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.