Tuesday 24 April 2012

Good day all. I have been extremely slow with the updates this year I’m sorry. There has been a lot happening recently, from April Fool’s Day to rugby to everything else. Here’s what’s been going on this term apart from work:

April fool’s Day War
Stephen, Kyle and I doing up
Anna's door-with a decoration
Dan was sleeping peacefully on Sunday, 1st April when he was awoken with a start by Agathe (of France) and Emily. The two mischief makers broke into his room as he slept and poured a cup of cold water over him! He took it well though, and congratulated them, in the spirit of April fools day. Dan would later collaborate with Kyle against Stephen, and tape up his room. Poor Stephen. He could not access his door. On top of that he could not navigate his room without a scissors afterwards! Stephen responded by putting Dan’s Fiji flag up on the tree outside hostel. Kyle, a very particular person, lost one of all his pairs of socks. However, that was nothing compared to what was to kick off before lunch time…

From left: Basti, Agathe, myself, Stephen, Kyle, Martha,
Dimitri, Lisa and Yannick
Steve, Sebastian (Basti), Kyle and Dimitri had earlier that morning played a prank on the Martha, Basti’s girlfriend, phoning her that Basti had hurt his head with a concussion and could not remember her or anyone (Dan refused to partake in such a horrendous act).  Martha’s response sparked off a war in boys side. Attacking the culprits one by one (and Dan, for no reason) she got them all in the face properly with shaving cream! What followed was chaos. The boys plus Martha, Agathe and Lisa became engaged in an every-man (and woman)- for himself fight to the death end involving shaving cream. Every person involved, as well as many innocent passers-by was soon covered in shaving cream. (These passers-by soon became more than just passers-by). Dan discovered that shaving cream makes great hair gel. Tawanda (Zimbabwe) discovered that water is a great deterrent of cream-wielding crazies. Before long, everyone was wet and covered in foam. Tawanda was in just his shorts and was armed with a water bottle, and had taken several hostages, before escorting everyone out of hostel- Somali Pirate style! The hostel was a mess, a bit like Suva after the hibiscus festival, though instead of half full barbeque packets there were puddles of water and foam. 
me: 'let's raise this on the school flagpole!'
(Didn't happen)

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“There’s no trees in Botswana, right?”
Kang Ho (Swaziland)
Waking up Rituals in Triple Distilled
School starts at 8am. Breakfast is served at 7. Of course, that means that we IB students usually must get up before these times. This may sound like a simple task, but believe me, waking up after an average 5-6 hour sleep is not pleasant. Triple Distilled is the name of my corridor. It includes Kyle, Stephen, Basti and Rohann. Stephen is quite good at waking up in the mornings, really good actually. Despite my setting an alarm, it is usually he who gets me up, beating me up with pillows if I had forgotten to lock my door the previous night. I’ll admit, getting me up is no easy feat. (Get this- I continued to sleep after Agathe had dumped water on me). I then normally get up Kyle. This is not easy. I usually open the door and stare at him, which usually gets him up. However on occasion I resort to jumping into his bed with him making him feel awkward. Even this does not always work. On certain occasions it takes me spooning him to get him out of bed! He then will go to brush his teeth. Once, comically after I had gotten him up by jumping into his bed I fell asleep there! Rohann once joined in giving a strip tease. Usually, none of us are thinking straight on the way to breakfast, and usually end up singing talking absolute nonsense. It usually takes until breakfast to fully wake up...
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For those who are (still) confused:
Country=Swaziland
People=Swazi(s)
Language=SiSwati
Waterford Krunch Time
Waterford is full of drama. Fights over girls, boys, food, etc. Personally I have never been one for drama. It’s just a little bit of a waste of time in my opinion. However, some people live for it it seems. A new Facebook page called Waterford Krunch Time has been circulating explicit rumours around the school. Of course, I and many people have boycotted it. It is really ridiculous, set up by some poor old sod of mysterious identity (though there are suspects) with no life or something. Anyways, like it or not, Krunch Time has caught much attention, and the identity of the page manager is a common topic of conversation, leading to many jokes and conspiracy theories. Personally there have been no rumours about me (yet). Rumours don’t really bother me anyways…
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A few of my more crazy friends


Rugby Players feel the pain.
By Daniel Naidu
Two rugby tournaments were played over two weeks at the Waterford Kamhlaba international stadium field. The first was held between Waterford, Sisikelo and Manenga schools, and the teams all met twice each, in sevens encounters. Waterford lost their first three matches, before beating out Manenga 12-7 in the final match of the day. The top try scorer for Waterford was the Daniel Naidu of the Fiji Islands, who ran in two tries against Sisikelo in the 17-15 loss. The lucky-number-13 ended the day with a groin/hamstring injury, which put his chances of playing the following week in doubt. Of the 12 man Waterford squad, 9 ended the day with injuries, ranging from minor sprains to broken ligaments. Waterford ended the day third out of three, a rather disappointing result for the hosts.

Waterford and Sisikelo played another tournament the following week, joined by the intimidating Wembley College from Grahamstown, South Africa. Waterford lost the first match of the day to Wembley, 21-19, and later lost to Wembley again 24-17, after the latter scored a last minute try. Waterford went on to smash Sisikelo this time, 38-0 in the final match. Chris (Mozambique), our 100m sprinting champ was the top try scorer this week, with something in the region of 6 tries! Naidu, that brilliant player, who was injured, bravely played about 12 minutes at flyhalf, and set up two tries and kicked one conversion.

So that (totally unbiased) article sums up what went on during the two rugby tournaments. I am happy to have got my first two tries for Waterford, and hope more are to follow! I wasn’t really forced to play in the second tournament, but I kinda wanted to, and took the offer from our coach. I am extremely ill disciplined when it comes to waiting out injuries.
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In addition to that, I played in a soccer tournament on the last day of school, as a last minute replacement. I was goalkeeper, but we lost the first match 7-0! The second match we lost 12-0 (though, to my defence, I wasn't goalkeeper) and in the third we drew 2-2 (this time thanks to my goalkeeping! :P )

Anyways, that is about it for this term. It’s been a great one. Michael, Phyllis, Emily, Marcus and many others have joined me as Fijians Overseas. It’s been cool talking to you guys!


‘Remember, happiness is a means of travel, not a destination’

For now, it is Moce Viti from this side! ;)
DKN

Saturday 10 March 2012

The Good and Horrors of Year Two

PSSST

So… Six weeks have gone by and I haven’t given an update in 2012. Gosh. Who the hell is still reading this?  Well, the first six weeks of term we have been absolutely jam packed with work. I haven’t had time to write a blog yet. (That would be my first lie, technically I have had time but I cherish every moment of free time I have right now)



The trip back to this side was a lot of fun, especially since I met my good old buddy Jennifer on the plane on the way to Hong Kong! She was nice enough to take me around Hong Kong, both of us in flip flops, me in shorts in the seven degrees weather. Typical conversation in the department stores:
Jen (trying on scarf): Omg Daniel try this scarf on!
Dan (tries it on): Oh wow it feels so amazing! How much is it?
Jen (looking at price tag and laughs): Never mind.

Lightning in Swaziland. (This storm wasn't even in our school)
If you want a pen pal from Swaziland don’t hesitate to mail me a letter. You can find me at the following address:
Daniel Naidu
Emhlabeni Hostel
Waterford Kamhlaba
Mbabane
Swaziland
I promise I’ll reply any letters I receive! J

This went on until we were both drunk with tiredness (why else would she try to pay me HK$10 with 10c Fiji? Hahaha!) I think it was about 26 hours without sleep for the both of us by the time she came back to the airport with me at 10:30pm for my flight. It was an amazingly good time though! (owe you one Jen)
So uneventfully returned to Swaziland, it was great to see my friends again. Back at school, and meeting the first years was good as well. Many new friends. School has been intense though. The maths portfolio caused me to sleep after 3am for at least 10 nights straight! You would see students dropping off to sleep in class during the maths portfolio. My immune system still hasn't quite recovered 4 weeks later! But our task was pretty cool: We had to design a casino dice game! Obviously to do this properly I had to watch the movie 21. Epic movie.



I’m sure I mentioned this to everyone, but I was lucky enough to visit Emily in Zimbabwe over the holidays. We had such a great time there, with Anna and Dimitri as well. The highlight definitely had to be seeing Victoria Falls and going bungee jumping down there! 111 metres, it is the second highest bungee in the world! Emily had my funeral plans ready before I jumped, and we started singing Leaving on a Jet Plane. Anyways apparently her scream was louder than mine but I enjoyed the jump so much! I totally recommend it! Funnily enough two weeks after I jump some poor Aussie snaps her rope on the same bridge! Kinda scary and my mum is freaked out now.

Reaction after surviving the bungee jump :)


We had a swimming gala last week, and I was assigned to swim freestyle. For me, swimming is basically not drowning, so I was always going to struggle. Anyways I ended up somehow doing breast stroke for my house and I managed to come second! (from the back). Next week is the interhouse atheletics. 1500m here we come!

What about this? I met a girl from the Netherlands named Lisa, who was born in--- yeap. Fiji! Although she only spent 9 months of her life there I call her the Fijian. (She still thinks I was tried to pick her up by talking about how Fijians used to be cannibals 200 years or so ago. Long story don’t ask haha.) Anyways, apart from that, I met another kid called Daniel at this school who had spent the last year in Lautoka! Freaky huh? And he had actually met Tamiana! Small world isn’t it.

It was going around hostel, Fiji was officially listed as the happiest country in the world. I can actually believe that but it was really nice to read and hear! :) Keep it up Fiji!

My community service for this year is gardening. We go to the Salvation Army camp in Mbabane and plant vegetables for their kitchen. Well, three weeks, and three snakes spotted! The second one I only saw after I felt it slide over my foot! Luckily I’m kinda a calm person and didn’t scream or jump. Snakes here can be quite nasty apparently.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Anyways, that’s half of term one gone!
Be happy NOW, or you’ll regret it later! ;)

Moce
DKN