I finally performed my Samoan dance after 2 weeks of practice!

On Saturday the 10th of September, my mum, dad and I drove to my family concert at Mount Roskill. My sister didn't come with us because she went to her best friend's birthday party. When we were getting ready to leave, my mum packed my Samoan puletasi, red lipstick and a packet of hair pins. When we were all ready, we left the house.

On our way to the hall, we stopped to get some food for the family concert. After we arrived, I helped my cousin Sita to carry the radio that would blast out the music for the dancers. After we went inside, we had to set up the radio. 

While we were waiting for the rest of the family to arrive, we played X-factor in the children's room. My cousin Selevasio and I sang a song together. My cousin and I came first place. After a while, the rest of the family arrived. My dad led the prayer and then we all ate. I sat next to my cousin and ate with her.

Eventually, it was time to dance. I was the first to dance and I wore my puletasi with red lipstick with a c on my cheeks and my hair in a neat bun. I danced to the song La'u Samoa/ During my dance, I raised $352 dollars. Four of my cousins danced and one sang.

After that the parents had a small meeting while the kids played multiple games. I coloured in an online adult colouring book and I took many selfies with my family members.

Eventually, we all went home with a bowl of leftovers. I said goodbye to everyone and hopped into the car.

When we finally arrived home, I went straight to bed.

My favourite part was when I performed the La'u Samoa dance after 2 weeks and 4 hours of practice.

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our recounts.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I use action verbs to describe my family concert.

I can't wait until September the 3rd!

Learning Intention: We are learning to understand and use descriptive language in our recounts. 
Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write a recount about my family concert using action verbs.

On Friday the 29th of July, my family had a family concert so we all had to go. We left the house at 6:50 pm. When we arrived at the hall, I kissed my relatives as a sign of love for them. Then we waited for the rest of my family to join us because we can only start when the whole family are together.

After a while, my cousins came. When my cousin Pongi and Olivia arrived, we all went to the kitchen to make some coffee for our family. My cousin Pongi was the eldest so she was in charge. She told my sister to pour the milk, my cousin Katrina washed all the cups, Olivia poured the hot water, Pongi made the coffee and the tea while I walked around with a notebook asking people if they would like a cup of tea or coffee.

When everybody was ready, we all said a prayer blessing us all. Then my cousins Cece and Sita put on some Tongan music. My cousins and my sister were in the backroom, getting dressed for our traditional dance. We wore our traditional Tongan clothes called Teunga tau'olunga and we had to wear a special clothing called a Kie kie over it.   

When we were all ready, my uncle called out our names. My sister did a Tongan dance to a song called Ta'koe Sola. Then my little niece Navy danced and she was the youngest dancer.

When I finished dancing, I watched my older cousins' performances. All the parents grabbed some money and put it on them, we call this gesture Faka'pale. I ran and collected the money and gave it to my dad so that he could count it up. My dad counted up the money to see how much we had raised for my great grandma's headstone and also for us to have a family reunion in Tonga.

After a while, we had some pizzas because we were all very hungry. Then my dad placed all the money into an envelope and made a speech. He told us that we should make time to get to know each other better and then he told us how much we have raised that night. We raised more than a thousand dollars. Afterwards we all danced to loud pop music.

Soon I collected all the cups and gave them to Pongi to wash. Then we all said goodbye to each other. Eventually we hopped into the car and drove home.

My favourite part was when my two year old niece Navy danced because it was really cute and also because she was our youngest dancer. I can't wait for our next family concert on September the third.