This is my life right now...

This past weekend took us on a spontaneous trip with one of our Kiwi friends. Inviting us to his parents home in Tauranga, the three of us girls got a home stay experience. Their property was water front, looking directly out to Mt. Maunganui. Facing north, we were able to see the sunrise as well as the sunset upon the water from their living room. It was a beautiful time as his parents were so accommodating and welcoming.

Leaving the house, we ventured over to the mount which took us 30 minutes to climb. While there was a track, the uphill incline is nothing to overshadow as well as the rugged rock climb nearing the top. From the top, the view was breathtaking. With a clear sky, the sun reflected upon the water which seemed to be outbound forever. The contrast of green and blue as the mount touched the shoreline never gets past me – I am amazed each new time I see it.

Sunday found Jen and I white water rafting on Kaituna River in Rotorua. The temperate rainforest, warm water, and its unusual character make this river a world famous destination. While it is ranked as a level 5 river, the largest obstacle we had to conquer was the 7 meter (22 ft) waterfall. To my surprise though, as soon as we began to descend down, the water just swallowed us until we drifted up at the bottom. I wasn’t prepared to drown in the raft like that… Though the most extreme part for me personally was the time we jumped out of the raft to go for a swim in a calm portion of the river. Our guide began to drift away with the raft purposefully so that we would then have to ride a rapid in the water. While that was fine, though again, the water just eats you up, I had trouble getting back to the raft. As I drifted by, Jen reached out and grabbed my life vest so that I could grasp the side of the raft. Unfortunately though, as we waited to come to reality as to what is happening and what we are to be doing, the raft is drifting as the guide begins pulling people up, pushing Jen and I into an area of underwater rocks. Still holding on to the raft, we scramble to figure out what to do as our legs are scraping along the tops of these rocks. Once the guide got to us, Jen was very concerned about me as she had ended up on top of my legs, pushing them more into the rocks. I came out alive, but my leg still holds cuts and bruises. The day was beautiful and the trip was exhilarating, so no complaints flowed from my mouth!

It is amazing to think that this is my life right now. Jen and I have moments where we say “Here we are again, swimming in the pool or laying on the beach, walking in a coastal forest – such a hard life we live”. I am so grateful for this time – it is truly a gift of rest that has been long needed and a treat of adventure that has been longed dreamt after.

This coming Thursday, Jen and I make a jump start on our two week teaching recess as we fly off to the South Island. We will be flying into Christchurch, renting a vehicle, and driving up the Island to explore all its wonders, ending in the south of the North Island in Wellington, NZ’s capitol. I am so very excited for this time of travel and adventure – and mainly to truly see and experience more of my host country, a land that will forever hold a piece of my heart.
Aroha Aotearoa!

Coromandel

Just as I was beginning to think this country couldn't get any more beautiful, my eyes were awe struck this past weekend as we ventured to the east coast to Coromandel.

To get off to a great start, we made the decision to drive the three hour distance. Taking turns, we all saw the road from the opposite side - and surprisingly, we all did very well! Only a few times did we each hit the windshield wipers instead of the blinker, stray to the other side of the road, and sway over to the left side of our lane - but other than those things, we managed quite well! We realized that driving is the same, you don't loose those skills, it's just a switch of the mind on a few things. But we all agreed that we missed driving and the feeling of freedom that comes with controlling your own vessel.

The evening drew us to the Hot Water Beaches as it became low tide. As the cold ocean water drifts back, digging into the sand allows for hot (and I mean almost boiling temperatures) to surface. Digging a large ditch in the sand, we created a spa which we relaxed in as we gazed at the sky which was filled with a dome of stars. The more you dig, the warmer the water stays. In pitch darkness, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore only complimented the beauty the night brought us.

Traveling the next day to Cathedral Cove, Sting Ray Bay, and Cooks Bay brought us the loveliest day on the beach yet. Needing to hike in the forests of the cliffs which overlooked the open sea brought us the areal view of the bays which we would soon swim within. With the sun shining upon us, the turquoise water was so very inviting.

The following morning, we awoke only to escape to the outbound water in our kayaks. There is no feeling like being in the middle of the bay, in a small kayak and only your own strength to take you anywhere. It is such a refreshing rush of freedom - I enjoyed myself tremendously... until a small wave took us out as we pulled into shore, throwing us out of the kayak and into the water!

To say the least, this weekend was a huge blessing of beauty with the gift of friendship to complete it all!

Traveling...and Classes?!

Time is just flying past me: speeding up my time here and expediting my New Zealand adventures.

This is our third week of classes. I am taking American Literature before 1870, 15th and 16th Century Literature, and History of Maori and Pakaha (the others) Encounters. I am enjoying the classes; seeing how they are all sizes I am familiar with, having 25 or so students in each. However, while classes run three times a week each, two of the meetings are lectures and the last is a tutorial. It’s quite an adjustment going from a class where the professor talks at you to the tutorial where it is all discussion based – having the two separate is what is most strange to me. Also, unlike American Uni, here, every day is different: different times for each class, different lecture hall room… I am still carrying around my schedule (or timetable as they call it here)!

This past weekend, Jen and I, along with some others, traveled to Auckland. It’s about an hour or so north of Hamilton and is the largest city in New Zealand with 1.3 million people. Our hostel was in the heart of the central business district, which made me so happy to not be studying at the Uni there – a city is a city is a city: crowded and busy. But Jen and I made the most of it – traveling to Rangitoto Island, off the east coast of Auckland, where we hiked along the lava rocks. We also spent one afternoon at the Pasifika Festival where all the Pacific Island nations are represented and celebrated through music, art, food, dance and crafts. Being in Auckland drove me to contact Barbra and Richard who housed me before during my layovers in Auckland. They were again so kind and generous, allowing Jen and I to stay with them one of the nights. Barbara drove us up to the top of Mt Eden and One Tree Hill, both of which give spectacular panoramic views of the entirety of Auckland, and she allowed us to walk her puppy up the sparkling green hill at the back of her home. We had just a delightful time – again, it was so nice to be in a home with home cooked meals!

All in all, things are going really well for me here. Growing in relations with people, developing a greater understanding of the culture, language, and conflicts among the kiwis here, and learning that at the end of the day, I can still count on all my loved ones back home! I am still in awe that i am actually here sometimes! I am learning so much about the world, and gaining such an appreciation for the beauty that it holds... already i am sad that i am going to have to leave this place!

Raglan

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Raglan is a beach town 45 minutes West of my campus in Hamilton. Spending the weekend there was such a delight - as one can see, it was beautiful. I was fortunate enough to have my first hitch hiking experience while there as well... Late at night, a friend a I started the walk to our hostel with our thumbs raised high. After being past far too many times, she and I were laughing at our pathetic attempt to hitch hike. Not long after, a car actually pulled off to the side for us! We were so excited. Phil was his name - an artist in his late twenties was so kind and friendly. He got us safely to our hostel where Jen and I were still amazed that that actually just happened!

Kia Ora New Zealand!

Kia Ora! Hello from New Zealand!

There is so much to say about this land and its people. I have only been here for a week and two days, but I have learned so much already.

Starting out my journey, we had orientation for the American students studying through the program Australearn. We spent four days in Rotorua, a well known town for its location on the lake as well as its hot pools. Hot pools are boiling pots of mud in the ground that are heated by the ground heat and let off tons of sulfer – image that wonderful smell as you walk through the park…

We spent one day there caving. Picture driving through rolling green hills, bright and vibrant from the morning shower, with the friendly faces of sheep scattered about only to realize you will be climbing down under them shortly to an undiscovered world. Through a small crevice, we ventured down into the darkness. Three waterfalls repels (attached to rope, I slid down, pushing off the vertical wall with water pouring down on me), several times crawling or swimming in the water to pass through, ducking, squeezing through stalactites and stalagmites and passing by in awe of the wonders down under ground. Climbing it all back up again was not the highlight… it was the most strenuous part to say the least!

Attending a sheep show the next day was a big highlight of engaging in the New Zealand culture. Sheep are cute, but not the smartest animals and I was very amazed at all the various types of sheep there are! Standing on their pedestals with their names displayed obeying the commands of the leader and the dominating position of the dogs was incredible. Never would I have imagined such entertainment from sheep!

Encountering the indigenous Māori culture was such an educational experience. We were taught and had to perform, with costumes and face paint mind you, the traditional Haka dance that Māori warriors perform as a sign on intimidation. It was aggressive, but very fun! We were also treated to a night at a Māori village. We saw performances of singing, dancing and chanting, saw replicas of the housing and way of life for the first Māori people and were fed a beautiful dinner with choices of lamb, fish, chicken, sweet potato, stuffing, and mussels. I have found myself to really enjoy lamb – it is a softer red meat that is not dry and contains much flavor.

Throughout this orientation, the American students I am studying with here at Waikato and I really bonded. (Put 20 people together for four days and have them do everything together and tell me how they couldn’t bond!) They are such awesome people from all over the states: Colorado, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Maine and more. I am the only one to represent from Cali – something I am finding is quite a privilege. Not only are New Zealander’s impressed with my being from California, but so are the other Americans. Apparently, California has a great reputation and is the place to be! I have received the question “So do you see celebrities around?” so much even though I tell them I am from outside LA. Not only that, but once I mention that I go to school in Orange County, because of all the television shows that are based there, so many questions arise about that place too… I have become the California representative here – and I have to say, I am proud to be a California girl!

The New Zealander’s (or as they are better known as ‘Kiwis’) I have met are so friendly! While they are all younger than me because of my status in the dormitories, they are all very open with conversations and allowing you to jump in anything with them. Just very welcoming people that always say hi when you pass or at least smile as they make eye contact – something that does not happen in Southern California. The accents are awesome as well. Not anything like Australian, nor British, but somewhere in the middle. The only trouble I have had is the way they don’t use their mouths much to speak, limiting their annunciation of words and leaving me to have to decipher the words that just barely slipped through their teeth!
Vocab: - “togs” = swim suit
- “whinge” = complain
- “heaps” = a lot (used very frequently)
- “keen” = cool, good (surprisingly, this is not an outdated word for them)
- “sweet as” or just “as” = this is my favorite. It can literally mean anything. And you can place “as” at the end of anything.
o Ex: “I’m walking to the dining hall” response = “sweet as”
o Ex: “Did you see that bird?” response = “He was big as”
Mullets here are the latest trend for males. Picture the eighties all over again. Now imagine Mohawks connected to a mullet… (short side hair with longer hair in a straight line down the middle that continues into a tail at the end) now to make it even more disgusting, envision parts or just the tail dyed a different color… yea that is the hair style for many here…

While there are no hand guns in New Zealand, and drugs are not that extremely popular, but the drinking culture here is like nothing I have ever witnessed before. The legal age to drink is 18, so it is almost a right of passage to begin in taking loads of alcohol by age 16. These 18 year olds that I’m living near are experienced drinkers and some are even functioning alcoholics. It feels weird when the residents halls throw a community costume party at a local bar. It amazes me just how drinking is not taboo here as much as it is in the states. However, while they may drink a lot here, they all dance as well. Talent or no talent, skills or no skills, all people, males and females alike are on the dance floor. Yes, most of the music is techno, but that only adds to the entertainment because it makes for a very interesting style of dance – arms flailing, fingers possible pointing as well, and lots of jumping. Though I am told that this is only a case of being a white New Zealander and Māori’s have much better rhythm, I don’t miss the grinding dance style of the states where boy and girl are very close to one another.

The town of Hamilton itself is very nice, and much larger than I anticipated. With suburbs surrounding the campus and roundabouts connecting streets, the walk into town takes about 40 minutes but is quite pleasant. “Going into town” means we are headed to the main strip of restaurants, bars, and shops, mainly off Victoria street. While there are no tall buildings, town is quite busy and has a city-ish feel to it. Never have I felt as though I was in a desolate land. We do have the Waikato River which runs through our town – it is very serene, gentle and large, and flows quietly and steadily along brush lined banks.

All in all, I hope you can tell that I have had an amazing first week in New Zealand. While all the orientations I have been through have told me that I am in the “honeymoon” stage of culture shock and I need to be aware that a downward spiral awaits me, I like to believe that New Zealand truly is a wonderful place that is going to remain a wonderful place in my eyes as I continue to live here. Classes start for me on Monday, and so the vacation mode I have been in for the last month or so comes to an end, but with only three classes, and not working a job, I think I will find plenty of time for New Zealand adventures!

Until next time, Kia Ora!
Monica