Nexus Issue 5 2024

Sweaty since ‘88

That people of all races, gender and creed irrespective of level of ability participate with equal value and status in a full range of recreation, leisure and sports activities. (UoW Recreation Centre’s Mission Statement from 1993)

double brown sumo wrestling challenge (‘91)

hyper aerobics in polaris room

bill crome, recreation director (‘93)

original chalkboard signage

The university of waikato recreation centre

I have been sitting at my computer for two days with absolutely no progress. I have written so many first sentences and paragraphs, but I can’t seem to finish them! So, I decided to add all of my starters here for two reasons: one, you can decide which piece you would actually read (keep an eye out for an Instagram poll), and two, if nobody knows what the poll is about and they don’t respond to it, I’ll know that you lot just skip my editorial (which might make me cry).

Option 1:

Do you guys agree that power-scaling between different universes is totally bullshit? Like, if someone told me that Satoru Gojo could beat Goku, I think I would cry because what??

Option 2:

I recently found out through TikTok that the word “bop” is no longer associated with a really good song. Sure, you can still use it for that, but now it has another meaning, and it’s not a pleasant one…

Option 3:

Do you guys ever get scared about what your digital footprint is going to look like? Like, imagine you get famous, and all of a sudden people find out that it was YOU that started Drarry fanfiction (and you will be held accountable because what the fuck), or that you had a BTS stan Instagram account called ‘jungkooksleftpinkytoe”.

Option 4:

I was recently thinking about how awful it is when you’re in a conversation and can’t think of anything to say. So, in order to make sure you are adding value to your social circles, here are a few random conversation starters I’ve learned over the years that may either be terribly outdated or just plain stupid:

Option 5:

Do you guys ever think about how cool it would be if your dreams were actually glimpse into the lives of your multiverse-selves? Shoutout to Doctor Strange 2 for that idea (you were a shit movie but go off).

Surely you guys pick one of these. If you don’t, I will give up :((

[I have paused XO Kitty after pausing The Nanny, Naruto, Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers, and Battlestar Galactica in favour of NOTHING. I’ve rewatched a few episodes of Gilmore Girls and The Regular Show, but those are my mealtime entertainment shows, so they don’t count. I quite literally spent my mid-term break watching Harry Potter (it’s not a tv show so it doesn't count after XO Kitty), football, and ATEEZ at Coachella.]

Editor-in-Chief

Tehana

Senior

Filly

Stien

Advertising

Cover

@nexusmag nexusmagazine www.nexusmag.co.nz

Nexus

Sports Center

Out with the Old, In with the New

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, and the first round is full of tension and entertainment. OKC Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves (Western Conference) are the only teams to reach their semifinals with a clean-sweep of four wins in the first round.

In what seems like the “end of an era”, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant will not be involved in the second round of the Playoffs for the first time in two decades. Since 2005, at least one or more of this accomplished trio has advanced with their team past the first round.

After a brilliant display of determination and talent, Leicester City have won the 2023/24 Championship title. The Foxes are set to come “straight back up” to the Premier League next season.

At the close of the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, the race for the title remains unclear with the Bayern Munich v Real Madrid match ending 2-2, and Borussia Dortmund defeating PSG 1-0. This week, Bayern will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu to battle the stadium’s home team, whilst Dortmund travel to Parc des Princes to do the same.

With the removal of the away goals rule in all UEFA competitions, the result of the Madrid v Bayern game will determine the winner of that pool given that the first leg ended with a tie. However, Dortmund hold a narrow 1-0 advantage over PSG ahead of their next game, meaning the latter has to win by at least 2 goals to advance to the finals. If they win by 1, the game will go into extra time because the overall goals scored over both legs will be 1-1. If the match ends in a draw, Dortmund will advance to the finals due to their advantage from the first leg.

An Interview with

Here at Nexus we love to celebrate people from all walks of life! This week we sat down with three people who grew up as Third-Culture Kids. Marija Miletic, Alex Hill, and Lucy Hurley all grew up with vastly different backgrounds, from Serbia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia! This interview discusses how their experiences as a TCKs has impacted their lives so far.

What does being a thirdculture kid mean to you? How do you define it?

Marija: Being a Third-Culture Kid to me is characterised by the blending of my Serbian and Kiwi life. While I was involved in kapa haka and Jump Jam, I never even tasted pavlova until my friend’s 13th birthday party,

Alex: My parents are from [Country A], I grew up in [Country B]. [Country A] and [Country B] are very different. Because they are both different I got to learn cultural elements from the surroundings of [Country B], but also was raised with the values from [Country A].

Lucy: I would define it as being a person who was raised in a different country than where my parents were raised. This means that I have multiple cultural influences moulding my perspective on… everything really. I kinda consider myself to be a retired Third-Culture Kid. I’ve now spent equal amounts of time in my “home” country and the country that I grew up in. Being a Third-Culture Kid is a really important part of my identity. Not only does it make me feel unique and well-travelled, but it also allows me to understand why I feel a bit out of place wherever I go.

When people ask “Where are you from?” - What do you say?

Marija: I think it’s important to grasp how much white privilege has impacted my experience. I’ve never been asked where I’m from based on my appearance, but the spelling of my name often elicits questions. (Author’s Note: The J is pronounced as a “Y” sound. “Ma-Ree-Yah”)

Alex: I say I’m from Papua New Guinea. And if there’s a follow up question, I just clarify that my family is from New Zealand.

Lucy: I usually just say “What do you mean?”. Where is my accent from? Where do I currently live? Where was I born? Where did I grow up? Where are my parents from? THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS. If I feel up to explaining it I just rattle off the “Born in Saudi Arabia, 10 years in Hong Kong, and now I’m here” spiel.

How do you interact with the world compared to somebody who wasn’t raised as a TCK?

Marija: I don’t think I see the world particularly differently from other people around me. I do however feel a sense of disconnection from my Serbian side when I’m in Serbia as every interaction is a reminder of my lack of fluency.

Alex: I like to think that I’m more open minded compared to other people. Otherwise, my experience living in PNG definitely gave me more stories to tell than the average person.

Lucy: There’s this stereotype that TCK’s are usually really extroverted and outgoing because they’ve had the exposure to so many different people and experiences in their life. I’m not too sure about that, but I can attest to the fact that I can be more open-minded and tolerant compared to some people I’ve met. I think that’s entirely due to the fact that I’m so used to the idea that there’s so many different cultures, ideologies, and variation between people (because that’s what I grew up around) that there’s not much I would automatically have reservations about.

How do you interact with the culture that your parents grew up in, versus the culture that YOU were surrounded by growing up? How are they different or similar?

Marija: The laid-backness of Kiwi culture is definitely something that isn’t as present in Serbian culture. While you can usually go into any supermarket without shoes here in Aotearoa, there’s no chance you could do that in Serbia.

Alex: COMPLETELY different. When my parents were growing up in NZ they could go outside and be fine without a second thought. I grew up in the LITERAL JUNGLE and had to be accompanied by a guard if I left my compound. My first time back in NZ when I was 12 I was so confused that I could just… go outside and not need protection? Very odd.

Lucy: I don’t exactly look “out of place” in NZ and nobody would automatically know that I’m not exactly from NZ. I still can’t point to most major cities on a map, or relate to a lot of typical Kiwi childhood experiences (What’s Ag Day?). However, in Hong Kong, I went to international schools so everyone was from a different place meaning that there wasn’t just ONE culture I was experiencing; I learnt about SO many.

Can you recall any moments growing up (or recently) that you think are unique as a result of being a TCK?

Marija: There have been occasions where my parents have laughed at my unfamiliarity with Serbian customs. Despite the seeming insignificance, they’ve left an impression on me as I’m often embarrassed to exhibit my Serbian side now.

Alex: I was baffled that my school in NZ had no armed guards or barbed wires. Also, this one time, when I was around 7, a man showed up at our house and handed me a HUGE snake. When I excitedly showed my parents my new pet they screamed. I had to give it back. No pet snakes for me :( That could NEVER happen in NZ.

Lucy: In Hong Kong, I wasn’t really seen as “different” at school - because everyone was from a different background anyway (International School). In public however, people were a bit confused why there was a little blonde kid running around ShaTin Plaza. When I moved to NZ everybody asked me if I was British, because I had an international school accent. Also - at the time when I just moved - I hadn’t experienced a proper NZ summer, so I came into school on my first day as the weird pale kid (people said I looked like a ghost) with a British accent who doesn’t know what Jump Jam is.

What are some common questions you often get asked when people find out that you’re a TCK?

Marija: Mostly I just get hit with “Can you say something in Serbian?”. Luckily, I don’t face any discrimination from others, which is something that I don’t think can be said for other Third-Culture Kids.

Alex: “What was it like?” - Hot. “You don’t look like you’re from PNG” - Great observation. I am a white man.

Lucy: I usually get asked if I can speak Mandarin or Cantonese. I haven’t spoken either language since I was 12. I can maybe understand a little bit if I gather all my brain cells together.

DONT QUOTE ME

JOJO SIWA

“Dream guest on my podcast? Honestly, let’s spice things up, Probably one of my exes”

ADELE

“Divorce babe divorce”

TRISHA PAYTAS

‘I wonder if Selena Gomez named rare beauty because she has that rare disease”

FISH GIRL

“NINA”

(for reference just search it on google :( nobody understands my joke)

NICHOLAS GAZITLINE

(Red, White & Royal Blue) That one scene where he’s riding the horse. Perfection.

ZENDAYA

(Challenger) Well it’s Zendaya

KI HONG LEE

(The Maze Runner) Why maze-running when he can keep running through my head??? (ooohhhhh rizzlord)

CATE BLANCHETT

(Tár) She is here for lesbian visibility week.

THOMAS WETHERALL

CRUSH OF THE WEEK

KIT CONNOR TOP

British actor with a big heart and a big uhh… just playing! Kit Connor has charmed the audience playing Nick Nelson in Heartstopper, a coming-of-age rom-com series. Unfortunately, my man recently fell for the buzzcut crush, decreasing his charm by 1% (I’m heartbroken). Check his new act with THE Songbird aka Rachel Zegler as Romeo and Juliet on Broadway.

(Heartbreak High) I could never get over him putting on sunscreen with Rowan in the newest season.

gay awakening

(The Last of Us) Please don’t put the male gaze image here. She is for the

JACOB ELORDI

(Saltburn) Save a horse, ride a cowboy.

BILLIE EILISH

Bi-icon. Bicon. The people’s choice.

PEDRO PASCAL

(Strange Way of Life) Well this is awkward.

CHICHA AMATTAYAKUL

She even made a man pregnant so do I need to elaborate?

LO-FIVE

TOO SWEET -HOZIER

Karma Jojo Siwa 2/10

Clara Bow Taylor Swift 8/10

No.

Espresso

Sabrina Carpenter 7/10

Anything from mother is a blessing. It gives a Peach PRC vibe that I can’t quite explain.

January 20February 18

Ask your situationship

“What are we?”

February 19March 20

Tattoo time! Go get whatever’s on your Pinterest board, blame us if your nan hates it x

March 21APRIL 19

Whatever you’re umming and erring about- just do it for the plot.

Would you love me if I was a cat?

Choose what kind of cat you think you are

A) Orange cat

B) Black cat

C) Hairless cat

D) Tuxedo cat

Who would you be in a zombie apocalypse?

A) A support character who would end up sacrificing their life for the other.

Your attachment style?

A) Dismissive - Avoidant attachment: you push away people when you feel the love coming from others. You fear love will become your greatest weakness.

B) Secure attachment - you never feel the need for your partner to prove their loyalty. If they cheat on you, they steal your problem, not your man.

B) The protagonist - a loner at first but still protective over the

C) Fearful - Avoidant attachment: You don’t trust anybody, including yourself.

D) Anxious attachment - you have low self-esteem, always preoccupied with negative thoughts about screwing up the relationships.

Where do you usually go to on an ideal night out?

A) Abandoned places. Probably under a bridge or inside a sewer or idk a jungle? A forest?

B) A music bar, concert, or party.

C) Fine dini ng restaurants with a group of friends.

D) Insi de reading books with your cats.

What item do you have in your room?

A) A guitar

B) A box of cigarettes

C) Decorative magazine

D) A pile of unread books

Favourite colour?

A) Green

B) Red

C) Black

D) Brown

If you’re only allowed to watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you go for?

A) The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Choose your favourite artist

A) The Smiths

B) Arctic Monkeys

C) Britney Spears

D) Queen

B) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

C) The Devil Wears Prada

D) Dead Poet Society

APRIL 20MAY 20

MAY 21JUNE 20

I really feel like you guys would benefit from going out on a Wednesday night!

JUNE 21JULY 22

Check out that cart you’ve been too sensible to purchase yet!

Roman Empires

(Trends That Should Make A Return)

Splurge: Polaroid Photo Printer

Pros and cons:

- Prints photos directly from your phone

- Can edit photos

- More convenient if you forgot your camera

Save: Fujifilm Instax Camera

Pros and cons:

- Nostalgia

- Ability to make cute photo walls

- Authentic

MEAL PREP BAKED OATS| Blueberry Cheesecake.

@thefitlondoner

Delicious and good for those gains. ��

Ingredients: Makes 3-5 servings.

- 200g rolled oats

- 2 bananas

- 60g salted caramel soy protein

- 420ml milk

- 1 tsp baking powder

Method:

- 120g frozen blueberries, warmed in the microwave with 1 tsp maple syrup

- 6 tbsps greek style vanilla yoghurt

- just assemble as shown, bake in the oven (180 C) for 35-40 mins and you’re good to go! I like to serve mine up with soy yoghurt and drizzly peanut butter. Simply store the rest in the fridge and either microwave your portion when you want it for 1 min, or have a cold for an oat bar vibe.

S S M M K J Q A D J N L S T I G J A L I E W G X Z J C X R W X R S P N F J D C I

V X Z H W J I S H P V E R S A C E N B U R B E R R Y C V H B

Help shape the future

Hamilton Kirikiriroa

Share your voice on the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan

Every three years we develop our Long-Term Plan. It sets our major projects, budgets and financial strategy for the next 10 years.

We're focusing on: looking after what we've got

⋅ delivering the essentials

⋅ balancing the books. Have we got the balance right?

Read more information and share your voice.

VOLUNTEER EXPO

Thinking of volunteering this year?

Already volunteering but want to expand your network?

Meet-up with organizations from Waikato and the University that love working with volunteers.

Come along for a chat and explore the various opportunities waiting for you to dive into.

Date: Monday, 8 April 2024

Time: 11am - 2pm

Venue: The Pā, Māu, māku, mā tātou katoa