10 reasons to learn Auslan (BANZSL)

En español

Auslan or BANZSL (British, Australian, New Zealand Sign Language) is a sign language which originates from a deaf sign language used in Britain during the 19th Century. Contrary to a common belief, not all sign languages are the same. For example, ASL (American Sign Language) is very different to BSL (British Sign Language). Also, signed languages are not just word for word spoken language signed but they have their own syntax, grammar and word origins. Also, some countries actually have sign language as one of their official languages, for example: New Zealand. 

I'm going to give you ten reasons to learn Auslan (the sign language in Australia).

Creative Common by Deaf Action 

Creative Common by Wycliffe South Africa

Travel Review: North Island overall - Photo Blog

During my recent trip to New Zealand, I spent some time in Hamilton, Rotorua, as well as in Auckland. 


This is my trip:

Leaving Melbourne to Auckland

Half-way there

The plane 

Landing in Auckland
It was very foggy, it was magical.

A teko teko pu (guardian) welcomed me into NZ

My (temporary) backyard

Seal at the Auckland Zoo
It looks digital because of the lighting

A tuatara
A prehistoric reptile which can live over 100 years old
but most live to 60.

Burma, the elephant

Lettuce beware

A kea
They are very intelligent and are cheeky as well.
The collect everything they can find
rubber on cars, rubbish, anything!

Keas having lunch

A kiwi
I waited about half and hour to take that photo

I found out there are about 7 species of kiwi

A tiger 

The skytower from the harbour bridge

No further information required 

About to drive off

Cutting the cake at the wedding party

They had a great view of the skytower
from the restaurant

One Tree Hill

I find it interesting that the train signs in NZ
have old-fashioned trains on it. 

My first encounter with a bumble bee
in Hamilton

The skyline in Rotorua
Rotorua means two lakes in Maori
Roto - Lake
Rua - Two

I thought it was quite smart how they used the map
of New Zealand in-between the N and the Z

Zorbing at Rotorua
(That wasn't me in there)

Leaving NZ to Australia

Last photo in New Zealand

There are 'stars' in the plane at night

A welcome home present from my cat

I have to speak some very basic Maori:

Kia Ora

(Hello or Thank you depending on context)

Ko Jesse taku ingoa.

(My name is Jesse.)

Kei te pehea koe?

(How are you? singular)

Kei te pehea korua?

(How are you? two people)

Kei te pehea koutou?

(How are you? more than two people)

Ka pai

(Good / Okay)

Tahi, Rua, Toru, Wha, Rima, Ono, Whitu, Waru, Iwa, Tekau

(One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten)

Iwi

(Tribe)

Kai

(Food)

Ikat

(Fish)

Aotearoa

(Land of the long white cloud)

It's great after spending a week in New Zealand, I am able to speak all this Maori.

Travel Review: Auckland, North Island, New Zealand - Day 2

I wanted to see the native New Zealand animals while I was here; so decided the best way to capture these natives would be to pay a visit to the Auckland Zoo. 


Originally, I was expecting it to be smaller than the Melbourne Zoo but I was proven wrong within the first ten minutes. The place is huge and with a great back drop of sub tropical reserve. But I only wanted to see the New Zealand animals at Te Wao Nui. 

First, I went to 'The Coast' and saw the Sea Lions and Penguins. It was interesting watching them swim in the water, they were very big. Then I went to 'The Islands' to see the tuataras. I found out that the name 'tuatara' is Maori for 'spiky back', which makes sense. They are also believed to have survived the dinosaur times. I tracked down to the kea and blue ducks at 'The High Country' enclosure. I couldn't get any good photos of the kea because they were on top of the tall rocks. The blue ducks weren't as interesting as the other New Zealand animals. The area to see the blue ducks was quite small so I didn't stay for long. I had a look around at 'The Forests' and saw the native birds from the look out. I could only see one species and I forgot what it was. 


After ten minutes searching for birds, I heard an announcement that the zoo keepers were going to feed the kea so I decided to delay my kiwi visit for the keas being fed. Kea are very intelligent, some people may mistake them for being purely evil because they like collecting things such as rubber on cars and tent fabric, they also steal shoes and bite sheep. It was very funny watching them eat because the zoo keepers were having a chat while feeding, then a kea would tipped over a bucket and started eating the food without the zookeepers realising it. I took some good shots of the kea but I thought it was about time that I saw Aotearoa's official animal, the kiwi.


On the way to the kiwi, the eels were a bit alarming with a Caution: "Eels can cause a painful bite" sign next to them. 


The kiwi enclosure was dark due to their nocturnal nature.  I couldn't see them but after a while when the eyes adjusted the kiwi were there as usual away from the spectators poking around. It was very hard to take a photo of one; they would walk aross dimmed out areas but ran very fast arcoss and lit up ground. So, I spend about half an hour painfully trying to take photos, I did manage take some good shots. 


At around this time hunger stuck and slowed me down so, I aheaded to Darwin's cafe. I had a kumara and cashew pie with chips. Not bad for a first timer.


There were no tigers in the enclosure but I did see one in a cage-like bridge near it. V lined to see the servals - not sight of them... some keen photograher was all set up there but didn't seem to be having much luck, then the cheetahs - who as usual looked content with their lot in lfe, the springboks and rhinos were avoiding each other, the lions were or seemed to be mating and finally the giraffes as usual feed his face. On the way out, the red panda made an appearance. 


At the giftshop, I bought a tuatara necklace, a kiwi badge and a red panda poster because it was only $3. The way back home, took scenic route via the Auckland Sky Tower and the Harbour Bridge, I took some great photos of the city behind the water on the harbour bridge. 


Each day I'm here I am trying to learn a new Maori phrase. So far I know 'Kei te pehea koe?' and 'Ka pai'. I already knew 'Kia Ora' and 'Ko Jesse aho' in Australia because of my kiwi friends. 

Travel Review: Auckland, North Island, New Zealand - Day 1

Out of the many countries I could have of been to, I am in Auckland, New Zealand. 


I flew on a very smooth Emirates plane; I couldn't tell that I left the ground, which was good as I am afraid of heights. The flight was amazing: delicious food, great entertainment such as music, TV, music videos, movies, etc. The plane had a modern, Middle Eastern feel with bilingual signs and announcements in Arabic and English. It did become quite annoying with each announcement going for about five minutes in Arabic and another five minutes in English. The uniform also look very Arabic with a red turban-like hat with a beige scarf that dressed the air hostesses. The plane was a bit squishy and I felt quite claustrophobic.


I got to Auckland, I noticed that it's not much different to Australia but one noticable diffence was  the grass is greener here. Literately. Well, Aotearoa is a nuclear-free zone. New Zealand dollar looks not much different to the Australian dollar with watermarks in similar places. New Zealand doesn't feel like a 'foreign country', which is turning out to be a good thing. 


My personal goal while in New Zealand is to get as many blogs but this isn't the main reason why I'm here. My primary reason for being here is to attend a family wedding but I decided it would be a quick break from every day life.


If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. I thought I can, I am here.