Fulbright Scholar Story

By Diana Suskind, Ed.D

Kia Ora! This is the Maori greeting of welcome. Diana decided to have me made for her Fulbright tour to New Zealand , August-September 2003. I was made by Diana's childhood friend, Mary Santee at Otisco Lake , Amber , New York where she grew up enjoying summer holidays with her family and friends.

I was to incorporate the goals of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE)Philosophy. Resources for Infant Educarers was founded by Magda Gerber, international renown infant specialist in 1976 and incorporates the work of the late Dr Emmi Pikler, who was the Medical Director of the orphanage known as Loczy in Budapest, Hungary. The philosophy is based on a respectful approach in caring for and educating infants and toddlers. Magda Gerber coined the phrase “educarer” to describe how adults incorporate education into caring for babies. Diana chose the colors red, white and black to create me, without realizing that these colors are symbolic to the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand. In the middle is the symbol for RIE, a baby lying on her back with an outstretch arm reaching for an adult's hand. Above and below the symbol are two babies stitched almost invisibly into sea of hearts embedded in the material. At the very top of the quilt is printed the words “RIE's Goal is to Help Raise Authentic Infants who are:”. On either side of this center panel are two columns stating the characteristics of an authentic infant in both Maori and English, representing the bi-cultural.traditions of New Zealand.

Ngaio ( competent); haangai ana (focuses); tanata ngaawari (peaceful); whai waahi mai (involved); koa (cheerful); ngaakau aawhina (cooperative); rauhanga (resourceful); timata (initiating); maaia maatau (confident); kakama (aware); whakamau (secure); mataara (attentive); paakiki (curious);aata titiro (exploring);aro mai (interested); maahaki(inner-directed).

I was packed away in one of Diana's full suitcases and arrived in Auckland , New Zealand on the 27 th of July. On the 28th I attended a”Powhiri”. This ceremony honored Diana's arrival in New Zealand and welcomed us onto the Marae (meeting house) located at Auckland College of Education. We were called onto the Marae and then speeches were conducted in Maori by the Kaumatua (elder) and returned by our representative who spoke on our behalf. There was singing after each speech (waiata) in Maori. Then requested through the spokesman that I be blessed as I will be traveling the country and will be displayed proudly where she speaks in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin, Christchurch and finally Whangarei, where I will be presented to a representative of Te Tari Ora Puna o Aoteroa/New Zealand Childcare Association. The picture of Diana with the Kaumatua is called Hongi and at the end of the ceremony it is customary to touch noses and foreheads. It is a form of respect.

In the six weeks I was with Diana I was present while she spoke to childcare staff working with infants and toddlers in three separate workshops on “Respect the Key to Raising a Self-Confident Baby”, “When a Baby Moves Freely” and “I Want to Eat My Way”.

Respect	When a Baby Moves Freely
A Painting of Eating My Way	Peeling the Banana

The participants presented teacher stories based on implementing the new ideas and skills learned in these workshops. We also presented to students studying at Technical Institutes for Diploma or Degrees in Early Childhood Education. Diana spoke about play, observing scattered, free floating play, focused and sustained attention to play based on the research of Anna Tardos, Emmi Pikler's daughter. An article “More Than A Mere Glance, an in-depth look at baby's attention to play” will appear in the next issue of “The First Years Journal of Infants and Toddlers”, through the Auckland College of Education. We ran a specialist intensive workshop over two weekends for professionals in the field of infant/toddler education who required a more in depth study and implementation of the RIE philosophy. The quality of the participants' presentations was outstanding. Diana visited childcare centers in Auckland , Wellington , Dunedin and Whangarei. Diana spoke to parents attending a playgroup and at Family Start, parent/infant classes.

 

At my last formal presentation I was gently place on the floor, a candle was lit, and a circle was formed around me. Each person in the circle was asked to share their wish for infants. This was a moving experience and provides hope for the future. Now a new journey begins as Diana presents me to Jude,

While speaking in Wellington Rose Cole, Executive Director (left) and Lisa Docherty, Commission Post Contact/ Programme Coordinator(right) got a chance to check me out.Accompanying Diana will be two autograph books containing the names and comments of all the people who admired me.

Haere Ra,Diana! This is the Maori greeting of goodbye. Sharing life together is sharing steps in time. The music is different to each of us…oh how beautiful is the dance.