New Zealand - Before the "I Do's"

We arrived in New Zealand on December 10, greeted with flowers and tears at the airport by Edwin's family, and friends Bryce and Michelle. Within just a few minutes of arrival, we had settled into a wonderful routine of playing with our nieces Leina and Sophia, cramming in last minute wedding planning, and meeting and visiting with Edwin's family members, who were gathering in New Zealand for both our wedding, and an 80th birthday party for Edwin's grandmother, Tina (Samoan for "Mother"). And eating! I don't think we went for more than a couple of hours without some scrumptious food being placed before us. I was happy I still fit into my wedding dress after consuming copious amounts of mince tarts, Cadbury's chocoate, barbequed mussels and sausages, and food only available in NZ (such as Vogel's bread and Hubbard's muesli), and his Mum's and sister's wonderful Samoan cooking.

It had been 2.5 years since Edwin had last been in New Zealand, and almost 9 years since I had visited for two months of travel in 1998. It was wonderful for me to see Edwin being reacquainted with his friends and family - how much they had missed him, and also how his friendships with his mates picked up where they had left off years before.

Amongst preparations for Christmas, Tina's birthday, and our wedding, family members started to arrive from Samoa, Australia, Canada, and other regions of New Zealand. For those of us from the northern hemisphere, it was wonderful to be preparing BBQs and hanging Christmas decorations on the orange tree in the Tucker's backyard. Those who arrived from Samoa bundled up in sweaters and blankets in the evenings.


On Christmas Day, 45 family members gathered at Aunty Sally and Uncle George's property just south of Auckland to celebrate Christmas and Tina's 80th birthday. It was a wonderful day of Samoan food, dancing and singing, Christmas "prezzies", a lolly scramble, meeting and getting to know our new extended (and international) family.

Location: Wellington, New Zealand