Macklemore and More

Here are some interesting things I’ve learned about New Zealand:

1. The first people did not arrive on the island until around 1300 CE. I learned this in my New Zealand in Global Context class and I found it shocking. 1300 CE! So many things had been invented by then, so much art had been created, and so many empires had risen and fallen, before the Polynesians got in their boats and ventured way, way south. The country is so small it’s almost a miracle they found it at all. My professor for that class is named Lyndon, and he is completely against the class using anything other than his first name. On the first day he wore sneakers, ripped jean shorts, a tee shirt, and white sunglasses in his long blond hair. In other words, he was the epitome of “chill.” He gave us his cell phone number so we could shoot him a text like “Bro, I need an extension” (his 100% serious example). This made me laugh because I imagined asking a professor from Middlebury, or any college really, for an extension through text message addressing him as bro. I guess this is how you experience culture shock in New Zealand.

2. There is only one large cable (Dan: It must be as large as a bus!) that brings Internet to the country. Thus, it is unbelievably expensive, 10GB for about $40.

3.  There are no girls in Beer Club. I know this because I tired to join.

4. People do not go to concerts early. The group that I went with got the Macklemore concert that was for the University of Canterbury Orientation Week (also called O Week) an hour early and expected to have to line up around the block. Instead, we were the only ones there.

First ones in line so excited!

The security guards weren’t even there until 20 minutes before the doors opened. Those eager beaver Americans!

5. Macklemore is AMAZING in concert. It was the highlight of my week. If you don’t know who he is, check him out because he is super talented and great and I want to be his friend. Thrift Shop is his most famous song right now, but I also like this one and this one. But before the main event we had to endure two opening acts. The opening act to the real opening act was one of the most…ah…interesting displays of music I have ever seen. They were a rap group from Wellington(?), who dressed up like they were homeless(?), or painters(?), or from Star Wars(?).

 Obi Wan Kenobi rapper

The reason for all the question marks is because I had absolutely no idea what they said either during their songs or when they talked in between. Every face in the crowd was equally bewildered with the yelling and dancing, which consisted of falling down on the stage or draping themselves over speakers and kicking into the air. It was two thirds torture, one third entertaining.

The other music group, Home Brew, was clearly better known because that is when the pushing began. Since we had gotten to the concert so early (see above picture), we were also right at the front of the stadium, which would have never happen in a million years at a concert in the States so we were all determined to stay there.

The Stadium from the back.

 We were very close to the stage.

Unfortunately, my resolve to be that close to my new friend crush (real crush), Macklemore, faded as the pushing from the back became increasingly aggressive. I was standing looking up at Home Brew when I was suddenly shoved forward. After about the sixth time of a push, the pressure stopped receding and got stronger and stronger. I had flashes of panic, thinking “I can breathe!” when I definitely could breathe, and “I’m going to be trampled!” when I stood solidly on the ground. It kept getting worse and worse until it felt like I was in a washing machine being tossed this way and that, so I decided I’d had enough! I slithered and shoved my way to the back of the crowd where there was plenty of space to move and not get strangers' sweat all over you. My friends stayed at the front, but I thought I’d rather watch the concert alone than having crazed students pushing me around. Luckily, I stumbled on a friend, Megan, who had also lost the group she came with. 

In the end, this concert became a study in good things some to those who wait. Since Megan hates crowds, we walked all the way around the crush of people in the middle of the stadium to the far right, where there was still space at the front and a pretty good view.

Even though we were not in the middle, we could see everything.

I high fived the guy in the striped suit who is featured in Thrift Shop; he’s standing on the right of the stage.

And Macklemore moved around a lot so he often stood right in front of us.

Macklemore is as good live as he is on his CD, speaking so clearly I understood every word he said, rapped, and sang. He was a great performer, and seemed genuinely thrilled that he at his first concert ever in New Zealand. I was very glad to be a part of it too.

6. It is hard to get classes straightened out. But once they are all straightened out, I will definitely give a run down of the rest of my courses

7. It’s gonna snow again in Boston. Enjoy your wintery weekend!