waka
First day , waka, is a week or two away from Waitangi weekend.
I only went because I knew Kopa was going and I thought “ I might as well go cause I couldn’t last year”. I walk into the fire station with my bag and spare clothes. Once I was there I noticed Kopa was also there at the same time and I didn’t know much about it like what we were going to do. Kopa- “you didn’t need to bring them eh? Do you wanna chuck your bag in the car?”
“oh yuhp” I replied. Then she and I chatted and waited till everyone came to the station.
“What are we gonna be doing Kopa?” “you’ll see”. Everyone starts coming in one by one with their whanau. Am I anxious? Yes, however, I don’t know why. “Will they be speaking fluently?” says the voice in my head “what if I muck up and get growled at for it IN MAORI?!?! and then I don’t understand them” my aunty the day before said “eh you know maori “”yea but not as much as the other people””you’ll be alright , Kelsey girl, you’ll be right”said my Aunty.
Having Kopas company was also helping to calm my nerves, even if she didn’t regularly turn up to waka training. Without Kopa I would have just been alone and stuck in my own head with my nerves. Everyone is here and I know some of the people just not as much as I know Kopa. I followed her around for the whole 2 two hours like I was her prospect or something and continued to follow her right till the end of Waitangi weekend/day.
For the rest of the weeks going, was the same. There were a few times where I got caught off guard because Kopa was arriving late. And feeling a bit lonely, only because I didn’t socialise with everyone else. It kind of trips me up with training. I need to be a little more independent.
Waitangi week-
I arrived at Otiria with anxiety and stress on me. I thank my aunty for dropping me off. I didn’t know where to put my bags. I kind of over packed my bags but I think it’s a good thing you know to be over prepared than not. I walk to the marae to find one of the Kaihautu outside, with my long black skirt that I borrowed from my sister and my grey shirt plus my lashes “don’t forget your lashes gurlies”.
Anyways I walk on the marae with all my bags packed and ready to be put somewhere. I asked the Kaihautu where I should put them. I placed them under this shelter till we needed to pull out the mattresses. Kopa arrives late. Doing waka is kinda hard but when you get used to it, it becomes easier and easier. I’m more than likely going to be going next year.
It was so fun to be with such positive people around me. I think around the third day we had to have a powhiri for the Australian aboriginals, as planned they were supposed to be staying at Tirito Marae. That didn’t happen because there was something else happening over there. It was a good time with them though. Everyone was in such a vibe throughout the whole week we all got along with each other with no conflicts. That’s what I liked the most.
I Think the only rules were stay away from under the trees where all the adults have their smoko’s, there was another, to not to hook up with anyone, “ Waka’s is not the place to find a boyfriend or a girlfriend so the boys are outside in the markee and wahine in the marae “ – says the Kaihautu with her firm statement not even statement a demand baha.
Being on the waka was really relieving, it wasn’t stressful and anything of that kind. It was refreshing every time we hopped off the waka. What we do the waka is painful but a blessing to be on a waka as a female.
Not many people get the chance to be there. no rush, we all had our hoe and rowing in sync. Together. It was as SZA said “ still wanna try, still believe in good days, always”. My aim for this is don’t be afraid to try something new when you get the chance.