Dad, I Want to be a Camel

Excerps from Early New Zealand Immigrant letters

Dear Grandma,
  ... There were lots of people sick here on the ship because we were cramped up together and all the passengers were sleeping in the hold.
       We filled in the long hours by cooking, cleaning, washing, reading and playing cards. The older children attended school. In the evenings there were dances and musical entertainment, ...
      
Love from 
Daniel


Dear Mehak,
      ... When we arrived in New Zealand it was covered in swamps and thick green bushes. The first thing our family did was put up a tent. For a couple of days we lived in a tent. My big brother and I went out to shoot some birds to have for our dinner. When we came back with some birds, we made a fire to cook it. Our Mother cooked the birds carefully on the fire. She was really good at that. After a couple of days we started making the raupo hut. We collected a lot of raupo sticks and started to make the wall of the house. My big brother and I collected some shells for a shell path for security. After 10 days we were finished.
            Please tell everybody we miss our family in England. I think when you receive this letter we would have our own land.

Love from 
Mehar

Dear Grandfather,
     ... The ship hit land. We looked around the campsite and all that was there was trees, trees and more trees! Father found the right spot, not in the shade and not in the sun. Father worked and worked to put the tent up. For dinner we ate leftover ships biscuits while dad finished the tent. 
         The next day dad started to collect shells and wood for our raupo but. Dad and I walked through the woods and stopped at a steep hill. Bits of dirt crumbled off into the swamp. I collected shells. Athe hut we 0placed them into a path. Our raupo shut started to come alive. ...

Love
Alistair

Make Eye Contact when Crossing Pedestrian Crossings

Temple Trip

On a fine, sunny Thursday, Room 16, Room 18 and 19 trudged to the golden temple in Manuwera called Nanakser Isher Darbar. As we were walking on the safe footpath my friend and I were talking about how good the food will be.

Finally we arrived. Raj came and welcomed us and told us to take our shoes off and cover our heads. Next we came in and lined our shoes in the shelves to make neat and tidy rows. We covered our heads with scarfs and bandanas to show respect. We washed our hands and wiped and dried them.

Next we tip-toed upstairs and bowed down. That shows God how intelligent you are because you are show him your brain when you bow down. As we tip-toed to the white mat and folded our arms and legs Raj started his talk.

He said that there are 10 gurus. Gu means darkness ru means lightness so it’s from darkness to light. He also talked about how there are 35 alphabets in India. We learned that India invented the number zero.

Have you ever seen people with long hair and turbans? You’ll know they’re Sikhs because Sikhs don’t cut their hair. Talking about not cutting hair we have the five k’s. We have a small sword to keep us away from danger, a wooden comb, cotton pants and a small gold or silver bracelet and bangle which is called a Kara. This is a bracelet that also protects you from danger.

Next we tasted some sweet and delicious refreshments to sweeten your mouth before the main course. After we tip-toed down stairs we zoomed and sat down on the bumpy mats.

The volunteers came and helped us with the food. There was some spicy paneer curry, dhal which is made out of lentils, rice and water. We aren't allowed to eat meat because we do not believe in killing animals.

After a big, filling meal we said goodbye and trudged back to school. I felt all charged up because it was fun letting other people know what it is like in the golden temple.  

Apple Crumble

Witchy Limerick

There once was a grumpy, old witch 
Who lived in a dirty wet ditch 
She was mad evil 
She ate some weevil
And turned into a wicked witch.

The Worst Meal Ever!

Mouldy cheese ice-cream with cheddar cheese toppings.
I got served with some disgusting mouldy cheese ice-cream, with cheddar cheese toppings. I smelt it with sensitive nose. Aaaaaahhhhhhh! I got shocked. It smelt like raw cheese that was out on the bench for a year. 

My mum told me to taste it. I took a pinch. For a second or two I shivered. I felt suspicious and I felt yellow. Soon I took a pinch and put it onto my wiggly, jiggly tongue. Eeewwwwww! I spit everything out. Then quickly my wicked mum told me that the toppings had got some extra mayo sauce. I thought quickly in my mind that I should run upstairs into the bathroom. 

When Mum saw the empty plate on the ink bench she looked behind the door and she found me. She gave me more. I screamed!

By Mehar

For  dessert  my mother served me chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream and a big glass of chocolate milk .

Yuck! She made the chocolate milk out of  white paint and mud with bugs in it! The chocolate cake was made of crumbly dirt and sticky  mud ! I think I saw some worms sliding  through it ! As for the chocolate ice cream it is made of old ,thick paint and dirt.

While my mother wasn't looking I slipped it into the bin and pretended I had finished. She gave me more! Oh no!

By Thea-Rose

I hate...  

Whenever we eat sour cream it makes my tummy scream!

The next night it makes my stomach tight.

Once again it's sour cream. I tell mum it makes my tummy scream.

Mum said your dad needs your tie, but okay if you don't want me to buy.

This time dad cooks.

Mum and dad don't like sour cream with toppings so this time it was dog droppings!

Yuck Yuck Yuck! But a good idea to not waste our bucks.

This time my brother tries while dad bails out of bed for work.

Christians making bowls of snails!

I do not like snails what slimy things!

Eventually it's nana and grandad.

While dad goes out to bid we have overcooked squid!

Ew! Because uncle Ben makes stew!

Finally it's my turn. I don't choose any of that.

I don't choose takeaways in fact!

I choose McDonald's and the family goes “Delicious!”

Puppy says “belicious” instead.

5 weeks later Mary comes over.

She comes to see Rover eat slugs.

He loves to eat bugs!

After that we finally only eat yum things.

The End.

By Alistair

Dough Relief Birds

Oreo Cookie

DANCING WITH MYTHOLGY

On Thursday Room 16 20 and 21 went to the Manukau Vodafone  Event  Centre. When we arrived we walked patiently and nicely off the bendy bus. When we got off the bus we placed our bag against the stone wall. Next one of the helpers told us to come inside.

Then Moss, one of talented dancer/teachers took us to the Maori Pou Kapua. Up the top of the Pou Kapua was Kupe. Next  we saw Rangi and Papa in the middle of the pole. Tangaroa, the atua of the sea was at the bottom.

Next we went to the wooden stage and Moss organised us into 3 groups. We went with Megan another talented dancer, to learn a dance about Kupe, Rangi and Papa. We learnt lots of dances using our bodies and not our mouths.

 Next we had to go over to the stage to practice our dance. We had to pretend we were snappers, also stingrays and paua.

Next it was time to go to Gabby who is also a talented dancer/teacher. The first part of the dance was to be a centipede. Levi was the leader. While we were following we had to stretch our arms and legs with our knees bending. Half way through we had to pretend we were carving .While we were carving we made a koru . Slowly, slowly we sat down while Hare, who was Tawhaki and did a Maori pose and the rest of us did a noise called PEW PEW. Then we pretended we were being bitten by mosquitoes. After that we went on to the stage to perform our dance in front of the other classes.

We had a great time there and we learnt lots about Maori myths. We wish we could go there again. It was a delightful experience.

Who Am I?

I am an 8 year old girl. I am New Zealand / European. 

I have shiny, hazel almond shaped eyes. My hair is long, soft, straight and light brown. My lips are as dark as strawberries. My skin colour is quite light and is as soft as sand. I often have cuts and sores because I like to be outside. My body is skinny. My nose is chubby.
      I am adventurous, smart, brave and friendly. I am very timid and shy when it comes to meeting new people. I like ice-cream, chocolate, candy, fish and ships and potato bake. I also  LOVE animals. I am good at singing but have stage fright so I won’t sing in front of a crowd. I like to and am good at riding. I also like to climb trees. I like to bake and read, especially animal books.
 

Hi there. I am a boy. I am 7 years old. I am Japanese mostly. 

My eyes are dark brown like a tree trunk. My hair is pitch black like the night. My hard nose is like a piece of iron. My lips are red as your liquid blood. My skin is burnished tan. My right hand has two birth marks.

     I am an animal lover. I like dragons because sometimes the eggs are shiny like pearls. I am quite tired when I wake up. I am very good at fostering animals such as cats from the S.P.C.A. I like constructing things out of lego.

Who am I?

I am a girl. I am Maori. 

I have light, brown hair. My hair is short and smooth as a puppy. My eye lashes are long. My skin is white as a cloud and soft brown as well. 

    I am chubby. I am lazy. I am noisy at home. I like to play soccer with my family. I like sushi and prawns. My favourite desert is ice cream.

    I am good at maths and handwriting too. I am gloomy at home. I am a fast runner. I can do a cartwheel, a flip and a back flip. I can jump really high.

Can you guess who I am?

I am a boy. My age is 8 years old. I am a New Zealander. 

My skin colour is tanish white.  My hair colour is brown. My eye colour is brown with white and a bit of black. My body shape is skinny and tall. My face shape is round like a ball. 

    My personality is brave. I am good at soccer. I like to play on the tramp with my dog Cooper.

I am a mystery girl who is 8 years old, and I am from India. 

I have long, sparkly, wavy, black hair. My eyes are dark brown and very shiny. My eyeball shape is round like a pearl. My face shape is round with a curved chin. The colour of my lips are light pink just like a light pink rose. 

 I am skinny like a stick. I like to do ballet dancing and singing. I am good at drawing, maths and reading. I am kind as a tame puppy. 

    Can you guess who I am?