sleeping tiger

When I first came to this course at the Migrant Centre, I was dejected and feeling very low because I thought that my life was over. I had no skills and my usefulness as a person has passed its prime. Two years of permanent holidays was nice at first; but I was looking at 20 years of nothing! I could not handle it. I really felt that I was past my used by date! I hanged my head often, not making eye contact with people when they were talking to me. Now it is very different. I have plan A and plan B, even a plan C for my future! Thank you Sandy and thank you Lucia!

This afternoon there was an incidence with a pakeha guy at the park during lunch break when I was playing golf. He was not very polite when he asked me to replace divots. I informed him that if he was not happy he could sue me! He came near and shoved the grass within half a cm of my nose and said: you people are all the same, #*'!.... I became unhappy too because he generalized about migrants and used the f word. I told him that my whanau and iwi were in Taranaki where I was born. I asked him whether he was born in NZ! Was he trying to stop us Maori playing golf, steal our land, the foreshore and seabed or what?! He was dumb founded. I pointed out that he was not very clever because as far as I could see I was the only one holding a weapon! With that I moved into his personal space* deliberately and shoved my 9 iron near his face! Suddenly, he lost interest in me and left the park. I wonder why. Obviously he has picked the wrong victim at the wrong time. I was more than assertive. I was a sleeping tiger!

* Thank you Sandy for teaching me about personal space last week!

meet the politicians

National and Labour party members of parliament came to the Migrant Centre last night. The Chinese were not very well represented in the audience because they are still learning English! Perhaps in 10 years time, Anjum? David Bennet represented National for the Hamilton East ward.

happy birthday, Rebecca

Shared lunch

A great feature of this course was the lunch we shared. It gave us a chance to network and get to know one another, a little bit better.

job seekers

If you are an immigrant looking for a job in NZ we can certainly help you. Come and talk to Lucia or Sandy at the Migrant Centre. We are currently running a course on CV preparation, job search and other relevant skills.

I have tried the Dinsdale Work & Income office near my house. They are no good. It seems to me that the receptionist there was more interested to give me the run around than help me. She sent me to the other offices at 5-cross roads, Hamilton East and also to see John Lee at the Migrant Centre. All of them refused or were unable to help me. What I needed from them was simply a client number to give to Sandy so that she could get paid. The case managers appear to be keen on one thing only: to find new ways to tell us, migrants politely, why they cannot help us find jobs in NZ!
I now understand why migrant doctors are driving taxis in Wellington! Winston Peters is right. This country doesn't need any more migrants and refugees. What we need to do is find genuine ways to help qualified immigrants, who are already here, find the right jobs in NZ. There is a vast pool of experience and knowledge waiting to be tapped out there.

free golf lessons

Free golf lessons are available at the Claudelands migrant centre. Zero initial outlay in equipment cost. Balls and clubs are provided free! Just come along after 3 p.m on Wednesdays. New immigrants are most welcome. 

Instructions are given in Japanese (Takashi) and Mandarin (David). Tutors have over 30 years experience.
Takashi & David Waikato Golf School. I have written a separate blog on golf. If you missed the free lessons, you can still read the blog.

Sandy sent these 3 students to me at the lake side. One was from Sweden, the man was Japanese and the girl on the right came from Mongolia.