It’s the final term of the school year here; it’s hard to believe that the kids (/our family as a whole) is nearing summer break. This final term of school means lots of exciting year-end activities, one of which was a recent field trip that Asher’s class took to Howick Historical Village. I was lucky enough to accompany him, so I’ll share both of our takes on the experience.
Interview with Asher:
Ellie: Ok, tell me a bit about the field trip. Where did we go?
Asher: We went to Howick Historical Village. It was crazier than I thought because I thought it was actually going to be an old village and it was going to have some ruins. But it wasn’t; I heard someone talking about how a lot of the houses were moved there. And I was, like, “what?? They all seemed like they were built here.” There was even a tent – and I was confused about why that was there too.
Ellie: Ok wait – explain the day – can you describe what you did and explain the centers and activities?
Asher: So, first we went and we got to play with some of the old outdoor games that they used to play with. Their were stilts, wooden horses, bean bags, and we got to site on the carriage. There were these things – like a metal hoop you would roll, and there was something like bowling.
Ellie: And what else?
Asher: There was rag-rugging, and we actually got to make rugs out of old clothing scraps and sacks and bags. And there was a station where we got to play with old toys, and we got to play with some of the old toys that the children in the olden days got to play with.
And then, we went and explored the village. I liked the house that we went to close to the beginning because it was filled with stuff, and my friends and I thought the house might be filled with witches!
Ellie: Tell me one interesting facts you learned.
Asher: I didn’t really learn anything.
(Ellie and Asher pause to grab the three-fold from our time at the field trip to jog our memory, as we went about a week ago.)
Asher, again: Oh yea! The paths in the village were made from crushed shells. These were a good material because they would shine in the moonlight at night, and walking on them made a crunching sound, so you could here someone coming at night if they tried to sneak up on you.
Background and Context from the Village
It was fascinating to learn about the rich history of the arrival of European Settlers, known as the ‘Fencibles’ to East Auckland in the mid-1800s. The lands were inhabited by the Ngāi Tai, the indigenous people of the region, but beginnningin 1847, the landscape began to transform as European settlers arrived. These individuals, known as 'Fencibles,' derived their name from 'defencible,' indicating their ability to protect. To qualify under the Fencible scheme, soldiers had to have served valiantly in the wars of Britain during the 1830s and 1840s, be under 48 years of age, and possess 'good character and industrious habits.' In exchange for their service, they were promised free passage for themselves, their wives, and families, along with a cottage and an acre of land in New Zealand. However, this promise came with its own set of conditions. Mandatory Sunday church parades and certain military duties were required, and after seven years of dedicated service, the cottage and acre would truly become theirs.
Today, this rich history finds a home in the heart of Howick at the Howick Historical Village. The village stands as a testament to historical accuracy, meticulously preserving the essence of the Fencible era.
(Note - the above info was copied over/paraphrased directly from the Howick Historical Village website.)
Ellie’s Observations and Reflections
In my initial months in Auckland, one of the most striking aspects has been the remarkable quality of children’s educational programs. Public events are meticulously planned, with a strong focus on catering to the needs of the young ones. During this field trip, the kids were given ample time to immerse themselves in the past by playing with the village's old toys and artifacts, some of which were genuinely historic. The historical reenactors at the village were incredibly involved and enthusiastic. Watching Asher and his classmates fully engage in the village's daily life, exploring and marveling freely, was truly delightful.
As a chaperone, I was once again charmed by the delightful and insightful things that kids can offer. I found immense pleasure in observing the variety of foods the children had packed for their morning tea and lunch. Given the diversity in Asher's class – representing a wide array of Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern countries – the lunchbox contents were incredibly diverse. There were thermoses filled with noodles, intriguing fruity pastes and gummy treats, sandwiches, biscuits, bread, and hummus. One child even brought a full-fledged hamburger and happily dug into it at 10 am. Children, when left to their own devices, truly showcase their chaotic genius.
Moreover - I enjoyed the spontaneous conversations that arose when I joined in on the random lunch chatter. A boy named Bruce was lost in thought during lunch, spotting shapes in the clouds – together, we identified a bird and a dragon. Meanwhile, my companion on the bus (since Asher was too cool for school!) enthusiastically crafted a game in which we hunted for 'skyscrapers' and insisted on photographing numerous cars and trucks with my iPhone. Witnessing the kids simply being in the world brought me immense joy. I felt grateful for the opportunity to join them, observe their wonder, and learn alongside them.
Bonus reflection: This past Thursday Asher brought home a (rather immense!) Thank You card that he and the classmates in our Field Trip group had made for me. I was so grateful for their thoughtfulness; and I loved the intentionality of the gesture, and the valuable lesson it imparted to Asher and his friends about expressing gratitude.
If you’d like to hear from Asher directly, I filmed a version of the above interview - check out the 2ish minute interview below, or on YouTube here.
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