Back to Auckland - 09/14/2013

I had one more night in Queenstown to spend time with everyone I had met on the Stray bus. The next morning it was back to Auckland to return to my semi-real life. That night was the night of the All Blacks game.This was the only game of the season in Auckland and they were playing their biggest rival, the South African Springbok team. 

So I threw on the All Blacks jersey that I bought for my brother (pretty much a dress on me) and painted a silver fern on everyone’s faces. Go big or go home! We made our way to Eden Park and found our seats and waited for the much anticipated Haka. Now for those of you who do not know what the Haka is, it is a war chant and dance that the Maori people used to do in battle to intimidate their opponents. The All Blacks perform the Haka before every game and the other team just has to stand there. I had seen youtube videos, but nothing compares to seeing it live. It sent chills up my spine and I was not even that close to the field. They also don’t use microphones. They just yell extremely loud. 

To be honest that is what I really went for. I still don’t understand the game of Rugby, but the All Blacks won 29 to 15 and kept the streak of the Springbok team not winning a game against the All Blacks in Eden Park since 1937!  I managed to lose my passport while at Eden Park but it was found and turned in and I went back to the park later in the week to retrieve it and the crisis, a first for me, was averted.