Polynesian Cultural Center

I had the amazing opportunity to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center for free. This was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. The only sad part about it is that the freshman are able to go to a night show, but I have a night class during that time, so I can't go. I'm actually very mad and sad about it. I have heard
that it is really an
 awesome experience. I really wish I could go, but I did get to see small glimpses of what it is going to be like. The dancers are incredible. I was especially impressed with the Tahitian dancers; how they move their hips that fast, no one knows. I wish that I could be a dancer at the PCC, but you have to be or look like a polynesian, and I clearly do not. I'm a little bit depressed
about it actually, but it is what it is. The freshman were split into groups and were assigned two tour guides to take us to the PCC. We went to different places such as Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, and Tahiti. We obviously didn't actually go to those places, but we were able to see the differences in culture anyway. I really loved Tonga and Samoa. The shows were amazing and the main people were so funny. They would make jokes with completely straight faces. In Tonga, they had people come up and learn to play the drums, while the Tongans would play small pranks on them. In Samoa, there were two men that climbed the coconut trees, and I swear that I have never seen someone climb a tree so fast. They kind of look like frogs while doing it though. But after they climbed the trees, we were shown how to properly husk and open a coconut. I personally am no fan of coconut, but it was really cool to watch. When we went to Tahiti, we were able to witness a wedding ceremony, which was awesome. They had a bunch of dancing during it, and both families had to give gifts to each other during the wedding. New Zealand was amazing as well. They did tricks and dances with sticks, which we got to try. I was with one of the tour guides, and basically, we were the best at it. I think everyone else was jealous that I was with him..... oops. :) But also, the people from New Zealand have a very unique greeting. They don't say anything, but they grab hands and touch foreheads and noses; our tour guides made us pair up and do it. Me being my lucky self was the only one without a partner, so I was with the other tour guide, C. Joe, and we had to show everyone how it was done......... twice. To say I was a little embarrassed would be an understatement. It was in front of a pretty big group of people. One other interesting moment was that one of the workers actually proposed to his girlfriend that night in Tahiti. I didn't go to watch, but I heard it was great. After me and a couple of friends left, I met one of the Tongans that worked there. His name is Siopay. I'm not really sure if that's how you spell it, but I didn't ask how it was spelled so...... but we talked with him at Laie point until about 1:00 that night, and he explained to us the Tongan culture. It's amazing. He says that there aren't any homeless people in Tonga because when someone runs out of money, there is always someone willing to help. Maybe that's why the person who discovered Tonga called them "the friendly ones." But it's so interesting to hear about other peoples' cultures when you have lived in the same place your whole life.