Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Kapa Haka Tour of Western USA 1998 | Page 178
Page 176 - Ngaruawahia High School Kapa Haka USA Tour 1998
The view out of our 21st floor window down to the Excalibur swimming pool.
The following letter, written by Robyn Roa, was
faxed back to Ngaruawahia High School today “This is my first note home since we’ve been
abroad. I am writing this from the Hoover Dam
where we are waiting to go on our group tour.
We’re penned in until our turn comes up.
“You won’t believe the commercialism that
surrounds the Dam – to us a dam is a dam is a
dam!
“After the Dam we’re off to eat at a local
casino called ‘Gold Strike’. It serves dinner for
about US$1.45 per person – real cheap!
Tonight is our last planned performance.
We’re expecting about 300 people from around
Boulder City and this is the only one we have
been able to practice for.
“The kids have been really great. In fact we’ve
just been roped into doing an impromptu
performance for the other tourists at the Dam –
tino choice – lead by Leon with real ihi! The
crowd loved it. Stuff to be proud of!
“The kids absolutely loved Salt Lake City –
loved the people who treated us like Kings and
Queens. Even now they miss their billet families.
“The homes we’ve lived in are like Flagstaff,
River Road homes! Real flash and big –
swimming pools, spas, every modern convenience,
rooms with ensuites, big cars, flash, flash, flash!
“I think we’re neat! Richard and I have been
driving around on their roads. I drove to Hoover
Dam and Richard drove us back! Neat, eh!
“Probably the highlight so far for me was the
performance at Highland High. The kids were
wonderful. The boys got a standing ovation and
the girls were absolutely beautiful.
“With about nine days remaining our students
have done a lot, seen a lot and learned a lot.
“We’d like to send our love to all our whanau
at home and assure you that so far we’re having a
great time.
“When you’re driving through the Black Rock
Desert and it’s snowing for most of the way the
scene takes on a whole different meaning,
especially when we’re not used to driving in snow
and sleet, and you see three vehicles upside-down
on the freeway! But we felt very safe in our
luxurious video/toilet bus.
“Today it’s really hot so we’ve had extreme
temperatures in two days.
“Motuiti has been our gentleman, making sure
whaea Poppy is safe walking around the Dam –
isn’t that nice.
“Well folks, gotta go. We’ve finished our tour
and the mod is hungry.
“Love to you all – Robyn Roa.”