welcome back!

Well, as you may have noticed, it has been a couple of weeks since my last post. Why? Well, in a cruel twist of events, it turns out that "studying abroad" ACTUALLY consists of STUDYING while ABROAD. BLEH, who saw that one coming, right? So, while I have the thought of a nice break that is bound to be filled with great adventures to look forward to, I have to pick up my feet for the next two weeks and trudge through the messy mud of academia. Bleh, I repeat. 

But while my Saturday was filled with the unseemly activities of borrowing books for short amounts of time and taking them to another building that had tables to then take copious amounts of notes from them, my Sunday was joyfully spent with my adoptive "kiwi family."

Why yes indeedy, it WAS fun in the sun on sunday! First we stopped at a small cafe for a coffee, where I took a few photos of the impressively dense foliage. Then it was off to the famed Piha beach, home of good wave action and subsequent great rip tides! There is never a dull moment when the beach patrol is CONSTANTLY running and boating around to save people from rip tides while being filmed by a camera man--- because here in NZ, one of the best programs is "Piha Beach" rescue patrol footage. And, I was very impressed to see a gaggle of small wet suited children all training to be future beach patrol members. It was quite funny watching them run into the water, buckle a float to another one, and then run back and more often then not fall down while "saving" their little peers. I think this training is a great idea, and what parent cold resist having two little wet suited children run up to them and excitedly tell them about the latest real rip tide victim they had just helped the senior beach patrol save. You will also find a picture of my sandy feet, which demonstrate the black sand of the beach.

  After Piha, we went on a quick hike to see a water fall that people were repeling down and juggling under. Oh nature, you jester.

  Moving on from the water falls, we eventually ended up at the family home, fully resplendent with sheep facing the wrong way for photos and beautiful views from every direction.  I got a tour of the property on a quad bike, which I then got to drive back and park in the garage (hey mom, I am keeping up on my driving skills).

 As if that wasn't enough, we all ambled over to their neighbors for a gorgeous meal and a quick turn at the drumset.  It was a splendid time, including when a cat jumped on me through a window early this morning. So much better than studying hemoglobin whats its!