“Didn’t have a camera by my side this time, Hoping I would see the world through both my eyes. Maybe I will tell you all about it when I’m in the mood to lose my way with words….Today I finally overcame trying to fit the world inside a picture frame. Maybe I will tell you all about it when I’m in the mood to lose my way but let me say you should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes, it brought me back to life. You’ll be with me next time I go outside, no more 3x5s.” ~john mayer

I have a feeling this is going to be a really long entry, so sit tight.
Today was the trip to the peninsula. All the International students (about 500 of us) piled on multiple buses and they drove us out there. The trip only furthered my inkling that this is the most beautiful place in the world. We went to an albatross colony (the only place in the world where albatross rest on the mainland) and to a few beaches and just drove around the hills. The buses were on different rotations so that we weren’t all at the same place at once. Here’s some picture highlights, even though they don’t adequately capture the beauty. We were all in awe.

It was a beautiful day for most of the trip. Then when we were at the last beach, it started pouring. Now, to get to this beach, we had to walk down this long trail and down a huge hill of sand. I mean huge. It took twenty minutes to get down to the beach. When it started raining, we had to walk back up to the road and to the bus (the uphill trip was much longer). So I found myself climbing up this mountain of sand in the pouring rain. It was raining so hard it was horizontal rain at one point. And then, when I was about halfway to the bus, it started hailing. It really hurt my face, so I turned around and walked uphill backwards. I had to stop a few times because it was coming down so hard and I couldn’t even move because I was going against it. By the time I made it up to the bus, I was completely soaked. My shoes were filled with water, my jeans were drenched and dripping, and I was just a complete mess. And I couldn’t even go home to get warm and dry (not that I can ever get warm in the flat) because we had to go to a “barbeque” (in quotes because Kiwis really don’t know how to throw a proper BBQ). But even though I was wet and uncomfortable and freezing for the rest of the time, it was actually a really fun day. I made a new friend, a “real” friend. I’ve met so many people here and have had the same exact conversation with each of them (What’s your name? Where are you from? What year are you? What are you studying? Why did you decide to come here? Do you like it so far? Who do you live with? Etc.) but haven’t really made any true connections that I know will last (besides with Perrine hopefully). But Nicole and I got along well and we’re going to the farmer’s market together tomorrow. So I’m happy I met her. It made the trip worthwhile.
We had a party at our flat tonight, and I had an awesome time. We played Screw the Dealer (not usually my favorite game) and Spoons. Luckily Bobby (he goes to Richmond) was the unlucky dealer of the night instead of me. There were lots of people crammed into our flat, and usually big parties aren’t my thing, but this one was different. I found my own little niche of people to hang out with and had a good time. Now the flat is a mess (we’ve got about 100 beer cans and bottles strewn around the living room/kitchen and a few spills on the carpet) but I don’t mind cleaning it up.
Storytime: I know I’ve been complaining about the cold weather non-stop, but it’s hard to ignore. Anyway, it made me think about the coldest I’ve ever been. January 11th, 2004. The coldest day of the year in NYC. Also the day (or night, I guess) that I camped outside for SNL tickets. Don’t I have perfect timing? It was one degree outside. Looking back, I realize how insanely stupid I was in my preparations. I was wearing long johns (top and bottom), jeans, a shirt, a sweater, and a jacket. A lot of layers, but not nearly enough for staying outside all night in 1-degree weather. I think I had a blanket and a cushion to sit on. I had forgot to bring a hat into the city so Uncle Don gave me one before I left for Rockefeller Center, and I left it in the cab. So my head wasn’t covered, which I think was my worst mistake. Anyway, I froze. I can’t even describe how cold I was. I’ve never been that cold before and I hope I never am again. It hurt to move my body, but I made myself jump around every once in a while. Carrie and I tried to keep each other occupied by talking nonstop and by making each other laugh, but it didn’t help much. We camped outside Friday night because on Saturday morning at 7am they gave out stand-by tickets for that night. After they gave out the tickets (well, they were actually just numbers) I went back to Don and Sheila’s apartment and slept. I turned the heat all the way up (you can control the heat in the individual rooms) and piled tons of blankets on me. It took me a couple hours to thaw out. I actually felt like I was thawing. My body gradually got less stiff. When the heat had actually warmed me up a little, my body stung. You know when a part of your body falls asleep and then it stings when you start moving it again? My whole body felt like that, like I was being pricked all over with pins and needles. It was the strangest sensation. My body was still sore more than twelve hours later, when we had to go back to get in line for the show. I think it was worth it, although I’m not sure I did at the time. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, and I got to see a really good show. It was the first show after the winter hiatus, so they had lots of material to work with. Britney Spears’ wedding (her first one, the quickie one followed by an immediate divorce) was one highlight. And it was Jimmy Fallon’s last season, so I’m glad I caught him before he left. Anyway, that’s the coldest I’ve ever been, even though this feels almost as bad because it never ends.

Random Revelation: I got nothin’.

“Is everybody happy now? Is everybody clear? We could drive out to the dunes tonight, ‘Cause Summer’s almost here.” ~counting crows

I wish summer were almost here. They should have made that song a single. There was a petition for making it a single (I signed it). Obviously it didn’t work. Anyway, it’s a really good song. I don’t know why so many people don’t like Hard Candy (the album). I think it’s their second-best album (nothing can beat AEEA). Despite its inclusion of the atrocity that is Big Yellow Taxi. That song really isn’t so bad live, when Vanessa Carlton isn’t “ooohhh, bop bop bop”-ing along. I think the reason that most CC fans hate Big Yellow Taxi is that non-fans love it. People hear that one stupid song on the radio and claim to love Counting Crows when they really know nothing about the band. That’s one of my pet peeves, people claiming to be big fans of bands that they hardly listen to. Go buy their albums (and not just greatest hits albums) before you start raving about them and claiming to be an expert. Sorry, I don’t know how I got into that rant. I’ll move on now.
Last night was an International student party at a nearby pub. They had this Maori band, and they were pretty good. They almost sounded Hawaiian (and they even had dancers in hula skirts). When the band started playing, I found myself surrounded by five Richmond people. It’s strange how we congregate when we’re halfway around the world. I finally saw Betsy and got to hang out with her for a while.
This morning was course approval. It would be so much easier if they just used the Internet like Richmond does. Instead they had advisors from the different departments at tables set up around the Student Union building. You had to go get signatures at each department in which you were taking a class. There was lots of waiting in line. I eventually got through it and I got my student ID card, which means I can use the school’s computers. It was great to get on the Internet for a while; I’ve been feeling so cut off from the world. I still don’t have Internet here at my flat so I can’t get these entries online yet because I’m typing them on my computer in Word.
I had coffee with Anna today and it was good to talk to her. She said I’ll be able to come over to her house (she lives in town with her parents) and have home-cooked meals every once in a while. I’m sure that’ll be much better than the awful food I’m managing to put together.
On Tuesday Perrine and I walked up the hill that our house is on. There’s a really old cemetery up there, and a beautiful view of the ocean. The botanical garden borders the cemetery, so we walked around it a lot. It must be so beautiful in the summer. I walked back up there today because it’s a clear day and I brought my camera with me. Pictures can’t really capture the atmosphere here, but I'll still probably post them later.
Tomorrow they’re taking the International students on a trip to the peninsula. I’m nervous because they warned us how cold it will be out there and instructed us on what clothes to wear, but I think it’ll be fun.

Random Revelation: drunk people are funny

“The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.” ~jrr tolkien

I’m in a foreign country with plenty of time to explore, and instead I’m sitting here in my room. Isn’t that awful? The view from my window is so beautiful, though, that I’m content just sitting here and looking out into the city. I have so much free time I don’t know what to do with it. Orientation starts tomorrow, which will take some of this time off my hands. I’ve walked around town so much in the past few days that I can’t bring myself to go out again right now. Perrine is getting groceries and Scott is off buying a car with some of his friends. When Perrine gets back, we’re going to explore some more and walk up the hill that our flat is on. It looks like we’ll have a great view from the top of the hill. I’m glad to live in a city. I often wish I went to school in NYC, and I’m moving there the second I graduate from college. This is nothing like New York, but it’s a step forward for me. It’s so different from Richmond. Our flat is on a busy road and there’s the constant noise of cars driving by. I kind of like it. And I can walk anywhere (even though it’s usually a long walk).
Perrine’s home now, so off I go!

Random Revelation: guys smell really, really good.

“He found the truth and now he was looking for something better.” ~smash

Today (the fourth of July) our other international flatmate arrived. We were told that it would be a girl, but it’s a guy. His name is Scott and he’s from Vermont. He has a bunch of friends here from his college and we hung out with them. A group of us went to buy beer, and I legally purchased alcohol for the first time. After looking at my ID the cashier said, “Al’ right, you’re cool, mate.” It was thrilling. J Then we went to this barbeque at someone else’s flat. There must have been at least thirty people there, all American except for Perrine. Afterwards she told me she really didn’t understand much of what was being said. Americans do speak pretty quickly. Three people from Richmond were there. I knew Chris, and I had seen the two others around campus, Reed and Tommy, but didn’t know them. It was strange to wind up in an apartment in New Zealand with three other Richmond people who I didn’t even know would be at the party. The people that I was hanging out with all went to a bar afterwards, but I wasn’t up for it (my body is still adjusting to the time difference) so Perrine and I came back here. It was good to meet some new people; they were all really nice, even though they seem a bit wilder than me (not that that’s saying much). It’s a little strange, though, because it seems like everyone knows each other. Scott has all his buddies from Middlebury and they’re all, like, best friends. I have trouble opening up to new people (I even have trouble opening up to people I know well), and when they all know each other already, that’s difficult. But they’re all incredibly friendly and I’m sure it’ll get easier. I’m excited for all the New Zealanders to get back. Right now it’s basically just international students in town because we have to be here early for orientation. The natives will be back this weekend because classes start next Monday (a week from today) and I’m excited to hang out with them. Now I’m going to be a bum and climb into bed and read my book.

Random Revelation: you should not be able to see your breath when you’re inside your house.

“The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.” ~smash

I arrived in New Zealand yesterday (Sunday, July 3d) and I’m finally settled in enough to write a little bit about where I’m living. Unfortunately I can’t get the internet to work, so I’ll be posting this a while after I wrote it. Let’s see, where to begin…this will be a long entry, so get comfortable. J I flew from Newark to LAX to Auckland to Dunedin, for a total travel time of about 26 hours. On the flight to Auckland, I happened to be sitting next to a girl who’s also studying abroad at Otago this semester! It was really great to talk to her and ask each other questions, and I’ll email her once I connect the internet because it’ll be fun for us to hang out here. When we arrived in Auckland and I stepped outside (we had to go outside to get to the domestic terminal), the change in temperature hit me. I could see my breath. It’s cold here. It actually felt nice when I first stepped outside, but I’m rethinking that now. Anyway, at Dunedin, a van from the school picked up eight of us studying abroad here. It was about a twenty-minute ride to pick up our keys, and no one spoke that whole time. It was kind of surreal. It wasn’t really uncomfortable silence; it was more like the silence of contemplation and awe. I stared out the window the whole time, just taking it all in. This is quite possibly the most beautiful place in the world (which I’ve heard before). I thought it would be similar to Australia, but it’s not. If I had to compare it to anywhere in the world I’ve been, I would say it’s a little like Turkey, but greener. It is SOOOO hilly. There are 14 sheep for every person, and I confirmed that fact on the drive into the city. You can’t even imagine how many sheep there are; they’re everywhere. We were driving through the countryside, and then we entered the city of Dunedin. It’s not really a city, at least not compared to what I’m used to, but it’s a very cute area. We picked up our keys at an office and then the driver took us around to our flats. My flat is on the edge of the city. It’s really close to a botanical garden, which I’ll have to explore. There are three flats where mine is, and they’re supposedly three of the newest ones. This means that it’s one of the nicest flats available to students. It’s ten times better than a Richmond apartment. And twice as big, too. There’s a nice living room with two couches and a tv, a kitchen, an eating area, a laundry room (with our own washing machine and dryer), two bathrooms, and five bedrooms. I love my bedroom. It’s all blue (the walls, the carpet, the bedding) and right in front of my desk there’s a huge window overlooking the city. I have a double bed, and the person in the room before me left me two comforters, pillows, and a space heater, which was very nice. The ceiling slants over my bed, and there’s another window over my bed. And I have a walk-in closet. Of course I can’t make good use of it because I don’t have that much stuff. Figures. Anyway, I love my room. I’m still working on personalizing it a little. It seems so empty. I don’t have any posters with me, so I’m hanging up random pages from magazines for now just to fill some wall space. I'll post some pictures later.
Only one of my flatmates is here. Her name is Perrine and she’s from France. She’s very nice. Maybe I can practice my French with her. There’s another girl from the U.S. who will be living with us, and two New Zealand guys, Matt and Richie, who will be back next weekend. Yesterday Perrine and I walked into town. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the main street. That street is the center of town and it seems to have everything on it. Restaurants, K-Mart, banks, lots of clothing shops. It was bustling with people. Later I went to the grocery store by myself. It’s about a 20-minute walk, and the trip back was not fun. It was dark (it gets dark here by 5pm) and I was hauling these incredibly heavy bags. It took me about half an hour to walk back, and I seriously can feel it in my arms today after carrying those bags. It’s gonna be hard to cook for myself all the time, I’ve never done that before. And to shop for food for myself. I guess I’ll get better at it.
It felt SO good to take a hot shower and crawl into bed. I was exhausted. I basically hadn’t slept for 40 hours. I tried to sleep on the plane, but that never works well for me. I dozed off a few times but never for long. Last night I went to bed at 8:30 (it was hard for me not to fall asleep before that, but I’m trying to set myself to New Zealand time) and woke up this morning at 6:30. I sat here at my window to watch the sun rise as I type this, but it’s too cloudy. I’m freezing, by the way. There’s two things that really get to me about the weather: 1. It’s hard to go from 90-degree weather to 40-degree weather in a day. That’s a big change. Usually we have autumn to adjust to the coming of winter, but dropping 50 degrees in a day isn’t easy to cope with. I’m afraid it’s making me sick (my nose keeps running). 2. There’s no central heating. It actually feels colder inside than it does outside. I have a space heater in my room, but it doesn’t do much and we’re supposed to conserve energy by not using it too often. Perrine and I are walking around the flat in our winter coats. It’s especially cold when you step out of the shower. And I usually take a shower before I go to bed and just sleep with wet hair, but there’s no way I can do that here. I would freeze to death. So I have to dry my hair before I go to bed.
If you made it this far in the entry, good for you. I’m gonna go get breakfast. Today I have to go to the bank and the International Student Centre, and I’ll explore some more. If it doesn’t rain. Which it is supposed to do.

Random Revelation: life is expensive.