The Te Reo course I hope to take next year includes two noho or weekend marae stays. I’ve been on marae before, and my only apprehension about these visits is the thought of sleeping in a room with many people. By the time we go in May the other students should no longer be strangers, bu it’s some time since I’ve shared a bedroom with anyone except Stephen, and I do like to have my own bathroom close by.
In my 20s and 30s I was very happy to sleep marae-style with friends. I can remember a time when several Values Council members slept on our lounge floor, and I joined them, leaving Stephen alone in the bedroom. Council times together were infrequent and precious, and we enjoyed chatting into the wee small hours.
Tramping holidays and Women’s Studies Conferences also meant sharing sleeping accommodation, but it’s been a while. When Stephen was involved with Alf’s Imperial Army I once slept in the same room with eight Wizards.
My sleeping bag has not been used for about ten years, and will need a thorough airing. It will be an adventure and a learning experience, but I imagine I’ll be glad to get home to my own bed.
Two nights spent sleeping marae-style
will be an interesting trial
Ruth's Reflections 
My biggest concern about shared sleeping quarters is SNORERS! I simply won’t share sleeping quarters with anyone I don’t know anymore, because of this. There have been too many nights where I have lain awake, due to some inconsiderate snorer (they KNOW they snore, yet still blithely/inconsiderately share sleeping quarters), while they get a good night’s sleep. No more, if I can help it. Can you tell that snorers and I will never make good bedfellows? 🙂
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Katrina, snorers are another concern. I remember years ago when I walked the Banks Peninsula track, one of our group informed us that she snored, and produced earplugs for anyone that wanted them. I suspect earplugs might be essential equipment for a marae stay.
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That was very considerate of that snorer! I must admit that I’ve never encountered that. For me, I find that earplugs are okay for one night, but the (gentle) pressure from them tends to make my ears too sensitive to wear them comfortably for more than that. I’d say that earplugs will be a ‘must have’ on your marae visit. 😊
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