Pauahatanui Again - Night 68
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Wellington,
New Zealand
Monday, December 17, 2007
We returned to Pauahatanui today to help the elderly volunteers revegetate their wetland. Rather than weeding, our chores this time leaned toward man's more brutish nature - digging ditches and shoveling stones. Another windy, cloudy day without rain, the weather, the company and the surrounds have given our Pauahatanui trips less than desirable appeal and I will be glad not to return here again during my work with GVN.
On a different note, we gained a volunteer today, Ben. From the Outer Hebrides, islands west of Scotland, Ben is in New Zealand through the BUNAC company and is staying in a different house with some fellow BUNACers from the UK. Thus he and his thick Scottish accent will only be working with us during the day, not enjoying the festive merriment of 111 Normandale Road during the evening hours.
WILT: Some rather normal looking people have amazing stories to tell. One of the old men at Pauahatanui got married straight of high school and then he and his wife went on a seven-year westward tour of the world, working their way from place to place, eventually landing in India, buying a motorcycle (with sidecar) and driving all the way back to England. Once they returned home (in 1961) they decided they didn't like it much in England anymore and agreed to move to their favorite place from their travels, New Zealand. They've been here ever since.
