Summer Learning Journey! (2)

The Activity: Imagine that you were on board one of the Waka.
On your blog, write a short letter to a friend telling them about your voyage to New Zealand.
In the letter be sure to tell them how you feel about moving to a new country.

Day 1: Setting Off..

We have just pushed the boat off the shore, I can hear the scraping of the sand on the bottom of my boat slowly disappear into the calm sensation of the water lapping against the sides. There are cries and cheers from the shore, and I search for my family while I wave. There they are! I wave to them vigorously. That will be the last time I see them. The smile on my face disappears as I turn around and help the others. The strong current in the water makes us heave through the water, getting tired by each row we take. I look back, the sun falls in the sky and I can barely make up the Island. Maybe we can't even see it? I miss my family already, I know I am helping them, but I am so homesick. I stop day dreaming and I was shocked and frightened by the noise I hear. The crackle of lightening. We row with all our might, we all want to survive.

Day 10...
We have been surviving on bare necessities and the grumble of my stomach has never stopped. At least I am allowed food. I think to myself. I look around to find nothing, but empty blue sea, which has been nice to us, giving us food for a long time now, but also so cruel to the ones here on this waka, the thundering waves crashing on our heads nearly tipping us over with every wave. I think about the people back on the island, my family and friends, what they are thinking, what they are doing now. I wish I could tell them how much I miss them. My journal is my only hope. When I die, someone will read this and know about what we went through to get to this island. If we even make it. a crew member fell from the waka, after a vicious wave pounded on his head. We couldn't even help him get back on, there was another wave coming and we had to act fast. I hope he will be ok, but with no food, no water I kn- I stopped my self thinking about what would happen. The dreadful consequence. My eyes are falling heavy and I feel myself slowly drifting off to sleep. The worst of the waves has passed, now little waves lapping at our side.

Day 20...
The days have been good to us since I last wrote, the bestest weather we've had yet. So far, I know I shouldn't be saying it like this, but only one crew member has fallen into the mouth of the deep blue. I am very thankful that was not me.. We are basically on scraps now for food, and you can all see what having hardly any food has done to us and all the hard work compared. Our water has been running low, and we are all thirsty. If only the sea was fresh water. I haven't written  how I feel about reaching our destination. I have a mixture of feeling I guess, Excited, nervous, worried but also keen for our future. I am worried about if we fail to find water, or food. I just hope we can make it, please can we make it. No more storms, no more...

Day 30... Arrival
"Help!!!" we all scream as the waves crash. I cannot see, nearly pitch black but I can hear the cries. 3 gone from our waka from the first time we set off, and we have 5 more people on board still. I am scared. So scared that more will be taken and I will be the only one left. I make out in the darkness the hugest wave we have ever seen, and slowly rising. I know this will be the end... It feels like the wave hit directly at me, me head knocks the hard wood and I instantly have been knocked out. I awake. I look around and see an island. "We made it! Look over there!!" tears of joy come to my eyes as we cheer. Thick green forestry surrounds the Island. I am so looking forward to getting out of this waka. walking again, my legs feel like they have got bricks on top of them. We have just run out of water - and food. We have a much better chance here. We have made it! I don't think I'll ever feel as happy as I am now. We are home...

Summer Learning Journey! (1)

The Activity: Read a short story about a famous man in Maori  mythology - Maui. On your blog write three facts about what you've learn't about this interesting man! What other stories have you heard about Maui?

Fact 1: When Maui's brothers told him to cut the line from the huge fish, he did not give in and decided he would keep trying.
Fact 2: The Brothers formed the huge mountains in Aoteraroa by cutting huge amounts of flesh from the fish.
Fact 3: When the brothers agreed the should stay, Maui went to Hawaiki, but as soon as he was gone the brothers cut into the fish.

i have heard many stories about Maui, like how Maui slowed the sun, and how Maui brought fire to the world.

Weekend Journal!

On Thursday, mum picked me up early to go to Mcleans Island. There was a showjumping event which is called Christmas Cracker, and the fun thing is that you get to dress up yourself and your horses instead of wearing all of your normal things you are supposed to wear. In the end, I was going to put tinsel on my martingale but unfortunately it came off, but then we did get tinsel on my saddle blanket and my helmet. My outfit was nearly normal compared to some outfits people were wearing. They had an I heart Santa dress, fairy wings, tinsel everywhere, it was amazing. Christmas Cracker was my first event that I was going to do a meter in. It was a big step up for me, because you move up to Ring two, and there was much more fillers and the competition was much harder. Overall I think I did really well and I am much more confident with my showjumping skills, and I am so excited to do some more meters with Skippy in the future!

Weekend Journal!

On Saturday, I rode Skippy, played outside, and Pop ( my granddad ) came over to stay for the weekend. On Sunday, I rode Skippy again, Made the bestest pancakes, and played outside again. In the afternoon, Tara and I went to see the movie, Wonder. In class we read the book, so It would be cool to compare it to the new movie! It was really enjoyable, with some funny moments, with some pretty sad moments too. On Monday, we went to Penny's house, (My equestrian coach) and had a lesson on Skippy there. She was quite full of herself so Penny asked me to take her for a hack while she finished up lessons with the other riders. On the way Skippy had a couple of frights and was backing up. Eventually she calmed down and my sister Tara joined me hacking. After that I went to my lesson, I hadn't jumped Skippy in nearly 2 weeks so I was a little bit nervous, but she was a dream ride. I'm really excited for the showjumping event this weekend, and I'm going to be doing my first meter class!

Home Links Week 6!

Home Links Week 5!

Home Links Wk3!