Camp, Easter, & the coming of Winter

The weekend before Easter Knox had its first family camp in years at El Rancho, less than an hour from Lower Hutt on the west coast. Many asked us if we have church camps back home, to which we replied that they look pretty much the same as the one here. Bunks, the large mess hall, a confidence course and other outdoor activities, a cafe and canteen, music, and even the "camp concert" (like a talent show). It rained most of Saturday (the kids didn't mind at all), which led to most of the adults spending time in conversation and indoor games. It was a really neat time where we were able to get to know some people better than we could have on a Sunday morning after church. The speaker, a man in the church who runs Global Volunteer Network, spoke to us about loving God with our whole hearts. After 3 sessions, there was definitely a sense of renewed desire to grow closer to God. The highlight of Saturday evening's camp concert was an original composition of "God Loves Scandinavians" played on the piano accordion!

In New Zealand, Good Friday and Easter are public holidays, as well as Easter Monday. In addition, this year Easter Monday falls on ANZAC Day (Australia New Zealand Army Corps), the day when they remember the fallen soldiers at Gallipoli. As a result, everything was closed on Friday, Sunday, and at least the first half of Monday. I found it interesting that in the US, a "Christian nation", we no longer celebrate Good Friday as a public holiday. Here, because Easter is a long weekend (and this year at the end of the 2-week school holiday), many people go away for awhile.

On Thursday, Knox had a Tenebrae service; it was a contemplative service alternating readings from the Gospels with singing a verse from "When I Survey" with moments of reflection, with the lights gradually dimming throughout the service. After the last reading, the lights went out to signify to death of Jesus...but only briefly. To end the service, a candle was lit to remind us that it didn't stay dark for long. Friday morning we had a Good Friday service, which was more of a traditional family service. On Sunday we had a combined service in the big hall, complete with a child dedication. After service, we had the pastor and his wife over, as well as a new friend, an American girl who is going to university in Wellington. I made a ham (my first one), and sweet potato casserole, which they eyed suspiciously...it seemed quite strange to them that you would combine "sweet and savory" foods like kumara (sweet potato) and marshmallows!

In other news...winter has arrived. It has been cold and raining, and thus it is cold and damp in the house. No insulation + no central heat + humidity = me wearing lots of layers in the house! We just purchased an electric blanket and are looking forward to using it!

A taste of New Zealand

It has been brought to my attention that I am overdue for another blog entry; I often forget to write when we don't have any trips or events to tell about. Well, the other night we had an event that triggered an idea in my mind--the foods we have come to like and dislike in NZ, and the foods we miss most from the US.

There is a great farmer's market in town that runs every Saturday year round, and the produce is half the cost of the produce in the stores. Last week, we decided we should be a bit adventurous and try some new, unknown items, so we picked up passion fruit and tamarillos. We're still waiting to try the passion fruit since it wasn't ripe yet, but we did go for the tamarillos. They are small reddish-orange "fruits" in the tomato, potato, eggplant, and bell pepper family:

When we bit into them we almost spit it back out! I just can't even explain the taste, but it's not one I want to experience again. Maybe it was bad because we expected them to be sweet like fruit! We have learned some new names for some produce as well: zucchini = courgette, bell pepper = capsicum, Swiss chard = silverbeet, sweet potato = kumara. Sometimes I come across US recipes where it's hard (or impossible) to find the equivalent here. Like graham crackers--I have not been able to find them anywhere! I know, this is tragic!

Feijoas are another unique Kiwi fruit. You cut them in half and scoop out the inside, like a kiwifruit. They are like a combination between a kiwifruit, pear, and apple...yet that doesn't quite describe it. I heard someone at church today describe it as "sandy perfume"! Kris likes them, but the jury is still out for me. We did make feijoa poppyseed muffins that were tasty!

Here are some other Kiwi foods that we like:

-Sausages: to be placed diagonally on a slice of white bread with onions and tomato sauce (ketchup); the "sausage sizzle" is the iconic Kiwi fundraiser event

-pavlova: a meringue-like dessert slathered with whipped cream, strawberries, and kiwifruit

-pies: as in meat pies! When you talk about pies here, it's not referring to fruit pies. Rather, it's small meat and veggie filled pastry crust, like mini pot pies

A Kiwi food we don't particularly like:

-Marmite: similar to VegeMite (the Australian version); it's a yeast spread that they put on toast or crackers. Thick, dark, salty, very strong!

What we miss from the US:

-Lucky Charms and Peanut Butter Captain Crunch!

-Cheetos and Fritos

-Rubio's fish tacos

-the bottomless cup of coffee

-flavored coffee creamer (not the powdered kind)

-Jiff peanut butter

-Kraft mac and cheese

-Dairy Queen blizzards

All in all, it has been a good culinary experience so far. One of my first big trips to the grocery store, I was almost in tears--overwhelmed by the different brands and names for things, the prices, learning a new place and new measurements. I have come a long ways! Sometimes I have to improvise, but that's what cooking is all about. Mom bought me my first Kiwi cookbook, and I look forward to trying out some new recipes here, and when we come back for a visit.