Monday, December 13, 2010
2010 Draws to a Close...
...But it's not over and out just yet! No sireeeee. Infact it's still very much hanging in there. Although there are now hardly any students on USP Campus the end of year maddness persists as we prepare for Graduation which is this coming Friday. It is going to be a happy and sad time this year. Very happy for all those students who have come to the end of their studies and achieved great things, this includes my Library Assistant Betty and many Agricultural students including Elenoa. A little sad to see so many head back home to their islands in the pacific after spending hours together here at Alafua. This is just the beginning though and not the end!!
So having returned from NZ and the Koha conference back in November, a week later than planned having got very sick in NZ due to the FREEZING cold weather!!!!! It was not long before I was back on the plane heading to a USP Library Retreat in Fiji. A couple more over night flights and many hours driving either in a beat up bumpy old taxi or an even more beat up, shakey, rattly and draughty school bus I got to the Laucala Library and then round to the Intercontinental Resort on the Coral Coast where the retreat was being held. Wow what a resort!! I was awestruck. Massive is the only word for it. Never seen anything like it before. Huge 2 story apartments, golf course, amazing food, pacific service (hmmmm nough said) and a little bit of work and brainstorming was done around taking photos of the resort!!!!! Even think I might have to take Adam back there some time. The weather was rubbish so unfortunately I didn't don the bikini and go for a swim.
The moment I arrived back in Samoa I got 4 hours sleep before heading to Tafatafa beach to join the Hyundai Netball Club Christmas party. Great time was being had by all. I turned up just in time for a swim in the rain, BBQ lunch which everyone else had prepared for me (I did butter some bread!) a game of Survivor, a game of Touch Rugby and then the prize giving. Won a set of rabbits ears to help me "hear" when I'm umpiring and a trophy for Defence!!! Adam also scooped a prize for his contribution to manning the sausage sizzle this season. It was a fun time and a beautiful beach to be at.
This weekend we hosted Elenoa's Mum and Sister from Fiji who have come over for her graduation this week. They are staying in the other house on our property. Adam prepared lovely food for a BBQ dinner and I made a Pavalova so we introduced them to a bit of Kiwi! We had to battle a split pipe leaking water in their house but in true pacific style everyone took it well in their stride. Had a couple of extra "campers" stay in our spare room but that's what it's all about.
Around all of this there also seem to have been a few nights out at the local night spots lately. Many things to celebrate especially as there are many people passing exams and graduating at the moment.
We are also tackling our project for this "quiet" period in the library and are doing some major renovations which Adam drew up and made the plans for. Adam the demolition man has managed to pull down one internal wall in the library which has opened up a lot more space (he couldn't wait to get that crow bar out!!). The shelves have all been moved and the books arranged in a different layout. We are preparing for a bit of money coming our way when we will install bay end panels to our shelving to allow us to display materials and to brighten the place up. We are also alterating our study carrels to turn some of them into smaller study desks that the students can work around. This is the beginning of us trying to provide a more "learning commons" environment however we have a wee way to go before we fully achieve this. Not enough funding this time round to move the counter and build a new computer desk to house more PCs. Maybe in 2011.......
So there are many photos of all this going up on our Flickr site. Check them out. There are also a few of Sei Pua Day which is the Samoan Daffodil Day raising money for the Cancer Society. Of course here it's all about Frangipanis!!
Maybe see you in NZ over Christmas and for someone's Birthday party ............
So having returned from NZ and the Koha conference back in November, a week later than planned having got very sick in NZ due to the FREEZING cold weather!!!!! It was not long before I was back on the plane heading to a USP Library Retreat in Fiji. A couple more over night flights and many hours driving either in a beat up bumpy old taxi or an even more beat up, shakey, rattly and draughty school bus I got to the Laucala Library and then round to the Intercontinental Resort on the Coral Coast where the retreat was being held. Wow what a resort!! I was awestruck. Massive is the only word for it. Never seen anything like it before. Huge 2 story apartments, golf course, amazing food, pacific service (hmmmm nough said) and a little bit of work and brainstorming was done around taking photos of the resort!!!!! Even think I might have to take Adam back there some time. The weather was rubbish so unfortunately I didn't don the bikini and go for a swim.
The moment I arrived back in Samoa I got 4 hours sleep before heading to Tafatafa beach to join the Hyundai Netball Club Christmas party. Great time was being had by all. I turned up just in time for a swim in the rain, BBQ lunch which everyone else had prepared for me (I did butter some bread!) a game of Survivor, a game of Touch Rugby and then the prize giving. Won a set of rabbits ears to help me "hear" when I'm umpiring and a trophy for Defence!!! Adam also scooped a prize for his contribution to manning the sausage sizzle this season. It was a fun time and a beautiful beach to be at.
This weekend we hosted Elenoa's Mum and Sister from Fiji who have come over for her graduation this week. They are staying in the other house on our property. Adam prepared lovely food for a BBQ dinner and I made a Pavalova so we introduced them to a bit of Kiwi! We had to battle a split pipe leaking water in their house but in true pacific style everyone took it well in their stride. Had a couple of extra "campers" stay in our spare room but that's what it's all about.
Around all of this there also seem to have been a few nights out at the local night spots lately. Many things to celebrate especially as there are many people passing exams and graduating at the moment.
We are also tackling our project for this "quiet" period in the library and are doing some major renovations which Adam drew up and made the plans for. Adam the demolition man has managed to pull down one internal wall in the library which has opened up a lot more space (he couldn't wait to get that crow bar out!!). The shelves have all been moved and the books arranged in a different layout. We are preparing for a bit of money coming our way when we will install bay end panels to our shelving to allow us to display materials and to brighten the place up. We are also alterating our study carrels to turn some of them into smaller study desks that the students can work around. This is the beginning of us trying to provide a more "learning commons" environment however we have a wee way to go before we fully achieve this. Not enough funding this time round to move the counter and build a new computer desk to house more PCs. Maybe in 2011.......
So there are many photos of all this going up on our Flickr site. Check them out. There are also a few of Sei Pua Day which is the Samoan Daffodil Day raising money for the Cancer Society. Of course here it's all about Frangipanis!!
Maybe see you in NZ over Christmas and for someone's Birthday party ............
Friday, December 3, 2010
USP Girls Netball Trophy
Talofa Everyone
An article about the Alafua USP Girls netball team is currently on the USP website with a photo of the trophy. Check it out here http://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=681. We recently had an end of season netball party. Had to cancel the trip to the beach as it has been raining and raining here lately so we went to our Multipurpose centre on campus, played pool and table tennis and enjoyed some cake and icecream. Certificates were presented to members of the team for best and most improved players etc.
An article about the Alafua USP Girls netball team is currently on the USP website with a photo of the trophy. Check it out here http://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=681. We recently had an end of season netball party. Had to cancel the trip to the beach as it has been raining and raining here lately so we went to our Multipurpose centre on campus, played pool and table tennis and enjoyed some cake and icecream. Certificates were presented to members of the team for best and most improved players etc.
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