My wifi hasn't been working for the past couple of days, so here is a big update from the rest of the week! For one, the title is refering to one day at dinner this week when Heidi asked Alexis something about tomatoes when she was quickly corrected byAlexis that it was tom-AH-toes, not tom-A-toes (you say tomato, I say tomato?)
Now here is a picture of the pavlova we made with Sheryl on Sunday! It is a common dessert here similar to a meringue but its not cooked all the way through so its soft and marshmallow-ey on the inside, then topped with whipped cream and traditionally kiwifruit and strawberries. SO good, and Sheryl said we should make one every sunday to perfect it by the time we get home :)
In other news, we were trying to figure out the bus, so here we are all excited to use public buses for the first time ever for some of us, waiting patiently at our bus stop. Lo and behold when the bus arrives, we all stand up, the large Maori lady looks at us in the eyes, and drives right on past us. RUDE.
So then we had to get a ride from Sheryl to school. Not to worry, we figured it out that afternoon, but realized it was going to be expensive, so we actually walk 45-50 minutes to and from school each day with lots of huge hills, so we figure its at least a workout!
On Thursday, we had a pizza and pasta night at one of the girls' house, so here are all 16 of us! Everyone was invited to come with their homestays, so Kerry and Alexis joined us but I think it was a bit much (for Phyllis too!) cause it got SO loud with all of us girls together...you'd think we don't spend 8 hours a day minimum together.
Other days we often come home, run then jump in the pool cause by that point we are in dire need of a refresher. After dinner we either go to Phyllis's (so hang with Jess and Christine) or they come to our place. Here is a great view from the back of Phyllis's yard! We see a lot of this as we are walking through the hills, great view of water and stuff, love it!
Here is my favorite part of this house we live in! Grape vines over this canopy thing with a pretty view of the hill. Sorry, I'm a sucker for pretty views :)
Today was a great day! We went with Sheryl's family to bury her grandmother's ashes, something I had never seen done before, then to lunch with them for several hours after that. When we got home, Kerry took us out on his boat which was so great! Kinda felt like home, but a little different scenery than Lake Anna offers... The water was surprisingly clear and not too cold, so we swam around a little and rode around a little, then got back just in time for fish-n-chips! The boat really was glorious, I love summer!
How's winter treating you, people?? No big.
That's Auckland behind me. Who can find the skytower?? There is just water everywhere around the city, I love it! Lake after lake, or I guess harbor after harbor cause its all salt water? This is the "city of sails" or something catchy like that because it has the highest percentage of residents here that own boats. I believe it, cause they're everywhere. Everyone fishes too, and today when we were launching, another boat came out with a 6 foot sword fish! I don't think I've ever seen a fish that big in person (besides the wonderful Baltimore aquarium, or that aquarium in VAbeach), I was blown away.
Tonight we played around with poi balls, (refer again to 12 days of Christmas post) and I know, I got the stance all wrong, but Sheryl actually was quite the fountain of knowledge to get us started with them. A word of advice, its all in the wrists, loose wrists at that. Still need to learn a haka (we learned one Maori dance already but I don't remember it)...
Now here is a picture of the pavlova we made with Sheryl on Sunday! It is a common dessert here similar to a meringue but its not cooked all the way through so its soft and marshmallow-ey on the inside, then topped with whipped cream and traditionally kiwifruit and strawberries. SO good, and Sheryl said we should make one every sunday to perfect it by the time we get home :)
In other news, we were trying to figure out the bus, so here we are all excited to use public buses for the first time ever for some of us, waiting patiently at our bus stop. Lo and behold when the bus arrives, we all stand up, the large Maori lady looks at us in the eyes, and drives right on past us. RUDE.
So then we had to get a ride from Sheryl to school. Not to worry, we figured it out that afternoon, but realized it was going to be expensive, so we actually walk 45-50 minutes to and from school each day with lots of huge hills, so we figure its at least a workout!
On Thursday, we had a pizza and pasta night at one of the girls' house, so here are all 16 of us! Everyone was invited to come with their homestays, so Kerry and Alexis joined us but I think it was a bit much (for Phyllis too!) cause it got SO loud with all of us girls together...you'd think we don't spend 8 hours a day minimum together.
Other days we often come home, run then jump in the pool cause by that point we are in dire need of a refresher. After dinner we either go to Phyllis's (so hang with Jess and Christine) or they come to our place. Here is a great view from the back of Phyllis's yard! We see a lot of this as we are walking through the hills, great view of water and stuff, love it!
Here is my favorite part of this house we live in! Grape vines over this canopy thing with a pretty view of the hill. Sorry, I'm a sucker for pretty views :)
Today was a great day! We went with Sheryl's family to bury her grandmother's ashes, something I had never seen done before, then to lunch with them for several hours after that. When we got home, Kerry took us out on his boat which was so great! Kinda felt like home, but a little different scenery than Lake Anna offers... The water was surprisingly clear and not too cold, so we swam around a little and rode around a little, then got back just in time for fish-n-chips! The boat really was glorious, I love summer!
How's winter treating you, people?? No big.
That's Auckland behind me. Who can find the skytower?? There is just water everywhere around the city, I love it! Lake after lake, or I guess harbor after harbor cause its all salt water? This is the "city of sails" or something catchy like that because it has the highest percentage of residents here that own boats. I believe it, cause they're everywhere. Everyone fishes too, and today when we were launching, another boat came out with a 6 foot sword fish! I don't think I've ever seen a fish that big in person (besides the wonderful Baltimore aquarium, or that aquarium in VAbeach), I was blown away.
Tonight we played around with poi balls, (refer again to 12 days of Christmas post) and I know, I got the stance all wrong, but Sheryl actually was quite the fountain of knowledge to get us started with them. A word of advice, its all in the wrists, loose wrists at that. Still need to learn a haka (we learned one Maori dance already but I don't remember it)...
way to be turned down by the bus driver -- that's so funny! i'm totally jealous of the weather -- i'm hatin this cold! can't wait for you to make me one of those desserts when you get back! love ya!
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