A Day at the PCC

Saturday (28th) after my test we went to the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center). we used Christina's employee pass and just walked into the park.  we were both really excited to be there! the first village we went to was Aotearoa (New Zealand). we got there just as they were welcoming the chief. they sang traditional songs, danced with poi balls, and did the haka. we got some sweet Maori tattoos on our face. and were on our way to the island of Fiji. a Fijian woman was talking to us about their buildings and how the grandparents are the most important people on the island. they see it as if you didn't have grandparents, then you wouldn't exist. they also performed traditional dance with spears and fans. we walked to the Hawaiian islands and saw our friend Kristen. she told us about taro roots and how they grind them up to make the purple paste they called poi. we were able to sample the poi but because its made fresh everyday it doesn't taste like the real fermented poi at luaus that apparently tastes like wall paper cement. the island of Tahiti was vacant except for the ladies handing out Tahitian Noni soft chew candies which were really good. next was the canoe show. big platform canoes come out with performers from each island on them. Samoa made me laugh when they rocked the boat so hard that the driver guy fell off into the water, oh Samoa. Tonga was probably my favorite island performance. they did a drum show and pick 3 men from the audience to hit the drums and yell out Tongan words. this guy from japan that went up there was hilarious, and had no idea what was going on. Christians friend Leah also gave us a free pineapple delight ha. when we were walking to Samoa a huge black bee made a B-line for my face, both of us screamed and twisted out of its way. we were like our own tourist attraction, the people behind us were laughing. Samoa was really entertaining too. the Samoan man husked and cracked open a coconut, lit a fire in with a dry coconut husk, shaved the coconut and squeezed it to make coconut milk (i couldn't believe how much milk came out), he also explained to us that in Samoa the men cook the meals. the most amazing thing was when 3 guys climbed up a coconut tree like it was nothing. we saw our friend/neighbor Kosh working and she gave us a free coconut. my attempt to open it was in vain ha. i had to have the guy help me pretty much the whole time but i did husk and crack it open, don't worry i got an explosion of coconut and juice all over me! 

after Samoa we headed to the bus stop. we were at the bus stop when Britnee and her friend Eric drove up and offered us a ride in his rental mustang. 6 people squished into the 4 seated convertible. i was on Britnee's lap with my legs hanging out the window as we drove to the steak truck next to ted's bakery. the last time i went to this steak truck was with my mom in January and i remembered how good it was, and cheap! we both got steak and devoured it! i love moments like this. when we were finished we hoped back on the bus and headed home. today was an awesome day!