So today was Simple English class, watch the video to see a few more of the classmates than the last video I did.
We went around to Elizabeth's house and we cooked Muffins, Scones, and Pikelets. Many of them had never heard of Pikelets at all before, and others were amazed at how easy it was to cook very nice tasting Muffins and Scones.
It was a big success!
Also, I recently invested in a new Tripod, so this is a Bonus Edition v:blog because I include travel footage with commentary on Christchurch's motorway & Cashmere Hills.
Enjoy!
Above: Simple English Class cooks Kiwi food, bonus: Iain10-7 Travel Cam
The tracks in the video are: The Doves - The Last Broadcast - 'Intro' Chicane - Far From the Maddening Crowds - 'Offshore (original)'
'Alice in Videoland' is the coolest video/DVD rental store in New Zealand.
Situated corner of Tuam and High Streets in the heart of Christchurch (merely under five minutes away from where I flat, no less... hooah), it truly is a sight to behold.
Charlie Chaplin awaits you outside, and inside the fun really begins.
Think of a movie that you liked as a child, or one that you wonder has disappeared into the mist of time, and see if they have it on their website catalogue at http://www.aliceinvideoland.co.nz/
Their website even has a dynamic, searchable MAP so you can go straight to your DVD when you arrive in the flesh.
They've got everything: french, aussie, anime films (and more), action, thriller, sci-fi, geek (that small, dark room you see on the video. Its the best description for it!), kids, TV Series, blah blah blah and blah... *pant pant*
When I first discovered them I hired out 'The Last Unicorn' (sob!) just cause I COULD!
Above: Welcome to Alice in Videoland. Be jealous.
The owner and/or manager was nice enough to let me film around inside. Hooray!
It's pretty eye-catching, I hope you agree. Like... a candyland... where candy were DVDs and you watched them instead of eating them.
Music in the video is 'Busy Child' by Crystal Method.
vblog: Espresso pt. 2 - The Alternative Congregation
So on Tuesday night, 7:45pm, at Opawa Baptist Church, I attend Expresso/Espresso, my tuesday night 'emergent church' / alternative congregation.
It's conversational based, and no opinion is stupid or disgregarded. It's really great and we can splurge about things that are on our chests in an environment that is safe, open, relaxed, non-judgemental, and yet provides a healthy forum for discussion and debate about biblical and other responses.
For privacy reasons, and the agreement we make between each other, I didn't film actual content of our conversation.
The format is opening prayer, discussion 'rules' (i.e. play nice, don't be rude), then
OPENING
DISCUSSION & FOOD
CLOSING
We randomly select a topic of discussion from the bowl of questions that we have all created. Come and add yours!
If you want to know the stuff we talk about, then feel free to come along to get more detail in person :)
Again, it's Tuesdays, 7:45pm, at Opawa Baptist Church, CHCH.
Here's the teaser trailer I made: (oh, and my conscience leads me to add that I didn't manage to get Jessica in the film - sorry, Jess!)
Above: an inspecific video of Expresso, including my delicious, home-made, vegetarian cheesecake!
The topic on conversation was about money & spiritual practices directing us towards God in our finances, so i themed the food on Money.
I wanted to but chocolate coins, but at the last minute time failed me.
On the menu was a Non-baked, Vegetarian, Pineapple Cheesecake - I used 'Agar-agar' as a substitute for gelatine so that my vegetarian friends could "Enjoy without the added Guilt!"(TM) Why was this money themed? I found it under a recipe title, "Million Dollar Cheesecake". Presumably this just means it tastes like a million bucks, but who cares. Second on the list of food was 'Silver-Dollar Pancakes (a.k.a. pikelets in NZ) with Mixed-Berry Topping'. Silver dollar? Haha?
Since i was taking the time to cook the pikelets (i had made the cheesecake at Andy & Regina's the night before, using the awesome tools there), I decided to make myself a cooking show!
Above: CantabrIAIN Cookery - Silver Dollar Pancakes with Mixed-Berry Topping
Yeah okay, not very rugged or hairy of me. Whatever. I eat well.
Okay, maybe just a closer look at my friends Andy & Regina.
Come check out an evening of dinner at their place, followed by table-tennis at the Motukerara hall.
The hall feels like something as rustic and REAL kiwi as the people in Whale Rider. Its way out of town (okay, 20mins... not much for Auckland), at the mouth of the Banks Peninsula. Out there, the Port Hills(?) loom over you one side and a true Canterbury sunset sits on the other.
No lights, no people. Only stars, friends, and VEGETARIAN NACHOS!
If you look carefully you'll see me switching between bruce-lee-ninja-grip and standard grip on my bat. The ninja-grip is good for spin and it provides a single front towards my opponent rather than having to select forehand or backhand.
Above: Dinner and Good ol' Fashioned Motukeraran Fun
Last time we played I TOTALLY pillaged the scene with my Tibhar Bat of Doom (thanks, Chris). This time I won when I used my bat, but Andy beat me in two other close games where we used the same type of bat. As for the others, I don't have too much trouble winning.
Cousin Paul and his wee wifie Anne were there too, which was nice.
Tomorrow night, Expresso (the tuesday night conversation-based congregation at Opawa)
So, allow me to introduce you to the two teachers of the Simple English class that I attend for part of my fieldwork on Thursdays: Maureen and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is also the mother of a very good friend of mine here and she is very cool, a useful person to have in my life.
You'll also meet Pearl and Monica, two students of Simple English. Pearl was generous enough to shout us all lunch at Infuze Cafe.
Above: My trip to Infuze cafe for lunch with some Simple English people
I might also add, smugly, that on the way back from the Cafe I noticed that I took around about 5 minutes to get home ;)
So come check out my local church, Opawa Baptist Church!
Inside, you will find Rev Dr Steve Taylor wearing a 'Princess Fiona Ogre' wig, as the public spectacle portion of his sermon based on the first 'Shrek' movie!
You'll see the worship, bah!, music team that I'm a part of and meet some of my friends.
Above: My church, Opawa Baptist Church
So I have been doing my fieldwork there on Thursdays at their Simple English class. I will also be expanding my fieldwork into trying to organise monthly 'International Lunches' for internationals in the congregation plus any interested kiwis.
Steve has spoken to me about being a 'Plus5' intern, which is the church's way at intentionally supporting the growth of potential leaders (theoretically, keeping their eye on the state of leadership in five years time, hence Plus5).
Anyway, sorry for those who would prefer more. I had to keep it somewhat brief for the suckers on dial-up!. It is fairly large nevertheless.
Cheers, enjoy life.
Update: Steve noticed my vblog's outing of the Fiona-gate wig debacle, posting my video with a hat-tip of sorts here.
For security reasons I have limited what you see. I wasn't able to do a more comprehensive video, but thats good because it saves on time/space anyway (it's already 15mb).
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about what I do!
Next stop, Opawa Baptist Church! (after I sleep :P)
Edit: It might have to process the video for a while, I'm not sure. It looks like the same video as the intro repeated again right now. If its still doing that later then it obviously hasn't worked.
