The Lantern Festival

The growing influence that Southeast Asia and China have on New Zealand can clearly be seen at Auckland’s Lantern Festival. The festival occurs at the end of Chinese New Year (yes, Chinese New Year Festivities ended a while ago, we’ve just been too busy to update the blog). It showcases food from southeast Asia and China, entertainment from China, and, as its name implies, lanterns: beautiful and amazing lanterns created in and imported from China.

When you speak to native Aucklanders about the festival they’ll mention how much more crowded it has become. This should not be surprising since New Zealand is increasingly looking towards its neighbors in Asia. More of New Zealand’s exports go to China as the Chinese have become more wealthy, and are able to afford New Zealand beef. At the same time the British, since joining the European Union, have been importing less from New Zealand. The number of immigrants from China and Southeast Asia has also increased dramatically. Many of the recent immigrants are on the younger side, so they tend to live in the Central Business District close to where the festival is held, and are looking for a party.

Has there ever been a mass of people awaiting a dragon that has collectively looked more nonplussed than this group? Not to my knowledge.

We were lucky enough to be joined by our good friend Aldo. Aldo never looks nonplussed.

The lanterns were amazing. They were made by Chinese artisans skilled in the ways of lantern making, passed down from generations. It's cliched but true.

Rachel and our friend Josh pass through the lantern gate

With great happiness comes great sorrow. Rachel's balloon popped, but she was able to get over it. Eventually.

Friends Part One

Because people are the most important part of her life, Rachel is really missing her friends, family, and classmates. Making new friends is not a problem for her, it comes naturally, but the country has been on holiday and out of town, and potential new friends have not been easily available. Hopefully, now that people are coming back into the city, this will change.

Which is not to say that we have haven’t met amazing people. Life changing kind of people.

I can safely say that Rachel’s favorite person in New Zealand is Elise, the daughter of one of Alice’s colleagues. What is it about people named Elise? With an aunt and a cousin of the same name, Elises have always been an important part of Rachel’s life.

Aldo, a student of Rachel’s grandpa Albert, is also someone she made an immediate attachment with. He went to Italy for the holidays, and we look forward to his return.

Rachel loved Hanging with Nathan Kuhlman from Northfield. When we get back to Minnesota, we look forward to seeing him in a Northfield Arts guild production.

We do get to the park often, where Rachel easily blends into the playground antics. One of our favorite parks is over by the hotels. The kids over there tend to be visitors from other countries. It was really cute watching Rachel play with a girl her age who was from France and spoke no English. Of course, Rachel’s French is not very good. Both children though spoke the international language of Swings and Merry-Go-Rounds.