1st Rugby Match!

This week, one of my clients invited me to the opening home game for the Canterbury Crusaders, the super rugby team resident in Christchurch. I'm not really sure how I made it onto the invite list, but I was excited for the opportunity to see my first live Rugby match.

There were about 10 in our group, 4 from the client and 6 people they had invited. I was the only girl. Of course. However, with my love of all sports and basic knowledge of the game I was ready to rock and roll. We had a great dinner before the game and then had pretty good seats to watch the main event. Lucky for me it was a warm evening because I don't think it would have been as much fun in the rain.

Look at that gorgeous evening!

I tried to take a picture when they lift a player up in the air on a throw-in. Stupid phone.

Richie McCaw, captain of the Crusaders & All Blacks is just to the right of the guy with the ball (he's wearing a knee brace). It was cool to see one of, if not the best flankers of all time

I took a few pictures of the game, but here are my observations of the evening and of rugby.

• If you are going to participate in a sweepstakes by guessing the outcome of the game, you shouldn't bet against the home team if you aren't already an avid supporter of the opposing team. The other members of your group will hassle you all night. This is obviously what I did.
• Contrary to my first point, if you can take the ribbing (which I can), then you should pick the game emotion free. I think that's what I had over the men. I made my bet based on the numbers and facts I had available to me, which is probably why I won the jersey and they went home empty handed and a loss for their team.
• Pick a team. Now that I have a Crusaders jersey, I guess I'm obligated to support them. But that's okay, they have made it to the playoffs the past few years, have one of the best players of the NZ All Blacks playing for them and it's always fun to have a local team to support. Anything to take my mind off the Broncos...plus I don't think I could pick the opposing team based on principal because their mascot is the Chiefs.
• The game moves a lot, similar to soccer, but is very physical like American football. I found it very interesting, but I am going to have to watch some games on TV because I just couldn't tell what was going on in the scrums from up in the stands.
• I don't understand all the penalties that were called. When I mentioned that to my group, they laughed and just said it is a subjective call by the referee and most people won't know what the call is a lot of the time. That made me feel better.
• Small stadiums are cozy. AMI stadium seats 18,000 for sporting events, which means no one is really in a terrible seat no matter how far away you are. I quite liked that.

Here I am in my new jersey!

Super Rugby

Friday, 21 February, 7:35 pm

AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Crusaders

Chiefs

10 - 18

Final

	1	2		Total
Crusaders	0	10		10
Chiefs	8	10		18

Waitangi Day - February 6 2014

Well, it's official. We have just enjoyed our second Waitangi Day here in New Zealand, which means we have been here for more than a year! I can't believe so much time has already passed by.

What is Waitangi Day?
Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is often considered to be New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

I find it so interesting that New Zealand celebrates its National Day when the British came into the country rather than when they left, like the US and Independence Day. Regardless, this is a lovely country with lovely people - even if they do have an unusually high affinity for the Brits. 

Our Celebration
Since I had the day off, I started off the morning with a nice little chat with my mom on Skype. Since it was her birthday in New Zealand, I got to wish her a happy birthday over video chat. Love you mom!  Then it was off to the beach!

Amazingly, it was a sunny, warm day so we went to the beach for the first time this summer. The best part of the day was when we forced Ike to swim in the ocean. When I picked him up to cuddle him, he just kept paddling away in my arms for several minutes. We love that little guy. The worst part of the day was later than night when we realized how sunburnt we both got. We forgot to take sunscreen because we really haven't needed it with the lackluster summer we've had. We were sure sorry the next couple days!

Brian took a little video of the beach on the ipad and we took a couple of pictures. Enjoy!

A boy and his dog

All set to enjoy the sun!

Look at that clear, blue sky. Also, have you ever seen dark brown sand?