Hello...

Ok, i have made progress. After what seems like thousands of unreturned emails, an experience many Bonners are familiar with, i went out to our local farmers market and began to meet people, talk, explain myself and i am starting to work for them next week! The Grey Lynn Farmers Market, which is my towns farmers market, is a new and struggling market, something i am familiar with. I have been a few times to buy produce and began to notice what a community effort it was, with musicians, children's care, etc., all taking place within the community center. The center is a beautiful new building that hosts community gatherings, art classes, senior classes, events, community dance classes etc. Since i have been looking for this kind of venue, gathering place in my new community, i was very eager to become a part of it and was very excited to hear that they needed volunteer help at the markets!

I am going to begin by attending a committee meeting, and go from there, although i suspect my work will be somewhat related to outreach, market set up/breakdown etc. What i do know, is that it will put me out into the community, meeting people and finding out where the local food is grown and who it is grown by.

I have been feeling a bit of a lacking in my classes. Most of my classes are about Maori human rights and are very rewarding so far as the actual class content and the quality of engagement. However, everything ends when you leave the classroom, there is no bridge between what we learn and what we encounter in our daily lives as students in a diverse New Zealand. I am starting to realize why CBR and service learning was created.

more later....after i begin work.

all my best!

Dani