Monday, September 11, 2006

New Blog Site

So very long ago...I had to delete the original post...hahaha! (wasn't relevant anymore)

Sunday, July 09, 2006

South Auckland Stereotype 'Clusters'

We live in a community where 'stereotypes' are an everyday anomaly that we're apparently made to live with. We can't escape it, not for the most part, because we're brown-skinned, Polynesian (which includes Maori) and we live in areas deemed as the 'ghetto' (full of low income housing and where majority make their living off of the Social Welfare or Work and Income New Zealand).

It is a tough life to be looked upon as a 'South Aucklander' but its all about 'FAMILY' and that's something we know the 'palagi's' don't entirely comprehend.

Where in a palagi family a child can leave home and live on their own- scheduling to meet up with family again during the holidays and festive seasons.....in an island family - we live with our parents till death (If we're married - we live a few houses away).

Where in a palagi family a child is taught to be self sufficient and what's earned is theirs and they can do whatever they want....in an island family it's about working to make money 'e tausi ai le aiga atoa' - you're working to support your family, not just yourself.

Where in a palagi family religion is a matter of choice....in an island family it's making a choice and attending - NO IFs, ANDs or BUTs.

Where in a palagi family going on the dole is a 'last resort'..... in an island family its' the 'next resort' after using up all your sick days and days in lieu to attend to important family matters.

Where in a palagi family it's important to be in your own house..... in an island family - 'Mi Casa e Su Casa' (my house is your house) is understood and practiced. How can you live in a home while a member of family is without?

All in all - there are stereotypes on both sides of the tracks....and well....I'm Brown and I'm Proud and that's all I gotta say!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Three years and counting.....

Does it get any easier? Well, yes of course it does....simply because you just 'get on with life'! 3 years ago today (4th July 2006) my father passed away here in Auckland New Zealand. Now, he did his fare share of world travelling...and most of his friends have told me either via email (because they only just found out) or around the time he died...that Dad was confident that he was not ever going to leave the Pacific. (needless to say...Dad was right!)

So, as a TRIBUTE...I'd just like for you all to know that while the 4th of July is significant for other reasons...it will now forever be the day - THE WORLD - lost a great leader, a great friend, a great husband, a great Father ----- a great DAD!

Thursday, June 22, 2006

How safe is your money?

So, a Bank of New Zealand branch manager was caught 'robbing' his own bank! Just when you thought that 'actual' bank robbers was all you needed to worry about...you now have to keep an eye on the branch managers who open the accounts for you.

Theresa Time...

The tragic, morbid circumstances which led to the discovery of Theresa Time's decapitated body in Boise Idaho has left me thinking on the seriousness of 'drug addictions', domestic violence and the common role it now plays in our families, community and country.

FIRST: My condolences to Theresa Time's family. And to the family of the driver and passenger of the car who Alofa Time ran into. (sorry, I can't seem to remember their names)

Yesterday, in a discussion I was having with a group of old samoan men in Otahuhu Auckland, one mentioned that - America is the land of opportunity. This was immediately followed by 'the land of opportunity...to do whatever one wants and in some cases virtually get away with it'.

"With FREEDOM...comes a price....a price Theresa Time paid for with her life," said the same old man. "Its a tragedy and this type of violence, has got to STOP now!"

SO WHAT DO WE DO? WHERE in this 'wacky life' do we start?

The family unit is being targeted left right an centre (center for those in America). I ask the question of you all.... What are some things you are doing in your family to ensure that this type of stuff doesn't happen to you? (please list your answers articulately)

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Whats the world coming to?

The Wacky LIFE that is ME

Ahh...as I sit here at my computer wondering what the heck I'm going to BLOG about...I can't help but remember all the times that I slipped up, got caught, lied through my teeth and then got away scot-free for 3 months and then started on the path again. (haha)...
All those times, now well and truely behind me, I can now focus on the huge set of trouble I'm going to get into ahead of me...oh to be a 2 year old again.
So, just how WACKY is the LIFE that is ME - you may ask? Well, Its actually pretty CRAZY! It's like the movie 'Catch me if you can'...One minute I'm a journalist, the next I'm an actor. Then several days latter, I'm a dancer (not a stripper...although???), then I'm a Secretary. Then a Delivery Man (like the UPS guys in their tight fitting brown shorts), then I'm a painter, a chef, a dog washer, a car groomer, a priest, a psychiatrist, a massage therapist...etc..etc...etc... And thats just when I'm asleep.
So whats a 6ft1, Polynesian adonis guy (trying to turn his KEG into a SIXpack) supposed to do? Well, he logs on this blogging website to bad mouth other people, but ends up setting himself up with his very own BLOGGER!
With that said...WELCOME! ENJOY!