Greeting-Kia Ora!

September is the first month of spring. Supposingly, it is meant to be warmer...but it feels colder than winter. Is that even possible? Anyway, I am not meant to write about the weather. There is far more things interesting to talk about than the weather! Although, weather seems to be the topic people talk about when they run out things to say. Interesting enough, a great conversation can generate from just talking about the weather. Does that happen to you?

English Teaching College took 75 students plus staff to Pipitea Marae on Thorndon Quay, Wellington this morning. We were first greeted by 2 friendly hosts and were then seated with men on one side and women on the other. Songs were sang and a history of Aotearoa (New Zealand) was very well explained by one of the host. That was what happened briefly.

What really interested me was the Hongi. The Hongi is the traditional Maori welcome expressed by the rubbing or touching of noses. This morning, we were greeted with a firm handshake and followed by the Hongi. The majority of us whom has not been part of the culture would have found this interesting.  

  

Each culture has a different way when meet and greet. some culture bow, shakehand, peck on the cheek...and so on. In New Zealand, I have found the 'meet and greet' to be a handshake (for  business purposes) or a hug (depending on how close your relationship is with that person).

What's your culture like?