Well Hello! Back from a great break!

Hello again. Sorry it has been a while, but as my name implies I have been enjoying some travels. I had a break for uni, so I went traveling around the North Island of NZ with my friend Carolyn who I some how convinced to come visit me! Awesome times were had!

First off, while I still had a few last classes to attend before the start of the break and Carolyn still had a bit of jet lag, we didn't venture too far from sights around the Auckland area.  In an evening of class, we sampled some of NZ's finest wine and cheese (that could be purchased for $10) while perched atop the summit of the extinct volcanic crater of Mt. Eden.  Next we took the ferry over to Devonport and enjoyed some good 'ol fish and chips seaside, complete with creepy bird gangs watching our every move.

Once free and clear off classes, we were off---- rented a car to drive to the Lake Taupo area where we would make our base camp in a friend's bach.  After looking at the weather reports for the week, we gathered up the courage to book skydiving over Lake Taupo for the next morning. We had originally booked to jump from 12,000ft, but upon our arrival to the company we were soon convinced to bulk up to jump from 15,000 ft! Wooooo!

After our successful skydives, all of our next pursuits seemed a bit less extreme, but they were still fun.  We drove to Rotorua to take in a sheep shearing show at the agrodome and some geologic wonders at the park outside of town.  The next day we drove (for what seemed like forever) to Waitomo to go check out the glow worm caves. They were pretty cool, and a chance drop into the "shearing Shed" gave us the opportunity to touch some angora rabbits and watch them get sheared as well. Those days were filled with "shear" greatness!

The following day, we explored around Taupo, stopping off at Huka Falls, the Prawn Park, the Volcanic Centre, and a honey place. MMMM.

We also soaked in some hot pools in outside of Turangi. I guess it gave us the ability to identify with lobsters a bit more.

Back in Auckland, we ventured to Otara market, which was really cool and had a lot of Polynesian goods for sale.  On Easter, Carolyn and I ate a celebratory breakfast at a 24 hour Denny's, which was the only thing open in Auckland.  We took a ferry the next day to Rangitoto and hiked to the summit to enjoy the views.

Over the last few days of break (and sadly of Carolyn's visit), we went on explorations of some of the suburbs of Auckland, heading down K Road to Ponsonby to grab a lunch at an incredibley inexpensive Indian food place.  The next day, we took a shuttle to visit the underwater park near Mission Bay, and got to be splashed by feeding sting rays, gaze into the open mouths of doom of giant eels, and journey into an arctic wonderland complete with penguins and a fake orca statue in our fake snowcat vehicle.  That night we continued to be classy by having a fancy dinner in a revolving restuarant at the top of Auckland's Sky Tower, complete with classy cocktails and deserts of course.

All in all, it was a break of never ending fun!

And now, to get back into the grind of academics........too bad they don't offer skydiving as a course!

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!