The shuttle to bring me to the airport is coming in exactly one hour.
I'm all packed. I was thinking that, though it seemed like a good idea at the time, I should have brought two suitcases to New Zealand instead of Matthew's shitty old hockey bag. But I ended up shipping another box of books I can't part with and my coffee pot (which I obviously can't part with), which opened a world of possibilities. I'm now glad I only have one shitty hockey bag full of my semester.
Jennifer left this am (ridiculously hungover and the apartment a mess), so Monica and I have been sporadically cleaning all day. We threw away enough food to feed a nestled community, which I feel extremely guilty about. Though it sounds like an excuse, I swear very little of it was mine. I did a very good job eating all my food.
So good a job that my one remaining roommate and I ordered Hell today!!! (You should really actually visit that website; it's fantastic.) Free delivery Tuesday-- hell yes. It was out-of-control delicious.
Yesterday sucked. Ashley, Matt and Mike left in the afternoon, and I did nothing before their departure. I should have packed, but I wallowed and hung out and was on Facebook chat (which I only discovered this week, btw). Then I said goodbye to them, cried, and wallowed for the rest of the day. Then I packed, really poorly, then Michelle and I commiserated, then I had to say goodbye to her, too! It was terrible. I'm surprised I slept so well.
I feel infinitely better today. I think it's because I've already said my hardest goodbyes (besides to this glorious country herself... that might be the hardest, now that I think about it). And I'm all packed. And our room is fairly clean. We haven't vacuumed, and we're not going to. It's the least I can't do for this godforsaken building.
I will miss New Zealand. I will miss Auckland. I will miss the Kiwi accent and slang. I will miss this semester. I am so, eternally, ridiculously grateful for these overwhelming and frightening and beautiful four months.
I can't believe I'm coming home.
PS-- Happy birtday Matthewwwwwwww!!!! My big brother is 22. THAT IS OLD. MATT YOU ARE OLD. For your birthday, you get to pick me up at the airport! Huzzah!!!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Photo bandwagon... I fell off.
Here are links to my last two (!!!) photo albums from Auckland:
Kelly Tarlton's
Devonport and Sailing, plus some randoms.
So... they're both kind of lame. The Kelly T's one is good, but Kathy took all the pictures with my camera. And I didn't take ANY photos while I was WWOOFing, besides one of the stream and some really lame ones at the beach... And while I was taking totally lame photos at the beach, sand got into the crevices of my camera and now it's extremely unhappy, so all my pictures from Devonport are blurry. AND THEN I borrowed my roommate's camera to go sailing today, but the battery ran out not long after we set sail, PLUS the lens cover was still partially covering the lens for the few photos I managed to take... Um, massive fail.
So, on that note, enjoy 'em!
Kelly Tarlton's
Devonport and Sailing, plus some randoms.
So... they're both kind of lame. The Kelly T's one is good, but Kathy took all the pictures with my camera. And I didn't take ANY photos while I was WWOOFing, besides one of the stream and some really lame ones at the beach... And while I was taking totally lame photos at the beach, sand got into the crevices of my camera and now it's extremely unhappy, so all my pictures from Devonport are blurry. AND THEN I borrowed my roommate's camera to go sailing today, but the battery ran out not long after we set sail, PLUS the lens cover was still partially covering the lens for the few photos I managed to take... Um, massive fail.
So, on that note, enjoy 'em!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Bliss Continues
Friday was an incredible, incredible day. My day began with the fortuitous iTunes shuffle and only improved from there.
I caught the 1:30 ferry to Devonport. I thought that the boats left from Auckland on the 15 and 45, so I was annoyed because I got to the terminal at like, 1:20. But it turns out they leave from Auckland on the hour and the half hour, which was perfect!
I rode over with a woman from my Mag Jo class who was heading to Devonport to meet a friend, and we had a nice chat.
When I deboated, I grabbed a map and asked how to get to Wild and Woolly Yarns, and then made my way up Victoria St, stopping in all the shops that struck my fancy along the way. I bought "Oh, to be a writer, a real writer!" from a secondhand bookshop. It's a collection of the first forty winners of the Bank of New Zealand Katherine Mansfield short story award, NZ's most prestigious short story prize. And it has a fantastic title!
Then I found the heavenly gates... Seriously. I have been searching for yarn in this country for four months. Albeit a small one, the thought of yarn was one of the factors that went into my decision to come to New Zealand. The yarn store was definitely one of the big draws to Devonport for me, too, and THANK GOD I went... it was perfect. THEY WERE HAVING A SALE ON CHUNKY YARNS. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M IN THE MARKET FOR. So I bought 14 skeins of yarn... all for $3 and $4 each (they usually go for $9+). I literally had butterflies in my stomach in the store. I was so goddamned excited!!! It's beautiful New Zealand wool and I am so, so pleased. Yarn is great.
Then I did a little self-guided walking tour of the adorable port town, along the waterfront, past the yacht club... What a great town!! It occurred to me that I could picture myself living there, but then I realized that was only because it reminds me of New England.
I walked up North Head, a little reserve atop a hill, full of plantlife and an old fortress and as much history as any pace in New Zealand has (i.e., dates back to about 1860). From the summit I had awesome views of Auckland, Rangitoto, and the harbour! I saw approximately one cloud the entire day, and the sun was baaaaking. It was a gorgeous day, which made the view so much better.
I sat at the summit and wrote in my journal and had a zen moment: I was looking out on Rangitoto, which was the first daytrip I took in New Zealand the first weekend I was here. That day I felt excited and nervous... I had four months in this crazy country ahead of me. And on my last weekend here, I sat atop North Head, looking out at Rangitoto, and I realized I have come completely full circle. I have done everything I could have in this country, and it's time for me to come home. Balance, baby.
I walked down North Head and back into town via Cheltenham Beach. It was low tide, so even out pretty far from the shoreline, I was only up to my ankles in the glorious ocean. It was so warm and delightful.
I stopped for a New Zealand's version of an iced coffee-- which is more like dessert than a necessity in a plastic cup-- and caught the 5:15 ferry back to Auckland to meet Kevin and the BU people at Forde's one last time.
Obviously everyone made fun of how excited I was about my yarn, but I think they secretly understand. Then I hung out with Michelle and my roommates-- THE LAST NIGHT THE FOUR OF US WILL BE TOGETHER IN UNILODGE, EVER-- and it was wonderful.
On Saturday I went to Aotea Square for the markets with Michelle, Ning and Jasmine. I finished my souvenier shopping!!!
Then I met up with Meg (who was studying in Wellington) and her friend Laurie for the afternoon! They had just come into Auckland after a bus tour of the North Island. Meg's flight HOME TO BOSTON was yesterday afternoon, but Laurie isn't flying back to Australia until this afternoon, so she stayed with me last night. We had an awesome barbecue in UniLodge and it was a fun night.
Kathy and Bonnie left last night... it was ridiculously sad. Harder than I thought it would be to say goodbye. And not because I won't see them again; I know I will. But their leaving made us all kind of realize that this chapter in our lives is ending. The next time we all get together, we're going to be in completely different places. That's awesome, but a little scary and a little sad!
But I still have two full days. I'm going sailing on the America's Cup boat today!!!! So STOKED for that.
I just love life.
I caught the 1:30 ferry to Devonport. I thought that the boats left from Auckland on the 15 and 45, so I was annoyed because I got to the terminal at like, 1:20. But it turns out they leave from Auckland on the hour and the half hour, which was perfect!
I rode over with a woman from my Mag Jo class who was heading to Devonport to meet a friend, and we had a nice chat.
When I deboated, I grabbed a map and asked how to get to Wild and Woolly Yarns, and then made my way up Victoria St, stopping in all the shops that struck my fancy along the way. I bought "Oh, to be a writer, a real writer!" from a secondhand bookshop. It's a collection of the first forty winners of the Bank of New Zealand Katherine Mansfield short story award, NZ's most prestigious short story prize. And it has a fantastic title!
Then I found the heavenly gates... Seriously. I have been searching for yarn in this country for four months. Albeit a small one, the thought of yarn was one of the factors that went into my decision to come to New Zealand. The yarn store was definitely one of the big draws to Devonport for me, too, and THANK GOD I went... it was perfect. THEY WERE HAVING A SALE ON CHUNKY YARNS. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M IN THE MARKET FOR. So I bought 14 skeins of yarn... all for $3 and $4 each (they usually go for $9+). I literally had butterflies in my stomach in the store. I was so goddamned excited!!! It's beautiful New Zealand wool and I am so, so pleased. Yarn is great.
Then I did a little self-guided walking tour of the adorable port town, along the waterfront, past the yacht club... What a great town!! It occurred to me that I could picture myself living there, but then I realized that was only because it reminds me of New England.
I walked up North Head, a little reserve atop a hill, full of plantlife and an old fortress and as much history as any pace in New Zealand has (i.e., dates back to about 1860). From the summit I had awesome views of Auckland, Rangitoto, and the harbour! I saw approximately one cloud the entire day, and the sun was baaaaking. It was a gorgeous day, which made the view so much better.
I sat at the summit and wrote in my journal and had a zen moment: I was looking out on Rangitoto, which was the first daytrip I took in New Zealand the first weekend I was here. That day I felt excited and nervous... I had four months in this crazy country ahead of me. And on my last weekend here, I sat atop North Head, looking out at Rangitoto, and I realized I have come completely full circle. I have done everything I could have in this country, and it's time for me to come home. Balance, baby.
I walked down North Head and back into town via Cheltenham Beach. It was low tide, so even out pretty far from the shoreline, I was only up to my ankles in the glorious ocean. It was so warm and delightful.
I stopped for a New Zealand's version of an iced coffee-- which is more like dessert than a necessity in a plastic cup-- and caught the 5:15 ferry back to Auckland to meet Kevin and the BU people at Forde's one last time.
Obviously everyone made fun of how excited I was about my yarn, but I think they secretly understand. Then I hung out with Michelle and my roommates-- THE LAST NIGHT THE FOUR OF US WILL BE TOGETHER IN UNILODGE, EVER-- and it was wonderful.
On Saturday I went to Aotea Square for the markets with Michelle, Ning and Jasmine. I finished my souvenier shopping!!!
Then I met up with Meg (who was studying in Wellington) and her friend Laurie for the afternoon! They had just come into Auckland after a bus tour of the North Island. Meg's flight HOME TO BOSTON was yesterday afternoon, but Laurie isn't flying back to Australia until this afternoon, so she stayed with me last night. We had an awesome barbecue in UniLodge and it was a fun night.
Kathy and Bonnie left last night... it was ridiculously sad. Harder than I thought it would be to say goodbye. And not because I won't see them again; I know I will. But their leaving made us all kind of realize that this chapter in our lives is ending. The next time we all get together, we're going to be in completely different places. That's awesome, but a little scary and a little sad!
But I still have two full days. I'm going sailing on the America's Cup boat today!!!! So STOKED for that.
I just love life.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Aio Wira Highlights
I got back into the city yesterday after six fantastic days at the Aio Wira Centre in Swanson. I really wish I discovered that place earlier in my time in NZ... It was so easy to get to, and it was a place I could definitely spend a few lifetimes.
Most days my tasks were few and my free time was lengthy. On Friday, the same day I got there, a yoga retreat arrived, so for the weekend, my jobs were usually meal prep-related (chopping veggies, the endless sinkful of dishes...). But after that, I pretty much woke up around 9, ate breakfast with unlimited filter coffee at my disposal, then did something like vacuum the rooms, iron some sheets, or wash Di's car (that was actually really fun), and then read, swim in the river, lay in the sun, take naps, drink tea, or sit in half-lotus for the next four to six hours, then helped with dinner, then went in the sauna, then went to bed around 10 pm.
On Saturday night, Di (the woman who runs the centre) took me to a neighbor's house for a New Zealand Elections party (NZ was having an election too?!?! Just kidding; I knew that.), which was really fun for me! Though the election didn't go as well as, say, America's-- National took over Parliament with a conservative ACT and United Future party coaltion, and Labour Prime Minister of nine years (and party leader for 12) Helen Clark was not only replaced as PM by the uncharismatic, boring and idiotic (not to mention conservative) John Key but she also stepped down as party leader-- it was really interesting and fun for me to watch. The neighbors and co. were awesome: they reminded me of a lot of the crunchy families I babysat/sit for, and someone brought fireworks leftover from Guy Fawkes celebrations. I also drank some champagne (even though we weren't really celebrating), and watched as the Green voters surrounding me in the living room got incresingly more drunk and started throwing things at TVOne. It was really fun.
On Sunday, the yoga retreat people left after brunch and Mark, the 23-year old WWOOFer from Indiana who's staying at Aio Wira for his first two months in NZ (which is his first stop on an as-yet-unplanned trip around the world over the next year and a half), and Masha, the 24-year old Ark in the Park intern from Germany who's living at the centre for five months as she researches the area's robin population, and I went to the beach. We went to Bethells Beach (see bus trip entry), which is lovely and choppy and has black sand. It was windy as when we were there, and hot as blazes (not to mention all this god damned UV), and my camera is a little crusty with sand right now, but we had an awesome time. Mark and Masha are fantastic and really helped make my week at Aio Wira less boring!
Other highlights include Sunday's arrival of Jo, Di's cousin, who works as a live-in caretaker of an Auckland Parkinson's sufferer for half the week, and lives at Aio Wira the other half. She is crazy and wonderful.
On Monday, two women on personal retreat arrived, and they were awesome, too. I spent subsequent nights in the sauna with Jo and the two retreaters, which was enlightening and detoxifying! Huzzah!
Mark gave me his well-loved copy of Catch-22, so I've started that. It, too, is enlightening. I love it so far, but I'm confused. I think that's how most people feel about Catch-22.
The came back to Auckland yesterday morning, and then went souvenier shopping downtown with Michelle. I'm so stoked to give souveniers, Jesus Christ.
Then I went to my fiiiinal yoga class at the Loft; it was incredible and I love that place and those people the most in Auckland, seriously. I was mad focused during my practice, even though my teacher Gopesvari (I finally learned how to spell her name!) mixed up the series a little, and I'm bad at shoulder stands. Then dinner was above par, which is quite a statement for a kitchen that constantly outdoes itself, and then Ning and I stayed to make music with some Hare Krishnas, which included chanting the Hare Krishna, which I catch myself reciting in my head sometimes, accompanied by a harmonium, a mirdangam, and finger cymbals. I stayed after talking to the mirdangamist (?), a Dutch girl who moved to Wellington after not finishing her physics degree, and just moved to Auckland last week. She was cool.
I'm going to Devonport today to see the beaches, the views of Auckland from up Mt Victoria and Mount Head, and to buy yarn. I was going to get a much earlier start, but my iTunes has been so good for the last dozen songs, so I'm rooted to my seat. It's on random right now and it's choosing a fantastic mix of angsty, kind of lame music that I loved in high school and haven't listened to since then: Jimmy Eat World, Oasis, Brand New (two different songs!), Panic! at the Disco, Prolonging the Magic-era Cake, Daft Punk... fun.
Okay, well, see you in five days, America; holy shit.
Most days my tasks were few and my free time was lengthy. On Friday, the same day I got there, a yoga retreat arrived, so for the weekend, my jobs were usually meal prep-related (chopping veggies, the endless sinkful of dishes...). But after that, I pretty much woke up around 9, ate breakfast with unlimited filter coffee at my disposal, then did something like vacuum the rooms, iron some sheets, or wash Di's car (that was actually really fun), and then read, swim in the river, lay in the sun, take naps, drink tea, or sit in half-lotus for the next four to six hours, then helped with dinner, then went in the sauna, then went to bed around 10 pm.
On Saturday night, Di (the woman who runs the centre) took me to a neighbor's house for a New Zealand Elections party (NZ was having an election too?!?! Just kidding; I knew that.), which was really fun for me! Though the election didn't go as well as, say, America's-- National took over Parliament with a conservative ACT and United Future party coaltion, and Labour Prime Minister of nine years (and party leader for 12) Helen Clark was not only replaced as PM by the uncharismatic, boring and idiotic (not to mention conservative) John Key but she also stepped down as party leader-- it was really interesting and fun for me to watch. The neighbors and co. were awesome: they reminded me of a lot of the crunchy families I babysat/sit for, and someone brought fireworks leftover from Guy Fawkes celebrations. I also drank some champagne (even though we weren't really celebrating), and watched as the Green voters surrounding me in the living room got incresingly more drunk and started throwing things at TVOne. It was really fun.
On Sunday, the yoga retreat people left after brunch and Mark, the 23-year old WWOOFer from Indiana who's staying at Aio Wira for his first two months in NZ (which is his first stop on an as-yet-unplanned trip around the world over the next year and a half), and Masha, the 24-year old Ark in the Park intern from Germany who's living at the centre for five months as she researches the area's robin population, and I went to the beach. We went to Bethells Beach (see bus trip entry), which is lovely and choppy and has black sand. It was windy as when we were there, and hot as blazes (not to mention all this god damned UV), and my camera is a little crusty with sand right now, but we had an awesome time. Mark and Masha are fantastic and really helped make my week at Aio Wira less boring!
Other highlights include Sunday's arrival of Jo, Di's cousin, who works as a live-in caretaker of an Auckland Parkinson's sufferer for half the week, and lives at Aio Wira the other half. She is crazy and wonderful.
On Monday, two women on personal retreat arrived, and they were awesome, too. I spent subsequent nights in the sauna with Jo and the two retreaters, which was enlightening and detoxifying! Huzzah!
Mark gave me his well-loved copy of Catch-22, so I've started that. It, too, is enlightening. I love it so far, but I'm confused. I think that's how most people feel about Catch-22.
The came back to Auckland yesterday morning, and then went souvenier shopping downtown with Michelle. I'm so stoked to give souveniers, Jesus Christ.
Then I went to my fiiiinal yoga class at the Loft; it was incredible and I love that place and those people the most in Auckland, seriously. I was mad focused during my practice, even though my teacher Gopesvari (I finally learned how to spell her name!) mixed up the series a little, and I'm bad at shoulder stands. Then dinner was above par, which is quite a statement for a kitchen that constantly outdoes itself, and then Ning and I stayed to make music with some Hare Krishnas, which included chanting the Hare Krishna, which I catch myself reciting in my head sometimes, accompanied by a harmonium, a mirdangam, and finger cymbals. I stayed after talking to the mirdangamist (?), a Dutch girl who moved to Wellington after not finishing her physics degree, and just moved to Auckland last week. She was cool.
I'm going to Devonport today to see the beaches, the views of Auckland from up Mt Victoria and Mount Head, and to buy yarn. I was going to get a much earlier start, but my iTunes has been so good for the last dozen songs, so I'm rooted to my seat. It's on random right now and it's choosing a fantastic mix of angsty, kind of lame music that I loved in high school and haven't listened to since then: Jimmy Eat World, Oasis, Brand New (two different songs!), Panic! at the Disco, Prolonging the Magic-era Cake, Daft Punk... fun.
Okay, well, see you in five days, America; holy shit.
Friday, November 7, 2008
WWOOFing today!
I'm leaving for the Aio Wira Retreat Centre in a little over two hours, and I just got an email from another WWOOFing place I tried to go to, many weeks ago. The people at the place had responded to me once, saying, "That might work, what is your time frame?" and I had replied, saying I could come out on November 7, and then they didn't reply.
But I just got an email from them saying, "Can't wait to have you come today!"
Um, no?
Sorry?
Really? Did you think I'd come without having a reply from you? I don't know where you live. I don't know how to get there. I don't have a car.
Sometimes, this country is just a little too "laid back."
Whatever. No skin off my nose, really... I just sent a, "Sorry, I've made other plans!" email, and now I'm leaving the computer for five to seven days (I haven't decided how long I'm staying yet).
So, on that note, see you in five to seven days!
But I just got an email from them saying, "Can't wait to have you come today!"
Um, no?
Sorry?
Really? Did you think I'd come without having a reply from you? I don't know where you live. I don't know how to get there. I don't have a car.
Sometimes, this country is just a little too "laid back."
Whatever. No skin off my nose, really... I just sent a, "Sorry, I've made other plans!" email, and now I'm leaving the computer for five to seven days (I haven't decided how long I'm staying yet).
So, on that note, see you in five to seven days!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
This is the BEST DAY EVER
Um, I just dominated that exam.
I am absolutely high on life right now!!!!!
My week has just been so astoundingly good. Yesterday Kathy, Bonnie and I left for Forde's at, like, 1:30 pm. It was kind of crowded, but that means there were like, 6 people in there. (There usually aren't that many in Forde's.) So, we took seats, I got a $5 Carlsberg, and we settled in to CNN. Oh yeah, I brought my NZ Politics notes with every intention of studying a bit while watching the returns, but I opened the notebook exactly ONE time, and that was to rip a blank sheet out, so that Kathy and I could keep track of the states won. AWESOME.
But seriously, I don't even care. It was so god damned exciting to be in that bar and to watch that history happen. By 4 pm, it was packed. Most of my friends had come down (except those who just left for Fiji... they toooootally missed out), and there were definitely more people than I've ever seen in Forde's before. And the crowd was decidedly not American! Of course, we made up our own UniLodge American contingency, but other than us, there were only a few more Americans. And then tons of Kiwis and expatriates!! And everyone was CHEERING and CELEBRATING as we watched President Barack Obama solidly defeat Senator John McCain.
McCain even went down gracefully. I can barely recognize and identify this feeling of pride I have right now because for the past eight years, I have cringed at the thought of my representation. But I feel like for the first time in eight years, America is on the same page as the rest of the world and I am so excited to see where we go from here! What a ridiculously exciting time to be 20 years old, Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was also AWESOME being in the South Pacific for the election. For one, it was just fucking cool to be in another country for such a big hairy American thing; not to mention the fact that the rest of the world is stoked for Obama, too. But also, I usually have to stay up ridiculously late to watch all the returns come in and go to bed without having a president elect. But we in NZ knew Barack was prez by 6 pm. I spent my entire day in the bar, but I left when it was still light out and America had a new president!
So it was fine that I didn't study at all. Still early.
Upon leaving the bar, Matt and I decided we'd study together later for motivation, so I went back to UniLodge and I studied on my own for an hour, then cooked some delicious pasta and sauteed veggies for dinner. Matt came down, ate with me, and then we promptly did not study at all. My roommates were all around: Kathy's done, so she was just being mean, taunting us with her sitting in a vegetative state. But Jennifer and Monica were both GOING to have a quiet study session with us, until they realized it was their last Wednesday in Auckland, and Wednesday is their favorite night to go out. So they gave up and started drinking and getting ready... It was hopeless, really. I can so easily blame them for our not studying, but let's be honest.
I WAS TOO DAMN EXCITED TO STUDY.
So, there was a veritable party in my apartment until 11 pm, and then I looked over my notes for a solid three minutes, and then I went to bed, setting my alarm for 7 am with the very best of intentions.
I shot out of bed at 7 not to study but to read the New York Times. Sigh. I just can't worry about my questionably important grades when the world is so exciting right now.
So, with a skip in my step and an hour and three minutes of studying behind me, I set off for my last and final academic anything of the first semester of my junior year. AND THEN I KICKED ITS ASS. Seriously. I dominated that exam.
And also, every Massachusetts ballot issue went the way I voted. CONGRATULATIONS DANIELLE GREGOIRE! And more people in Berlin voted to decriminalize marijuana than for Barack Obama. And the Dems have a bamf senate majority.
I am so disgustingly happy right now. I need to, like, run a marathon or something.
I am absolutely high on life right now!!!!!
My week has just been so astoundingly good. Yesterday Kathy, Bonnie and I left for Forde's at, like, 1:30 pm. It was kind of crowded, but that means there were like, 6 people in there. (There usually aren't that many in Forde's.) So, we took seats, I got a $5 Carlsberg, and we settled in to CNN. Oh yeah, I brought my NZ Politics notes with every intention of studying a bit while watching the returns, but I opened the notebook exactly ONE time, and that was to rip a blank sheet out, so that Kathy and I could keep track of the states won. AWESOME.
But seriously, I don't even care. It was so god damned exciting to be in that bar and to watch that history happen. By 4 pm, it was packed. Most of my friends had come down (except those who just left for Fiji... they toooootally missed out), and there were definitely more people than I've ever seen in Forde's before. And the crowd was decidedly not American! Of course, we made up our own UniLodge American contingency, but other than us, there were only a few more Americans. And then tons of Kiwis and expatriates!! And everyone was CHEERING and CELEBRATING as we watched President Barack Obama solidly defeat Senator John McCain.
McCain even went down gracefully. I can barely recognize and identify this feeling of pride I have right now because for the past eight years, I have cringed at the thought of my representation. But I feel like for the first time in eight years, America is on the same page as the rest of the world and I am so excited to see where we go from here! What a ridiculously exciting time to be 20 years old, Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was also AWESOME being in the South Pacific for the election. For one, it was just fucking cool to be in another country for such a big hairy American thing; not to mention the fact that the rest of the world is stoked for Obama, too. But also, I usually have to stay up ridiculously late to watch all the returns come in and go to bed without having a president elect. But we in NZ knew Barack was prez by 6 pm. I spent my entire day in the bar, but I left when it was still light out and America had a new president!
So it was fine that I didn't study at all. Still early.
Upon leaving the bar, Matt and I decided we'd study together later for motivation, so I went back to UniLodge and I studied on my own for an hour, then cooked some delicious pasta and sauteed veggies for dinner. Matt came down, ate with me, and then we promptly did not study at all. My roommates were all around: Kathy's done, so she was just being mean, taunting us with her sitting in a vegetative state. But Jennifer and Monica were both GOING to have a quiet study session with us, until they realized it was their last Wednesday in Auckland, and Wednesday is their favorite night to go out. So they gave up and started drinking and getting ready... It was hopeless, really. I can so easily blame them for our not studying, but let's be honest.
I WAS TOO DAMN EXCITED TO STUDY.
So, there was a veritable party in my apartment until 11 pm, and then I looked over my notes for a solid three minutes, and then I went to bed, setting my alarm for 7 am with the very best of intentions.
I shot out of bed at 7 not to study but to read the New York Times. Sigh. I just can't worry about my questionably important grades when the world is so exciting right now.
So, with a skip in my step and an hour and three minutes of studying behind me, I set off for my last and final academic anything of the first semester of my junior year. AND THEN I KICKED ITS ASS. Seriously. I dominated that exam.
And also, every Massachusetts ballot issue went the way I voted. CONGRATULATIONS DANIELLE GREGOIRE! And more people in Berlin voted to decriminalize marijuana than for Barack Obama. And the Dems have a bamf senate majority.
I am so disgustingly happy right now. I need to, like, run a marathon or something.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
IT'S FINALLY ELECTION DAY!!!!!!!
I'm SO EXCITED. The political bar next door is having a party to watch the returns come in... and I think New Zealand wins, because even thought it's November 5, polls close when it's noon over here, so I don't have to stay up late. Though staying up late to watch the returns is always really fun. But I have an exam tomorrow morning.
Oh yeah, I have an exam tomorrow morning. Damn. I'm way too excited to study.
Oh yeah, I have an exam tomorrow morning. Damn. I'm way too excited to study.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Halloween and the beach? Only in NZ
Hello, world--
Lots to update about in a short amount of time; I have to get ready to meet the BU group for our internship presentations and final dinner tonight!
Friday was Halloween, and it was fun... Forde's Frontbench, the political bar next door to UniLodge, had advertised a huge party with costume contests and prizes, but when we BROUGHT THE PARTY around 9:30 pm, there were like, four un-costumed regulars, and the bartender had no idea what we were talking about when we asked who won the costume contest. Also, a girl went back to UniLodge to get her iPod so that we had some music bumpin'.
...
It was fun, though. We made it fun.
Saturday morning, we hit the road for a fairly hungover trip down the Coromandel Peninsula for our BEACH CRAWL WEEKEND. It was lovely; the weather gods were totally on our side. We went to five beaches. Cathedral Cove, where I swam in the Pacific for the first time, is absolutely the most beautiful beach I've ever seen in real life. So gorgeous. Then we went to Hot Water Beach, which really actually has hot water!! The ocean, of course, is cold, but dotting the shoreline are random springs of boiling salt water. So two hours before or after low tide, people dig their own pools near the hot springs. I love New Zealand.
Most unfortnately, my camera batteries died over the weekend, but I did manage a few pictures. My computer is crawling lately, though, so I'll post them when it lets me, and then I'll link.
Yesterday Ashley, Bonnie, Kathy and I met Amanda at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World, where Amanda has just finished her internship. So Amanda got us in for free and gave us a fantastic tour of the aquarium! We saw some maaaassive crayfish, various beautiful saltwater fish, huge sea turtles, overwhelmingly large rays, and PENGUINS. In all, an awesomely oceanic day. Thanks Amanda!
I finished my portfolio today and am really excited to present it to my fellow interns tonight, but I'm feeling a little sad that tonight is our farewell dinner!! I think, though, most of us (including our program adviser Kevin) are meeting at Forde's tomorrow to watch CNN and have an Election Day party. Huzzah!
On that note... GET THE VOTE OUT, YA'LL.
Obama 08.
Lots to update about in a short amount of time; I have to get ready to meet the BU group for our internship presentations and final dinner tonight!
Friday was Halloween, and it was fun... Forde's Frontbench, the political bar next door to UniLodge, had advertised a huge party with costume contests and prizes, but when we BROUGHT THE PARTY around 9:30 pm, there were like, four un-costumed regulars, and the bartender had no idea what we were talking about when we asked who won the costume contest. Also, a girl went back to UniLodge to get her iPod so that we had some music bumpin'.
...
It was fun, though. We made it fun.
Saturday morning, we hit the road for a fairly hungover trip down the Coromandel Peninsula for our BEACH CRAWL WEEKEND. It was lovely; the weather gods were totally on our side. We went to five beaches. Cathedral Cove, where I swam in the Pacific for the first time, is absolutely the most beautiful beach I've ever seen in real life. So gorgeous. Then we went to Hot Water Beach, which really actually has hot water!! The ocean, of course, is cold, but dotting the shoreline are random springs of boiling salt water. So two hours before or after low tide, people dig their own pools near the hot springs. I love New Zealand.
Most unfortnately, my camera batteries died over the weekend, but I did manage a few pictures. My computer is crawling lately, though, so I'll post them when it lets me, and then I'll link.
Yesterday Ashley, Bonnie, Kathy and I met Amanda at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World, where Amanda has just finished her internship. So Amanda got us in for free and gave us a fantastic tour of the aquarium! We saw some maaaassive crayfish, various beautiful saltwater fish, huge sea turtles, overwhelmingly large rays, and PENGUINS. In all, an awesomely oceanic day. Thanks Amanda!
I finished my portfolio today and am really excited to present it to my fellow interns tonight, but I'm feeling a little sad that tonight is our farewell dinner!! I think, though, most of us (including our program adviser Kevin) are meeting at Forde's tomorrow to watch CNN and have an Election Day party. Huzzah!
On that note... GET THE VOTE OUT, YA'LL.
Obama 08.
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