My Saturday morning was spent listening to the voices of people from various multicultural groups at the Hamilton EthnicA Conference organised by the Office of Ethnic Affairs. It was my day-off and I spent it very wisely and productively getting all the insights from the speakers, presenters and the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Hon Judith Collins, MP, who gave the opening remarks. As I sat there and listened to her and the other speakers, I couldn't help but feel sad and elated at the same time. Because I left the land of my birth but I was in a place of my own choosing, ready and committed to do what's best.
This was the start of a series of consultations with various ethnic groups in Hamilton, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. The CEO of the Electoral Commission reiterated his call for migrants to participate in the electoral process, now that we have a national election this coming September 20.
The three speakers who talked about their upbringing in a changing New Zealand society did very well in connecting us, the newbies with them who are now the oldies. They all had a common thread in saying that self-determination in one's future because one wants a better life for one's children and family, has driven them and are driving us, and will drive the future generation. The final stage of the conference was a PechaKucha type of presentation by four youth leaders. Once again they were able to drive the point of being positively different at the same time making a difference in whatever situation they found themselves to be in.
At the end of the conference, I felt recharged and determined that surely there is good place for me in Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud. All I have to do is to open my heart to my neighbors. One must not look for discrimination for we will find it for sure. We need to look past it!
Before my family came over I was flatting with four other flatmates Bevin, Chris, Juanita and Sarah. I was the only migrant and whenever I cooked Pinoy foods they always complained about the smell but once cooked they liked the taste, at least I think some of them did or were brave enough to give it a try! For the really smelly ones like dried fish, pusit, etc. I cooked them outside.
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| Front of the house |
Flatting is a slang term used to describe a living arrangement wherein a house or apartment a "flat" is let out to a group of people. Flatmates are the people who rent the flat. It is a convenient living arrangement for students, young people and even professionals who no longer wish to live at home.
It was an old house and was quite cold during winter. The front garden upkeep was optional. At the back was the deck with a hammock wherein many a day or night when it was warm we lay reading books or just discussing whatever fancied our minds. Most of the time it was about me and the Philippines. Rent was cheap as and it was fun cooking and tasting each other's dishes. It helped that Bevin was studying to be a chef and Juanita was in her final year as a nutritionist. It's interesting to note that Bevin and Juanita eventually got married a year after. As for Sarah, she spent a year in China teaching English and for Chris I have no idea whatever has happened to him. He was quite reclusive, mostly sleeping during the day and out of the house at night.
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| Back of the house |
I enjoyed my flatting days and would definitely recommend it! I was just lucky that my flatmates never became a problem . The experience was worth it and the friendships we've made carries on until today. Why am I writing this now? I guess it was around this time that I started my flatting days, towards the end of summer and all the way to spring time. Oh, and did I say we had two cats at the beginning which just ballooned into how many when we started feeding them? But that's another story!
