Mid Canterbury

June 2013, No 6

Welcome Newcomers!

We are an informal social network which supports people in the Mid Canterbury District. ‘Newcomers’ can help you get in touch with local people, clubs and organisations. We hope to help you feel at home in your new environment. Please feel free to come along to our activities or contact us. We look

forward to meeting you!

In This Issue

Settling-in meeting, Kiwi night….... .............. 1 Movie night………..…….2 Cultural Space....……....3 Traditional Greece recipe………………….......3 What’s on this month .. 4

Contact Us

Daria Glesser Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network 20 Williams St Ashburton, 7700

P: (03) 308-13-95 E: newcomers@saferashburton.org.nz

W: www.newcomers.co.nz Hours: Mon to Friday 9:30 am

to 3:00 pm

”Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

Wow! Kiwi night! Don’t miss a chance to learn more about New Zealand, its history and culture followed by refreshments and karaoke!

When: Wednesday, 26th at 7 pm Where: Hockey– Cricket Pavilion, Walnut Ave Free Admission For further information contact: Daria Glesser Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network Coordinator

027 220 87 91

Welcome to our new group!

Movie night!!!

Every first Wednesday of the month at Base, 143 Tancred St Ashburton

We will watch movies in different languages with English subtitle and documentaries about different countries. You are more than welcome to stay after the film, have a cup of tea or coffee and socialise with others!

When: 5th June, at 6:30pm Where: Base, 143 Tancred St . Just up from the Tancred street corner. The film: “The Motorcycle Diaries”, a biopic about the journey and written memoir of the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara, who would several years later become internationally known as the iconic Marx-ist guerrilla commander and revolutionary Che Guevara.

Mid Canterbury Newcomers Newsletter 2

If you would like to organize a cultural evening with your community and share your

traditions please contact the newcomers network coordinator.

Filipino night

Chat Group At our next chat group we are going to talk about Hob-bies! Tell us about everything you like to do in your free

time and why!

When: 12th June, at 6:30pm Where: Base, 143 Tancred St Ashburton

HOBBY In the 13th century, the term "hobyn" had the meaning of "small horse or pony". The term "hobbyhorse" was documented in a 1557 payment confirmation for a "Hobbyhorse" from Reading, England. The

item, originally called a "Tourney Horse", was made of a wood-en or basketwork frame with an artificial tail and head. De-signed to mimic a real horse, the hobbyhorse was used for reli-gious activities and civic occasions. By 1816 the derivative, "hobby", was introduced into the vocabulary of an unknown number of English people. Over the course of subsequent cen-turies, the term came to mean "recreational" or "leisurely pur-suit".

Newcomer’s night out

Everybody is welcome to join with newcomers for a glass of wine, beer, etc. in a

relaxed, informal atmosphere.

When: 19th June, 6:30pm Where: Braided Rivers Restaurant & Bar, Corner of Burnett Street and Cass Street , Ashburton

Mid Canterbury Newcomers Newsletter 3

Γεια σας (Geia sas)! My name in Greek is Michail. If you translate to English it is Mike. I come from Mytilini, Lesvos, Greece. I arrived in Ashburton over 1 month ago.

I work as a hairdresser at “Prego”, Ashford's Village. Even though I have been here a short time, I’m liking the places. I recently visited Akaroa and I loved it. I come from a country that's full of history. Mytilini is the capital city of Levos Islands. Greece , officially

the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southern Europe. Greece's population is around 11 million. Athens is the nations capital and largest city. There is so much History. It’s actually amazing! So

if you get the chance to research Greece, you'll be intrigued by its beauty and history of Greece. There are many islands with beaches. Greece is known for its beautiful beaches and scenery. It is also known to have close neighbours like Italy, Bulgaria and Turkey. The food is another well known fact In Greece… The food brings people and culture together, like most countries around the world. Here are some popular Greek dishes: moussaka, pastichio, gemista, spanakopita, tiropita and the famous Greece drink Ouza. So there is a little bit about Greeck.

I have been welcomed here In Ashburton, NZ. So far it’s been a great Experience!

CULTURAL SPACE The place where you can share stories about your culture and

yummy recipes popular in your home country! Today Mike Najmi from

Greece will share his story with us!

OUZA The island of Lesvos (Mytilini) prides itself as the hub of ouzo production and is widely known to have some of the best ouzo in Greece. Recipes for distilling ouzo may be similar from loca-tion to location, however, you will find that these

are often closely guarded family secrets.

World wisdom

To be willing is only half the task. You don’t water a camel with a spoon.

Armenian

You can get to the ends of the world on a lie, but you cannot return.

Russian

No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back.

Turkish

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough, but not baked in the same oven.

Yiddish

Mid Canterbury Newcomers Newsletter 4

1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 bunch shallots (spring onions), finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1.2kg baby spinach or silver beet 2 tbsp. chopped dill 250g feta cheese, crumbled 150g full-fat ricotta cheese 3 tbsp. grated kefalotyri or parmesan cheese 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 tsps. grated nutmeg 12 sheets filo pastry 120g butter, melted

Step 1 Heat oil in a fry pan, then add onion, shallots and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until softened, then add spinach and half the dill. (If using silver beet, remove leaves, and chop before adding; discard stalks). Cook, stirring, over low heat for 1-2 minutes or until spinach has wilted. Drain in a colander and cool, then combine with cheeses, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Step 2 Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 2 1/2-litre baking dish with butter. Lay one sheet of filo on base and sides and brush with butter. Repeat with 5 more sheets. Spread cheese mixture over top. Cover with remaining filo, brushing each sheet with butter. Trim excess pastry with kitchen scissors and tuck edges into sides of dish. Brush top with butter and score in diamond patterns.

Step 3 Bake for 45 minutes or until golden. Rest for 10 minutes. Warm remaining butter, add remaining dill and, when serving, pour over sliced spanakopita.

Spanakopita (spinach pie) is a Greek

savoury pastry

Some kiwi slang...

Jersey or Jumper - Pull Over / Fleece Hot Chips - French Fries Hard Case - Funny person You're all good - It's OK, thank you “Chrissy pressies” - Chrismas presents Get off the grass - disbelief, similar to 'stop pull-ing my leg' Nick away - to leave, usually quickly and surreptitiously

What’s on this month?

Mid Canterbury Newcomers Newsletter 5

Other things to do

Newcomers Chat Group Would you like to get to know other people and cultures, improve your English in an interactive way, enrich your vocabulary with kiwi words, learn other languages and teach your own one? Join us! Every time we have a new topic to discuss. When: Every second Wednesday of the month - 12th June. Where: Base, 143 Tancred St Ashburton. Fee: $2 For more information contact Daria on 3081395 or 027 220 87 91 Settling-in meeting Meet new people and learn more about their culture! This month we are having a Filipino evening! Every fourth Wednesday of the month. When: Wednesday, 26th June at 7 pm Where: Hockey Pavilion, Walnut Ave Contact Daria on 027 220 8791 Multicultural Playgroup (organized by “Presbyterian Support”) For more details contact Torika Patterson at Presbyterian Support on 3085868 or Thelma Bell on 0212593270 Where: 222 Cameron Street, Ashburton When: Every Monday 1pm-3pm Zumba Fitness Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba® program is all about. It is a real "multicultural event" where you will be surrounded by lots of people coming from all over the world, enjoying a Latin-inspired dance-fitness programme and an absolutely unbelievable atmos-phere! When: Every Thursday at 6:30 pm Where: Netherby school hall, Ashburton For more information contact Paula 027 8565143 Newcomers Coffee morning group If you are new to Mid Canterbury area we welcome you to join us and get your first cup of coffee for free! We would love to get to know you and to hear your story! Look forward to seeing you! When: Every Thursday at 10:30 am Where: McDonalds conference room. 124 West Street Contact Iris on o210582125 Line –dancing classes When: 29th June, at 7:30 pm Where: 159 Cochranes Rd, turn right at the second gateway after Elgin Rd. There is a wooden sign saying Elgin Farm. David Fisher