Script Mag- The International Issue

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8 SERVING IN THE ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCE: A SOLDIER'S STORY

CONT

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ISSUE #9 MONDAY S

BRET MCKENZIE INTERVIEW

NEXT ISSUE: THE YEARBOOK

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW EDITOR: JAYNE KING GRAPHIC DESIGN: MARK LOVATT STUDENT DESIGN INTERNS: MIMI CHUNG, STANLEY ZEN

CONTRIBUTORS: Shannon Pennefather, Nicki Spring, Kaye Adams, Phubeth Udomsilp, Britany Dyke, Sam Polwart, Ruth Marsters, Billie Jean Peita, Melissa Diener, Natalie Wilcox

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Bronwyn International Office. And Mimi C cover and conte


44 COOKIE IN JAPAN

TENTS

40

SEPTEMBER 17TH 2012

THAI GUIDE BY A THAI GUY

ISSUE, OUT 15 OCTOBER 2012

W TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTER

n Watts & Sarah Sung from the Chung and Stanley Zen for the ents design.

ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL INQUIRES ph. (09) 815 4321 ext 7383 usucommunications@unitec.ac.nz

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football fix Normal On White

events events â—? kids& â—? leagues leagues adult premier


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Friend (A) is living the dream in London, married to a handsome NZ soldier on duty in Europe, earning mega bucks, rocking a serious designer wardrobe and attending all the velvet roped, private functions that one could only watch via MTV. Sailing around the islands of Nice or Majorca clad only in the most luxurious of threads is only a minute part of this business savvy friend of mine. Beautiful, educated and gutsy, her life adventures read stylishly similar to an episode of Mad Men (minus the debauchery) yet with the decorum of Kate Middleton and Prince Will’s wedding. Friend (B) is living frugally in Scotland; believe me she can take the “Living below the line” to an extreme. A “damsel in distress” she is NOT! Bunked in with a mob of foreigners in this grand Jane Eyre type manor is something she has done with a conscious effort, alongside existing on a scabbed (not purchased) cigarette and a pint of Guinness. Her end goal of being in the land of kilts, is to find that special ginger ninja. I have known this friend to couch surf around Auckland for more than a year and live out of one or two small plastic bags at a time. Materialistic she is not, but having a good time to her is a must.

Friend (C) is doing the Oz thing. After years of travelling the globe and worn-out by the endless grind, she moved away from the tall poppies and decided to pursue her dreams of making a difference. Her biography (if she had one) would read like a colourful homage to Samantha from Sex and the City. Breaking hearts from the top of the world to the bottom, this friend is sassy and depraved. With a law degree (earned in OZ) under her belt, this feisty ex-JAFFA is living life meaningfully in Melbourne with the man of the moment, sipping on the odd vino and latte overlooking the beautiful and quirky Lygon Street. Last I heard, this friend was using her legal skills to evade a speeding ticket and is emphatically denying the charges. Like Whitaker's chocolate, I savour the weekly and sometimes daily updates from my piquant friends and, needless to say, they provide more entertainment than I can handle on my dreariest days. If you, like me, have yet to venture further afield, then thank your lucky stars for social media stalking and status updates. Peace and love Jayne x

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THE TRAVELLING BUG HAS DEVOURED MANY OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS. I HAVE A HANDFUL OF MY ‘NEAREST AND DEAREST’ SCATTERED AROUND THE GLOBE LIKE KUMARA AND PUMPKIN SEEDS AND THANKS TO FACEBOOK, I AM ABLE TO LIVE OUT BOTH MY BEST (FANTASIES) AND WORST (NIGHTMARES) VICARIOUSLY THROUGH THEM ALL.



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FINALLY AN ISSUE OF SCRIPT MAGAZINE ON A SUBJECT I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT! MOST OF THE “NOUGHTIES” WERE SPENT BY ME GOING GLOBAL AS THE WORLD’S POOREST JET-SETTER. IN MY TRAVELS I LEARNT IMPORTANT LESSONS; FIRST, IF YOU ARE DOWN TO YOUR LAST 20 EURO THE BEST PLACE TO SPEND IT IS IN A BAR BECAUSE MAGIC ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT! AND SECOND, THE BEST WAY TO END A RELATIONSHIP IS AT THE DEPARTURE GATE WHILE A SINGLE TEAR ROLLS DOWN YOUR CHEEK. Kiwis need to get out into the world. The Big O.E. (overseas expedition) has been a part of our culture for generations and when we get out we stay out for ages! Back in the day we used to all head straight for London. I wouldn’t advise this. London has been done to death and you will only be able to afford a space on the floor of a single room with four other people; if you’re lucky. Try going somewhere you have never heard of. I went to Hamburg for a weekend one time, and stayed three years. So why do it? Because nothing

beats getting out of your home town to find out whom you are. When you go to the other side of the world you learn so much more about NZ than you ever could by staying there. Some say Auckland is the second largest city in the world on land mass. It’s not. It’s the world’s largest town! So if you’re from foreign parts, welcome and thanks for bringing the world to NZ. If you’re from Aotearoa, go give'em a taste of kiwi! Peace out. El Presidente Shannon Pennefather (Unitec Student President)


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8

SERVING IN THE

ISRAELI

DEFENCE

FORCE

A SOLDIER’S STORY BY: MELISSA DIENER MELISSA IS A 3RD YEAR BACHELOR IN COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT, DOING A DOUBLE MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA STUDIES. SHE W A S B O R N A N D R A I S E D I N S W I T Z E R L A N D B U T H A S B E E N H E R E F O R T H E P A S T 2. 5 YEARS AND STILL LOVES BEING HERE!


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IT IS ON ONE OF THOSE FIRST SUNNY SPRING AFTERNOONS IN AUCKLAND WHEN I MEET UP WITH FORMER ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCES SOLDIER ILAN BLUMBERG. BEING AWARE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF HIS VOICE, HE TALKS OPENLY ABOUT HIS SERVICE IN THE WEST BANK, FACING ACCUSATIONS OF BEING A SELF-HATING JEW AND THE REASON WHY HE DIDN’T SHOOT BACK.


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"I never fully un what apartheid w South Africa an same with Israel After having moved back and forth several times between South Africa and Israel during his childhood and teenage years, Ilan Blumberg decided to live in Israel at the age of 24, being aware that this desire was connected with one indispensable obligation: completing the compulsory military service in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Because of his language skills he was assigned the position of education officer. A lot of western Jews in the IDF spoke little Hebrew, and those who were born in Israel were not fluent in English. Things were not looking that bad after all for Ilan, and so he waited for that one phone call that would allow him to get started with training courses. They never called. Instead Ilan was sent to a base in occupied West Bank on the promise that it would only be for a short period of time. “It was a depressing place,” he recalls. Together with 15 other soldiers, his only

job was to control a Palestinian village, and make sure none of those villagers would sabotage the water line that went past their houses. But it was not the Palestinian villagers, nor that water line that interested the soldiers the most. It was the fence that was constructed alongside the water pipe, which would set off an alarm at the Israeli base every time someone or something would touch it. “The alarm was our only signal for action. We would jump into our gear, grab our arms and storm towards the village. Sometimes, to our disappointment, we saw that it had only been a dog that set off the alarm. If there was no incident for a long time, the soldiers would create scenarios themselves. The fence was used as an unjustified reason to carry out raids in the Palestinian village. Random houses were violently entered, potential weapons were confiscated and villagers got humiliated or beaten up for no particular reason. “One day, we broke someone’s arm,” Ilan remembers.


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I don’t need to ask him for a reason. It is obvious that there was none. Ilan also remembers that his unit would drive around the Palestinian village so some soldiers could throw rubbish at people from the back of the truck. Rubbish, such as empty cans, which they deliberately collected throughout the week for just this one purpose: To relieve stress by humiliating Palestinians. Ilan watched but never threw rubbish himself. When being asked whether he was conscious of his actions, he nods without hesitation. All of a sudden, the reports and videos about the inhumane actions of IDF soldiers towards Palestinians that I have read and watched with my head shaking, not understanding how people can treat each other like that, had taken on human shape. I did not blame or judge him for what he did because war, at the end of the day, is a human activity which is as old as mankind. It turns people into lifeless creatures who have forgotten their sense of humanity. Ilan still remembers the day he was shot at.

“It was like it all happened in slow motion. I could see the spark of the gun. Then I smelt the gun powder in the air. My whole body instantly broke out in sweats and I think I fainted. The bullet had missed me though.” He was court-martialed after that incident just like every other soldier who was shot at but didn’t shoot back. “They wanted to have an explanation why I didn’t shoot back.” He seems to travel back in time and replay the scene in his head. “Because I could have hit someone, I replied”. Although Ilan got punished for not shooting back, his colleagues were still jealous of him because he got “action” while the rest of the unit remained bored. The lust for something, anything, to do becomes a chronic illness that accompanies a soldier’s mind 24/7. The frustration of walking around with a loaded gun, day after day, week after week, and not being able to shoot a single bullet becomes insufferable. When asking to be transferred

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nderstood was until I left nd it is just the l."


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TWO ISRAELI SOLDIERS ARRESTING A PALESTINIAN IN THE WEST BANK

to a different base, Ilan was told to keep those thoughts to himself if he didn’t want to end up in military jail. Only after six long months in the West Bank, Ilan was allowed to use his one flight out of Israel. After visiting his family who lived in New Zealand at that time, he returned to Israel but refused to go back to the same base in the West Bank for ideological reasons. The army let him finish his one year service at a different location. Thanks to a mistake in processing his application, he had to complete service only one year, instead of the usual three. I ask him what he did when he finished his military service. He laughs. “I got drunk. Really, really drunk.” He takes another gulp of his Tiger beer and pauses for a moment. “Have you been to Israel?” he then asks me back. I shake my head. He explains that someone who has never lived in Israel cannot understand how Israeli society functions. Everything is completely tied up with the military service.You can't get a good education or job, and sometimes not even a mortgage, if you are what they call a “Refusenik,” a person who refuses to serve in the army. There are two sorts of people who are exempt from serving in the army: the ultraorthodox Jews and people who are (or claim to be) suicidal. The expression of suicidal thoughts, however, will be recorded and remain a thorn in the judgemental eye of society.

No matter where you go, the first question you are asked will always be: "Where did you serve?” Whoever doesn’t go to the army misses out on a huge part of understanding how Israeli society functions. The IDF is often a focus point in school curricula, songs and news and therefore is a vital part of Israeli culture. Nevertheless, Ilan’s viewpoint of Israel as a benign occupier have changed noticeably since he got some distance from the IDF and gained consciousness of the whole conflict. “I never fully understood what apartheid was until I left South Africa and it is just the same with Israel. Once I got some time to process what had happened in the IDF, I couldn’t understand how we as Jews, a people who experienced a Holocaust, were capable of doing such horrible things to other people. In fact, I couldn’t understand how anyone can do this to other humans” One has to take into account though that Israel has changed since the nineties, when Ilan was in the army. With the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, the political situation experienced a drastic paradigm shift from a secular left wing leadership to the extreme right wing opposition that has remained dominant until the present day. Because of his rising political opposition against Israel, Ilan often has to face accusations of being called a self-hating Jew.


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He tells the story of a friend who cycled through the West Bank once. He asked her if she was crazy and why on earth she would do such a dangerous thing. His friend simply replied: “Why not?” She told him that the Palestinians were extremely hospitable and friendly, and even invited her to be a guest in their houses. He had to agree with his friend after thinking about it. Why not?! Today, Ilan truly believes that if a Palestinian state will bring a solution to the conflict, then there should be a Palestinian state. Another factor that encouraged Ilan’s change of view is the Israeli organization “Breaking the Silence”. Former IDF soldier Yehuda Shaul founded the organization in March 2004 after the second Intifada. A small group of veteran combatants started collecting and publishing testimonies from various other former soldiers who, at that time, were believed to be the only ones who disagreed with the IDF’s cruel methods of gaining Palestinian territories. They were left alone with the belief that they were the only ones who suffered from the traumatising memories. The organisation's aim is to inform the public about a soldier’s everyday life in occupied territories in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Up until the present day,

Breaking the Silence has collected over 700 testimonies from almost every unit of the IDF. Every single one of those testimonies has been carefully researched and cross-checked with additional eye witnesses and/or other human rights organisations that operate in the same field. Ilan Blumberg too, is one of those soldiers who believe his unique voice deserves to be heard. He says he would rather go to jail than serve in the army if he had to make the same decision again. The end of our conversation leads us straight back to the fence we talked about at the beginning. “Sometimes you feel like you sit on a fence that is situated between right and wrong and it appears that it is up to you to decide which side you want to be on. It makes you weak. I guess I haven`t been a very good soldier. A soldier of peace maybe.” Ilan Blumberg has been living in New Zealand for several years now where he works asa registered architect. In the meantime, Ilan has contacted Breaking the Silence to testify, but was told that only testimonies from the year 2000 onwards could be accepted for their database.

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“I have changed my opinion about a lot of things,” he says.


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Y D E M CO

ON TH S E ROCK

The Jewel of Parakai BY: SAM POLWART

3RD YEAR BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT BY DAY AND COMEDIAN, MUSICIAN AND CEO OF AWESOMENESS BY NIGHT!

PARAKAI MAY NOT BE A LOCATION YOU REGISTER WHEN CONTEMPLATING A GREAT NIGHT OUT, BUT THIS THOUGHT PROCESS MAY YET CHANGE. RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN RESURGENCE TOWARDS THIS SUBURBAN GEM IN THE FORM OF COMEDY ON THE ROCKS. LOCALISED AT THE ICONIC GEOTHERMAL WONDER PARAKAI SPRINGS, COMEDY ON THE ROCKS GRASPS THE STELLAR COMBINATION OF RELAXATION AND HILARITY, RESULTING IN A RELAXED, INTIMATE AND HILARIOUS AFFAIR.


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Created by self-confessed “part time comic, full time ladies' man” Anthony Wilson, Comedy on the Rocks is a relatively new venture that has already featured some of Auckland’s, New Zealand’s and the world’s best comics across its stage. Think award winning Kiwi comics such as Jarred Fell, Brendon Lovegrove, and Mark Scott all performing to thunderous applause. Not limited to just us locals, international superstars Lindsay Webb (Australia) and Marcel Lucont (France) featured as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, leaving audiences in fits of giggles and audiences expelling what Webb described as “Just an acceptable amount of pee”. Not for the faint of heart, these events do sometimes contain a certain amount of vulgar and slightly offensive humouristic activities, however tailored together with skills from award winning MC’s like Nick Rado, the audience is easily charmed by his cheeky and somewhat short demeanour. When questioned about offensive content Wilson responded, “an audience understands that they are attending an event where they may be exposed to potentially offensive content, so a certain amount of resilience and acceptance is always expected. On top of this I am on hand if anything gets 'out of hand', but that has never happened”.

In contrast to other renowned venues of Auckland city, Comedy on the Rocks offers a different atmosphere. Doing away with smoke and mirror necessities it focuses more on raw talent and audience enjoyment. “It’s a little more relaxed than venues like ‘The Classic’ as it’s outside and there isn’t the same expectation that all comics need to be great” describes Wilson. Directly comparing this event with others in Auckland, it easily stands up on its own, in terms of quality, professionalism and value for money. Set in a converted marque, this outside venue does get quite chilly towards the end of the evening, despite the five gas heaters warming the audience, so it is strongly advised that audience members dress warmly. For lovers of comedy who like the thought of a relaxing thermal bathe after an evening of abdominal aching chuckle cheering, then Comedy on the Rocks might be the medicine you’ve been lacking. For information on Comedy on the Rocks, and their events, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ ComedyontheRocks


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guide to flatting

PREPARED BY THE USU ADVOC ACY TEAM

DO YOU HAVE AN AWKWARD FLATTING SITUATION? THEN READ THIS FOR TIPS AND INFORMATION ON HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AND YOUR RIGHTS.


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CLEAN ’T N O W O H W Y U G THE USELESS

NOISY FLATMATE TRAY S A T U B , Y A R T S A N O-O N E L IK E S . T H A T P A Y S IS O K A Y There are three single flatmates, and three bedrooms. Everyone can have a room and friends can come over and leave, whenever they want.

• you probably should clear it with your

After a while, you notice that one guy is coming over a fair bit, and staying a few times a week. Then suddenly, he and your flattie fall in love. He never leaves your flat

If no, he needs boundaries. Have a meeting with all your flatties and develop a policy:

again. He’s showering when you’re dirty, he’s eating when you're hungry, and he and your flattie are banging against the wall every night when you’re trying to sleep. He doesn’t even live there! What can be done? Well, you need to establish whether or not he really does live there. If yes, he needs to be incorporated into your rights and responsibilities of your flat. It’s not all bad - this splits your rent and you don’t even need a bigger house.

• your flattie won’t bring random

people home after a night on the town anymore.

landlord if you want to do this because the landlord may not want any extra permanent resident in the house.

• each flattie can have guests stay on

specific nights e.g. Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

• no guests can be in the house when the flatties are all out.

• even something so complicated as

allowing guests to stay for a maximum of two nights per week for free, but if they stay any longer it’s $15 per night.

• all guests have to make the flatties

breakfast the morning after their stay.

THE ADVIC E: Knock it on the head before there’s a problem. Develop something everyone agrees on before you get strays (partners or randoms).

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FLATMAT E NOT PAYING RENT


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BOY R O L R I G E L THE SING So the flipside of the above is the singletons. You move in as two couples (double dating flat) but one couple breaks up. Awkward. One stays with a friend for a while but she wants to come back because she is still paying to live there. What to do: One way to deal with this is to have one of the flatties sleep on the couch, and officially turn the lounge into their bedroom. This of course means you don’t have a lounge anymore... and the only common spaces are the hallway and the kitchen (unless your house is huge). This is arguably less than ideal, though it may be a good option for the short term. They may get back together. If they don’t, one of the flatmates may want to move out. This ultimately will increase your rent as now the cost would split among only three people. Unfortunately unless you get creative, this situation is hard to avoid, especially if only one flatmate wants to move out. There is, of course, another problem that can be born out of this situation. The singleton brings a new girl home every night, and they do the walk of shame every morning. Depending on how liberal you are and how far apart the bedrooms are, this may be a problem. ADVIC E: Agree on which days and how often flatmates can have guests to stay. Buy earplugs and relocate your bed to the other side of the room (and make sure their bed is not touching the wall or ask them to disassemble their bed, so it doesn’t repeatedly hit the wall).

A

G IN Y U B D N A G IN K O CO FLAT GOODS One flatmate doesn’t like tomatoes, another is a vegetarian, on e refuses to wipe her royal bottom wit h any less than three ply toilet paper, wh ile the other cannot stand the thought of eating nonfree range eggs. Then the re is you, all you care about is saving a dim e and making sure your tummy is full and the house is clean. Shopping and cookin g as a flat can be a nightmare. Follow these easy steps to keep everyone happy: 1. Decide what meals and products you want to buy together as a flat.

you could do everything together (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, toothpaste etc), or you cou ld just do some things (dinner on a Sunday and the essentials).

2. Decide how much you want to spend.

• I know flats who have manag ed

to survive off $20 per week for all food—it is possible!

3. Decide who will cook on what nights, and when you will do the flat shop or whether you will just purch ase items when you need them.

• This is the fun part! Tip: ge tting you

r “night to cook” out of the way early in the week is generally the best option.


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RD ASSHOLE LANDLO THE PARTY

G

You wake up, head throbbing, lying on the kitchen floor. Staring at the ceiling, you think to yourself “How did that block of butter end up on the roof?” You roll over, glass crinkling beneath you, and notice the massive hole in the wall. Then it dawns on you, “Oh no the flat viewing is tomorrow!” As the tenant, you are responsible for repairing any intentional or careless damage caused by you or another person who you allow onto the premises. However, you cannot be held liable for damage that arises because of normal “wear and tear”. The landlord has a right to inspect the premises if they have given you at least 48 hours, have not inspected the premises in the last four weeks, and plan to come inspect the premises between 8am and 7pm. As the tenant you must also let the landlord know as soon as possible if damage is discovered or repairs are needed. THE ADVICE: Inform your landlord of the damage, then check to see whether the landlord is legally allowed to inspect the flat tomorrow. Then, unless you want to risk having the lease terminated, or saying goodbye to all that bond money, make arrangements to repair the damage. Do you have unanswered questions? or do you want to find out more? then come along to the Tenancy Law Seminar, hosted by your Unitec Student Issues Advocates.

tenancy law TEN ANC Y LAW: YOUR RIGH TS AND RESP ONSI BILIT IES This free lunchtime presentation covers:

• Setting yourself up in a flat • Signing a tenancy or a flatmate agreement • What you and your landlord are responsible for

• What to do if things go wrong with your landlord or flatmates

• What to do if you or your flatmates want to move out

When: Wednesday 26th September, 12pm-1pm Where: The USU office boardroom, Rm 1085 in the Hub Mt Albert Campus

Cost: Absolutely FREE! RSVP: Please email usuadvocate@unitec.ac.nz to reserve a seat

Can't make the presentation? The USU Advocates can give free advice on Tenancy law any day of the week. Email usuadvocate@unitec.ac.nz to book an appointment, or drop by USU reception. (USU Advocates also have a drop-in service at Waitakere campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

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THE USU STUDENT ISSUES ADVOCATES PRESENT:


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X O V

S P O P

TOP 3 FREE THINGS T

Sesa, Ceewa, Sila (Certificate Sports & Recreation)


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TO DO IN AUCKLAND

Steven + friend (Bachelor of Business)


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X O V

S P O P

TOP 3 FREE THINGS T

Moli Pul, Reid Elisaia, Justine Te Whare


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TO DO IN AUCKLAND

Viv Frost (Bachelor of Communication)


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BY: KAYE ADAMS


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From studying film and theatre In Wellington, to the success of Flight of the Conchords and an Academy Award for Best original song “Man or Muppet”, Bret McKenzie has hit Hollywood running. With fame, success and an expanding movie career, Bret took time out of his busy schedule to have a quick yarn with me about his success, and his new flick. First of all, I must elaborate on my own personal excitement at having the opportunity to interview Bret. When Ashley, our former Script editor, sent out the “Bret McKenzie interview up for grabs’ email I must have replied YES within about 0.5 seconds. The Flight of the Conchords funny man did not let me down in the humour department; throughout the interview were a lot of laughs and good natured conversation that kept me hanging off his every word. “4pm sharp”, the publicist arranged the telephone interview to connect to my landline. As I sat nervously at my breakfast bar waiting for the phone to ring, I wondered if he would be anything like his character, Bret, in Flight of the Conchords, and if it would be perhaps inappropriate to ask him to sing the chorus of “business time”. Then the clock ticked, and the phone rang. After our quick introductions, I learned Bret had just arrived in Wellington from his Flight of the Conchords tour with Jemaine (Clement). I had the next fifteen minutes to yak away about his career:

So tell me, what was your dream job as a child? Bret: Umm ballet. You any good? Bret: Absolutely, nah I was ok. We had to do it, because our mum made us. Slightly different career path then. How have you found the journey from Wellington to Hollywood? Bret: I went to Disneyland as a teenager and remember being wowed by the lights and how big the city was, and it’s just amazing seeing how much of the film industry is made there. So Two Little Boys is a great film, are you anything like your character Nige? Bret: Not really, no. The only thing is that my hair is not that different to a mullet in real life. There is a lot of mullet. We [Bret and co- star Hamish Blake] were very proud of our mullets. You did rock the mullet very well, have you ever had one before? Bret: I haven’t really, it was my first time with a mullet and I was really into it. How do you feel about bringing it back in trend? Bret: Yeah maybe! I feel like the mullet has recently had a go at coming back, but I don’t think it really succeeded. It was hovering; it was hovering around the neck…

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MULLETS, SEA LIONS, AND A DEAD NORWEGIAN BACKPACKER ARE JUST SOME OF THE SCENES TO EXPECT FROM BRET MCKENZIE’S NEW FILM TWO LITTLE BOYS. SET IN THE EARLY 90S, SOUTHLAND, THE FILM SEES BRET PLAY NIGE, WHO FINDS HIMSELF IN A SPOT OF TROUBLE AND TURNS TO HIS BEST MATE DEANO, PLAYED BY AUSSIE COMEDIAN/RADIO HOST HAMISH BLAKE (THINK HAMISH AND ANDY).


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What can you tell us about the character Nige?

What was your favourite part to act out in the film?

Bret: Nige is a pretty beaten down dude. Yeah, it (the film) was about two friends, whose friendship becomes like a marriage and then like a dysfunctional marriage. The guy accidently knocks over a Norwegian backpacker... We’ve all been there.

Bret: We had quite a good time pretending to pull a dead body out of a road works hole, it ended up being a really funny challenge. We were working with Filip Berg (who plays the dead body of the Norwegian backpacker). We had to lift him, but he’s actually quite heavy, so Hamish and I were genuinely struggling to shift this body around.

So there is a bit of ‘bromance’ there? Bret: A very dark ‘bromance’. The sort of ‘bromance’ Hamish and I would not make. What was it like working with Hamish? Bret: Really great, yeah. One day Hamish bought the crew tee-shirts that said “business time”. I arrived to work and everyone was wearing “business time” teeshirts (laughs). But yeah, we get on really well. It was really fun working together and we are both into TV and comedy. Neither of us had done such a big acting job so it was good to work on that together. We are both used to doing shows where we’re the writers, so this is different because we’re working with other people and their world of ideas. Do you have any plans to work with him again? Bret: Oh yeah I’d love to, it would be really funny. He’s a really, really funny guy. Andy (from Hamish and Andy) came down to Invercargill, and did one of his radio shows from Invercargill while we were filming down there. It was very funny.

Another day, we were improvising with an actual sea lion, which felt like we were filming a nature documentary hosted by a couple of bogans. It was pretty wild. We had a guy from the conservation department there making sure it was ok, but we had to keep our distance from the sea lion in case it attacked us. At one point the sea lion lunged at Hamish, and another time a sea lion chased me up a sand dune. It was strange to work with because you don’t know what is going to happen. We were lucky because the script said there’s a sea lion and there happened to be a beach down in the Catlins where sea lions hang out, and they happened to be there that day. They’re massive creatures; I’ve had one run out at me before. Bret: Yes, they are massive, and the roar! Did you hear the roar? It’s terrifying eh.


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Bret: Yeah they’re not messing around eh. We were doing this scene, Hamish, Maaka Pohatu (who plays Gav) and I, and we’re supposed to come in and the sea lion roars, and the camera stops rolling. We turn around and Maaka has literally run off, he ran for the hills. Do you have any advice or suggestions for our current Unitec Drama students who want to reach Hollywood? Bret: I’d probably make something here first - So you’ve got something to show Hollywood, because there are a lot of people in Hollywood trying to make things. Is America everything it’s cracked up to be? Bret: I don’t think so, it was really fun making a film in New Zealand, I think making films, it doesn’t matter where you make them, it’s a similar process. So, you are very successful Bret, what’s it like being an iconic New Zealand representative? Bret: Very good. It’s very good being a New Zealand representative. Do you get recognised in the States for Flight of the Conchords? Bret: Yeah, a little bit, luckily most of the recognition is positive. It makes you realise how terrible it must be, being a politician and nobody likes you and people know who you are. But not so much that I can’t do my own thing. What’s the next project? Bret: Austenland, a rom-com. That comes out later this year and it was really fun working on something that is the opposite of Two Little Boys.

It’s very different, as it is a rom com. It is kind of quirky and it’s fromJerusha Hess, one of the writers of Napoleon Dynamite. Is this your first rom com? Bret: Yeah it is, I haven’t done that many films. I’m the love mis-interest. Moving into working in film is quite different to working in TV because TV is quite fast and set to deadlines and is so definite. Film can take years but you could literally get a phone call and be shipped off to Los Angeles the next day. I have to ask, who is your favourite Muppet? Bret: Miss Piggy! The most fun to work with, she’s so sweet, then she’s so violent, she’s a great comedy character. Unfortunately my fifteen minutes were up, so we said our goodbyes, and I thanked him for his inspirational and humourous interview. I also told him I’d tell everyone to check out Two Little Boys which comes out in cinemas September 20. Bret was such a pleasure to interview, funny, genuine and modest, not too far removed from the loveable version of himself, made famous in Flight of the Conchords.

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Yes they move so fast!


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DID YOU KNOW THAT THE ‘WORLD IS YOUR CAMPUS’? Unitec sends students on exchange each year to our internationally recognised partner institutions. It is a unique opportunity to spend a semester studying in Europe, USA, Canada, South America, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Asia or Australia as part of your degree programme, without extending the length of your degree, because you can cross-credit the approved courses.

YOU PAY YOUR NORMAL TUITION FEES TO UNITEC. YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR STUDYLINK ALLOWANCES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE! It is a fantastic opportunity which few people have in their lives and for those of you who take advantage of our Unijet Exchange Programme it is always an amazing and worthwhile experience.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE UNIJET EXCHANGE OFFICE EMAIL: studentexchange@unitec.ac.nz


Come along and tantalise your tastebuds with the variety of food on offer from countries all around the world.

If you would like to run a stall and represent your country by selling your national delicacies, Please email usuinternational@unitec.ac.nz

www.facebook.com/studentsatunitec www.usu.co.nz


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SWEDISH EX BY: SCOTT LUMLEY

Taking an exchange semester to one of the furthest universities from home was fraught with excitement, learning curves and opportunity. Choosing to study at GIH (Stockholm School of Sport and Health Science) located in Sweden’s capital Stockholm has indeed given me everything I hoped for and more. Electing to undertake what is known as a practical semester at GIH was almost too much fun at times it didn’t feel like a university. Over my chosen courses sports that I undertook were 90% of the time completed in a practical (physical) environment. Among those included were athletics, volleyball, badminton, mini-tennis, dancing, swimming, roller skiing, gymnastics, orienteering, kayaking and many more. To have delved into so many sports in such a short time frame was fascinating, and


31 may have some funny traditions such as midsummer but I generally felt at home in no time at all. Hence the Swedish friends and acquaintances that I made over my time in Sweden are in many ways the same as those in New Zealand. The only key difference is the language. Although this did not prove such a big obstacle for me as the Swedes are very articulate with English (all of them) making it easy to do anything with the comfort of the English language. Overall my Swedish exchange semester was truly beneficial to all areas of my life. The experiences, friends, and knowledge I have gained in six months have been tremendous. This Swedish exchange is certainly something I will cherish for the rest of my life with absolutely no regrets.

XCHANGE a fun down to earth way was indeed eye opening. I really believe I grew more in those few days than I have in some previous years of my life. Thus the benefits that I gained from this trip alone were enough to assure me that my decision to undergo an exchange semester in Sweden was the correct and satisfactory choice. Outside of university, Stockholm is a great city to live, especially if you are young. Encompassing a tight and easily accessible city centre, Stockholm lies as a vibrant beautiful city filled with canals and islands that make this part of the world very unique. Being such a long way from home (just a small thirty hour journey from wee old New Zealand) one would wonder if the culture and people were completely different. As I quickly found out the answer is no. Yes, they

Scott is studying a Bachelor of Sports and is currently undertaking a paper entitled Event Management. The event in which he is involved is the Football World Cup run in conjunction with the USU. Take a look at the facebook page and usu website and find out more! http://www.facebook.com/ events/484118848267266/ http://www.usu.co.nz/whats-on/clubs-andsports/football-world-cup-2012-semestertwo

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to think that I have acquired such a raft of knowledge from these sports is extremely beneficial for my future pursuits. Kayaking was one such sport in which I gained such an experience physically and mentally, as we undertook a kayaking and camping trip along Sweden’s lower east coast and were challenged with numerous life experiences. We were to navigate ourselves along the coastline and kayak to certain points in which we were to make camp. Upon making camp tasks included building a fire, pitching tents and attempting to fish. Being in the wilderness and having to make do with what you have and enjoy the simple things in life was humbling. I guess the thing it reminded me of most was that it felt a bit like scouts when I was younger. Eccept this was much different because learning from each other in such


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THE R

BY: NICK

LADS AND LASSES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE THEE, THE REAL GC! Not the overly glorified and glamourised life can sometimes mean you’re living in a bestowed upon us via TV 3… why the hell four bedroom house five minutes from should you all trust my word…? aforementioned waterfronts, I guess we can say the lifestyle is the postcode—4217 for Because I did live on the Gold Coast and Surfer’s. I spent over two thirds of my life across the ditch… so, we can say I have some Reality TV led astray, produced ‘The experience… Mozzie style. GC’ and with that came some appalling language, a misrepresentation of the Maori What’s the real deal, lights aside and culture and lack lustre television at best; blinders removed? Well, it’s not all sunshine, but like a car crash we sat and watched bikinis and hunks (or hunkettes a.k.a (well, I didn’t…I did however Google it and aunty—then again; try call someone here in got the scoop and was relieved I didn’t NZ aunty if they’re not your aunty just see contribute in any way to those ratings). what happens…I DARE YOU!) Boy were we given a pretty meke crash site come the end of it. Life on the Gold Coast isn’t that much different from life anywhere else. I mean you still need to work for a living, the weather still turns to shit and you pay through the teeth for the ‘lifestyle’—which trust me, doesn’t always mean you’re living large in a waterfront apartment. It

But, did anyone watching truly believe what it was they were watching? It wasn’t Keeping up with the Kardashian’s kind of real (If that show is straight up legit). It was more of a Big Brother joke of a reality series. Remember the GC is just like


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REAL

KI SPRING

everywhere else—even the weather turns to shit on you! The jobs dry up and in the winter you’re lucky to get a solid two months of work, particularly if you’re in construction, civil engineering, trades etc. but the bad weather doesn’t just hit in the winter and wave goodbye, it attacks every season and is damn near as unpredictable as the stock market—TRUST ME! I spent my first GC Christmas with a flooded back yard and a green pool. So, yeah, the Gold Coast can be pretty cool… sometimes. You know when the weather hasn’t turned on you, you’ve got money in your wallet and you’re standing in line at Dream World…but it is still just another city. Think about it like California maybe or New York…there’s dreams there and all the rest, but there is also a harshly lit reality that’s not gum drops, fairy tales and a few rounds on the beach.

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It is ok if you still aren’t completely convinced that it’s just another city, and that’s cool. We’re all entitled to our own opinions—as we should be, but life’s too short to dream a dream based on romanticised fictional representations of the high life (Boose is straight up expensive in Aussie - anyone here willing pay fifty bucks a box?). I don’t know, maybe you should hit it up and see for yourself, I mean even I plan to go back for a holiday (which means crashing on a mate's couch and visiting the beaches and maybe Surfers Paradise and praying I don’t run into that creepy guy from school…) All that aside, safe travels and all that jazz. Peace!


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THEATRE REVIEW

PRIVATE LIVES THEATRE REVIEW

BY: N I C K I S P R I N G BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT

FUCK? KILL? REMARRY? WELL, WITH A HEADLINE LIKE THAT, WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO WATCH ‘PRIVATE LIVES’…? A modern take on the original rom-com (written by Noel Coward) is sure to keep you enthralled with its love, lust and cosmopolitan fatigue. Starring Unitec alumni Sam Snedden as the older Victor Prynne and Sophie Henderson as the young and in love Sybil Chase, as well as Matt Whelan as Sybil’s new Husband and Mia Blake as Victor’s new wife, you’re in for a riot of a production. Jam-packed full of short and sharp one liners, a whole mess of slap happy humour and a cast that starts you off on trembling foundations—because you’ll be in stitches I promise you that much—you’ll be captivated with the very opening scene and loving every minute thereafter. With characters that couldn’t be more different, you watch amazed as the car wreckage of marital blunder unfolds—the problem is of course, Elyot’s new wife and Amanda’s new husband. We’ve all heard of destructive love, but it is something else


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entirely played out before you on stage, offset brilliantly with one liners of epic proportions and side hugging slap stick, probably bettered by the well-mannered (or maybe cultured) way in which it's delivered—though that probably amounts to one hell of an oxymoronic statement. Who doesn’t want a mouth full of promiscuity, sex and laughter wrapped in a bow of sophistication and, dare I say it well-bred petulance. I don’t know how else to praise this production without sounding like a broken record, so I won’t say too much else other than: ‘Go see it!’, because it’s definitely something for the books. I implore you all—one last time—to experience this epic production (and the amazing talent behind it) for yourselves, it is well worth it. But, be sure to get it quick as the show is only running until the 29th of September at Q theatre on Queen street.


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Indian Trip of a Lifetime

BY: PRISTINE DE LARA, PRISTINE WAS ONE OF THREE UNITEC EXCHANGE STUDENTS THAT WENT TO CEPT UNIVERSITY MARCH EXCHANGE STUDENT TO CEPT UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD, INDIA

"DONT BE SCARED, THIS IS INDIA." THIS WAS THE ADVICE AN UPPERCLASSMAN GAVE ME AFTER HE LEFT ME ALONE WITH THE AUTO RICKSHAW DRIVER, WHO WOULD DROP ME OFF AT THE HOSTEL. IT WAS A QUICK 10 MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY; BUT SINCE I WAS ALL ALONE, WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF HINDI AND GUJARATI, AND I DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE I WAS GOING, IT WAS THE LONGEST RIDE OF MY LIFE. BUT IT WENT WELL. IT COST 25 RUPEES; I ONLY HAD 500 RUPEES IN CASH. THE SECURITY GUARD OF THE HOSTEL PAID FOR IT, AFTER THEY HAD A QUICK SHOUTING STREAK (APPARENTLY IT'S ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE 17RUPEES). Thus began my first day in India as an exchange student. I rode more auto rickshaws than trains, sleeper and normal buses, bike-pulled rickshaw man-pulled rickshaws, motorbikes and boats… It was a big, crazy adventure. In the end, I did not want to leave the country. I even extended my visa.


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Food was not a problem–cheap, yummy, spicy, and vegetarian meals were available in the canteen. A minute walk from the hostel was this group of street vendors selling chai, omlet (Indian spelling), breadbutter-jam, etc. Almost every day, I'd walk there to get my daily chai. I could make it at home, yes, since the hostel was fully furnished. But it's just tastier when it's from the street vendor- must be the air or the water. There was always McDonald's, sans beef, and KFC, with vegetarian options, in case I got bored of eating the same thing again and again. As architecture students, our design group involved site visits to the Old City–a heavy traffic area with lots of people and narrow streets. Every site visit felt like mission impossible. We always got surrounded by the locals, particularly kids, while we noted down the heights of the buildings. I have never been honked at so many times in my entire life! Crossing the road while pretending not to give a damn if you die is an artful skill I learnt in India (but cannot apply here in NZ).

Best moments? The train rides. Aside from being ridiculously cheap, the seats are convertible to bed bunks at night! There was always something new to see, and we never failed to interact with the people who were so interested in why and where we studied in India. My first ever train ride was to Kerala, 36 hours from home Ahmedabad. Our ticket was not confirmed–I and my travel buddy had to squeeze and fit in a sleeper bunk for the night. When we went to see Taj Mahal, we did not have a proper ticket again. We were kicked out from the seats, and we literally had to leave the compartment, run on the platform, and jump into the next vacant compartment. Then we spent three hours sitting by the toilet until we found the ticket master, whom we paid more to get 1 seat for the two of us! On the way back from Delhi, an old lady sat and slept next to me the entire time–I had the proper ticket, she did not. India's overwhelming. It's no surprise that some people hate it, while others love it. I guess it grows on you. I wasn't a big fan of Indian food before I went there and I thought the driving, based on youtube videos, was horrible. Now I miss Indian food, particularly those sold by street side vendors, and I never saw an accident happen right before my eyes during my 6 month stay. It was an amazing experience! I wasn’t scared–somehow I was able to bring out lots of self confidence I never knew I had (works well when travelling at night, especially when trying to find a hotel, bargaining, etc). Honestly, I'd be more than glad to do it again.

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We had a relaxed atmosphere in a very busy city (even though we study a very time consuming and stressful course). When summer came, my roommates (other exchange students) and I didn't go home until 1 in the morning, since the hostel was too hot even though we'd leave the windows (and doors) open at night. We would just lie on the northern lawns in university, stare at the stars in the sky, feel the not-so-cold breeze, talk about everything, and then go home to the “oven” room.


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Lost

in Translation Translation BY NATALIE WILCOX

BY NATALIE WILCOX

迷失在翻譯


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I am one of three Americans studying here at Unitec, and other than the other two Americans and a Canadian girl, every one of the other 200+ exchange students that I have encountered is speaking English as a second language. We all have euphemisms and adages in our native languages that don’t really translate into any other language. For example: in English we say things like, “spill the beans” when we want someone to tell us something, or when we introduce ourselves to a new person we might use an “ice-breaker” to start the conversation. This is part of what makes learning English so difficult; because half of the things we say are slang and don’t make a bit of sense to someone who doesn’t speak English primarily. Even I don’t know where half of my English sayings came from, so I’m sure that someone from Germany, France, Finland, or Austria wouldn’t have any idea either. That being said, when someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language tries to speak English, some funny stuff comes out. I’ve

heard a Finnish guy say, “I’ve got the shotgun!!” when calling dibs on something; a French girl who was convinced that a sheep was called a “sheet” (which, in her accent, sounds entirely like something else, if you know what I mean), and then after correcting her, she continued to say “sheeps”; an Austrian person who calls crêpes, “craps” and asked me “what orange juice would like me” when we were at the grocery store deciding what kind to buy. I told him that I wasn’t aware that orange juice might have feelings like that. He was confused. And how do you describe to someone what the word “melt” means? Go ahead and try it. I find myself in those kinds of situations every day, and I enjoy it so much. It makes me feel like an absolute expert in my language, and it’s definitely helped me to understand my language more than I did before, as cheesy as that sounds. I think languages are incredibly awesome and I feel really lucky to be around so many of them all the time here! It’s a great learning experience, and always provides me with a laugh.

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THERE ARE OVER 6,500 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN THE WORLD TODAY, AND ENGLISH IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY PREVALENT AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE STANDARD. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE LEARNING ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ADDING TO THE SWATH OF ACCENTS THAT CAN BE HEARD IN MOST INTERNATIONAL CITY HUBS. BEING AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENT AND A NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER, I HEAR SOME PRETTY FUNNY THINGS FROM NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS.


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A

R F E D I U G I THA BY: PHUBETH UDOMSILP

KIWIS KNOW HEAPS ABOUT THAILAND …. OR DO THEY? THAILAND IS NOT ONLY ABOUT CHICKEN & CASHEWS, TONY JAA, KOH SAMUI AND CHICKEN GREEN CURRY. I’D LIKE TO SHARE THE UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE LAND OF SMILES.


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court. ilar size to a The ball is a sim e out of strips of coconut and mad imilar thickness tropical canes (s therefore it feels to a chopstick) – bloody hard. chnique is the A very strong te is borrowed bicycle kick which n. t used more ofte from football bu best Takraw Thailand has the the world. players/team in S REPRESENT!!!! WAR ELEPHANT

MUAY THAI is known as a violent, effective and strong martial art but the arts beyond the fight are quite unexposed. Before a fight, the boxers do a pre-fight ritual; a slow ground dance of limb stretching in rhythm to the music. The purpose of this is to warm-up but ultimately to bow and pay respect to their own master. Traditional music is played beside the ring – they play during the ritual and the fight itself. The music is played faster when the round is nearly up. Music is stopped during the breaks. The purpose of this is to create a lively country fight atmosphere.

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popular sport in Takraw is a very utheast Asia and Thailand and So lleyball. it is similar to Vo s s of three player Each side consist s he l, three touc and like volleybal ch playing turn, are allowed for ea only use their but… players can ith the same feet and head! W ll must make objective–the ba opposition’s floor contact with the

Y U G I A H T A ROM S R IC E Y F A C T

A MALE FEMALE WAY? …wait what do I say? To clarify the greetings in Thai: Males will permanently say Sawadee Kap (hello/goodbye) Korp kun kap (thank you) to anyone. Whereas females will permanently say Sawadee Ka (hello/goodbye). Korp Kun Ka (thank you) also to anyone. Both phrases are said at the same time as bowing down shallowly (hands together, held up finger tips close to the nose).

o with rice nothing to d •Jasmine has because lled jasmine ca is ut b lf itse the same it and shares it smells like whiteness. h-east found in Nort •Jasmine rice the most the best and is nd ila ha T of y. e world – trul delicious in th o eat] use spoons [t •Thai people ming n’t see that co with rice – did did ya!

That’s all from me Pearns hope you learnt something. From your local Monsoon banana. Oh wait did you know that official All Black Jerseys are made in Thailand? So Kia Kaha or soo thoo pi!


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ARE YOU THINKING OF STUDYING OVERSEAS? IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE ARE THREE COMMON CONCERNS SHARED BY STUDENTS: SOCIAL SUPPORT, FOOD AND LANGUAGE. IN THIS, I SHARE HOW I OVERCAME THESE CONCERNS WHEN I WENT TO FUKUHARAGAKUEN UNIVERSITY LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE ‘LIVING THE LANGUAGE’ PROGRAMME HELD HERE AT UNITEC.

COO

IN

JAP BY: RUTH

Let’s be honest, food allergies are not a big concern for me… thank goodness and I’ve never questioned portion size before until my host family took me out for lunch the day after I arrived. In an attempt to help my transition from New Zealand to Japan, they took me to McDonalds. I wasn’t really prepared mentally to read a ‘universal’ menu, let alone attempt to pronounce the Japanese variation so I thought I’d just stick with the usual. In a pathetic voice: “Mama, BigguMakku o kudasai” (Big Mac please?) Mama’s eyes widened, WTF gasp as if to say… you want something that big???? then in my mind “Guess I shouldn’t ask for nuggets as well then?”

RUTH MARSTERS: IS COMPLETING A BAC SEMESTER TWO OF 2011, SHE WENT T LIVING THE LANGUAGE PROGRA FOR MORE IN

WWW.UNI

In terms of language, Tomoko Sensei, who teaches Japanese here is an amazing teacher. Her unique style of teaching is what makes learning Japanese hilarious and easy. In one lesson, we learnt about fruit and in particular strawberry… this is her way to remember it: If “Ichi” means one and “Go” is five, then one and five is strawberry… *I beg your bardon? Lucky for me, in Japan, they have


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OKIE

N

PAN MARSTERS

CHELOR OF COMMUNICATIONS DEGREE. TO FUKIOKA, JAPAN AS APART OF THE AMME OFFERED HERE AT UNITEC. NFORMATION:

TEC.AC.NZ

electronic dictionaries otherwise I would have really been lost in translation (see photo). As for social support, I could not have asked for a better host family than the Nagano Family (my host family). They were my home away from home, albeit a smaller version than my own. On Christmas Day, I phoned home (jeepers,

that sounds like ET) to NZ to say Merry Xmas to everyone. When I got off the phone, my host family said they could only hear me saying “Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas..” over and over again until I explained to them I was actually speaking to a different person each time. Moral of the story, don’t eat strawberries unless you can count!


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SMOKEFREE

NZ BY: BRITNEY DYKE

THE GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS FULL OF IDEAS TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE, SO MANY IDEAS IN FACT HALF OF THEM FALL THROUGH... BUT THIS ONE I THINK MAY JUST STAY AROUND FOR A BIT LONGER THAN SOME INTEND.. If you’re a smoker, you’ll know our favourite man John Key isn’t, and he is all for the changing of our cigarette packaging. Why? I think it’s fair to say we all agree on wanting to reduce the single largest cause of preventable death in New Zealand. The latest law is that our shops are now not able to display cigarettes for all to see; it is a great way of avoiding sales, however, there is an argument that cigarette packaging can still be a strong marketing tool in the public eye. So the next step is to completely change the way our cigarette packaging looks. Australia is doing it, so will New Zealand follow? Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says “In April this year, I announced the Government had agreed in principle to adopt similar moves (to Australia) in New Zealand, subject to this public consultation. Today I am launching the consultation.” This is a consultation and not so much a one sided agreement – yet! What this consultation will do is allow the

government to gather views of interested organisations, businesses, lobbyists; seek more information; and set out the plan appropriately. “But we are committed to continuing a careful and robust process to develop the policy before we make final decisions,” Mrs Turia said. Turia says “The Government is serious about reducing the enormous harm, suffering, and loss of life that smoking causes, and has set a goal for New Zealand to be essentially smokefree by 2025.” The Government’s views of smoking have been in the media for a long time and it is questioned whether this will be the start of the end for a healthier, smokefree New Zealand. So will this make a change on our smokers? Will there be enough voices for the plain packaging campaign? Personally, I hope so, because there is nothing, and there never will be anything, ‘cool’ about smoking.


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THETHE CAREERS ISSUE INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

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ENOUGH BILLS ON YOUR PLATE? THEN BUY YOUR TEXTBOOKS SECOND HAND, OR SELL THE ONES YOU NO LONGER NEED, AND GET SOME EXTRA CASH IN YOUR POCKET!

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X O V

S P O P

, C E IT N U M O R F E T A U D A R AFTER YOU G

Isabella Brwon (Certificate in Animal Management Captive Wild Animals )

Oli & Mich


heal (Civil engineering )

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D A O R B A R O Z N IN K R O W U O , WILL Y

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?


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X O V

S P O P

, C E IT N U M O R F E T A U D A R AFTER YOU G

Kamalakau & Dhurv (Graduate Diploma in Business)


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D A O R B A R O Z N IN K R O W U O , WILL Y

Roger Mattner (Graduate Diploma in Business)

?


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"Mum's Skin" He tino whakahirahira ngā māmā o te ao whanui! Te mea nui, he tiaki toū māmā, wahine hoki! i ngā wa katoa. Always remember the importance

of our mum’s and our women, cherish and look after them always!

A pillow to touch marshmallow of sound as her voice So warming in my heart embraces with her smile Her eyes sweetened with love The smell of fry bread waffling through our whare Mussel fritters completed the marriage! Na Billie-Jean Peita (Beej)

BY: BEEJ PEITA

Alongside completing a Bachelor of Communication Beej is a dedicated athlete and has recently been labelled the VIP ‘Poster Putter Upper’ for the USU Student Media Team.


THE YEAR BOOK ISSUE COMING SOON! DO YOU HAVE ANY EPIC STORIES OR PHOTOS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE FROM ANY ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS FROM UNITEC THIS YEAR?

THEN WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SEND YOUR STORIES AND IMAGES TO: STUDENTMEDIA@UNITEC.AC.NZ OR DROP BY THE USU OFFICE, 180-1085 IN THE HUB.

Interested in teaching English? Planning a working holiday? Want to travel the world? The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) is an internationally recognised and sought-after qualification. » Freephone 0800 10 95 10

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