goes between Lambton Quay and The Terrace. It now includes birdsong of native birds as you walk through it. There was a beautiful Maori ceremony and many hongi greetings to go around. A Maori woman explained that this walkway used to be a beautiful stream (Kumutoto) down to the harbor before it was concreted over. Now when I walk it I think about the beautiful place it once was.

We also experienced "the Sevens" - an annual international February Wellington rugby event during which people dress up (lots of cross dressing) to attend the event. It's more about carousing than serious game watching.

The MB is being very generous to help me with travel around the country to do my research. I can’t say enough good thing about Judi Altinkaya, my supervisor in Wellington. There was also a meeting with the other Axford fellows and a quarterly meeting of the refugee settlement staff that gave me some background.

On Sunday, we caught a 7:30 am flight to Auckland, so had the day to explore. We, of course, went to the top of the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. You can walk around the top, getting beautiful views of the city and islands. For a mere extra $249, you can jump off if you like. We chose to have a glass of wine by the window and watch others take to the sky.

Later, we caught a ferry to Devenport and took a tour of that area, stopping at two extinct volcanoes. Auckland has 60 volcanoes in and around the city. Views back at the cityscape are beautiful from there – lots of pictures.

We were on the 23^rd floor of a terrific hotel with more beautiful city and harbor scenes. It was a beautiful place to relax after long days. My work week was filled with learning. Monday I had the excitement of borrowing a colleague’s car to find myself to the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre (MRRC). I kept getting lost but got there eventually. All quota refugees spend 6 weeks there upon arrival to NZ where the adults are taught some English, given health screens and care, and learn some basics of NZ life. The kids are divided by age ranges and have childcare or classes to prepare them for NZ schools. I spoke for over two hours with the educational director there who showed me the facilities, explained the curriculum, and discussed changes that will occur in May when the new emphasis (employment) will have considerable impacts on the curriculum. (I will keep the details for my policy report.)

Books of the world

In the Intermediate grade classroom

at Mangere

Tuesday and Wednesday were a fabulous opportunity, as the Ministry of Education (MOE) held its annual meeting for the Regional Refugee Education Coordinators. It was a perfect opportunity for me to get to know all of them (as they will be helping me set up meetings in schools, etc) and to meet the senior manager for refugee education, Susan Gamble. Susan’s new boss was also up from Wellington to hear from the coordinators. The set-up is interesting: all the ministry main offices are in Wellington, the seat of the national government. However, Auckland resettles the most refugees, so the MOE division for refugee education is in Auckland (as is a sizable amount of the MB’s division of refugee resettlement). As a result, of course, there are certainly concerns that what staff and service providers know about refugees is not given sufficient attention in Wellington, where policies are created. I heard this in all of my interviews and meetings in Auckland.

Susan had everyone to her house for a delicious multi-ethnic dinner – such great flavors and variety! Her home sits across the bay from Auckland, right on the water, so the views were amazing. It was also an informal occasion to get to know everyone better: Hassan is the coordinator for the South Island (I will be visiting his region in Nelson next week), Abdi is in Wellington (so I will certainly work closely with him), Parvatha and Adel are in Auckland, Afat is in Hamilton. Another Abdi is the national coordinator. Each has such a welcoming and warm character. The next day I was even more included, as people had gotten to know me better.

On Thursday, I headed out again, this time to Selwyn College (colleges are secondary schools).  Selwyn has become a hub school for refugee students. There are roughly 60 secondary refugee students and 140 adult refugee students there as part of the 900 total student body. They have created a early childcare center so the mothers can go to learn English (some men also attend). I was there for most of the day, observing and talking with staff about the positives and the challenges.

Pool time on a warm day

Stringing beads in the early childcare centre

An amazing mural painted by the secondary students

Detail of part of the mural

Another section of the mural

Back to windy (and cooler) Wellington. That warm, sunny bit in Auckland was great. I’ve been invited to come back to Mangere when there are refugees there and back to Selwyn any time. I will plan to visit another refugee school up there later in the year. Meanwhile, gearing up for Bryan and Kat's visit on Sunday!

16 Feb - through the first week

Still no photos -- hopefully we will have home internet tomorrow...

BLOG: Week of 10 February –LOG: Week of 10 February – First Week at MBIE

Really enjoyed my first week at work. On Thursday evening we had dinner with my mentor at Victoria University (Kate) and her husband at a Cambodian restaurant in town. When she heard me talk about my work life in the US, she looked aghast and asked how I am still alive. She said she thought her workload was bad, but not anymore. She couldn’t imagine having a 3/2 course load  and the service obligations I described, and getting any research done. Yeah, well! No kidding.

On Friday I discovered that my research proposal is not feasible. The new strategy just has not been implemented yet (should start in May – too late for me), so I worked on three more potential projects. I also attended a meeting on measuring ESOL success. It was very interesting to be on the policy/government rather than the education side of the story. The senior manager wants measurements to know which ESOL providers are most successful in order to know who to give funding (it would be the successful, not the unsuccessful). I totally get that. At home, I feel the opposite about when our gov’t funds successful, typically wealthier public schools and punishes low-performing schools. A big reason is that many low-performing schools have highly diverse populations, low SES families, and migrant families (who are not part of the year-to-year population, so there is no way to fairly determine yearly progress). I wonder how some of those factors may or may not be a part of the process here. It is, however, quite interesting to see the differences – and to understand them – from these different perspectives.

Friday evening Dick and I went to the Roxy Theatre for a duck dinner and the movie “A Winter’s Tale.” It’s a very cool theatre in Miramar, and we enjoyed both the dinner and the poignant film. Today (Sunday) we hopped on a train to get out of the city for the afternoon, going northwest up the Kapiti Coast to Parparaumu and take a long beach walk. It was the first time it’s been warm enough to wear shorts! The scenery was beautiful, and we had a great day. Even with the 50 sunscreen,  though, my face is feeling it this evening.

Week of 10 February: First week at Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment/Immigration New Zealand

[Note: No photos til we have our internet connected!]

This is like working in PARADISE. Instead of driving 45 minutes to work, I walk 10 minutes each way and get a physical exercise benefit because the walk is on a steep hill. I don't need to own a car.  I get there by 9am; I leave around 5pm. I don't bring any work home. I "multi-task" on ONE project. The NZ Ethics Committee (research review board) is actually REASONABLE (compared to USF). I absorb myself in writing and research plans for 8 hours/day; and when I come home, Dick greets me with a glass of wine and dinner. I read the paper, watch the news, the Olympics, do some oil painting, check gmail, RELAX. I live in an anti-nuke, multicultural, environmentally conscious country whose government is designed to be collaborative, and for which the top three national budget priorities (totaling 49%) are social services (23%), health (13.5%), and education (12.5%). In comparison, the US top budget priority, at 60%, is military. This is possible! I am crazy-happy.

My colleagues at Immigration NZ are so friendly. On Monday, one that recently married came in with leftover wedding cake and her wedding album. They hold bake sales to raise money for recent international crises, raising $1,000 or more.

So this week I have revised my research proposal and sent it out to the (voluntary!) NZ Ethics Review Committee, my colleagues, and my Ministry of Education colleague. (I am still struggling away with the USF IRB…). I am working on my travel plans. I have already been invited to meetings regarding resettlement and set up meetings. The time is already feeling tight! But I know I have so much more allocated time for this work than I would ever typically have. This sabbatical will allow me to do work I could never do in my typical work life. Everyone should have this opportunity if they have a plan to do work for the public good.

3-7 February - Orientation Week

On Monday morning, the three Axford fellows (I’m one) met with the Fulbright scholars and students at the Fulbright offices where we began our week-long orientation with the executive director Mele Wendt, programme leader; Stefanie Joe, and others. They did an amazing job of lining up the week with former Fulbrighters who are experts in the geology, biology, sociology, politics, and history of Aoteroa (Maori for New Zealand).

We began with an introduction to Maori culture and language. We learned about the issues of the Treaty of Waitangi and the ongoing issues due to translation and cultural understandings from the general editor of Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Lord and Lady Reedy explained the rituals we would encounter when we traveled to the Waiwhetu Marae (marae are sacred meeting houses of the iwi – tribes of Maori). We learned greetings in Maori and the protocol and significance of touching noses in greeting.

At 3pm, we traveled to Waiwhetu Marae and experienced the welcoming protocol. The Maori at this marea were so welcoming, and they certainly kept us filled with food, tea, and coffee! After dinner, we were treated to a song and dance presentation by their marae group that has won honors and will compete for top national honors in 2015. We slept on mattresses on the floor of the meetinghouse, under beautiful carvings and symbols of Maori spirituality. In the morning, we heard from an American former Fulbright scholar who teaches at Victoria University about the peopling of NZ. Given the geographical evolution of NZ, it is a very young country, in terms of both land and people. We also did a very moving exercise with the Maori leaders of the marea about how it feels to lose your land and tonga (precious possessions).

 I was engaged by the Maori love for the earth, and saddened by the history so similar to that of American Indians and Aborigines. I was also fascinated by the similarity I found between Maori and Celtic symbolism in art, with the spirals and knots.

We learned that the marea is built to symbolize a body. On the outside are structures to represent arms and legs and the head; the inside has a womb and a spine with ribs.

The young Fulbright students are wonderful to talk to. It is energizing to meet young people with such a sense of purpose and care about the world and its people. On our way back from the marae, I sat with a student who is engaged in conciliatory juvenile justice. So important!

My biggest frustration has been our attempts to get an internet connection at our apartment. We keep taking the brunt of Telcom's mistakes, to the point that they won't get here to set up for another 10 days. Other than that. I haven't had problems dealing with minor inconveniences and really love being here. I am saddened by NZ's policy on cutting off older working people from migrating here. My kids could, no problem. While I understand the state not wanting older people migrating to live off of their excellent social services, I do wish they would give opportunities to older working people who could offer important contributions. Maybe there are ways...

As I have repeatedly said, I would make a great ex-pat. I do long to live in a more progressive, liberal country with strong gun control, anti-nuke policies, and policies more devoted to peace than war; one that is less racist, less anti-LGBT, and more collaborative than combative. New Zealand is no utopia. No place is. But it is more comfortable to me without the superiority complex held by the US. In my role as an Ian Axford fellow, I need to be a positive ambassador for the US, and, of course, I can do that. Aside form the politics, there is so much to love about the US. It is geographically beautiful, and its people are diverse. Most people care about helping one another. This will not be a problem.ß

The past several days have been filled with beautiful weather and brilliant blue skies. Today is a true "windy Welly" day with gusty cool winds, but a beautiful clear sky.

At tomorrow's orientation, we will explore "the other side" -- Parliament and and "Crown."

NOTE: No more photo uploads til 15 Feb or so, as we are still not connected on a plan, and “hot spot” fill-ups are pricey!

Wednesday was a day about politics. We toured Parliament with a terrific and funny guide. We learned the top three budget concerns of NZ: 1, at 23%, is social services; 2, at 13.5%, is health; and 3, at 12.5%, is education. Compare that to the US, where 1 is at 60%, military. NZ’s priorities all receive single digit percentages in the US. Also, because of their system, they have no choice but to form coalition governments. Thus, they cannot get into these ridiculous extreme positions witnessed in the US. We also learned a great deal about environmental concerns from Green Party MP, Kennedy Graham.

Thursday was a national holiday, Treaty of Waitangi Day. Dick and I took it kind of easy. In the evening, we attended a dinner party by Helen Hughes, a former Fulbrighter. Her friend Dame Margaret, who lives a short walk from us, provided transportation. Both her brother and husband worked with Ian Axford (for which my fellowship is named), so it was quite interesting to talk to her. Helen lives in Seatoun and has an amazing view of the harbor.

Friday concentrated on flora and fauna of NZ. Again, so much has depended on the ancient continent of Godwana, which included NZ, Pacific Islands, Australia, part of South America, Antarctica, and South Africa. The ways in which pieces broke off, and how, and where they drifted, and when – all determined flora, fauna – and why there were no mammals in NZ aside from a couple bat species and no snakes, discovery (first Polynesians, then Europeans).  In the afternoon we visited preserved bush land in a Wellington suburb. My group hiked to an 800-year old Puka tree.

We left to experience partying people in costume, celebrating the international “sevens” rubgy tournament. The rules are very different from regular rugby. It is largely an opportunity for people to go crazy and drink too much. Saturday Dick and I learned to use public transport to get out to Petone, which has some great discount stores we used to complete our housewares needs. Today (Sunday), I have been enjoying the Olympics, and cleaning the place before the week to come (when I will begin my work with Immigration NZ). Dick has left to get some things in town, and after I post this, I will work to complete an oil painting!