I have two and a half more weeks of class before this semester's exams start. I am quite ready to reach the end of those weeks, but I have much to do in the remaining time.
I have two essays due next week, one of which is quite large, and then more due the week after the last day of class. They call that week Study week, which means no class and we are supposed to be studying for our exams. haha, funny concept I know. Hopefully in reality I will be off playing, but only after I finish the essay and journal I have to turn in that week. Sadly study week does not mean no homework for poor lil me. Despite the lovely load of work, I am having a good time here!
Sunday I went back to the Hamilton Gardens again. It was really nice. There were actually flowers blooming this time and it was nice and warm outside. Spring here is really beautiful :)
I have been planning my South Island adventure this past weekend. Looks like I am taking a 10 day bus trip with Kiwi Experience, adding a day to go to Milford Sound and then 3 more days for some fun :) It shall be a brilliant trip. I am going with two friends I met here. They are both Americans, so this will be really new for them too. It should be a good time.
Flights home are being complicated. It looks like I will most likely fly to LA on the 22nd or 23rd of November and spend the night in LA before leaving for Charlotte because by the time I'd get through customs, all the flights for Charlotte would be gone. sad. but oh well, just one more dip in the :)
So that is how my life is going down here at the bottom of the world. It never fails to be interesting.
LOVE,
Me
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
epic journey time
the fact that I have not updated in about a month really does not surprise me. I am rather bad at keeping up with blogs, which I apologize for.
Anyway, in the past month I went on a two week adventure around the North Island of New Zealand with one of my American friends. It was during the two week teaching recess we had off from the uni, and it was an amazing trip.
we started by spending a couple days in Auckland because we took his grandmother on the trip and we had to get her from the airport. We just sort of wandered around Auckland and saw the Auckland war museum during those two days. It was nice to be back in Auckland for a little while, I really like that city.
After those two days, we headed up North and stayed at Paihia for a night, which is in the bay of islands, and drove up to see the 90 mile beach. it was so cold, Brandon made me get in, and boy it was freezing, but worth it.
then we drove back through Auckland and up to Coromandel for a night. we stayed at the coolest little hostel. the next morning we drove to Cathedral Cove, which is one the most beautiful places i have ever been. They supposedly filmed some of prince caspin there, and it was so beautiful. it felt like i was in paradise or something.
then we spent a couple days in Rotorua, which felt slightly like going home since that was the first place i stayed once i got into the country. i went luging and we went to the spa and hung out in a hot pool. it was a really nice couple days.
we then stayed in Napier for a night, Brandon and his grandmother did a winery tour and i hung out at the hotel and played with the internet and such. Napier had the most beautiful stone beach. i had never seen one before, and it was super beautiful. the way the waves sounded as they hit the rocks was incredible.
then we headed down to Wellington, the capital, for 3 nights. we didn't actually stay in downtown Wellington, but we road the bus into town one day and drove the next. We visited the national museum, Te Papa, which was really really cool. saw a lot of awesome stuff including the treaty of waitangi and lots of Maori stuff. Maori history and culture is fascinating and i love seeing as much as i can about it.
we also spent some time in the botanical gardens, which were beautiful if slightly out of season. it was fun just wandering around and seeing the city and being outside.
then we headed back to Hamilton for a night and finally back to Auckland to meet a friend and drop Brandon's grandmother off.
we went to the aquarium and the zoo, both of which were awesome. one night Brandon, Megan and I went to a comedy club in town, and that was pretty fun. it was a great trip and i am really glad i went on it.
this past saturday i went to an All Blacks rugby game in Hamilton. it was an experience. i was around a lot of drunk people. which was interesting, and i didn't exactly understand what was going on, but it was cool to be there.
thats pretty much whats being going on here. i will try to post more often.
Cheers!
Anyway, in the past month I went on a two week adventure around the North Island of New Zealand with one of my American friends. It was during the two week teaching recess we had off from the uni, and it was an amazing trip.
we started by spending a couple days in Auckland because we took his grandmother on the trip and we had to get her from the airport. We just sort of wandered around Auckland and saw the Auckland war museum during those two days. It was nice to be back in Auckland for a little while, I really like that city.
After those two days, we headed up North and stayed at Paihia for a night, which is in the bay of islands, and drove up to see the 90 mile beach. it was so cold, Brandon made me get in, and boy it was freezing, but worth it.
then we drove back through Auckland and up to Coromandel for a night. we stayed at the coolest little hostel. the next morning we drove to Cathedral Cove, which is one the most beautiful places i have ever been. They supposedly filmed some of prince caspin there, and it was so beautiful. it felt like i was in paradise or something.
then we spent a couple days in Rotorua, which felt slightly like going home since that was the first place i stayed once i got into the country. i went luging and we went to the spa and hung out in a hot pool. it was a really nice couple days.
we then stayed in Napier for a night, Brandon and his grandmother did a winery tour and i hung out at the hotel and played with the internet and such. Napier had the most beautiful stone beach. i had never seen one before, and it was super beautiful. the way the waves sounded as they hit the rocks was incredible.
then we headed down to Wellington, the capital, for 3 nights. we didn't actually stay in downtown Wellington, but we road the bus into town one day and drove the next. We visited the national museum, Te Papa, which was really really cool. saw a lot of awesome stuff including the treaty of waitangi and lots of Maori stuff. Maori history and culture is fascinating and i love seeing as much as i can about it.
we also spent some time in the botanical gardens, which were beautiful if slightly out of season. it was fun just wandering around and seeing the city and being outside.
then we headed back to Hamilton for a night and finally back to Auckland to meet a friend and drop Brandon's grandmother off.
we went to the aquarium and the zoo, both of which were awesome. one night Brandon, Megan and I went to a comedy club in town, and that was pretty fun. it was a great trip and i am really glad i went on it.
this past saturday i went to an All Blacks rugby game in Hamilton. it was an experience. i was around a lot of drunk people. which was interesting, and i didn't exactly understand what was going on, but it was cool to be there.
thats pretty much whats being going on here. i will try to post more often.
Cheers!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
more fun and lots of walking
So, on the 18th, the international office offered a trip to Auckland for the day, which included a stop at a museum and a park that overlooked Auckland. The museum didn't end up being possible, but we did go to the park. It was breathtaking. We climbed this hill called One Tree Hill (yes like the show) and the view was spectacular. It was really windy and it felt as if the wind was going to pick me up and throw me off the road at any moment, but it didn't. The whole feeling was exhilarating and so worth the trip.
After we left the park, they took us to Auckland to wander around and see the city for a couple hours. My friends and I went to this wonderful Thai place for lunch and walked down to the harbor, which was beautiful. I didn't really see much of Auckland, but it was nice to be there for a few hours.
then it was back to school and onto another week of classes, which was nice, I guess. Nothing too exciting happened, but I am having fun in several of my classes. I love English, as usual, and I think my theatre class will be quite good once I survive my 15min presentation.
Yesterday I had every intention to spend the afternoon doing my reading and researching for my presentation, but my friends wouldn't hear it. So they dragged me, willingly i guess, off to the Hamilton Gardens for the afternoon. They were beautiful, if a bit sparse since it is winter. The English Gardens reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, which shall be brilliant I hope. The Chinese and Japanese Gardens were my favorite.
So, we were supposed to take the bus into town for dinner, but someone messed up and the bus wasn't actually coming back to the Gardens, so we had to walk two miles into town. which was ok, but cold. but man did dinner taste wonderful after that walk!
then we were going to take the bus back to school, but it was done for the night. we had no luck yesterday, but we went grocery shopping and conned some friends with access to cars into coming to get us, so we didn't have to walk or take cabs. it was an entertaining night and I am quite happy to have such adventures since they make for some good stories and happy memories :).
We we finally got back, 5 hours after we left, I went to make plans with some friends about my post semester trip to the South Island. it is going to be sweet as! i cannot wait! there is so much to see, and so much to spend money on.
then we goofed off for awhile, watched a movie, and i finally went to sleep.
I finally got to read today, and now I am bored beyond belief. Shocking I am sure.
but that is about it for now. write more later. Love to all!
After we left the park, they took us to Auckland to wander around and see the city for a couple hours. My friends and I went to this wonderful Thai place for lunch and walked down to the harbor, which was beautiful. I didn't really see much of Auckland, but it was nice to be there for a few hours.
then it was back to school and onto another week of classes, which was nice, I guess. Nothing too exciting happened, but I am having fun in several of my classes. I love English, as usual, and I think my theatre class will be quite good once I survive my 15min presentation.
Yesterday I had every intention to spend the afternoon doing my reading and researching for my presentation, but my friends wouldn't hear it. So they dragged me, willingly i guess, off to the Hamilton Gardens for the afternoon. They were beautiful, if a bit sparse since it is winter. The English Gardens reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, which shall be brilliant I hope. The Chinese and Japanese Gardens were my favorite.
So, we were supposed to take the bus into town for dinner, but someone messed up and the bus wasn't actually coming back to the Gardens, so we had to walk two miles into town. which was ok, but cold. but man did dinner taste wonderful after that walk!
then we were going to take the bus back to school, but it was done for the night. we had no luck yesterday, but we went grocery shopping and conned some friends with access to cars into coming to get us, so we didn't have to walk or take cabs. it was an entertaining night and I am quite happy to have such adventures since they make for some good stories and happy memories :).
We we finally got back, 5 hours after we left, I went to make plans with some friends about my post semester trip to the South Island. it is going to be sweet as! i cannot wait! there is so much to see, and so much to spend money on.
then we goofed off for awhile, watched a movie, and i finally went to sleep.
I finally got to read today, and now I am bored beyond belief. Shocking I am sure.
but that is about it for now. write more later. Love to all!
Friday, July 17, 2009
oh for three day weekends
Today was brilliant. I did nothing, which was very nice.
after sleeping until 10 am, i got up and went to lunch and wandered campus for a couple hours with friends before taking a bus ride into town for a few hours.
while in town, my friend megan and i shopped to our hearts content, and great fun was had by all.
Since Rome really is not much of a city, it's really cool to be near a real downtown full of malls and stores and tons of people wandering around.
Tomorrow a bunch of us are going to Auckland for the day, which should be very nice! we'll get to see the sights and do a little more shopping, or maybe not. my wallet may just protest if i do, :).
whatever happens, it will be nice to see some more of the beautiful country that is my home for the next 5ish months.
more later!
after sleeping until 10 am, i got up and went to lunch and wandered campus for a couple hours with friends before taking a bus ride into town for a few hours.
while in town, my friend megan and i shopped to our hearts content, and great fun was had by all.
Since Rome really is not much of a city, it's really cool to be near a real downtown full of malls and stores and tons of people wandering around.
Tomorrow a bunch of us are going to Auckland for the day, which should be very nice! we'll get to see the sights and do a little more shopping, or maybe not. my wallet may just protest if i do, :).
whatever happens, it will be nice to see some more of the beautiful country that is my home for the next 5ish months.
more later!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
harry potter quite simply
Went and saw harry potter tonight.
it was very good and i enjoyed it immensely.
then i rode home in a cab for the first time, which was cool.
now i am super tired, but as of this afternoon, i survived my first week of the semester, YAY!
now for sleep and no friday classes
it was very good and i enjoyed it immensely.
then i rode home in a cab for the first time, which was cool.
now i am super tired, but as of this afternoon, i survived my first week of the semester, YAY!
now for sleep and no friday classes
Monday, July 13, 2009
study hard little student
I've spent the last 12 days since my most recent post adjusting to life here at the University of Waikato and figuring out where everything is. A lot of time was spent in boring as life was not that interesting over the two week holiday students have here. Most of my dorm mates were at home or off elsewhere enjoying their brief respite from Uni.
I did find things to do with my time which included very long meals in the dinning hall, as most of the Americans, our other friends, and I enjoyed talking, Wandering around campus, Buying text books, finding my classrooms, and weirdly enough, playing NBA live 2004 on playstation. i was not very good, but I did win twice. once my friend was drunk, the other time i actually won based on skill, or at least thats what i tell myself, :).
but sadly, and in actuality this is a good thing, the holiday ended and classes started yesterday. I have four classes this semester, a New Zealand History class, An easy( i hope) English class, Theatre in Schools and Communities, and Psycological Perspectives on Child Developement. Yesterday i had the history and the theatre. History shouldn't be too bad, but the theatre scared me. My first assignment is a 15 min presentation with a 1000 word essay, which i think is due next week or so. needless to say, i am a bit scared. i don't like presentations.
i am really glad to be here, but the classes scare me a bit because i want to do well here and i am not sure if i will. but at least my class load is a bit lighter than usual for me. 4 classes instead of 5 or so and working should give me enough free time to study and work as much as i need. But if you could pray that i will find the drive and ability to do well, i'd be very grateful. being here is a good thing, but still very hard. at least in this stage.
In couple weeks i'm sure i'll have my schedule down and will be in the groove, but for now, it's a bit intimidating.
Oh, this past saturday i went with some friends to Waitomo so they could go caving. since i've already been caving, i just went to keep a couple friends company because they were just along for the ride, so while our friends were underground, we went and found this really pretty waterfall and drove through the New Zealand countryside. it was fun and nice to get out of the city.
next weekend i am going to Auckland for the day, which should be exciting, and other than that, i don't have plans. I really am just trying to get into the hang of things.
so, thats about it for now, i will try to write more soon, sorry about the delay. love to all
I did find things to do with my time which included very long meals in the dinning hall, as most of the Americans, our other friends, and I enjoyed talking, Wandering around campus, Buying text books, finding my classrooms, and weirdly enough, playing NBA live 2004 on playstation. i was not very good, but I did win twice. once my friend was drunk, the other time i actually won based on skill, or at least thats what i tell myself, :).
but sadly, and in actuality this is a good thing, the holiday ended and classes started yesterday. I have four classes this semester, a New Zealand History class, An easy( i hope) English class, Theatre in Schools and Communities, and Psycological Perspectives on Child Developement. Yesterday i had the history and the theatre. History shouldn't be too bad, but the theatre scared me. My first assignment is a 15 min presentation with a 1000 word essay, which i think is due next week or so. needless to say, i am a bit scared. i don't like presentations.
i am really glad to be here, but the classes scare me a bit because i want to do well here and i am not sure if i will. but at least my class load is a bit lighter than usual for me. 4 classes instead of 5 or so and working should give me enough free time to study and work as much as i need. But if you could pray that i will find the drive and ability to do well, i'd be very grateful. being here is a good thing, but still very hard. at least in this stage.
In couple weeks i'm sure i'll have my schedule down and will be in the groove, but for now, it's a bit intimidating.
Oh, this past saturday i went with some friends to Waitomo so they could go caving. since i've already been caving, i just went to keep a couple friends company because they were just along for the ride, so while our friends were underground, we went and found this really pretty waterfall and drove through the New Zealand countryside. it was fun and nice to get out of the city.
next weekend i am going to Auckland for the day, which should be exciting, and other than that, i don't have plans. I really am just trying to get into the hang of things.
so, thats about it for now, i will try to write more soon, sorry about the delay. love to all
Thursday, July 2, 2009
student once more.
HEY ALL!
I got to Waikato (my Uni) yesterday, and boy did the culture shock set it. It was like your first day at a new university without understanding what's going on around you and missing half of the words spoken because your brain is on overload. so i sort freaked out a bit yesterday, but it all turned out ok.
we (me and the rest of the australearners) went to a store called Warehouse (walmart pretty much) and bought stuff and then went back to our rooms and headed to our dhalls for dinner. I live in college hall, which is actually several different builds together, which also share a dhall and lounge and such. anwyay, there are 5 australearners, including me, living in this dorm. we all went to dinner together, and after getting stared at some, an american who was here last semester came up and said we could all hangout later. so that was nice, and then it was rather entertaining to hangout because everyone but me drank. makes for some funny stories.
drinking is apparently a big thing over here, partly because 18 year olds are legal.
today i wandered around campus and met some other people, which was nice. i also got NZ money, finally, and ENROLLED IN CLASSES!!!! yeah!
that makes me really happy because it means i am offically a student here. and i know what my semester will look like. which is sweet as.
thats pretty much it for now.
LOVE
I got to Waikato (my Uni) yesterday, and boy did the culture shock set it. It was like your first day at a new university without understanding what's going on around you and missing half of the words spoken because your brain is on overload. so i sort freaked out a bit yesterday, but it all turned out ok.
we (me and the rest of the australearners) went to a store called Warehouse (walmart pretty much) and bought stuff and then went back to our rooms and headed to our dhalls for dinner. I live in college hall, which is actually several different builds together, which also share a dhall and lounge and such. anwyay, there are 5 australearners, including me, living in this dorm. we all went to dinner together, and after getting stared at some, an american who was here last semester came up and said we could all hangout later. so that was nice, and then it was rather entertaining to hangout because everyone but me drank. makes for some funny stories.
drinking is apparently a big thing over here, partly because 18 year olds are legal.
today i wandered around campus and met some other people, which was nice. i also got NZ money, finally, and ENROLLED IN CLASSES!!!! yeah!
that makes me really happy because it means i am offically a student here. and i know what my semester will look like. which is sweet as.
thats pretty much it for now.
LOVE
Monday, June 29, 2009
Rotorua
So, I got to New Zealand first thing yesterday morning, which was about 10 am back home. I was super tired from traveling for over 40ish hours and ready for sleep. no such luck. we met up, australearn that is, and got on a bus to drive four hours to Rotorua. I managed, somehow, to stay awake until about 7 pm last night, which was 8 hours later at home! gah, i was tired. i then happily passed out for 12 blissful hours.
today we all got up and had our second into session and then we went out to play. I went Zorbing! which was awesome! you get put in this 11 foot rubber ball with warm water and get pushed down a hill. it's like a water slide or something. so much fun! the states should totally do it!
then i learned a Maori war dance called the Katmate. which was super fun and also entertaining. as a New Zealander would say, it was sweet as. or cool. either way i had fun.
the people here are really cool and i am so glad to be here. i leave in two days for Hamilton and my Uni, the University of Waikato.
thats all for now :)
much love!
today we all got up and had our second into session and then we went out to play. I went Zorbing! which was awesome! you get put in this 11 foot rubber ball with warm water and get pushed down a hill. it's like a water slide or something. so much fun! the states should totally do it!
then i learned a Maori war dance called the Katmate. which was super fun and also entertaining. as a New Zealander would say, it was sweet as. or cool. either way i had fun.
the people here are really cool and i am so glad to be here. i leave in two days for Hamilton and my Uni, the University of Waikato.
thats all for now :)
much love!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Journey Begins!
so, as I have just created this blog, I want to welcome all to the journey of mine! I have been working on my trip since august of this past year and I am very excited to finally begin!
Tonight I got an Email with my living placement! I will spend the next semester living in Collge Hall! Which I am very excited about.
And thats about it for now!
:)
Tonight I got an Email with my living placement! I will spend the next semester living in Collge Hall! Which I am very excited about.
And thats about it for now!
:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)