tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59303594218446211722024-02-06T18:13:09.660-08:00Choc-a-Block of Kiwis!Welcome to the land of Kiwis, kiwibirds, and kiwifruitAnna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-52661090136299821952011-04-17T13:07:00.001-07:002011-04-17T13:18:32.570-07:00Give Me SAMOA!<div style="text-align: center;">After 16 hours in 2 airports, and 8 hours on two flights, we finally arrived in Apia! It was very Back To the Future for us because we left on the 13<sup>th</sup>, got to Auckland by the 14<sup>th</sup>, but then crossed the dateline and arrived in Samoa midmorning on the 13<sup>th</sup>, so we got to live it again! We were glad because we figured we could make up for any mess-ups we had made on our first attempt at April 13<sup>th</sup>. This also makes this the longest week of our lives with almost a full eight 24 hour days, but what great timing cause its vacation!</div><p class="MsoNormal">The first day we got picked up from the airport and the shuttle driver was such a funny, happy-go-lucky local who told us the temple was called Salt Lake City, UT, and he told us all about the cannibalism they had here and lots of interesting facts. So pumped for our ride back to the airport <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> That afternoon we decided to hit the beach, but got pretty lost because there are no addresses, much less street signs anywhere. We finally found a little one, and the water was so clear and so warm! And super salty so you float really easily, it was glorious! </p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcV_s-fjlbaUHjfFUQQws5f-l2q_G-otZPwmIiO5YFJBn9qXvA2s4aoSAjRpHFpdMUWEK23ud81pu4Cg3sQJDIs76xXq10LZGYwK77SSwiiYHrt45SwtUrtUb6gtdbyafDqPTkpqwL1gq/s320/IMG_4515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596647836231663938" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">On our way home, we decided to keep looking for a more legit beach (ours was kind of rocky/coral instead of sand which hurts your feet) so we kept walking and soon realized we were being followed by two of the many wild dogs in town. Theses ones may not have been wild, but we weren’t sure so we were still nervous (some of us more than others…) and just hoping that dogs can’t sense fear like horses or other animals can, cause we’d be gone-ers. It drew even more attention to us from the locals as well as all of the other stray dogs, so finally we went into a building and had these huge guys go scare them away. When we left we were still ducking around bushes and stuff cause we could see them looking for us (they clearly would be bad police dogs, cause you’d think they’d be able to sense us coming or something). Long story short we made it out alive. (ok, that wasn’t short…sorry)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the walk home wasn’t very good either, we were carrying our McDonalds home (only fast food here that doesn’t look sketchy, and that’s saying a lot) and got very lost (anytime we’d ask for directions they’d point in one direction and say “keep going that way” excluding vital steps such as eventually turning. Thanks, you’re so helpful.) When we finally got home to eat our cold dinner, we all just started bawling and decided we needed to go home tomorrow. Luckily we hadn’t figured out the internet yet, otherwise we would have probably gone ahead and booked flights home, so we were forced to sleep on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s already funny looking back on because we were seriously a sorry bunch, but we felt much better in the morning!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVCL9Kk34dJu5d9h00BZZj442jXyWjoErS99IMC7xhLS_UdvGbzam2zKSSYwxywGCMQCV2miR0Bi3L5rLGZWgV2ItUhwYstdjdMS4Z66svbFmA8YytFz5UgZ77cxAHGH6ZreWbP3N3k4i/s320/IMG_4518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648742919066706" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">So we decided to go to the temple first thing in the morning, and I may or may not have shed a tear or many when it came into sight and I realized we made it without getting lost. And it was like having a little piece of home. When we walked in though, they didn’t speak more than 5 words of English, but we got enough to know to come back at three for baptisms. Then we headed next door to the mission office to just get a contact number to feel a little more secure in this foreign place and while we were talking to the secretary, a woman stopped us and asked if we needed someone to show us around. We didn’t know it then, but that woman, Tina Youngyen, would change our week forever! Naturally we jumped right in her car and were on our way.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk8-MlJjwrG9V_nvHmlS8UwXhdDCJ2uVrOBhYTcXBEoCc2q5CXUZDL4_FmNzMZmkfDmeV_eavsSYHpCN-dJyTzinZ9IKAI-2TrpW8caCn5H8sIKGBh0FtUqhKGhsIFNm137qvuXkU_59y/s320/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596647849326785810" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Tina first took us to these sliding rocks. (aside: we thought she and some other YSA friends were just going when she invited us but in our car ride we found out she works with the tourism group and would be charging us for everything, but hey, we had been so lost on our own so we went with it) The sliding rocks were a series of waterfalls that you slide down, and it was so fun! I would like those of you who know that I am a pansy to know that I went first on one of them, even without locals doing it first (for proof that we wouldn’t die at the bottom)! It was so beautiful there, totally rainforest-y. That’s me at the top of the big slide. Afterwards we went to the temple for our baptism appointment, and by the end of that we went back to the hotel happy as clams, and ready to “survive” through a week of 90 degrees, sunshine, white sandy beaches, and the clearest/warmest water I’ve ever seen.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fun continued as we spent the next two days with Tina, here’s what we did:</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMz1mfThDsirzRs-tLSvm9E5JvFfmW-PJM0ridNpT8GbIQXVo5mF2FqQH32VrYYM887UCzLaFbKAlgDaN4pSyetJA3OzKn98kOFTCDMtenU52gCugA6liTfZfwXdQKshl_4cQFSZdqCIE/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648734903021122" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We spent the first day driving around to see all of the small island (the one we’re staying on) by driving along the road that goes around the edge of the island and stopping at cool places we came across. First was just a stop on the side of the road to get a taste of the wonderful white sand and crystal clear water. This is a picture from where we stopped, and this palm tree/ocean combo is what you see out your window the entire loop around the island, love it!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyEuqQ27DuwkB1W8Y0VlIBxTFA-3bvOdvilTpdAvqGhWwWGZEUKv6NLeaN7tFAx5apKGfT129i72BWzqAmdiBbLQMBBPlj308F1cnb5cegvjKYakDt_L5PkfYL8hMRjrSj86HvJVeWDtD/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596647818677947570" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Next we went to this waterfall that may not have seemed worth 5 Samoan Tala, but then we realized it was equal to about 2 US dollars, and anything is worth two dollars! It was very pretty, and had a sweet jungle to walk through to get to it, but it was a bit disappointing that we couldn’t swim to it.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvIF8-gBsBiYvzGaWl0x9aTMbsaWDu12tAZ0PiLuEm8UlwZLONj1lzxoj7r641LEmTiQQSRUep4KGwPw7s2_rozaZkqlmeqYF0mCBmhFhh1Evf5Q4fCKwXwjsesrlByc89Z2FnoRcDp7F/s320/P4150083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648757422231010" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Our final stop that day was to these lava caves that you swim in. There were tons of fish in the water, so again I overcame my pansy-tendencies and was first to jump in! It was so cool, yet slightly scary (I’m starting to wonder if I have a mild form of claustrophobia…) and very romantic (just ask the couple we shared the cave with).</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHEqo23rbyf6fzpo8wv0UstqBSDwNYMeULAkmm8VMjtGcnmE7nUR86koL4KECQ3i_88YQTBiZXjITqKPprhnQ8kX3ULIRPBLUX8UDDqXgSyqUp-V4LZgeBqku9rp3a7JQrGk9BXytKV6Z/s320/DSCN9949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596647803112078482" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">The next day we were picked up at 4:30 am to catch the first ferry to the big island, Savai’i, which is even more primitive than the one we stayed on but also even more beautiful! Our first stop was called “Swimming Turtles” which is not exactly the whole truth, because yes the turtles were swimming, but WE got to swim with them too! Kelly, my dear sister, I dedicated that swim to you because the whole time I was thinking “Kelly’s gonna hate me, she loves turtles!” We fed them pawpaw (not my fav, we had some in NZ, looks like cantaloupe) and they’d come right up to us! We tried picking them up, but I must have found the big papa of the group cause he was SO heavy and this is as far out of the water as I got him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>From this picture you can clearly see I kept my cool the entire time… Turtles as SO not scary, right? Debatable.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOZLwz_prIs2x9up2apXAZFoEnyvfsWLF-RxrlxuZLMc7WVeIieqv1dCj7y1nxs0_kdOspTmrA-fiAi6yvsV4zASPJ3StlSEure8I6X-HuTNEBFCkXNeLXr8kj829sEzleXbT55sLfRiM/s320/P4160116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648765354039202" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Next we stopped at another beach along the road and went out for a swim, but after walking for 5 minutes in water to our knees, we decided that would just have to be deep enough for floating on our backs (we spend 75% of our time in the water floating on our backs, makes it feel even more paradise-y). It was so funny how the waves were so far out, and it was cool being able to just sit in the water and cool off without being completely demolished by waves every 30 seconds. The aunty in me was thinking it would be great with all of our little kiddies because they could play in the water without being held onto for dear life. So maybe we should take our beach week from VA beach to Samoa next year. Who’s with me?</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6h8Lr9yHgoSAJf0uq9smyIMfSyg1vaTkCwccjez3676Rx1fCMlCOnKg0rJJvvM2nID2qeRs5LrLcw7tVOOE1bPoKa-wEbQmv-v5aFzzhzFIML9JoHtwxr83Pfo_kfmUpVcyBMR4V2ev7/s320/P4160150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596647828928557202" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We went to another waterfall after our swimming break and this one was so much more legit than the one from the day before. We swam right up to it! I can’t help but think of my trips to Niagara Falls with Sophia Montenegro in elementary school with our matching fanny packs and ponchos whenever I stand right next to a waterfall!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bkE-VmHmKB8UKJpDeciqx8UqA3wLa2b5-5nyJZOXQ86H-z8uBu6Kx805tXznxJH1kco9THqEiEkE2qO-gUBA_htfx4MQF0_dHkCWdyynbZbC581zJ-UwntvPH1g6haOcwz5mmqvP4mW9/s320/P4160165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648775750655330" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Here we are at lunch on the second day with Tina, she bought us “real Samoan BBQ” both days and both were essentially the same thing: 3 or 4 pieces of chicken (drumsticks and unidentifiable parts) and a hot dog, with rice and chop suey (spelling? Totally thought that was a karate move) at one place and taro at another. The taro just seemed like a baked potato to me (we just had it sliced and somehow cooked I think, dipped it in tomato sauce). But both times it was SO much food and we couldn’t finish it, which I hate to admit is saying a lot for all 4 of us. It was delicious though!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09Ymt0hy2Ea3uekbvWNgs4f23HcboJtD3r1oZdhVzQ-Rh6AOHEsq8zSU5aW5KO7E2ejNnD_ueotqmnzqBkNF3yXbLkELUQYAlM6dE2ZAZJ6f1PomfEdoa1aHHLF-9n-8ZQHZzKcgewy_q/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596648955876401874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Can’t forget a ferry ride shot- the girls make fun of me cause I got so excited when I first heard we were riding a ferry to Savai’i and because they know how much Jess, Heidi, and I rode it in Australia. Yeah so what if the ride alone would be worth all the money we paid for the whole day??</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today we will go to church with Tina, pack up, and try to make the most of our last night of the past four months! We’ll probably watch a movie like we have every night here due to our self-imposed 7pm curfew (when it gets dark) and swap stories from our adventures. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We made it through more scary van rides and have seen many more lizards than we would have ever dreamed of! But now it is the end of the Most Fantastic Vacation Ever and the end of my adventures in the South Pacific, how sad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This day wasn’t actually supposed to get here…I am so ready to get home though <span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> When we get to the airport I’ll have just 22 hours of flying and up to 11 airport hours until I’m at my favorite place in the world, HOME!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-31053663534272385342011-04-12T18:19:00.000-07:002011-04-12T19:30:46.189-07:00Finding Nemo Filming Location<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60n8lsBHsrRTR5ViVi985k4IrLKRYfKkgUcVFkolWqeJHQc3iYzXvtOOfseiw8izTzN03SsE4JjDzfWQb3V8eUxHADoohyrHRtvo7YvtPo5FEL9gHDiFNm3T1hjMZlaUcH9acZBxS3dW1/s1600/DSC03568.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>The other day Jessica said, "I know Finding Nemo is a cartoon, but I just keep thinking this is where it was filmed," its so true!<div><br /><!--StartFragment--> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-m-k84POXGc0onqIH4qXWZl1gcAziQDYb83HZz7yPIctbJGDz9aT7sNsqPDyliSM-mKD2vR1THUALHMoeW2e0HdYJm-AITckeW_dxhtZh_gIVSAq1mQvMYU_hIgC5DGenHM7yifjBC2M/s320/IMG_4379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594882677806067762" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Our journey started with a taxi at 4am. We took a taxi, then a plane (bags underweight, babay) then two trains and a bus all while dragging our huge bags! We felt a little ridiculous (I was just with Jessica and Heidi by this point) but we figured at the very least we might brighten someone else’s day because they could get a good laugh or maybe be grateful they at least don’t have to carry so many bags! We were lucky to make all of our trains/bus on time so we could meet up with or host, Cheryl at the bus stop near her house. (ps the public transport here is SO much better here than it is in Auckland, so we can actually go to the places we’re trying to! Almost a foreign concept at this point)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJqXDzX8AOvFabK9BgWRdNmcB81jqOZODceHThyOqhyrPaHInl9jV8G6wPQeFxmc6sX8fJSrRQQ0JnerLnwNB-LFbpU-cF6jUtMUpN05fv7h7jqtFkv_kF8Xz2aSXQwcr0DQFemQx8RvC/s320/IMG_4396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594885357194750322" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We wasted no time in getting to Featherdale to see Australian animals that afternoon. They have the wallaby’s and kangaroo’s just running loose around the whole place and they come right up to you to so you can pet them! They had tons of koala’s, and we could pet some, but we couldn’t hold any (apparently its illegal, lame). I had zero expectations for this, but can I just say I had NO idea how cute koala’s were! I don’t know why, but I was just melting the whole time. Also, have you ever actually seen a wombat? I don’t know what I thought they were before, but they are hilarious! Like a huge hairy pig/guinea pig that sleeps all day and waddles when it walks. That place was just great.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphen0RSHLpASpi4oXhFDvAuQkH7DLlxcoXz0HA_2XCr0kg7p-aKSjEpBKmtTo11HtcfRpNIvGsAsDRE9inVGaVTFiXCYgmu0tDETKgQYeyfOl6genJkF6xb5Sa-PopRAtyMu0G7XKNLWhGm/s320/IMG_4425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594882682187940882" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That night we tagged along with a local youth group to do baptisms at the temple. It’s a beautiful temple (as opposed to all of those ugly ones…?) and we were treated like royalty as we got to go first at everything and were welcomed as special guests several times.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOWn4yFs7ClShPgpDUcbOI7JHzWC3y9In68Wxk_rMx7EE_CYjwWEQd7f4Ct5jWr0eSC8rXCgsaEhZg0InF22rP40Q0zLOGIEVL21uFk9IPCvS1IPVnrKAo71mzVwme-ipbHOLX1gRFlpe/s320/IMG_4446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594885359137398594" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We got up early on Saturday to go to the flower market, aka heaven in a warehouse, with Tamara and her boyfriend, Luke. Tamara is the girl our age in the family we are staying with (an old friend of Mckenna’s! Thanks again for the set up!) Right after that we went into the city and started walking around town, to Darling Harbour, and just exploring the town. We grabbed some lunch and took it on a ferry ride (because our bus passes give us unlimited bus, train, AND FERRY rides, sweet as) around the harbour. Their ferries system is just like any subway system, but of course way more fun to ride, so we actually went on two long ferries and didn’t get off anywhere, just went for the scenery. Hope that’s not weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Recognize this place, anyone? You’re right, its in Finding Nemo. Opera House!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60n8lsBHsrRTR5ViVi985k4IrLKRYfKkgUcVFkolWqeJHQc3iYzXvtOOfseiw8izTzN03SsE4JjDzfWQb3V8eUxHADoohyrHRtvo7YvtPo5FEL9gHDiFNm3T1hjMZlaUcH9acZBxS3dW1/s320/DSC03568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889097977546770" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>After our cruises (we’ll call them cruises, then its not weird to ride and never get off) we went to the botanical gardens where there were tons of HUGE spiders, flying foxes, and the world’s largest cockatoo’s just in the wild! Oh, and lots of plants. Next we met up with some of the other girls from our trip (who we coincidentally ran into, and later we ran into the rest of the group! What are the odds, running into them in this huge foreign city?? Makes us feel like locals or something “oh hey, sup?” no big) and went to dinner at Pancakes on the Rocks (the Rocks being similar to Georgetown in DC I’d say) where we had dinner crepes and dessert pancakes- delish! Lastly we walked across the Harbour Bridge so we could see the skyline all lit up at night (don’t worry mom, it was only like 7pm, we weren’t walking around the streets late!) When we got home there was a birthday party in progress so we got to hang out with locals (who dress so well btw, we looked like total frumps)!</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday we got up and watched conference, and just hung out around the house with the family. It was a very relaxing Sunday, the first one in a members home since we left the states! We were so lucky to be staying with this famiy, they have done so much for us and we are so comfortable in their home!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3boOyeZjA28DmIqW9HCBjsdiDFPtRYF-EMttgamQKkhcWxZ0KZPBW1OnFfk5IkThzaVOh9fs9Mvszn2Ph72ls2MiGhWAjyFbnklFH-TszhQgRKISp_DZq9AFPNOIgZBe4p8QHDSzGUiX/s320/DSC03604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594885362894630962" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Monday morning we got up and went to Café 5 for breakfast with Tamara and Laura which was delicious. And right at the beach, so I am a fan. We had a little photoshoot with the girls before they took us over to Manly beach for our “scenic walk” hike. We call this our “boy band cover” pose, we could be the next big thing, eh? Laura is on the left and Tamara is on the right, we have had so much fun hanging out with them this week! We spent the day on our scenic walk and then just laying on the beach at Manly (manly being a proper noun in this case, not an adjective, just for clarification, but as far as I could tell it could be both…). </p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvP2JFKMPYGEuRzKOx2C1odu9tP6YYX-xZH7YMc3HVKedEd6mn4glylW3EmPTnqsQfllg4_GRDiTYutsGgJYrElcc5CLbZbPWFs8vjgrrQun9Ut4H5O30CxR5Mi39id7xMesSvZ2vM7GZ/s320/IMG_4484.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594882690513314274" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That night we had a YSA FHE at the house, so we went out to a chocolate café called Max Brenner and just completely indulged. It was divine! Jess, Heidi, and I shared a chocolate soufflé, a hot chocolate with chocolate covered waffle cone bits, and a chocolate lick (aka shot of pure melted chocolate). Tamara told us we should go before our last day in Sydney just in case we wanted to go again and that night we realized the wisdom with which she had spoken.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This was also a very big night for us because it was the first night in 3 months that we got to use a flat iron and hair spray (thanks for the flat iron, Laura and Tamara!). We were a squealy giggly bundle of joy through the whole straightening process. We even took shots in the mirror :) Felt so good!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S52g1hACnUYdr-vHk6N9LARAbkyuLAFCsNSS2zdeAg8vRpcZNLysB_-qQE5nFf3dS6WAjU3hFF6kfVSTglO1R1D8Xs2fFMTy4CSo1Wt0KgUimSPeJZwckva3KtDUQxT8cu9iCKVWbW_l/s320/IMG_4492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594882698403586642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">For our last day we had a beach day at Bondi Beach. Within 2 minutes of sitting down on the sand, an Irish man came over and sat right next to us and talked for an hour. He said many odd things, even asked us if we were brainwashed by the church (while trying to flirt, interesting tactics), so we finally told him we were going to get some lunch and we just walked down the beach a little further to an Irish-bachelor-free zone. We went back to Manly beach to find out if the rumors were true about Ben and Jerry’s free scoop day (ps they were) and to get a Max Brenner gift card. We figured while we were there, why not try some more chocolate, so we got the most fantastic thing I’ve ever tasted: Italian Thick Chocolate and drank it on our last ferry ride around the Harbour! </p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6yoRcMEdtTfrn606Chyphenhyphen0qHJDXpFpUdemfUvA5wEK9KB073pzYWBp6ETPzn1oBShihNUvKOaA-d6JoSBTteM6908lJ6DBtO0YcD84Rj_0shnVRHQrMCTbNIjZ4E5ThW02iHHNrGWXKsoZ/s320/DSC03623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594885367556572770" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">I am now in the airport for 9 hours because we met up with the rest of our group and the girls who aren’t going to Samoa had an earlier flight, but we had a great breakfast of tim-tam-slams so I think I’m set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Australia was such a great trip, chill but we still did a lot, now one more trip and I’ll be home in one week!</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-17295661111416068202011-04-06T22:56:00.000-07:002011-04-06T23:08:05.998-07:00Final Countdown!<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">This past week/weekend we traveled up north where it is always summer!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn618Xu0tyTI0yI64WoC2Qb5N77IUNmCGblPvizcAx_uIhhQE_7m-ZBUasNJBypFTT_mfaf_Qe3dBB3dO3Bo3ejvK0Adf3F7wM7SQpaG1RvA54FYP66TD2mow0nGrjzJy7iT5UkpxR_ArE/s320/IMG_0494_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592718402720311250" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We have learned that we can always count on James to stop at every little place he thinks has any significance to New Zealand whatsoever on the way to wherever we are going. It’s great because I think it’s in all of the little things that we get a real feel for the culture and lifestyle here. Our first stop on our trip north was at this huge tree. It is called a Kauri tree and it is compared to the Redwoods back home (or at least New Zealand’s version of a Redwood). At this stop James gave all of us matching lava lava’s and showed us how to wear them. Later that day we also stopped for New Zealand’s best meat pies (little pie crusts full of meat and gravy, people live off of them here, something you’d see at a 7-11) and again to see bathrooms decorated with mosaics and wine bottles.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65zoxQPSyXXcFjlU9F0afrSyoZsI25A4o3aexaTRr5LDuqds5ECgDalZS7fQKXYL6NXd9HL6HGLayTftPUHXeiWfmDxpA0IQOnVSq8FADEdVy2-zvdf6k5poey6P8XKIFdOBw9_GrIeH4/s320/IMG_4278_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592717548727848338" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Once we arrived in Paihia (where we were staying in Bay of Islands) we went down the street to the place where the Treaty of Waitangi (their declaration of independence in a way) was signed and there was a whole museum and special Marae, but we have heard this stuff a lot by now so we spent a lot of our time doing head stands and laying in the grass because it was a beautiful day!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXmRcoRtIafGVSyAf9WXoGnM2vQ2lKLBWv-6cFS0pBZSVxIYTWFk2L64aVOWBW8u2Eq2UOu-ElCTVtAv_kPbcMF4HdAwnnRv7TC7ekLhopZzI4QuvSB4VXaitfjFINC95VbVIj1yhETVa/s320/IMG_4294_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592718406549328722" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday we took a drive up to Cape Reinga, the very top of New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were amazing views of the oceans and beaches and cliffs and stuff from atop this big hill we sat on, and all that white foam is where the Pacific ocean and Tasman sea meet! We planted some trees up there to leave a part of us in New Zealand! I know, touching.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06vgrLXUL9YVKKyjB5TXNGmJrDjoRB_WkC4m07warinkAqGIrtbBV0pD-NhS3chW6EIZlOeh9mHTVFU1MRL-jVIhZuYhXCvvYLb1gL-1_wu0HN-hBQ_U2in9Fyjuy-UgaOkxaAn_0GjOv/s320/IMG_0724_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592717553267208610" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">From there we went to some huge sand dunes, which we slid down on boogie boards. Videos to come soon <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span> We drove straight onto the beach (you heard me, ON the beach. James and Dr. J are rebels) from there and rode for an hour or so down 90 mile beach (we didn’t go the full 90 miles though). We had to hurry and make it out before the tide came back in, so we were booking it the whole stretch of beach which was exciting. Why do they call it 90 mile beach when they use the metric system here? Well I just don’t know. At the end of that journey we stopped at Doubtful Bay for a swim, but it was cold so we just played around on the rocks looking at barnacles and stuff.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4aGnOvicU1kv5xOMlOGgo6alftbHC5LJSJKMO4cJS7W2Y38h2lL_bBLO7QMMeWQAMckkkolhY1Ml72EoM7haydnl06gX06LCE25-tBLiP0JA7x5rTTVKibMkw9coTLhjH6rVqX0jx8gE/s320/IMG_0848_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592718409500516098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday we took a ferry to another island in Bay of Islands called Russell. We walked around the cute shops in town (tons of cute boutiques, book stores, etc) before heading to our Science teacher’s (from our classes in January) house. It was absolutely beautiful, right on a secluded beach, so we just had a beach day there. Yes, it is still exciting every time we go to the beach <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span> James taught us to catch these little tiny fish with our bare hands, and he found an octopus for us! </p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXATVO40-gMrJ_00fRboXLDZOPLjJMQFZobTlG1HEdMLvJTxCWeyPTre86xl_mPmSUcOAktmz41l5-Q8txctWpowINtpjKJX9oLAamLP_EODgC73mgTtG4mBceBhJxjtaPhXVWbBMro9R/s320/IMG_0883_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592717550840747458" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On the way home, we decided to chill at another beach, and we discovered a little kayak rental so we took them for a spin around this small island (I don’t know distances, about an hour round trip), again with James. We stopped at our little island for a quick swim with the 8 or so of us that were there and it was just the cherry on top of the perfect summer day!</p><p class="MsoNormal">We just went to church on Sunday and hung out around Paihia at the motel and watching the sunset. Conference isn’t broadcast until the next two weeks here, so this Sunday we’ll watch the Saturday session at church and the following Sunday we’ll get the Sunday session. Until then I am feeling quite out of the loop.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPWkitqirPrCCJUmLpKGqIAwNqtnji0YKrwbGIMNj9zSoU-n0Dl-ziOQUBvftlu78FG9jbP23ezIdIQBvb2JTgI_f2jgnXFVK4TFAXWNrwZpjyyN-7Uor5ZXt-mRQsqv23B9mTN88m5MB/s320/IMG_1008_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592718414424872338" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We hiked to Haruru Falls on Monday, and it was a beautiful hike through the tropical brush! It reminded me of a mini Niagara Falls (I’d say 1/9 of Niagara), which was not what we had expected at all but it was pretty! It was a good activity for us all to do together on our last day with the whole group.</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiutv1gajqXHagEKgGid3sX1pu3BmiQOs_SlCpY5p3kap6S7fTokApxxrh5295TMU78b-7nJpr8v8LZysLzdTbjFCKeK8W3XtSqPi94RkZGPXlNncecNBSlbgYhaI1EmhMz2KUfCljiGk/s320/DSCN1082_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592717543541413746" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Here we are Tuesday morning, saying our goodbyes to James and to each other (…until we get back to Provo, but it won’t be the same, ok??). We sang our Maori song to James and then another one accompanied by Emily on the ukulele, but no one really sang the last one cause we were all blubbery. Love you girls! And James and Jim and Linda!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxhhhb52LKQyJvNESWAyRWb-ZO4YSjrSjk4Jus89neCnTKl_IiiSfwH4OM7Uus0Fp6faHog3_bsmaarh_e4Vvzx8_vfwv8UlMdfIH_BzHUdTFU_b4EVVmYPyJxzIII0lCrFrzGZ4WTgjh/s320/IMG_4357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592718420692136114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">Last night, Jessica was coming over while Christine went out with her parents. We go to each other’s houses all the time and just walk, but this time Kerry offered to go pick her up. We went out to the car and realized why: bug convertible rental car! It was so funny, we decided to go to the grocery store as well, then take a super long way home even though its fall now and getting cold. Thanks for the ride, Kerry!</p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBzIrAukh2pjrr2G9z24cXbLL4fADrSCRqUGBZuXWdsbvtwIKHoCyxXJJ7xx92HYO-rGM8sLa12ymZAEVy0odc2KeF8ZDqIOcKCejhaRvvuL_Ny3dnnOYdubBsZS4oAtBmccTSn0pFdph/s320/IMG_4360.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592717555795385570" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">For our last day in Auckland today, Sheryl took off work and took us to lunch at The Brigham<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with Raewyn and Kodie. It was such a cute place with beautiful gardens to walk around. Kodie and I even got to help feed the doves (or white pigeons? They looked special either way)! We were so lucky. We’re going to miss the Lord family so much! </p> <!--EndFragment--> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxhhhb52LKQyJvNESWAyRWb-ZO4YSjrSjk4Jus89neCnTKl_IiiSfwH4OM7Uus0Fp6faHog3_bsmaarh_e4Vvzx8_vfwv8UlMdfIH_BzHUdTFU_b4EVVmYPyJxzIII0lCrFrzGZ4WTgjh/s1600/IMG_4357.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPWkitqirPrCCJUmLpKGqIAwNqtnji0YKrwbGIMNj9zSoU-n0Dl-ziOQUBvftlu78FG9jbP23ezIdIQBvb2JTgI_f2jgnXFVK4TFAXWNrwZpjyyN-7Uor5ZXt-mRQsqv23B9mTN88m5MB/s1600/IMG_1008_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4aGnOvicU1kv5xOMlOGgo6alftbHC5LJSJKMO4cJS7W2Y38h2lL_bBLO7QMMeWQAMckkkolhY1Ml72EoM7haydnl06gX06LCE25-tBLiP0JA7x5rTTVKibMkw9coTLhjH6rVqX0jx8gE/s1600/IMG_0848_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXmRcoRtIafGVSyAf9WXoGnM2vQ2lKLBWv-6cFS0pBZSVxIYTWFk2L64aVOWBW8u2Eq2UOu-ElCTVtAv_kPbcMF4HdAwnnRv7TC7ekLhopZzI4QuvSB4VXaitfjFINC95VbVIj1yhETVa/s1600/IMG_4294_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn618Xu0tyTI0yI64WoC2Qb5N77IUNmCGblPvizcAx_uIhhQE_7m-ZBUasNJBypFTT_mfaf_Qe3dBB3dO3Bo3ejvK0Adf3F7wM7SQpaG1RvA54FYP66TD2mow0nGrjzJy7iT5UkpxR_ArE/s1600/IMG_0494_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBzIrAukh2pjrr2G9z24cXbLL4fADrSCRqUGBZuXWdsbvtwIKHoCyxXJJ7xx92HYO-rGM8sLa12ymZAEVy0odc2KeF8ZDqIOcKCejhaRvvuL_Ny3dnnOYdubBsZS4oAtBmccTSn0pFdph/s1600/IMG_4360.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXATVO40-gMrJ_00fRboXLDZOPLjJMQFZobTlG1HEdMLvJTxCWeyPTre86xl_mPmSUcOAktmz41l5-Q8txctWpowINtpjKJX9oLAamLP_EODgC73mgTtG4mBceBhJxjtaPhXVWbBMro9R/s1600/IMG_0883_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06vgrLXUL9YVKKyjB5TXNGmJrDjoRB_WkC4m07warinkAqGIrtbBV0pD-NhS3chW6EIZlOeh9mHTVFU1MRL-jVIhZuYhXCvvYLb1gL-1_wu0HN-hBQ_U2in9Fyjuy-UgaOkxaAn_0GjOv/s1600/IMG_0724_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65zoxQPSyXXcFjlU9F0afrSyoZsI25A4o3aexaTRr5LDuqds5ECgDalZS7fQKXYL6NXd9HL6HGLayTftPUHXeiWfmDxpA0IQOnVSq8FADEdVy2-zvdf6k5poey6P8XKIFdOBw9_GrIeH4/s1600/IMG_4278_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiutv1gajqXHagEKgGid3sX1pu3BmiQOs_SlCpY5p3kap6S7fTokApxxrh5295TMU78b-7nJpr8v8LZysLzdTbjFCKeK8W3XtSqPi94RkZGPXlNncecNBSlbgYhaI1EmhMz2KUfCljiGk/s1600/DSCN1082_2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Goodbye Auckland! It's been real!Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-84531111023921430532011-03-30T11:58:00.000-07:002011-03-30T12:33:01.307-07:00Rotorua<div>Disclaimer: so sorry, I was in a big rush but things weren't going well, so sorry about the funny spacing, etc, it looks very different on the posting page...</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 57px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6lwwcNBc7a2QrJPyt0MSjB-SH8bAlsJmGPd7EumtldSnzixLBIbVd4Njvt0Zc4hGhO3Y_LWVwSk2yUTIUaBPK5QDShiLQVA2K_O7Vrrw62ugCW-HMkL6eg6u5efCTMTdmZ-097DAsB9/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">Rotorua: (wrote-oh-rue-uhhh) n. pretty New Zealand town that smells oddly similar to rotten eggs due to the sulfur in the air from the abounding local geysers.</a> (bahhhh why is that underlined and colored?)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 57px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:medium;">I was a little nervous about the trip beforehand becauseanytime we told people where we were going they scrunched up their noses and said, “Rotten-rua, eh?” Yes, it did smell, but now, it wasn’t nearly as bad as we had anticipated!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4F2df4-3S7q9akAZi5f0NA5YoeWhZgNDRyg7x6hCUdbv8Dqn5g-5SxhiFIFaVmx-jeeeWeAnoHllN3VUXWgSOh80vF-40v9mVmieGwIRp5OVJ0ugt7QX3aT-lqW3hEe9Kg_zvXOFThzZ/s1600/DSCN0944.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6lwwcNBc7a2QrJPyt0MSjB-SH8bAlsJmGPd7EumtldSnzixLBIbVd4Njvt0Zc4hGhO3Y_LWVwSk2yUTIUaBPK5QDShiLQVA2K_O7Vrrw62ugCW-HMkL6eg6u5efCTMTdmZ-097DAsB9/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6lwwcNBc7a2QrJPyt0MSjB-SH8bAlsJmGPd7EumtldSnzixLBIbVd4Njvt0Zc4hGhO3Y_LWVwSk2yUTIUaBPK5QDShiLQVA2K_O7Vrrw62ugCW-HMkL6eg6u5efCTMTdmZ-097DAsB9/s320/IMG_4111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953716491559538" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our first stop was at the temple in Hamilton. It was our first time doing baptism in 3 months! Loved the sweet old temple workers as always, loved the strong islander accents that made the words of the ordinances undecipherable, and loved our first temple cafeteria experience!</span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Afterwards we watched a movie at the visitor’s center about Matthew Cowley who was a missionary, then mission president, then GA in New Zealand.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic22pN0P67NUSmmH9qjYTDKwamtQ9ogLrVtSOZQ-PYWQLNuteebZIQH0AIjTPlFEG7CAlQXFv3qx6eaKXZ63aqk3kolFbCZNHyH2VOjzG0_yOJRxRaV9ZsxrN7kW0sxn890KPe9vaWqDKp/s320/of%253D50%252C480%252C360-37.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589955498272925842" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>We started our morning right on Saturday with a trip to the Sheep show where we got to see and pet tons of sheep, see a sheep sheered, and some lucky volunteers even got to milk a cow or bottle-feed a baby lamb! I bought some wool yarn so I’d have something wool to take home, so start thinking of what we can make with it mama!</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4F2df4-3S7q9akAZi5f0NA5YoeWhZgNDRyg7x6hCUdbv8Dqn5g-5SxhiFIFaVmx-jeeeWeAnoHllN3VUXWgSOh80vF-40v9mVmieGwIRp5OVJ0ugt7QX3aT-lqW3hEe9Kg_zvXOFThzZ/s320/DSCN0944.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953725545891826" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>That afternoon we went Zorbing. What’s Zorbing, you ask? Well, Zorbing is when you get a running start to dive headfirst into a human-sized hamster ball of colored water only to start rolling down a hill. At this point you just giggle and scream as you slowly become more and more disoriented and tangled up with the other two people in your ball. We plan on bringing it to Provo and making bank in the near future.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><br /></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKhyphenhyphen-hRkvVPowD8EAEcKdOSvzj7UpJ2DmsYCyGfTsWpdvQVSqwn5CCPLZ-DDi-y_azqY9jwNTD7Lg7a0T4Bc8OL6TWnvtWUsdApcMKVEPXx_WA-M9ch-FkM7Wp8dJH8HoKldABuGJsSif/s320/IMG_4149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589955512563911538" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>We had to wait in line for showers when we got back, but we were freezing so we waited in the natural hot spring pool in the backyard of the home we stayed at (just with some members, friends of James), and it was soooo hot, like that steam is from the water, not our bodies.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Sunday we went to church (again couldn’t understand a word of the islander accents) then drove to Taupo (like the beginning of towel, tow-poe) to walk around a pretty lake.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><br /></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2G1B_Pofk-Xp3CgjnEWgT6u49X04Lmz_2005vuqAUyOkwLax8OdcWhViCQZqXGu2bcim9-0RZvzj9axWmfnDhyphenhyphenT3Upd-TQsWghcIdWFlEccil0bSDMfp9Y0CcCxwkIisK8gxlYZDjJL_/s320/of%253D50%252C480%252C360-36.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953727260857250" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>Monday started with lots of Maori culture at Te Puia (tay poy-uhhhh) where we had our second Powheri (everything is starting to click now that I’ve seen it a couple of times), got a tour of the geysers, wood carvings, and flax weaving, and learned all about Ta Moko, or the Maori tattoos which are actually so much more legit now that I know what they mean.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01CMwli_iHvcFRwvTtuUUQFKT5fcf5h8defvjTqGgeN_AfHXqEy1YTXk7nmjARa4LzhI6Lx-CscjvwimfkJHnrRmItS07Lm9szgUd-FS-m0Oxy2df6Al1ZuEmzFf6kO0TrzMeV0dStLMD/s320/IMG_4210.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589955520399937138" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span>We spent a good amount of time imitating the tiki man faces and taking pictures; here is one of my best </span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- font-family:Wingdings;color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">J</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> We learned they are usually sticking their bellies out because its supposed to look like the haka stance, so its supposed to look ferocious.</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That afternoon we walked around the town and rode paddle boats around</span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a lake! We ate dinner at a dinner theater run by our hosts and it was just very funny (they took the story of a nearby town that was buried under lava when the volcanoe exploded in the 1800s and turned it into a comedy)!</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" color="initial" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; "> </p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" color="initial" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWRBO7agva0e8Yp8IaV3dZtaQJI-ylZShe5ZT-tNPAmCCiTUHZxfh-JQWwCulJ6jcB2HpSPdRuYtwy4XbL8lLfGOpKJVB2tnJ9Wt-Nw0KlzxiHQ_Ftc8MAMnD0DacS4HpsvBmM5x5fQR3/s320/of%253D50%252C480%252C360-20.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953730687169842" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>Ready to hear about the coolest thing I’ve done so far in New Zealand? Ok: Glowworm caves. We went black water rafting down in these caves that have glowworms covering their ceilings like stars. We were dressed in wetsuits, boots, and helmets complete with head lamps (first wetsuit experience, successfully completed the journey without peeing in it as we had had to promise our guides)!</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" color="initial" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLE4xPysaKeHMcWaVTjIREd5EmBTyg_CLGkdNpATb9TrZvUGXPf79KW4Oadn-zMizOELgw-Jvzfgbxybs1sNGLa8MJ7HrHNuTxXK_WmH3pPk46Hd-X2KyIZt8rp9lgbRMwZ-dRmUsurrr/s320/BWR1-29-03-2011-1030-Elza-Brydie+016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589955531462581986" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>It was so cool as we jumped down waterfalls (butt sticking through inner tube, then jump backwards), hiked around the rocks, and even held onto each others feet in the dark while being pulled around by our guides. At that point they said the acoustics were fantastic, so we sang a Maori song for them that we learned for our first Powheri a couple weeks ago. That minute ranks in the top 5 best minutes of my life!</span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv346109879MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMJdzrbd-p2UWLkTMdAFv70lhGx8rkQea3vwYObdyN1DUO4RVCsl7lrTyKc9YhTtAXy4Mkgfhh06Y-X1RpSZnwz0VYYDNzAQn-fDgzXSlYno344F_oXtmMLVGwoMrS-kaftZOJ5hKx3lc/s320/IMG_4266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953736762049906" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>We got home last night from that trip, and we leave tomorrow morning for the next trip, so today we went hiking in the Waitakere Ranges with Angela (the mom of the family that has us over for FHE), which is one of the last things we had wanted to do in Auckland! It was so pretty with the tropical foliage, Heidi even spotted a real live koru, aka the symbol of NZ that we have never actually seen before!</span></p><div><br /></div></span>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-22148222058311667372011-03-24T02:15:00.001-07:002011-03-24T03:04:59.089-07:00Teach Children: Check.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHdpozN6kNTD1x-0zjzdVWj1ShctGcXvfeQSDaXDnIppnK3I9ajkzfKwhZaoY2hwwG2d9bf4cGmPyYJ2mY2xJPk3TqEQE55-oQWgb4yuBayFqmA_wW7nflUSzxwSBJMz2SZN2SQlCCoft/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG"></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mIs0or-CPZ-TOtmaODg6sHEGIkM6-WWsfJ1Jx3xlbfTVYdOVePJTN18FdCToARshK21uiuhpA7opiAd1TTAfZIdae-lzIp4KY20tz9FSllU75W-UFRKCmhN90BOjj2Yc29yZvjDxCIaa/s320/IMG_4004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587578964834991474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>On Tuesday, I officially finished all of my assignments for the semester, and today was the last day of my practicum (being in the schools) so my semester is completely finished! I still won't be home for just under 4 weeks though, cause I have a lot of the world to see before I'm done over here. Starting tomorrow morning we will leave for Hamilton and Rotarua, then I will be home for a day, gone for another week, home for two days, then off to Australia, then off to Samoa, so don't be offended if I don't respond for a couple of days because I don't know where I'll have internet and where I won't! At the very least, I'll be home in 4 weeks and we can chat then :)First of all, can't ever get enough of these sunsets. That's basically all. Except the sky looked SO much cooler apprx 3 minutes before this- it goes too fast!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEvo4GLq8fouD5uEzntl9UUqm1U27GC5rmRisa-_Np_6C3SXlss94QaIEmShzyC8eeTrEoYvJzHJX3Ns6myRqlAE-GR2BUd4EJ3PzQ60H3OwC8ap1hf0Uiy-HOWGVjpO0nU7F94uF549r/s320/IMG_4017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587578968404422370" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>Monday started out fun a super chill day at school, then we had FHE plans that night! We went to the Olsen's house for dinner and FHE as we did a couple of weeks ago, and we just love it there! They have six kids ages 3-15 and the parents are the sweetest and most welcoming people. We have been so lucky to have them in our ward here. This is the five year old, Vanz who is clearly a ladies' man.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJf6LysfjioccTKLkGXT59YCqIJfaG3vskqlaeTBL-r462bVYCiSs9CRXlgUAYnkSZmMcRNhm9DAcmWl0wCeSeNO9bJY57bQ3XEl8_7WrkJOYxomltznaXscKdRnadT0U-Hgb7cDgR78Q/s320/IMG_4060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587578973917205266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>On Tuesday I spent lunch learning how to haka with some of the boys in my class. I had asked them a while ago if they know how to do it and all assured me they were pros, but I may or may not have forgotten that at age 6, kids still think they are really good at everything even when they could use a little more practice. Needless to say Kapa (far right) went home that night and learned it for real so he could re-teach me before I left :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10gF31AEVfcGNw45XZEBTfIYgyCpdFLfxOOj7j_v6ZMrNFEBw8I9MtzdomFOr_-Kp77uDqjL_JxR9__MdgLtTx3sv1MofRjpps1YEfAfs-lcnZyh70U_ZTuiEZPOmpbLbRK6Frn09VjLk/s320/IMG_4087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587578980295745202" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>Today was a GREAT last day! We had a little field trip to a nearby park for a rubbish clean-up which we walked to, cleaned up, played on the playground, and walked back from. The rest of the day was just playing and swimming, but with so much lovin in between! The staff had a surprise lunch planned for us of tasty finger foods, my kids made me a HUGE card (which they all signed but all within the same 3" square, most were spelled right so that's a plus), I got lots of hugs (which I later found out is not really supposed to happen as a teacher, my bad), lots of "I'll miss you miss..." with all variations of Goode at the end (such as Cood, Google, Goose, Coo), but the best were the "I love you"'s from the little terrors in my class that I send to "the blue desk" several times a day! Seriously, little Chance who used to be so bad, and still is for most except for me, made it all worth it when he sheepishly came to play with me and just kept saying "I'm gonna miss you, misses" under his breath. I love this job.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHdpozN6kNTD1x-0zjzdVWj1ShctGcXvfeQSDaXDnIppnK3I9ajkzfKwhZaoY2hwwG2d9bf4cGmPyYJ2mY2xJPk3TqEQE55-oQWgb4yuBayFqmA_wW7nflUSzxwSBJMz2SZN2SQlCCoft/s320/IMG_4100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587578987258127826" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>We had lots of time this afternoon to just play and have fun, and of course refine our haka. Farewell Room 21!</div><div><br /></div><div>Some highlights from the past couple weeks:</div><div><br /></div><div>Deb: Rrrrr, what letter says rrrr?</div><div>Selwyn: Tiger!</div><div><br /></div><div>Levi was telling me to say hi to his dad when I go to Samoa: Go to the bank, cause he's stuck in a cage at the bank because he stole a bunch of money. His name is Rio....(some super long name) (sad, but just funny how he said it)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ms. W: What does fantastic mean?</div><div>Levi: Good-As?</div><div>The next 3 answers were -as answers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mrs. Hobson: Why doesn't he want Monkey to steal his shoes?</div><div>Bailey: Cause he doesn't want monkey toe jams in it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of my students asked Jessica (Miss Bringhurst) what her name was, but they couldn't say it, so they asked: Can we just call you Miss Goode?</div><div><br /></div><div>Norhan: Sometimes you can't even walk because there is so much poop everywhere.</div><div>Me: Where? (She had told me yesterday that Ana had pooped in the bathroom so I thought she was referring to that or something)</div><div>Norhan: In Thailand. (She has told me everyday for the past 6 weeks about her trip to Thailand that has been in 14 or 17 days every day since I arrived. Usually its about the high-heels for kids or the beautiful dresses or the swimming pool from which you can see all of Thailand, so this was a first)</div><div><br /></div><div>Levi came rushing out of the changing room, shirtless as usual, and told Jess and me that Paerata had thrown someone's underwear over the wall into the girls changing room, so we told him we'd go get it and he said: It's black, and really dirty!</div><div>(Sick, you go get it then!)</div><div><br /></div><div>I have never been asked so many times in one week (let alone one day) when I'm going home to Australia. I think it's cause Levi likes to ask me how things are back in Australia and it has kind of gotten stuck in everyone's head. Finally yesterday I stopped the class and reminded them I'm from America, not Australia so today when Levi said something about me and Australia, I said, "Where am I from again?" and he immediately said America...so somewhere he's not making the connection.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-2255910590978623762011-03-19T23:49:00.000-07:002011-03-20T00:50:23.864-07:00They Call It Work?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6n-C0nLHMLQeiKnG0vnrgxZ-JqSwnixnFHc5DgmSFL_Qv-lzKAFBIDUnMTyg59akV1eyzlgF2UobyHRRF5Y2KqNe0WOZsdJQX6u09h0-IkuaMVrxaVFMRKemdfQqyYPxClez8OQ8vTfcd/s1600/IMG_4000.JPG"></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfiTQ6j09fFB5y_rw2qp4JOUZlKoYi-WLVmLLWeWn-NKkGGmnbnbU5Nb6TerO1I3H6ah3BxzxkSHatcM_4A7iq5Dn2LQjNgUvsZY9JhBys2OLiPTAQf0Sfo6SeEpCnAZVoIUiX5XxCqZ0/s320/IMG_3970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586051891384824530" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">School was great this week! I had some major break-throughs with my kids discipline-wise cause I’ve refused to yell at them and in my 5<sup>th</sup> week I finally started seeing positive results! Here is most of our wonderful Room 21, aren’t they a handsome bunch? FYI I was crouching down, I am in actuality significantly taller than 5 and 6 year olds, I just wanted to fit in, ok?</span></span><div><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFwP5MUAyTjm7DTgcv1_8mGQKdoPxDLgywXz_N0lwCNh9vpkLX630_rCuNIHMtMwwox-tSpjORp5htbV7m0wXbqQg3LZRfHK5pLvQ3wM_-JO6h7kRAIb0QOTVZW8TYOT2yC0D3vFjVUO_/s1600/IMG_3981.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukAS7p_jF9RDfd7jvO0nPniKKDnipRfcG3f7rZh2sYh3kV6y41SdSF2hBmshjVuP-TdmLqSKk1v559wsGC0IpWptld0oBa4k3GbvctqQNfcf9Up_FF6bOrlRuYAXeJBAPUc68js3NldGD/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586053089313271602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">It was a particularly fun week because we had some fun with the kids outside of the classroom. On Tuesday we had a teacher vs students (seniors only) softball game during morning tea, which was legit! It was so fun with all of the younger kids watching and cheering us on, and my cool level sky-rocketed with the boys in my class once they saw me with a big hit (even though it was caught so I got out). Plus, who doesn’t love a reason for a casual Tuesday.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4UWok7sqrvc-qUSx6wqyzSpTpzwQCx9Q5VQYPJY5QAdLBj3sYeZd_QZk1AnleDipzxTlau3pkoCHE7I2PmBLq1luVOAMZC3ZdRpuzEpCfZnGoVS7H0QOhmnWNgbnmizVzzljnpwZUicq/s320/DSCN0737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586051895592677378" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday we got to go with the swim team (11 kids yrs 6-8) to an away meet to be timers, and that’s basically what we did all day was time but it was a lot of fun getting to hang out with the older kids cause they think we’re the coolest (don’t tell them our secret about how we’re actually not). It was also nice to have a whole day off but still get to spend it with kiddies.</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJC50vtPUTrgzNhVwfgXpxdLuT0K8PiPjjgoqZrfQJUZyjrCVtLIKIPUXaWSpsfLdluFi3phvRLZ-0YSnyAxqvoQigZuEmiIa3_623mL2EQG7c8EVHs42w0GfeDkFFn-YG2mtF_eyZ7_R/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586053097115475698" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Friday was a cruzy day of swimming, walks, homework, grape vine trimming, Christchurch earthquake memorial service on TV, and a sleepover with all the girls that night. These grapes are SO good, despite the seeds<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFwP5MUAyTjm7DTgcv1_8mGQKdoPxDLgywXz_N0lwCNh9vpkLX630_rCuNIHMtMwwox-tSpjORp5htbV7m0wXbqQg3LZRfHK5pLvQ3wM_-JO6h7kRAIb0QOTVZW8TYOT2yC0D3vFjVUO_/s1600/IMG_3981.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFwP5MUAyTjm7DTgcv1_8mGQKdoPxDLgywXz_N0lwCNh9vpkLX630_rCuNIHMtMwwox-tSpjORp5htbV7m0wXbqQg3LZRfHK5pLvQ3wM_-JO6h7kRAIb0QOTVZW8TYOT2yC0D3vFjVUO_/s320/IMG_3981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586051899861564178" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We went to the skytower for lunch on Saturday! It was so much more exciting than I had expected- first of all the view is, naturally, amazing, but then we had lunch in a revolving resturant with 4 courses at $55 a person and we were all dressed up so we felt quite fancy! We loved the revolving feature: there was a little ledge on the outside of the ring that stayed still so we would put notes or different things on it (or just stand) and wait for it to reach the table behind us, so it was an eventful 3 hour meal. Here I am with Diana, Katie, and Rebecca <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> After all that food we went and took a nap on a beach in town.</p><!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F1g-BLNBrxBdF2nVNX2AR0X6tu16DcT2Hg5BWiZ0nfYBHV7SQAsiW_6yp1xfIYnS0zbbZm76trAdO-81iMeIDIgOtlTc7kcn7b2ny4mGiC-FXzq1iGZ4Qs1Mg8GTbhzW4XaaEXVD15sg/s320/IMG_3993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586053102424390306" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">We went to a rugby game and guess who was there! Alyssa Isidoridy! Alyssa lived directly across the street from me all through elementary and middle school, and I hadn’t seen her since high school, but she is here on a study abroad too! We noticed each other’s New Zealand pictures on facebook so we switched numbers and decided to meet up at the game. It was so fun catching up and talking about making grilled cheese on snow days!</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid1IsIxIJpRKA6mw57OAvHCj6HC8lAC3FInryi2sJ2QPIDGB9iJNVLEA8RMPrS62YCA2vCwijVSwTuVExsdA892GBg44l_VZyJ161H8Yz6Xd5uyK5PWRPfHqSTZUZhyphenhyphen57l1VX6926sPJp/s320/IMG_3998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586051903872460322" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The Lord’s took us to Yum Cha (pronounced Yum Chow, oddly enough, which is coincidentally a very appropriate name for it as well) which is a type of Chinese restaurant where they bring the food around on trolleys and you say “yes please” and they mark it on your ticket and everyone just dives in and is eating so fast (except for me, those darn chop sticks got so sticky cause I kept having to compensate with my hands, but then grab my chop sticks again, snowball effect). What’s that you ask? Are you eating French fries? Why no, that’s actually a chicken foot. What’s that? Was it tasty? Why no, it reminded me too much of a cold, clammy, bony, wrinkly finger marinated in one of the Asian sauces that I dislike. But how exotic am I? Check a chicken’s foot off of my list of foods to try- done and done.</span></span><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6n-C0nLHMLQeiKnG0vnrgxZ-JqSwnixnFHc5DgmSFL_Qv-lzKAFBIDUnMTyg59akV1eyzlgF2UobyHRRF5Y2KqNe0WOZsdJQX6u09h0-IkuaMVrxaVFMRKemdfQqyYPxClez8OQ8vTfcd/s320/IMG_4000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586053105819834130" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here we are after eating with the whole family! From left to right: Raewyn (Sheryl’s mom who lives in an attached house, she watches the kids all day), Heidi, me, Sheryl, Alexis, Kodie, and Kerry. Love them! </span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfiTQ6j09fFB5y_rw2qp4JOUZlKoYi-WLVmLLWeWn-NKkGGmnbnbU5Nb6TerO1I3H6ah3BxzxkSHatcM_4A7iq5Dn2LQjNgUvsZY9JhBys2OLiPTAQf0Sfo6SeEpCnAZVoIUiX5XxCqZ0/s1600/IMG_3970.JPG"></a><br /></div>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-88574140463611655172011-03-11T18:02:00.000-08:002011-03-11T19:53:24.975-08:00On an Island in the Sun...This week was the Pasifika festival in Auckland where there were lots of shows, food, souvenirs, etc, so Thursday night we went to the festival opener which had just one stage open that showcased one dance/song from each of the islands represented at the festival.<br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKI1qrAGwL-gYy3H2aYBKEF9KWfxeo7OvyNN8uZgawysvT-GG0gCg-BuyIJpEoZS1rYLPGjwC5rZc0XIl7nfouoT8_QSGKYS7IV0fAn29KSiwTy2rdGjgvsb1rhyphenhyphensRJyMV8jZHq8YVuvZ/s1600/DSCN0666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKI1qrAGwL-gYy3H2aYBKEF9KWfxeo7OvyNN8uZgawysvT-GG0gCg-BuyIJpEoZS1rYLPGjwC5rZc0XIl7nfouoT8_QSGKYS7IV0fAn29KSiwTy2rdGjgvsb1rhyphenhyphensRJyMV8jZHq8YVuvZ/s320/DSCN0666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583009922643480626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Because we are at the mercy of the bus schedule for our arrivals, we got there an hour early but found it very easy to kill time in the beautiful Western Springs park. There were REAL LIVE PUKEKOS which I was holding at about a unicorn level up to this point because we hadn't seen any, but at this park the pukekos were just out amongst the ducks, geese, black swan things (freaky red eyes, I feel like they were an omen, waiting for something bad to happen now), and pigeons. Let me just tell you, they are so funny because they have such long skinny legs that remind me of an awkward teenager. The Pukeko in a Ponga tree is real, my friends.</div><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDffV0mmrHb857y7002yhoSwiB4hASniZKQsrP9CAVXyEyhdfhteSDbT2XHgrPz9Qc8jG5uAZ_UJPDQzPwSW-ZFzv19XhH8UdBDZmhwR4kg_v6FIOESu_keZx9dA-pKIqUx6FhB4YvvS5U/s320/IMG_3864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583009466812607042" />That mountain that is right behind my head (excellent placement) is the volcanoon Rangitoto Island that Heidi and I hiked on Friday. Before going Raewyn told me it was a "new" volcanoe, "it just erupted 900 years ago" so I was a little bummed we weren't going to see any bubbling lava, but maybe a little more relaxed knowing I was going to make it home that night. We took a ferry from the city to get there and we realized that we had officially taken every mode of transportation we could so far on this trip: airplanes, cars, buses, feet, a train, and now a boat. Did I miss any? We thought that wasexciting.<div><br /></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOIirFWMlV51VcR1FXjNUV8ZpcPNTWLwX6x8YqA3wYNFq-EApCgzC_mEDQPG_FRpx2YInT4hEX7Zj6ICWgiQUcF-AzKgY3M7IIKTrr6GS69ne892FvARJSf3N6xXIdRIerUiRdZXeUJCU/s320/IMG_3886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583009468912002802" /><div>Here we are at the top, overlooking Auckland! It's kind of hard to see, cause the skytower is directly behind my head (again, grateful to those who took our picture for us, but we kinda missed the point here) and cause its a very flat and sprawling city, but there she is!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf62Kk3m3ZdwyheAOyENYk_98qdS8wuvvdLn1_fhh9OR0URVXAYc27ilJ5iLsaLHmnbJPngHhy0KEtHV9Xs7XKJJ-WjDQz_JA6M9mR5YqyZwJBnpCueX5xeuomvam5I7yP1PQeYolpj7x/s320/IMG_3899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583032984055579986" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Today we went to see more of the Pasifika festival. They had all of the different islands set up a stage and lots of tents with vendors for food and cool things to buy in different parts of the park. Here I am watching the Kiribati dancers, whom I had never even heard of before. Along with Kiribati the islands represented were Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and Tangata (Maori/Aotearoa fits in there somewhere too). Very cool to see the little differences in each culture. We are now working on our hula-ish/ grass skirt dancing in front of our mirror so we're pros by the time we go home:)</span></span></div>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-52541502486141930872011-03-05T19:05:00.000-08:002011-03-06T00:36:28.806-08:00Vacation From My Vacation<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S-CqChTKX-4qoLLIWjZLCchSs21fiEjeJjem8nLsonjv-Pp9gRr7xYpn9sBLB5BtfQM5mdrZTMrycGr4Cp400Pk0ieBghs0brNzKHWJotfEQyvHONbS362_kJikB6rBbchxa8X2kMbtk/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG"></a>I was talking to my friend, Nancy, the other day and she pointed out that all of our little trips we take are basically vacations from our vacation. That's when I decided that I love my life :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3mTuMmBfo36jUwDkgaqQJwZCVRuVzXdegl7JuOZ2YphAgaOqT1rJtjBXS7gy7XOi3LttIY1DR0lCzCjdLyaYS_a8EPegiMyBFhiKIWBHs2UBhzlZ9bhZTQn66CPpM1wc1nrzg_FtFpJz/s1600/IMG_3829.JPG"><br /></a><div><br /></div><div>Here are some of my cute kids!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0yWq9eqE1UUHKOI7WeOf1PLi-WEJ4l3vV1COZ1Uu67YJNNXeLoBsmGODWu5f-_vdWue5Dr6ND19J5ulp2zKF1Bi-b4M3fVCF257BdPkNW7lszbwg_TC-j703Pt1CBTuzMcYBnZLbc7rc/s320/IMG_3822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580867765458731634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div>Selwyn and Benjamin: Selwyn is not the best behaved but I have the hardest time saying no to those dimples. You can hardly understand a word he says because of some sort of speech impediment or something (it's almost like he mumbles to an extreme) so he does plenty of talking with his eyebrows! Benjamin had head trauma (that's what they refer to it as) when he was younger so he is in our class but there is a teacher aid glued to his side all day, even while playing outside. I wish he was showing his teeth because he is so cute without his two front teeth!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3mTuMmBfo36jUwDkgaqQJwZCVRuVzXdegl7JuOZ2YphAgaOqT1rJtjBXS7gy7XOi3LttIY1DR0lCzCjdLyaYS_a8EPegiMyBFhiKIWBHs2UBhzlZ9bhZTQn66CPpM1wc1nrzg_FtFpJz/s1600/IMG_3829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3mTuMmBfo36jUwDkgaqQJwZCVRuVzXdegl7JuOZ2YphAgaOqT1rJtjBXS7gy7XOi3LttIY1DR0lCzCjdLyaYS_a8EPegiMyBFhiKIWBHs2UBhzlZ9bhZTQn66CPpM1wc1nrzg_FtFpJz/s320/IMG_3829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580867785252303762" /></a>Our school has Swimming Sports this week, aka a school wide swim meet which was so exciting! The kids have swimming 3 times a week (I get in with them, so fun!) and we work on things like blowing bubbles and using kick boards, so they just did short races against kids their age such as "running" in the water for a short distance. So fun! From front to back of the line: Sam, Selwyn, someone not in my class, and Chance (Chance is the one white boy in my class whose entire name I can say). The girl with the long braid on the side is Alexis who I live with- check out that hair!<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8nEIlQkRu1WGZa2Y7Ys7pnhLOzBcZpf5fCPV_kJtBk8sK1ooegbPC-laLuouE0ypTV6YLagQ0uEBx4WdWAClMKTkLVJRPm6pZuDo-8X2tZxaYV8cdqrZA8waTVTAMYlX86z0nLtkHQrH/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8nEIlQkRu1WGZa2Y7Ys7pnhLOzBcZpf5fCPV_kJtBk8sK1ooegbPC-laLuouE0ypTV6YLagQ0uEBx4WdWAClMKTkLVJRPm6pZuDo-8X2tZxaYV8cdqrZA8waTVTAMYlX86z0nLtkHQrH/s320/IMG_3827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580867778479326818" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Some of the Room 21 girls before their big race! From front to back of the line again: Faith (as opposed to another girl who used to be in our class Phayth, pronounced the same), Alondra, Italy ("like the country"), Mariayah, Ana, and Kyara.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S-CqChTKX-4qoLLIWjZLCchSs21fiEjeJjem8nLsonjv-Pp9gRr7xYpn9sBLB5BtfQM5mdrZTMrycGr4Cp400Pk0ieBghs0brNzKHWJotfEQyvHONbS362_kJikB6rBbchxa8X2kMbtk/s320/IMG_3832.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580867794783283186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">This is the most quoted LEVI that I have blogged so much about. He is the youngest in my class (started school last October, everyone starts on their 5th birthday) and he is just so funny. Here he wouldn't smile because he was distraught over his lost shirt after swimming sports. We never did find it, eh.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Some more "Why I Teach..." moments (I realize they're probably more entertaining to me cause you may have needed to be there/ hear their accent/ know them so feel free to skip over this part):</div><div><br /></div><div>Ana brings in a pterodactyl for show and tell and talks all about it with some impressive facts, and said they lived "ages and ages ago, like real old" then Levi chimed in: Ummmm they were actually around in the 80's, not the 50's. (Mind you she hadn't mentioned anything about the 50's but I'm glad to see you've got your thinking cap on, Levi)</div><div><br /></div><div>We were talking about what we wanted to be when we grew up and last time we talked about it Ana told me she was going to be an "acrobatic" (not acrobat, they corrected me) but this time: I'm going to be a really famous artist when I'm a grown up. I'm already kind of a famous artist because I have drawn heaps of beautiful pictures. I'm also a famous dancer right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alondra showed the class a picture from when she was little and Mariayah asked: when were you little?</div><div>Hey, at least it was a question instead of a statement this time, right Mariayah? (they are learning the difference between questions and statements at the moment)</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: We're going to sing now. You're a pretty good singer, right? (He had explained before how good he was and that he would be famous one day)</div><div>Levi: Yeah, I'm a GOOD-AS singer! I'll sing anything you want right now. What should I sing? (in a very bring-it type of tone) (they add AS to everything, not the a-word as I thought when I first got here, sweet-as, good-as, cool-as, big-as...)</div><div><br /></div><div>Benjamin: Good morning Room 21. </div><div>Class: Good morning Benjamin (standard procedure for oral language practice/ show and tell)</div><div>Benjamin: This is my hankie. You go like this **blows his nose**</div><div>I thought it was very informative.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4PjdIrl6k_k6mHBAX1qRJ_anRvHqlmxuVyIVhYVdtH0TSs-1MkGPcPKu5qZZkp5BYGr3pGtlmMYG8z7sYT1d5tpQzkFxn8F3U48-gFbz5Doe-9PoPa6YHEu_dN0HK-0BMY6CMiovq_fx/s320/IMG_3834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580841524773105522" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>This weekend we went away to Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Penninsula. We rented some beach houses and stayed Thursday and Friday night. We sat on the deck watching the waves, star gazed, watched the sunrise, and played on the beach!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkN1g5483K500p4RW_MbPom0juJw-svBEA9U2slgoeSncLI9h1RMN5zsS7t1kxdnLaEO-ebW7SKGKFe9C-P2UZBh8CZE8eh_lZoHtYAhli0x8_o6shsm95JPOCOi0hh7Ku9kG3SgsSOy2/s320/DSC02513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580833782685879234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>So this place is bizarre. On this one spot on the beach, you wait for the tide to go out and dig holes to make little hot tubs! The water that comes up is super hot, we even had to bring in buckets from the ocean at some spots cause it was too hot. It has something to do with volcanoes and carbon dioxide or something, but it is the strangest/ coolest thing! Nancy and I were holding down our spot while we waiting for the tide to go out- this spot was so hot that we were basically dancing the whole time so as not to burn our feet!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezVgAH20L0OA52QnmAIEbqzkAjU9IMhaKKWjXj6GFhJ-sq1s5hLCrEjwuNEaCJ4u3bshXGuTwYCR3XfZm90d7Rfv4tv2oQWsT7iVuYmRvCNtPVcWY4bC95X6I4h3uMWhBPYYrB7UkRzxY/s320/DSC02515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580834495777088690" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>We were the only people on the beach all morning, but it looked like this for a good 4 hours, then every desserted once the tide came back in. The advice we were given before finding a spot to dig was "Be aggressive!" because the people are so crazy :)</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GeFgg__LYx7MSLmnuM_XvutydmCp35XBUBkPd4yvAlG1c5yJ6i-oDquok7i-2ywkGpuq10VoZYgd17XsULf6MGpXjszqoPzNVzOgU9PN7mI6R6wCRJ75oj5PWRrPaqJYYwpuFgXShok8/s320/IMG_3862.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580835276150437154" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday we went by Cathedral Cove on the way home which is another Narnia filming spot that is beautiful. Unfortunately we couldn't actually go down to the cove because of the rainy season, but we went down some crazy muddy paths (slid down is probably more accurate) and climb around rocks to get a good view from outside of the cove. The pictures are on another camera so stayed tuned for those on facebook later or something. Here I am with Neeley and Whitney heading down to the cove!</div></div></div>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-7657485240954111192011-03-01T20:32:00.001-08:002011-03-01T21:54:12.096-08:00Everybody's Working for the Weekend<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5pe02cZoiuVW-6W6lTQ_DhK0gCjw1DTfk_Dn0N8YcDp52vwVhms9lb74iQ6kbz_BJwn1-bOzUQNgL5Pzp1J1v5PFmebE-mgrMA3kNBSEgDnRudYKdNwbNgLVuSy2e6C3SVWIntnuKXER/s1600/Piha+137.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">Although school is fun (what's not to love about 1st grade??) the weekends are where we really get to explore and experience New Zealand! This past weekend was particularly packed with fun stuff and minimal lesson planning.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDddR1WhprievvYrKqiRdV-H4UpLBm8rs2D83REUqOt2ml9NqOaNLZHuQdij7UX8IGbI7LkiIUSriufRSu_uwgg9-Fgb-77RB7mVhXOior4zFUmem7Ln48sHf29cBCpIS1lJfePo2HrZ_/s320/DSCN0485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579354296920527074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Friday, Heidi and I went on a Coast-to-Coast city walk whe</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">re we basically followed a map that took us walking all over Auckland to hit a lot of the big sites and see many hidden treasures along the way. We started on the northern coast and walked down to the southern coast as we walked around the University of Auckland (found mini- Brigham Square, felt so at home), through the "Auckland Domain" aka huge park in Auckland that hosts many a cricket game and romantic picnic, up Mt. Eden so we got to see it in daylight (also where we met a fellow traveler, Leon from Londo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">n who disagreed with us many times about which way would get us to the top and later to the bottom of the hill, fun to talk to though), through many city streets which we took note of for a future evening out on the town, around and up One Tree Hill (which is currently No Tree Hill, cause they can't agree on what kind of tree to plant...so you go with a monument instead? Ok, do it your way), and finally to the other coast (although you never quite make it to the coast coast, cause there is a motorway in the way)! We walked 16 km (give or take, may or may not have needed help with the map TWICE) in 5 hours.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3qM3zyA2XUstRyS8SMR6VPDfE-uzFQgtIEGNuWDGIhqF0RP714qpIPE0XfvrK43OqJj8hp9VntHWZzKa3pR2t1mJKQIkXunmeUuSYsz395cwCppvKDK23j6uFAIJc1iBeT38c9BwYPoW/s320/DSCN0515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579354306261358802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">Here I am with the monument on One Tree Hill. Look familiar? I sure hope you got permission from Washington for this one. I thought it was appropriate that I was wearing my VA shirt and visiting the mini Washington Monument :) (yes, I do know the monument is in DC, don't worry, I got it).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAy3Ag9MwU-h3qLznFxAAuIuBoz-IWfz4Kz3rbKThnBc-BOErgzM4NowhEknhsevMrRAM5SVV2xfBEpuVG4sWOkvX-ZhuLTnY9hpyILyu71tTV6IFlrgFZuBhQDkfSEH0Xagt2yZ0u_dXs/s320/Piha+073.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579354311053681858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We went to Piha beach with the entire group on Saturday. It is one of the more popular beaches around Auckland. James showed us around, taking us climbing around the roc</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">ks to get to this HUGE cove, called Honeymoon Cove that was absolutely beautiful and like nothing I've seen before. I don't really know how to describe it other than big sandy area with cliffs on 3 sides and big rocks on the 4th side that water crashes against for a very theatrical feel. This is Rebecca and me on the rocks right at the mouth of the cove (not getting too close to the edge, duh).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFOqmFYGJO2moGVz0Ven_gptKPbRkgnxx0wC8W_94bQwg9Ms-wxkPbxJkGZv5_oCzFSxANWeoahfJnnsM_AJNfcfSj0io7oQVpqivZqnE5UOIVDZrUa9Pl1Oe-OYdCf3Q9dmA1FuLQvsK/s320/IMG_3814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579354320185468130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As we were leaving the cove, going back to the main part of the beach, we walked up along a mountain/cliff this where there were good views of Piha. That big rock is called Lion rock and it is just right in the middle of the beach area. Here I am </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">with Hannah, Janet, and Whitney!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">Next, James took us to another beach down the road at Karekare where we had to walk along a river (or wade, but that was risky business with cameras in tow) to get to the beach. I should tell you that at both of these beaches are west coast beaches which means they have black sand (don't forget your jandals aka flip flops) and they have really rough waves. There are huge rescue crews on watch at all times with a huge canopy set up on the beach and they set up flags everyday marking where it is safe to swim. The rescue at Piha even has a show on TV on Monday nights called Piha Rescue, and people die there all the time. Needless to say, we didn't exactly swim all that much during our visit.</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5pe02cZoiuVW-6W6lTQ_DhK0gCjw1DTfk_Dn0N8YcDp52vwVhms9lb74iQ6kbz_BJwn1-bOzUQNgL5Pzp1J1v5PFmebE-mgrMA3kNBSEgDnRudYKdNwbNgLVuSy2e6C3SVWIntnuKXER/s320/Piha+137.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579354330476406642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">From the beach at Karekare we took a ten minute walk and arrived at these waterfalls! How cool? Beach one minute, and the next you're "tramping" (nothing to do with trampolines or promiscuous women, it means hiking) or "bush walking" through a tropical forest! I hadn't gotten in the water all day up to this point, but I just couldn't resist.</p><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_7jYRkp-NvIMDFgcam1Fhpyvsf09GdDXrmY9rDanzjsogc5ZcUBTV0bVL3il8a77QNdm6KSooShHv5HYu9RPwwYgz57SeDo1cPMMqtEy5oWGk2QVSzcF-QPoEe7_62Wp1nKVPNLmXY-k/s320/IMG_3818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579338298744528482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div>That night we had a little combined birthday party for the three of us who turned 21 this month because 21 is traditionally a big deal in New Zealand (fading fast, apparently). On this birthday, people are given a key to the house, showing they are finally old/ responsible enough to come and go as they please, so we got big paper keys that everyone signed. This was our cake-- almost as wide as the three of us combined! Here, the birthday-er makes their wish as they make the first cut into the cake, not when they blow out the candles. Also, at this party (but not at the one's we've had with our family) we blew out the candles before everyone sang. Everyone does a little Hip Hip Hooray after they sing too.</div><div><br /></div> <!--EndFragment-->Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-2693625856918104272011-02-19T18:09:00.001-08:002011-02-24T11:38:18.016-08:00Our Beginnings at ColwillWe're back in primary school! The beginning of the year is always so exciting, and a little chaotic, so we're loving it!<br /><br />But before we started school and after our trip...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EQY0jKKUVXuujjjsANOW_R7bQdsuzcNcvCg3G7Zsc6BUj2F47q7ZigKht0vB8aRzID6a5YlVYaOKHXonv0JaezdvZoUeGWqLWqQzimoSz0RQPchQ_f0VQvVLrFySGaEbaskNLr3wlw45/s1600/CIMG3009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EQY0jKKUVXuujjjsANOW_R7bQdsuzcNcvCg3G7Zsc6BUj2F47q7ZigKht0vB8aRzID6a5YlVYaOKHXonv0JaezdvZoUeGWqLWqQzimoSz0RQPchQ_f0VQvVLrFySGaEbaskNLr3wlw45/s320/CIMG3009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118254887873890" /></a>Kerry took us fishing! Alexis and I often sat at the end of the boat to fish which was probably not my best idea and here's why: Within 5 minutes of getting situated up there, I broke the boat! Kerry told me to scoot back, so I did, but I scooted onto the window of the hatch which is apparently plastic and I BROKE IT. How awkward... "Did I do that?" Erkel style. Kerry was cool with it (don't worry mom, told him I'd pay for it...still waiting for my total to come in though) and we continued to fish. Then Alexis and I were having a little competition that involved dangling our feet in the water, but when I went to stand up, my slippery, wet foot slipped and I rammed my shin into the safety bar and I could have sworn I broke my leg. Fo rills. (I didn't cry though, cause I know you were thinking that.) When the throbbing stopped approximately 3 minutes later and discovered I could walk (it's a miracle!) I felt a little stupid for assuming the worst (although I told no one I got hurt) and figured I'd at least have a sweet bruise to show for it. That night I told Sheryl about my misfortune and she gave me Arnica cream (that might be way off) that was supposed to reduce the bruising (I wasn't buying into it) but I put it on cause she was standing there watching me and I couldn't just say "No thanks, that's balogna" and guess what: NO BRUISE. I was disappointed, not gonna lie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXlxyy2PAuIxWrZKjbVVc0jfttUwEMVFk-meuCAuQ335lciivclCN6vr0MlWgdQdQBM_AVEBSlacM1K7Vvdup2gicTa8Fe1q1tnfeUXN5_BW7X2E1M1GYUGuTKRV4h4cOvC5HSuudwqud/s1600/fishing+019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXlxyy2PAuIxWrZKjbVVc0jfttUwEMVFk-meuCAuQ335lciivclCN6vr0MlWgdQdQBM_AVEBSlacM1K7Vvdup2gicTa8Fe1q1tnfeUXN5_BW7X2E1M1GYUGuTKRV4h4cOvC5HSuudwqud/s320/fishing+019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118261153612946" /></a><br />We caught a total of 13 snapper that day, this being the one HUGE one Jessica caught (the rest were all the size of the pictured above) so we brought him home after Kerry so gruesomly destroyed his brain while on the boat so cook him up. I was scared but he was delicious! (Alexis named him Chompers which made the execution and cooking/eating that much harder for us all) When we were taking these pictures Kerry gave us a tip to hold it as far away from you as possible to make it look huge, but he really was this big, I promise! While we were fishing Kerry kept saying there was no use for fish finders that day because the other boats could just listen for all the squealing we made each time someone caught a fish... it's probably true, we were pathetic, very obviously newbs.<br /><br />I started my practicum on the following Monday in Ms. Khan/ Ms. Whitehouse's Year 1 and 2 class. Year 1 is like our kindergarten and 2 like first grade, so 5 and 6 year olds! The past two weeks have been good, but a little bit of an adjustment from American schools. We came here to learn about their teaching methods and were told to not take anything away from their discipline and it has been surprising to see why. Their system is basically yell until you've scared them. I simply can't do that, and my teachers have said things like "Your voice doesn't really carry" or "You have to have different tones: one for when you are nice and one so they know when they have crossed the line" or "Did they meet your expectation? No? Now blast at them" but from my experience in the American schools, a teacher can be even more effective when they use a soft, quiet voice, and it is possible to have a quiet, peaceful classroom. I'm still figuring out what to do, but I figure if I can keep them quiet enough to teach them something while keeping their dignity in tack, then I can do my own thing with discipline once I'm back home.<br /><br />I was excited to get the youngest because the younger they are usually means the funnier they are. I've been writing down the funny things I hear, and realize that most of them are from the same couple people. I guess the others just need to share their insight with me more (maybe the others just aren't quite as creative with their thinking yet...) Here are some of my favorite things:<br /><br />Sam starts playing with my arm hair and says: You don't have black feathers! (Unfortunately he was disrupting so I had to cut him off and didn't get to hear him elaborate)<br /><br />Ms. W got something wrong when she was teaching and says: Well teachers don't know everything, ya know?<br />Selwyn: YES THE DO! (very emotionally)<br />Ms. W: No, they really don't.<br />Selwyn: YES. THEY. DO!<br /><br />Levi: I had electric shock one day. On my foot.<br />Benjamin: Did you die?<br />Levi: No, it just hurt.<br /><br />Levi: Did you know there are real baby dragonflies? There are. They breathe just a little bit of fire. I saw a real dragonfly that breathed heaps of fire at my friend's house. That's why I came to New Zealand. My friend's was in Australia.<br /><br />Ms. W: Why is spider scared of bird?<br />Levi: Because he might eat his brains up!<br />moments later... Levi: Birds eat cats. (Very matter-of-fact-ly and kind of to himself.)<br /><br />I read a book called <span style="font-style:italic;"></span>When Henry had Imaginitis<span style="font-style:italic;"></span> and I asked if anyone knew what "imagination" meant, Levi raised his hand, took a deep breath and said: Katie Perry once said, "If you live within your imagination, you will get everything you want."<br /><br />Ms. W: So tonight when you're having a shower, think about if you gave this notice to mum and dad.<br />Selwyn: So do we have to have a shower?<br /><br />We were discussing the Christchurch earthquake and Levi brought up the Australia floods: My cousin Jessie was on a plan to Australia when it was flooding.<br />Ms. K: Is she alright?<br />Levi: Yes, she's still on the plane.<br /><br />Today I overheard a conversation between Levi, Kyara, and Ana at lunch about the Easter Bunny and God, but I could mostly just hear Levi's side of it...<br />Ana: You can't ever see the Easter Bunny, eh?<br />Levi: No, you can't. You have to stay asleep or God will come down and growl at you. You can't see God cause he's in the sky...(they must have carried on about God)... I saw a picture of God once, so that means he's real.<br /><br />Imagine all of those in a New Zealand accent, with many more "eh?" added in. So great. Pictures of cute children to come soon.<br /><br />I like this whole teacher thing, kids hand you stuff all day (and you take away distractions) and its sometimes fun to look down into your hands and realize what you've been holding for the past hour. At one point today it was a price tag, a huge pencil case covered in blue dragons, two broken pencils, a stack of papers, and a Barbie microphone.<br /><br />Something I learned this week: kids will do ANYTHING for stickers. The shinier the better.<br /><br />This age is also entertaining because they are so often in their own world, and hear what they want to hear. For example, we played heads down thumbs up yesterday and only two people had their thumbs squeezed each round, but without fail we had at least 5-7 kids stand up each round when we asked who's thumbs were squeezed.<br /><br />I haven't stopped singing this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-brz3rHdUk">song</a> since I first heard it 11 days ago.<br /><br />Last weekend we went to Point Chev beach on Friday (we get Fridays off, excellent set up) and just bummed on the beach literally all day. No pictures, so sorry.<br /><br />On Saturday we spent the morning at Kodie's 2nd birthday party at a huge play place. That night we went into Auckland and went around the Chinese Lantern Festival (they've been celebrating the Chinese new year for like a month, it's not exactly NEW anymore, is it people?) There were lanterns galore (would have been cooler at night) and a whole street lined with food vendors. This was one of the best moments of my weekend:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkR2Wyp4Rt0TqA6g3RizOIH_8SWwFvC8IzcWCU7veYW3tE1PIYhz6rf4iypbjpTiPX39WnoRYFrK-UUUm4PoGz-b3Z_wLg6Tfrjr7vfVQhyphenhyphenK2QtUjCi2YpW10NrWuOgx366ABBaThEGYj/s1600/IMG_3754.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkR2Wyp4Rt0TqA6g3RizOIH_8SWwFvC8IzcWCU7veYW3tE1PIYhz6rf4iypbjpTiPX39WnoRYFrK-UUUm4PoGz-b3Z_wLg6Tfrjr7vfVQhyphenhyphenK2QtUjCi2YpW10NrWuOgx366ABBaThEGYj/s320/IMG_3754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118271013555666" /></a><br />Me: Are those oysters?<br />Heidi: No, I think muscles.<br />Together: So many muscles!<br /><br />We thought it was funny :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw5swM1j-JCMMASVAmUL3CGQh4DiW4w5Jw6Krvyt_5C70Xx6GuEyMTheZZ_4d3SzkXYgkjeoiMR2SNioHPnviNXQsw3srcskxm55vy2SpFYb3x7pZQdKyD-G1A7JPXKXBasJQYKIahYQa/s1600/IMG_3772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw5swM1j-JCMMASVAmUL3CGQh4DiW4w5Jw6Krvyt_5C70Xx6GuEyMTheZZ_4d3SzkXYgkjeoiMR2SNioHPnviNXQsw3srcskxm55vy2SpFYb3x7pZQdKyD-G1A7JPXKXBasJQYKIahYQa/s320/IMG_3772.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118274241677362" /></a><br />That night we went to our first rugby game. It was so much more exciting than anticipated! I expected it to be a lot like football, but it was so much more entertaining to watch because it's fast-paced, plays are much longer/ the clock doesn't stop, they have big fire shooters for when the home team scores, everyone is super into it, rugby players are FINE (dibs on the blues' kicker #10)<br />(or the entire cantebury crusaiders team), plus we were watching guys that play for the All Blacks! I decided that its a perfect mix of wrestling, soccer, and cheerleading because they do essentially wrestle, the movement around the field is more like a soccer-type of sport, and they throw one guy up in the air like a cheerleading stunt everytime a ball is thrown in bounds. I'd like to apologize for those sitting close to us for the group of loud and stupid American girls sitting by them who asked a question every time someone else touched the ball, or didn't touch the ball.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gEPjRRTsE3HB6wQG_IwDeQ0FeWkXavBhnQGkdVRNkacpKBNoqEofXEjQK_9Hy4bb3RKOXBSOG5guMXOolmK6gZSgrKXegaVgrGzwlbJ6FzTu2oFukGDGEmbtJtQ-LAx-e7zNdHb6yAT-/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gEPjRRTsE3HB6wQG_IwDeQ0FeWkXavBhnQGkdVRNkacpKBNoqEofXEjQK_9Hy4bb3RKOXBSOG5guMXOolmK6gZSgrKXegaVgrGzwlbJ6FzTu2oFukGDGEmbtJtQ-LAx-e7zNdHb6yAT-/s320/IMG_3785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118280859246178" /></a><br />This is the first (and quite possibly only) time in my life that I would have a summer birthday! So my day started out great when I got to school and both my teacher and my teacher aid had brought me chocolate cakes, as well as a boquet of flowers! They are too sweet. I let the whole staff have at one of the cakes in the staff room during morning tea, so the entire thing was gone by the end which was good news for my hips. That night I went to dinner in another part of the city to an Indian resturant (I have had SO much Indian food since being here, it is fantastic!) and it was, of course, so good. At the end of the dinner they brought out a cake that Sheryl had made at her favorite little cake joint and they decorated it like a Reese's heart! So funny because Sheryl always makes it sound like I rave on and on about Reese's, so she stole one of mine and the guy did a SOLID job making it look exactly the same. She makes so much fun of us "American girls and their peanut butter" because I have gotten Reese's holiday shapes (one of the best candies known to man, duh. Second only to Reese's crispy crunchy bar.) in 3 out of 4 packages I have recieved here. Plus peanut butter m&m's. They don't have any Reese's here so I am so grateful to the love I have been shown through these packages.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9TOYLmqUL3HVKNEdItZkhKTnCdJPAp6BMLNALflu1Who8525dWk_cdcBkPwva2LvxMkzMg-BPNDu9tTm6TvoXn_EslB6IQO56sWqSnf6OzK-XESAtwdmM-pXQQ8j-b3GVpAUcgnJC9Te/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9TOYLmqUL3HVKNEdItZkhKTnCdJPAp6BMLNALflu1Who8525dWk_cdcBkPwva2LvxMkzMg-BPNDu9tTm6TvoXn_EslB6IQO56sWqSnf6OzK-XESAtwdmM-pXQQ8j-b3GVpAUcgnJC9Te/s320/IMG_3797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118850532776258" /></a><br />Afterwards, Kerry took the kids home to bed and Sheryl and Raewyn (Sheryl's mom who lives here too) took Heidi and I to Mt. Eden which is the highest point in the city and you can see the whole city in every direction. It's best to go at night so you can see the lights. It is actually a volcano and it has a huge crater at the top, looks like an excellent sledding hill. The best part of this experience was listening to Sheryl and Raewyn carry on. They tease each other so much and they make each other laugh SO HARD that they're both crying and we can no longer understand a word they are saying. Sheryl (who I'd say is in her late 30's) even started driving away from the gas station as Raewyn came out from paying and was beside herself when we heard Raewyn yelling from outside. This picture is funky, but you get the idea :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkShyZCpLhavsfbTi-67FzbR5AT-FOgZx1Z1M-2WJBK5wsbhaN_PTzoAZmgKw4QtrFq6I68gAnbA5cNpkL69_FWwIqybLn34G5gDmXoVkYfd_Xi_FL7vIg_Y6KISFuDnQQ-VarxWyQmf24/s1600/IMG_3802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkShyZCpLhavsfbTi-67FzbR5AT-FOgZx1Z1M-2WJBK5wsbhaN_PTzoAZmgKw4QtrFq6I68gAnbA5cNpkL69_FWwIqybLn34G5gDmXoVkYfd_Xi_FL7vIg_Y6KISFuDnQQ-VarxWyQmf24/s320/IMG_3802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577118851909843618" /></a><br />My birthday was made complete with a phone call to my mom and a surprise boquet of my favorite- sunflowers! From a secret admirer? Thanks to you, mystery man!Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-33982161919860605692011-02-19T18:09:00.000-08:002011-02-19T19:45:23.382-08:00South Island Adventures!I have been back for a week and a half and can finally update you on my life! So sorry these are long overdue! Let's just start from the beginning, shall we?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HMt-7OpUq3_XfCohU-hoEr2v-RJYIhaVRNy8pXROGCPyzmEqM90IuFSCRZY4da4cf0XRYi-q4jWQkjm-VVdkmqgQWYXTVSotH9EBvU0j0Hscs1S-C9ALD0O_Q7jx_1A9MOjwNr4Fg0w7/s1600/P1300633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HMt-7OpUq3_XfCohU-hoEr2v-RJYIhaVRNy8pXROGCPyzmEqM90IuFSCRZY4da4cf0XRYi-q4jWQkjm-VVdkmqgQWYXTVSotH9EBvU0j0Hscs1S-C9ALD0O_Q7jx_1A9MOjwNr4Fg0w7/s320/P1300633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589200961860162" /></a>DAY ONE: <br />We left at 5:35 for our flight down to Queenstown and felt so famous as we exited the airplane (aeroplane here, what??) via stairs as we put on our shades and waved to everyone (who were all facing the terminal on their way off the plane... I still felt important). Even the land around the airport was beautiful with huge green mountains. This is where we met our buses that we would be spending so much of the next week in, and we just went into Queenstown to drop our stuff at the hostile before exploring. THE LAKE IS REAL. I can't emphasize that enough, cause I know that teal doesn't look like a color found in nature, but its real and just the most beautiful thing out there. <br />That afternoon Dr. Jacobs took us to the Shotover Jet which is a boat that can drive in super shallow water. The guys train for 8 hours a day for 3 months before taking passengers because they drive so fast and so close to the rocks. It was so fun, Janet and I couldn't stop laughing the whole time because we kept getting so scared! It was one of those times you are exhausted after a 20 minute ride because of smiling and laughing and screaming so much! I especially appreciated the Asian guy in front of us that was praising the Lord (with his hands and all) after every corner in very broken English :)<br />Then we drove on to Arrowtown which is just a cute little town with like two streets of shops, resturants, old-fashioned candy stores, etc. I bought some Jade there that I plan on setting into a ring someday (jade is all the rage here. Every shop specializes in jade, paua shells, and bone carving stuff and thats what they have tons of at all these markets we've been to). <br />Monday night we took a long drive through Glenorchy which is one of the places where Lord of the Rings was filmed, aka cool overgrown/ mossy forests and then beautiful mountain scenes. This was our first exposure to New Zealand's abundance of sheep! Jessica even got out and chased one down just to be able to touch it, very exciting. This picture was taken at our turn around point which was so pretty with the sun starting to set. It was a super bumpy ride along dirt roads for 2-3 hours but that made it just that much more fun! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDmzemqwwVixF_4Knx85YTQvS_Mt8nkdhJvrKwmbFp231rkIjM0ciO0VXVMy6gYfDpq3JRe7hXZVc-Z3pGfUei5-WGpVGfKNqhZZlr_sO-0kpnnvV1Gj6dtf7srewiwz4jD_2PrYBouRA/s1600/IMG_0630.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDmzemqwwVixF_4Knx85YTQvS_Mt8nkdhJvrKwmbFp231rkIjM0ciO0VXVMy6gYfDpq3JRe7hXZVc-Z3pGfUei5-WGpVGfKNqhZZlr_sO-0kpnnvV1Gj6dtf7srewiwz4jD_2PrYBouRA/s320/IMG_0630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589206853852450" /></a><br />DAY TWO:<br />In the morning we decided to discover more of Queenstown and went for a walk through the park/gardens (to be refered to from now on as "the gardens" if I ever refer to it again) where there is a decorative river (bigger than a stream, but not a full on river...) with fountains, cool trees, cool flower, and lots of walking paths. Then we took a little hike to Sunshine Bay through the woods (pictured here) (which is also where I did a headstand on a tree stump for those up to date on my facebook albums). One of my first hikes in my vans (Dr. J scared us into thinking he'd be strict about us packing lightly...which is why I repeated so many outfits, so sorry), but I felt just fine, they never let me down!<br />That afternoon we went to The Puzzling World which we were worried would be totally lame (why would you go to a museum when you are in the most beautiful place for outdoorsie stuff??) but it was much cooler than expected. Huge human maze which we never figured out after 50 minutes...I know I'm smart though, ok? On the way there we stopped at a huge fruit stand that was such a wonderful sight, so much fruit everywhere as well as real fruit ice cream, so we all loaded up on fruit for the week and we got to sample stuff like green plums! Odd how that was one of the more exciting parts of my day... don't make fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61WWagNDEdhuHSgPsGcn9RvJv-YAY2dm-qepR1oNJnfSqsk1sQNfUXyZswWZTfflcdCoiaIcBER0z8RUBe0ECqP5mBdye9mAORXYGkmu6ffac1NvssZLQNtih3FhI_v-TXokEQqOX2jnA/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61WWagNDEdhuHSgPsGcn9RvJv-YAY2dm-qepR1oNJnfSqsk1sQNfUXyZswWZTfflcdCoiaIcBER0z8RUBe0ECqP5mBdye9mAORXYGkmu6ffac1NvssZLQNtih3FhI_v-TXokEQqOX2jnA/s320/IMG_0973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575596640433098162" /></a><br />Basically every night we spent sitting along the wharf watching the sunset, sometimes eating gelato with street performers in the background and little jewlery vendors (got sweet bracelets) which was another one of my favorite things. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz1JGG6KrjpSgNVfSX9v8lkHZbqytT5kO1ralIXg5eGR0wszg5NjNlXVPqmgJxnS2Y2L5QBDiMiItbs8HLtv8EtmYqzrIGpPYlB_ZXUQv_LNaBtIgGqDNqZZz4ajks-3sWzIkSe6Z59Hx/s1600/AJHK102020149560.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJz1JGG6KrjpSgNVfSX9v8lkHZbqytT5kO1ralIXg5eGR0wszg5NjNlXVPqmgJxnS2Y2L5QBDiMiItbs8HLtv8EtmYqzrIGpPYlB_ZXUQv_LNaBtIgGqDNqZZz4ajks-3sWzIkSe6Z59Hx/s320/AJHK102020149560.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589212597700114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVQeXE9hgUA0zerYQjdaESUgbTW-bN-uE3jLIQDxAwb_-4wQdO8ZcrtTuGpxOUrhv5VmLGkzoyjc9YHXmgwSM6aIv2ogwL_oAYtU53WVu0uxrtekATHmmU41N5mttVoUrm1yknhJobnLS/s1600/AJHK102020149561.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVQeXE9hgUA0zerYQjdaESUgbTW-bN-uE3jLIQDxAwb_-4wQdO8ZcrtTuGpxOUrhv5VmLGkzoyjc9YHXmgwSM6aIv2ogwL_oAYtU53WVu0uxrtekATHmmU41N5mttVoUrm1yknhJobnLS/s320/AJHK102020149561.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589216666317890" /></a><br />DAY THREE:<br />Big. Day.<br />On Monday we paid for all of our activities for the week, which is just about the only reason I went through with my bungy jump, cause I totally think I would have backed out if I had to decide that morning! I went with a girl from my group named Nicole, and I'm also glad I did that because after we get all harnessed and tied up around the angles, we penguin walk to the edge and the nice old man counts down from 5 and I knew we would be much more likely to get hurt if we didn't jump in sync (n*sync?) cause they told us you have to jump head first to keep your neck safe when you hit the bottom of the rope. I was oddly calm as they were tying us up, and I just really don't know what came over me cause it was surprisingly easy to jump! Maybe its because I had seen a couple girls go before me (someone did a spectacular pocahontas dive, very inspirational for future bungy jumpers) but we just went for it! It was crazy, and it was kinda nice knowing we weren't going to get dunked (a popular option) at the bottom cause otherwise I think I would have been focusing on closing my eyes and stuff, but this way I would just enjoy the view. Oh yeah, right before we went, a rainbow appeard directly in front of us and for some reason that made me feel so calm about it, plus the guys just told us to aim for the rainbow which was a fun thought. Anywho, I did it, check out my fb for more pictures. One I am keeping private (the postcard I sent you, Mom and Dad) shows the pure terror on my face mid-jump, I just think it looks goofy to be honest. It's probably the most accurate of my true feelings at the time though...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_KEWqUwsH3-3Eo_ZE9MVrQ3odt4W-cEsRuVZUHCccWIdi3VzEgU4QF15TXKQ8TwRCQUn-IpnD5sppDrdPsaVwupJ_e484gvqPFgIvx17_pFstzcE6LK4a5VzaOSPRcK7TsaTLWfH3a5v/s1600/IMG_3531.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_KEWqUwsH3-3Eo_ZE9MVrQ3odt4W-cEsRuVZUHCccWIdi3VzEgU4QF15TXKQ8TwRCQUn-IpnD5sppDrdPsaVwupJ_e484gvqPFgIvx17_pFstzcE6LK4a5VzaOSPRcK7TsaTLWfH3a5v/s320/IMG_3531.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589225724734546" /></a><br />After that greatest feat of my life (really was a big feat. I had thought about putting it on my bucket list but decided against it because I thought I would never do it in a million years, so might as well not put something on that I won't be able to check off. I have since put it back on with a large check next to it.) we thought we were the coolest/bravest/most dare-devilish people on the planet, so we thought the world's largest swing would be a piece of cake. But then we got to the bridge you walk to get out to the launching platform...it was super long, narrow, 140m high, and swayed in the wind so much that we had to hold on for dear life every step of the way! The platform is also just suspended on cables between two mountains anyway so it swayed the whole time. We saw this other guy go first and then got even more scared because we hadn't realized you have a huge freefall before the cord is pulled taught! Luckily on this one the machine lets you go so you don't have to take the initiative to jump. The lady hooking us up was taunting us the entire time being like "wow, we're super high, huh?" and stupid stuff, but that made it even more fun as we got even more scared! It was so fun though, even longer free fall than our bungy, but then you are just swinging so high, and I rode with Whitney so it was fun to just scream our lungs out. A great bonus? 3 words: Free. Trucker. Hats. It was legit. Also the van ride up there was crazy cause the driver even told us to all move to one side of the van at one point going around a curve on the edge of a cliff.<br />Needless to say we had to go home and take a nap cause our heads were hurting from so much adrenaline in one day. Such a great day though!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMpZlLsq7ZFL0_EsVtx3-9VgZn20qPiI71rk0oIV1JCk6Hp1RFp8L4_SaLrsfVZkYM_VaUfXzdNB_qxZUGGTm7wRGftb4xM9qPhxjTdw-MEavFnu1uW8DsrIC9nnPR8dZ-HsSs-T4J6sN/s1600/CIMG2763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMpZlLsq7ZFL0_EsVtx3-9VgZn20qPiI71rk0oIV1JCk6Hp1RFp8L4_SaLrsfVZkYM_VaUfXzdNB_qxZUGGTm7wRGftb4xM9qPhxjTdw-MEavFnu1uW8DsrIC9nnPR8dZ-HsSs-T4J6sN/s320/CIMG2763.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590268921175106" /></a><br />That afternoon we went up the mountain in a Gondola to ride the luge (little carts on these big tracks going down the mountain, then you ride up a ski lift and go again) and this picture is from up there by the tracks. These were some of our prettiest views of Queenstown itself and the lake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWBZV_X9XoBusoZoFZAHTLX8lvdVC8sqHqPQHmhPhYJiGqvytS1QFoOe385yVr6ArA01-RYmiZyNjYK6OjA6Z-dCOt4CtxkDeTp77zq0vBwDDfQ1TSKnJ7n84jO2C6_8P2kPdrBmatLNz/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWBZV_X9XoBusoZoFZAHTLX8lvdVC8sqHqPQHmhPhYJiGqvytS1QFoOe385yVr6ArA01-RYmiZyNjYK6OjA6Z-dCOt4CtxkDeTp77zq0vBwDDfQ1TSKnJ7n84jO2C6_8P2kPdrBmatLNz/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590275709544370" /></a><br />DAY FOUR:<br />We took a boat ride around Milford Sound which is a huge fjord. This is where Avatar was filmed and it was amazing! Tons of waterfalls (especially the day we went cause it rained. Rain is good for some things, see? Plus, rain meant we had to buy PONCHOS which is another thing that makes things more exciting) and spooky clouds that make it look mysterious. There were dolphins and seals, and none of those flying things from Avatar as far as I could see. While there we went out to this underwater observatory thing that was just built in the water in the Sound, so you see fish swim by and stuff. I loved the sound!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIafuCeUaXTWjX1t3b5i-1wlVzjgrISoPVJ7tPTYQmxcMXm_ojTwP7UMLoADkjeVyrOD584U439eFqFh8w-F3tIFfLRqU5IE4HjC87eznOSfXLwHSueQpf9_WelhyXqNhduMcdhpi4b0V/s1600/P2030827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIafuCeUaXTWjX1t3b5i-1wlVzjgrISoPVJ7tPTYQmxcMXm_ojTwP7UMLoADkjeVyrOD584U439eFqFh8w-F3tIFfLRqU5IE4HjC87eznOSfXLwHSueQpf9_WelhyXqNhduMcdhpi4b0V/s320/P2030827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590277686093234" /></a><br />DAY FIVE:<br />Lord of the Rings horseback riding! It was so fun! We were out in similar scenes to Glenorchy from the first day, but you could picture it in the movie more. We rode through the woods and in the valley as a lady spit out fun facts about the filming of the movies and stuff. She told us whose horses had been in which movies, my Joey was in Narnia Prince Caspian! He was an old grump, but I was proud of him none the less. He tried to eat my friend's horse one time, so we were sent to the back of the line (classic discipline tactic for elementary students btw) and then I was kinda nervous he'd freak out again, but he was good, and he was a great listener, cause I did most of the talking ;) That afternoon we "went for a pleasant walk" and ended up hiking straight up this mountain which was really fun. It was a good chance for me to get to know some of the other girls who I hadn't spent a ton of time with yet, so I really enjoyed it. That night we celebrated Nicole's birthday eating at the most popular place in town, Ferburger and just sucking the last bit we could out of Queenstown before we left in the morning.<br /><br />DAY SIX: <br />We drove 7 hours from Queenstown to Christchurch, went to a couple big markets, ate kebabs for the first time, and went to a Waitangi Day celebration. Waitangi Day is the day the British and the Maori's signed a treaty, so the celebration was very 4th of July-esque. Super random stuff happening with different performers, but very entertaining to say the least. Plus fireworks at the end, so it just really felt like summer!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iJKU4pnb2MJoj0k_kH0BtzKg6z3fJlpOqzu36CzMWNC-TYbGCGltmZ43lEEf3sUvIWJ00yteiVtSEnFbqNYIxc9UY4YVtk0ybjWX36ERGMEale6_EO4Dv_Bcg6zX9zp5MhY1rJlq7lsd/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iJKU4pnb2MJoj0k_kH0BtzKg6z3fJlpOqzu36CzMWNC-TYbGCGltmZ43lEEf3sUvIWJ00yteiVtSEnFbqNYIxc9UY4YVtk0ybjWX36ERGMEale6_EO4Dv_Bcg6zX9zp5MhY1rJlq7lsd/s320/IMG_3669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590284854255554" /></a><br />DAY SEVEN:<br />Church. VERY interesting Relief Society discussion that had us all very uncomfortable cause the teacher (aka president I think) said she disagreed with one of our girls' comments that we had been so thankful she brought up. Long story short it was about questioning the preisthood, and these ladies seem to have been trained to not trust a thing the priesthood says. We could see what they were saying, but they were just acting very extreme about things. We're over it though :)<br />We spent the afternoon driving around the mountains and beaches, not much to say that hasn't already been said, beautiful. (I need a synonym for beautiful...)We went to another museum that afternoon (I'm officially museumed out for at least 6 months).<br /><br />DAY EIGHT:<br />We drove to the beach but it rained all day, so we spent time in shops and such. Wanted to buy everything. Bought some postcards. So proud.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQfrtFNQBfvqBVxO4bsVF8HAvSRdGWRYqUwh2-n5QmeMWUZP48TUpvi6m57R70Xx42mqwJpINOVtzlSr_9RPYR4S9hP4fRp1wPNHHN959ZGeX4T54cFIkbxvlQrIQcltGquPJ_MnwcrDh/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQfrtFNQBfvqBVxO4bsVF8HAvSRdGWRYqUwh2-n5QmeMWUZP48TUpvi6m57R70Xx42mqwJpINOVtzlSr_9RPYR4S9hP4fRp1wPNHHN959ZGeX4T54cFIkbxvlQrIQcltGquPJ_MnwcrDh/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590290256918466" /></a><br />DAY NINE:<br />Beach: take two. We spent the entire day at this beach! I finished the Giver (again... love it), make this sand fortress with our BARE HANDS, walked along the pier, ran around in the freezing/ low tide water with Janet for a little work out (they said the water was polluted, so let me know if you notice any extra arms growing...), watched a sand artist do crazy stuff, held a crab, and played games with James (our driver) like crazy bones and battle of the sexes (there were two old men and 16 byu girls, great game). In the evenings in Christchurch we made dinner in our hotel cause we had little kitchens, and then rented movies from the hotel and had big movie nights. Great fun :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNUVg6TPC0u1FJcq1Wx8y6DP7c_G0Zb85Rqju_Y-L0hVacRML5mPtdzbH6jWejEo2b3h2_usefy9dA-ws38OdNXTJcga3kgbW9p8otmeZdS9aRpRQMLaUH4lalX9DvyGVHmdK1nAPh-6a/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNUVg6TPC0u1FJcq1Wx8y6DP7c_G0Zb85Rqju_Y-L0hVacRML5mPtdzbH6jWejEo2b3h2_usefy9dA-ws38OdNXTJcga3kgbW9p8otmeZdS9aRpRQMLaUH4lalX9DvyGVHmdK1nAPh-6a/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575590374201727074" /></a><br />DAY TEN:<br />Exploring Christchurch. Cathedral, the square, little fudge shops and stuff in an oxford-looking town, and the botanical gardens! Loved it! You could spend literally an entire day there, we didn't cover nearly all of it before we had to leave for the airport. Here I am with Begonias in the Begonia house! We had a photography contest (with Whitney and Janet), a picnic, and just tooks a million pictures.<br />On our way to the airport we ate at Dennys (classy. better than in the states though) and everyone was so excited to eat KETCHUP haha everyone was getting excited to write in their journals about it.<br />Then we flew home! (we decided home refers to Auckland, home home is Provo, and home home home is our hometowns).<br /><br />Now get up to take a lap and stretch, you'll need it after reading this entire blog entry! It was such a great trip! Keeping 16 girls together for 10 days straight got a little intense at times, but it was worth it and we bonded. Soon I'll update you on what has happened since our trip cause we started school this week!!Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-74859501796021151812011-01-30T02:16:00.001-08:002011-01-30T02:42:27.953-08:00School's Out!I'm heading out tomorrow morning at 5:35 so I thought I'd just wrap up this last week before I lose internet for 10 days! We finished our classes this past week, weird thought, but super exciting. Don't be jealous :)<br /><br />First, here we are, trying to keep the weight off after eating the New Zealand ice cream that we get plenty of, and surprisingly it is way better than that stuff at home. It's super creamy. Anywho, one day after school, Whitney brought Jillian Michaels to kick our butts in the cultural hall (this is where we have class but we had to put the chairs and tables up everyday as if we hadn't been there). My calves were so sore because we still had to walk home after this, and back the next morning, and so on and I honestly thought I might have pulled both of my calves, they have never hurt so much! But alas, they are better, and I can walk. We knew we could count on you, Jillian.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMvxT812bUtw3A6JKqctqyZh0qNwobV_J0FyRJgK7arnlNzN5HWg4N10xg4YGL7-589ZlI1ZyEoX2lw8qRjqrqIrodRG_h8Db7SieWEuzP-2cOZsntHPGalGIy8-eOKISpTKlgFjkW09T/s1600/CIMG2559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMvxT812bUtw3A6JKqctqyZh0qNwobV_J0FyRJgK7arnlNzN5HWg4N10xg4YGL7-589ZlI1ZyEoX2lw8qRjqrqIrodRG_h8Db7SieWEuzP-2cOZsntHPGalGIy8-eOKISpTKlgFjkW09T/s320/CIMG2559.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567922922583842146" /></a><br /><br />We had science this past week and it was really fun because our teacher, Ian Milne (who Dr. J always reminds us was "born to teach science. When he popped out of his mother's womb they said he would teach science" always using the word womb...gross word) had tons of little experiments and such for us to do. Here I am teaching a lesson on energy transfer by making home-made hokey pokey (this carmel type of stuff they put in everything! So good.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHFHtAfF__C1fvDspSRyCzeMApPyZJPUSUhvOtkMbjJTk5d6sngibTNJPkVlv7IcgaNgIRTOUHNEMObI2UuFxtfUpHCW2CRHioov2CvafrT-A_gGr04noRKDPz36_1iDJ4elnUNTPdTeG/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHFHtAfF__C1fvDspSRyCzeMApPyZJPUSUhvOtkMbjJTk5d6sngibTNJPkVlv7IcgaNgIRTOUHNEMObI2UuFxtfUpHCW2CRHioov2CvafrT-A_gGr04noRKDPz36_1iDJ4elnUNTPdTeG/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567922918450308866" /></a><br /><br />And we made volcanoes! Way more legit than those baking soda/vinegar ones I made in Mr. D'Amato's 3rd grade class; those aren't even accurate. This was made with water and an airborn tablet in a film canister, covered in oat meal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqv_tW0MYUap-1y_-yw5WWvWl1nKvPKN3mJj-3Pz080yRRW9Yix0HivKWOXuBNq34oJXlo9zLNmSr48qTWaqtSky7Gd0kjTBr07MlX1pDEL1pPuktZufi1J9keDNaMjxvmP-P4h7J0A_i/s1600/IMG_3363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqv_tW0MYUap-1y_-yw5WWvWl1nKvPKN3mJj-3Pz080yRRW9Yix0HivKWOXuBNq34oJXlo9zLNmSr48qTWaqtSky7Gd0kjTBr07MlX1pDEL1pPuktZufi1J9keDNaMjxvmP-P4h7J0A_i/s320/IMG_3363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567922909780310034" /></a><br /><br />Here is where we ate lunch everyday for the past 3 weeks! This is just out on the front lawn of the chapel, and this is why I have such an impressive farmer's tan :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRneRe7f-q2TEP_rDywV7ccqzPd-rZYtY6kk3PasLVFpfQw4oPZsZkF7JU1d91R7uwut96oVNyH2O596iJTb7vLZE_IEPYYV25dQNwwhvH00YLQMhQ3DPF2o0oG_jmf_prp8YClgNg_3Vq/s1600/nz+science+cooking+026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRneRe7f-q2TEP_rDywV7ccqzPd-rZYtY6kk3PasLVFpfQw4oPZsZkF7JU1d91R7uwut96oVNyH2O596iJTb7vLZE_IEPYYV25dQNwwhvH00YLQMhQ3DPF2o0oG_jmf_prp8YClgNg_3Vq/s320/nz+science+cooking+026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567921930677753458" /></a><br /><br />We were supposed to go to the beach on Saturday, but those Australian's are really ruining my summer sun with all their rain! I think it should really be over now, up in Auckland anyway (its supposed to rain the whole week down in Queenstown though, bummer.) So our alternative? Auckland War Memorial Museum, which sounded boring, I know, but I really liked it! There was tons of Maori stuff and we even went to a singing/ dancing/ fighting/ haka-ing show! Here I am with Rebecca, Janet, and Whitney.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Ks7N2IvvCXNAbjs5fCm9LgdhYnenrhPiwqecKL89HIAyXIo7E6NtfF2_CzdYNVxaTeFTcFuSnxgl1OEEmriPGfWT9maK9mQH__R9tpiVZpafQPrJN6IYduK2Zt1b_-7NjpL5VSvsWWD/s1600/100_0025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Ks7N2IvvCXNAbjs5fCm9LgdhYnenrhPiwqecKL89HIAyXIo7E6NtfF2_CzdYNVxaTeFTcFuSnxgl1OEEmriPGfWT9maK9mQH__R9tpiVZpafQPrJN6IYduK2Zt1b_-7NjpL5VSvsWWD/s320/100_0025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567921917489834386" /></a><br /><br />This is one of the guys from the performance! How do we look? Like pros.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy3P_eyIK7TfFm2IVY20f3c4YD2vPZdy3r4yc5TBbC0BZ6JCYyXdeRwGXKmEhaytfqxd3mAsAZYvimw1FLdY4QYKPV2aobXqgEfR-A3maXLpqPalJG30kxrDXyTJ0NgcRkLH0I7ZYpDio/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy3P_eyIK7TfFm2IVY20f3c4YD2vPZdy3r4yc5TBbC0BZ6JCYyXdeRwGXKmEhaytfqxd3mAsAZYvimw1FLdY4QYKPV2aobXqgEfR-A3maXLpqPalJG30kxrDXyTJ0NgcRkLH0I7ZYpDio/s320/IMG_3377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567921913320928034" /></a><br /><br />Next we went to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World! I loved it. Aquarium but with even cooler stuff, like this Penguin ride that drives right through their little habitat place. We were very excited about how interactive this place was. Great for entertaining a bunch of 20-22 year old American girls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDZmDOvc32l92UqVmsialiEdGImJh1sV5RxsssSLGR7fJMchRHXn1prs6eVPcIhwYGcO8b1r7ma2_sL6YeaBr_I-aQZ8rGu6ePfKX2JxtNd8FQ3gTzq_Sb7tvSSIYLWMnC8HY26xDFtuK/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDZmDOvc32l92UqVmsialiEdGImJh1sV5RxsssSLGR7fJMchRHXn1prs6eVPcIhwYGcO8b1r7ma2_sL6YeaBr_I-aQZ8rGu6ePfKX2JxtNd8FQ3gTzq_Sb7tvSSIYLWMnC8HY26xDFtuK/s320/IMG_0623.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567921908852517826" /></a><br /><br />Here I am with a HUGE stingray. We swam with some in the Bahamas and I thought I was scared of them then, but they were runts compared to these ones. A guy was in the tank feeding them so he could get them to come flat against the glass and splash over the top and they were just so cool. Next there was a moving walkway that you stood on to go through this aquarium over your head full of sharks which was so crazy, the sharks kinda looked like they had awkward faces, like something you'd find in the farside cartoons. Better pictures to come one the girls share them with me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkifJopCl4hdaE68mXmjTLazFMGf7kKA_82bLk0aajra36HP7fxnWyd994FPsg0CSmf2psw_hyj0n0KHDpFx-zSmw-Ol0nMn2BzQly-Idqi9blJGXcWFUuOyrAX3ke34QRXw_WtxexXclf/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkifJopCl4hdaE68mXmjTLazFMGf7kKA_82bLk0aajra36HP7fxnWyd994FPsg0CSmf2psw_hyj0n0KHDpFx-zSmw-Ol0nMn2BzQly-Idqi9blJGXcWFUuOyrAX3ke34QRXw_WtxexXclf/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567921896817032242" /></a><br /><br />Well have a great week and a half everyone! Don't be offended when I don't respond! (just take the hint...)Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-50596066286284930402011-01-25T00:59:00.000-08:002011-01-25T01:38:14.373-08:00Sunshine in My Soul!We had SUNSHINE today! Very exciting after a week of rain from Australia. The rain didn't stop us though...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrwJ1MhsErs-HgdpvXB6uyfSec_zGxjz9d0rmTV6yz9n22Ps7KoZLF7-SvuakugrNDYKaLZYuO3eESO4YhjsFpdbf9pwAqQlQdTJmJT5YnnTxNpmsMOdoZJZ3B6W0pT9V6XyR_zTFLSS_/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrwJ1MhsErs-HgdpvXB6uyfSec_zGxjz9d0rmTV6yz9n22Ps7KoZLF7-SvuakugrNDYKaLZYuO3eESO4YhjsFpdbf9pwAqQlQdTJmJT5YnnTxNpmsMOdoZJZ3B6W0pT9V6XyR_zTFLSS_/s320/IMG_3345.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566051610126344834" /></a><br />Here is my walking group! We are the 4 "Colwill girls" (Jessica, Christine, me, and Heidi) because we are kind of far from everyone else cause we live just down the street from our practicum school, Colwill School. We walk to class everyday, 45 minutes each way with huge hills, so hopefully we are also soon to be the girls with the best legs. Yesterday we rode the bus to school to avoid the rain, but we had to wait outside the gates to the church for 20 minutes, so we were still pretty soaked despite the umbrellas, but umbrellas are just too fun so it was worth it (plus they make a great photo background) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw_Vz3H5oqBH3YLF78HTmnpxn8BqAS8NQ-bjLw9MwBBk9uEI3CI8IzLq5E6HV_tu_SNnYiZy0J4imFXgZCteGJQnfAjzg-d_APfkJ_FNpGYqZxIJgquCEZm6YjN4x-ISxtlfPUSUs-CEv/s1600/DSCN0169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw_Vz3H5oqBH3YLF78HTmnpxn8BqAS8NQ-bjLw9MwBBk9uEI3CI8IzLq5E6HV_tu_SNnYiZy0J4imFXgZCteGJQnfAjzg-d_APfkJ_FNpGYqZxIJgquCEZm6YjN4x-ISxtlfPUSUs-CEv/s320/DSCN0169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566051597420984642" /></a><br />On Saturday we went to the Chinese New Year Festival (pre-new years?) It is apparently a huge deal here, so we got our first little taste of it since we will be down south for the actual new year, but this was probably enough for me. It was little Bejing! Tons of people, chinese food, karate, and jerky to taste-test. I even drank straight out of this hut-shaped coconut! Not my favorite, but hey, exotic experience for me so I'm pleased. Plus I just liked the idea of sticking a straw straight into a coconut and drinking it, how tropical are we? Sheryl suggested that when I'm in Samoa (emphasis on the SAHH-moa here) to "ask one of those bronze boys with a machete to fetch you a coconut, then he'll shimmy up the tree..." so thats going on my samoa to-do list, try their coconuts: as fresh as possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0BpJ3eJv_PdccglGdz9ZR64fvwj-DoKklJfDxoBZB8AauZeWct03SbSVUZzAjjm_WwiBldaDYH3fzc2iMcSUf1pWw9zxT1vDmmotztowHEUcQtz3iIouGPS_PjFflDk8ahUripgElLBQ/s1600/IMG_3340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0BpJ3eJv_PdccglGdz9ZR64fvwj-DoKklJfDxoBZB8AauZeWct03SbSVUZzAjjm_WwiBldaDYH3fzc2iMcSUf1pWw9zxT1vDmmotztowHEUcQtz3iIouGPS_PjFflDk8ahUripgElLBQ/s320/IMG_3340.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566051589588261346" /></a><br />We discovered this really great tree the other day on a little adventure/run. So many different palm trees here! We saw one on our run today that looked like a HUGE pineapple cause it was like this one but really round and plump, more pineapple shaped than this one :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qfNEAutxpr0PYFKX8K6bpYz-qpJbZvtxqcOmai1p8tS9SmNqL_enQuTRiFYVnezWi3Dipa6XYKLRuvmq8LdBQTPcwOb8NEJ4i7lGp6nMoyFg5ZzESmDIQSQysoKbQRhQj8s_28GGsxTP/s1600/DSCN0160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qfNEAutxpr0PYFKX8K6bpYz-qpJbZvtxqcOmai1p8tS9SmNqL_enQuTRiFYVnezWi3Dipa6XYKLRuvmq8LdBQTPcwOb8NEJ4i7lGp6nMoyFg5ZzESmDIQSQysoKbQRhQj8s_28GGsxTP/s320/DSCN0160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566055272875463330" /></a><br />class is tough, but I'm learning a lot, such as how to make tapas mats (picture another time maybe) and how to make a rugby uniform out of newspaper and tape. We were challenged by our teacher to make an outfit of what we thought kiwi's were going to look like, and I'm proud to say we were the only ones who made a rugby player, the rest all made typical islander dresses. Here we are doing the haka, scary eyes are a must for correct technique. (I think this was just to entertain my teacher, I am unaware of any specific "learning intentions" that are usually so vital to any education class).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOfZ3RJbhv21HILqDIHhAWJT_RvuyEn0bEb2EH6d-QESMYlcVN1I3IC7OJPstoGhe0H4R0T3qMZ7PXY9W9dp98cFpIVqohQKzBsHAfbNsKKi63F1NDhsK1C9sWmVAUOmSfZb4UCYjx-2t/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOfZ3RJbhv21HILqDIHhAWJT_RvuyEn0bEb2EH6d-QESMYlcVN1I3IC7OJPstoGhe0H4R0T3qMZ7PXY9W9dp98cFpIVqohQKzBsHAfbNsKKi63F1NDhsK1C9sWmVAUOmSfZb4UCYjx-2t/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566051581944902610" /></a><br />We are closer than ever to making the ultimate pavlova! Although we made another one yesterday with a different recipe and it was 10x better than this other recipe, however we were having a study-abroad party and some lady went ahead and served it up for the rest of the crew, even though it was just for us to taste later so we just narrowly snagged a piece and it was definitely the best one yet!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiv7jzrzshyphenhyphennrODdFuEwJ65dRv7Nc6cLy7bsjVPogbXEoctZL5fh1Hjrt4agdRUkhkKWGC-1a_mxrM6flmt77RYOAQVuNsGwzBwOEdyTV_Dz5nQEnU5hP-zjKAf-pWg00dvieyma3T4Gt/s1600/DSCN0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiv7jzrzshyphenhyphennrODdFuEwJ65dRv7Nc6cLy7bsjVPogbXEoctZL5fh1Hjrt4agdRUkhkKWGC-1a_mxrM6flmt77RYOAQVuNsGwzBwOEdyTV_Dz5nQEnU5hP-zjKAf-pWg00dvieyma3T4Gt/s320/DSCN0143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566051572080745698" /></a>and I work so hard all the time, that's why I get to play so much :)Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-77325728136420045302011-01-18T01:01:00.000-08:002011-01-18T01:38:09.285-08:00Rainy WeekIt's rainy all week this week, so I won't have much to show for myself, but here are a bunch of pictures I either just got from the other girls or just decided to put up!<br /><br />But first... tonight Elder Anderson was speaking at a nearby chapel, so Jess, Christine, Heidi, and I rode the bus and planned on getting off at the bottom of the hill our stake center is on to catch a ride with people there. We get on, and first of all the lady wouldn't give us a student discount (some do and some don't, Dr. Jacobs said this lady must have been mad at her husband or something haha) and then right before our stop, she takes the world's longest, most confusing detour, so we lost track of where we were and missed getting off. We got off as soon as we realized we were far away and heading even farther away and started running cause we had only a few minutes to get to the stake center and a LONG way to walk (the bus had been late, plus that detour was so long) It was just so funny when we were running that I couldn't stop laughing the whole time because I was just picturing the four of us girls in dresses, holding onto our skirts and shoes, Christine's umbrella was just behind her and inside out and it was raining, all on a main road. Eventually we started walking cause we wanted to cool down before getting to the church and getting stuck in a stuffy car, but then Christine stepped on glass and by this time we were just soaked. When we got to the church (only 9 min late, I was impressed with our performance), there was only one car in the whole lot, and not a soul to be found. Of course we're cheap and don't have a cell phone, so we knocked on the door of a random house across the street (my first time, thrilling!) and asked to use a phone. We called our teacher, Carol first to see if she had Dr. J's number but she lost it, then Phyllis who eventually found it, then Dr. J himself and he came to pick us up (all during this poor family's dinner that we so rudely interrupted)! They were so nice, and we were just laughing the whole time about what had just happened. Then Dr. J drove us home, the end!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHsgmY4Bh9Jt4eiDOi_e1A1M3cJijj3HeyqQE1aW6m7cVnoBlr9ou8wP7VExjyvGeOJiOsgu7zjQdsrzXdWgM2Qnp0LA_pRI3IehC-CEksusrtmaEm-Hk5kBIXEEqL3KO2KIrqhjaP6pW/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHsgmY4Bh9Jt4eiDOi_e1A1M3cJijj3HeyqQE1aW6m7cVnoBlr9ou8wP7VExjyvGeOJiOsgu7zjQdsrzXdWgM2Qnp0LA_pRI3IehC-CEksusrtmaEm-Hk5kBIXEEqL3KO2KIrqhjaP6pW/s320/IMG_3289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563456816888794242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXCG69g3kix6QkPxIPO801XB5-y-yd-_Hw0b510-BR4XKttsH-KZfGdZ2c-BUCHzNJQwNuWQjQaZanTEPRrH3qA_12m0vF__w4FgJs9ZHD4LAYvq9bgM6uqAb-_zFvMBF9clnXcICfRtN/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXCG69g3kix6QkPxIPO801XB5-y-yd-_Hw0b510-BR4XKttsH-KZfGdZ2c-BUCHzNJQwNuWQjQaZanTEPRrH3qA_12m0vF__w4FgJs9ZHD4LAYvq9bgM6uqAb-_zFvMBF9clnXcICfRtN/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563456804290579570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJ1_IOQROUsK-JIL3DcE1Gqjv0dYcdAd6iH0Yz3pgwZi4YjytE7BjhvJARyv54GZBHnPyGoT7zfZz1uggnD1M-m-qghcGjgo4p-kpXoYn6jpAA8mupjIyfvw0DzJOCEdkX1YaV7cJ2c09/s1600/DSC06564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJ1_IOQROUsK-JIL3DcE1Gqjv0dYcdAd6iH0Yz3pgwZi4YjytE7BjhvJARyv54GZBHnPyGoT7zfZz1uggnD1M-m-qghcGjgo4p-kpXoYn6jpAA8mupjIyfvw0DzJOCEdkX1YaV7cJ2c09/s320/DSC06564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563456800493479298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoejN5xvMifMXAc3tJ8G-f3PBGPw5SiaxXx-6VT18fNQCq2e6Hb2M5-5bC_NVEyguN_58exEMJuYiXpJZdJ6bIlR3ksRRT6TKK4Gz9RPmdJ2UHLU2_-QzLOZMLNNgRCUT1KV7ICUo8Xiu/s1600/DSCN0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoejN5xvMifMXAc3tJ8G-f3PBGPw5SiaxXx-6VT18fNQCq2e6Hb2M5-5bC_NVEyguN_58exEMJuYiXpJZdJ6bIlR3ksRRT6TKK4Gz9RPmdJ2UHLU2_-QzLOZMLNNgRCUT1KV7ICUo8Xiu/s320/DSCN0093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563456797018008642" /></a>Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-42382320297633462312011-01-15T01:41:00.000-08:002011-01-15T02:42:14.128-08:00Tom-ah-toes!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?) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK97pdq_7NAfEtEPXJXZb2slveXv46j6zlnKnM8ziRTKkNWSkdswxvwY-einnLZ9h2YEHCeuFtcaqF5yu-fWo-0dpZuiGpX6IzSwS33Zi1yZCY2If08UHZIaQ9QZKUPHz1l71QmHb0sUg9/s1600/DSCN0059.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK97pdq_7NAfEtEPXJXZb2slveXv46j6zlnKnM8ziRTKkNWSkdswxvwY-einnLZ9h2YEHCeuFtcaqF5yu-fWo-0dpZuiGpX6IzSwS33Zi1yZCY2If08UHZIaQ9QZKUPHz1l71QmHb0sUg9/s320/DSCN0059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562346897564735858" /></a>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 :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqsc1BqGU1UHj1jLhdI5Irn0xwI589X96D18Jy90xoAozej_0_6e-x9sCQzDwoGChJP7EELbL9TibBT7j1r7EBGXWwbj8ILPjiLW1p0HNDqD4TqClA0ZaUP7PAjcyxFJie54X7J8HUvpt/s1600/IMG_3282.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqsc1BqGU1UHj1jLhdI5Irn0xwI589X96D18Jy90xoAozej_0_6e-x9sCQzDwoGChJP7EELbL9TibBT7j1r7EBGXWwbj8ILPjiLW1p0HNDqD4TqClA0ZaUP7PAjcyxFJie54X7J8HUvpt/s320/IMG_3282.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562348425492321346" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OnUhygYc61ollZv2CXIt186sVZpqO5e87mlRsxv_EIE9Go30-n0E-g09Vf4pwTc4keGeWqv74rWtUNTAbhdvscmfItIFcbzACvxX3RNe6CcbIOSvjsmNYS9qsQbS-dMyUI6kRfHsMqTA/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OnUhygYc61ollZv2CXIt186sVZpqO5e87mlRsxv_EIE9Go30-n0E-g09Vf4pwTc4keGeWqv74rWtUNTAbhdvscmfItIFcbzACvxX3RNe6CcbIOSvjsmNYS9qsQbS-dMyUI6kRfHsMqTA/s320/IMG_3284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562349923983457266" /></a>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!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12pBdO6OA7i_FIYY1rNeN5f1yGB3o1Uuhit22OtzTCiC9iPzcC4hnSl0aZ6CNy-mSebFbKoxNJ7T46YqLZbN7usJjTDjoD-CSEdfatc4npkQkLw8NMeZmkcR89B564AAjgAzbTPtHzo_m/s1600/DSCN0084.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12pBdO6OA7i_FIYY1rNeN5f1yGB3o1Uuhit22OtzTCiC9iPzcC4hnSl0aZ6CNy-mSebFbKoxNJ7T46YqLZbN7usJjTDjoD-CSEdfatc4npkQkLw8NMeZmkcR89B564AAjgAzbTPtHzo_m/s320/DSCN0084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562351226110230706" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi9fzcjkImmrhLbsbNXZN0VgUJmA4LXzKJqCKSEXCq16WuUWQPfB869Ba4PUhoJc1fRy18-_rszfDKs8vyfuJu4k2mbVITaSF6nzCbUUaPYhKqp8iLnBICVkHgKnITSfcoKgmxFGwinrG/s1600/IMG_3298.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi9fzcjkImmrhLbsbNXZN0VgUJmA4LXzKJqCKSEXCq16WuUWQPfB869Ba4PUhoJc1fRy18-_rszfDKs8vyfuJu4k2mbVITaSF6nzCbUUaPYhKqp8iLnBICVkHgKnITSfcoKgmxFGwinrG/s320/IMG_3298.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562352442868278786" /></a>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!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0BqojFidc4CcgtCD243JcEOiUrNGFz9OS_MMCa-KSfrJynWo52nLdMig6eIOW46-9rnO9eaRbpsiGq-aS-1asulgcYMmddTgB0Ocp4f7K0yBiZWPu6nYEGC24NlHfij4BIfQ1DURFb81/s1600/DSCN0073.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0BqojFidc4CcgtCD243JcEOiUrNGFz9OS_MMCa-KSfrJynWo52nLdMig6eIOW46-9rnO9eaRbpsiGq-aS-1asulgcYMmddTgB0Ocp4f7K0yBiZWPu6nYEGC24NlHfij4BIfQ1DURFb81/s320/DSCN0073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562354693106844978" /></a>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 :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmabQcmT-KD4wysLWfyAhqHEPHXEws1av0xkV-_Po6bRZ3qAVveSc1NJ5-pqM2OTT9uNp4ag-EngYXhYYl1vFTX-epr_SAwkiXOnGz-4fit-5SZvko-fFdPo1Rn0tJIbhWU36PVHehDXvJ/s1600/DSCN0123.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmabQcmT-KD4wysLWfyAhqHEPHXEws1av0xkV-_Po6bRZ3qAVveSc1NJ5-pqM2OTT9uNp4ag-EngYXhYYl1vFTX-epr_SAwkiXOnGz-4fit-5SZvko-fFdPo1Rn0tJIbhWU36PVHehDXvJ/s320/DSCN0123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562356004940790210" /></a>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!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIyoPXXb3i-o-PJ16UDnLs1KWCJm42-_9zLmJ51drqT4Uemy0BGmTQtV72vaTtaCUJvExGtPzijrU4Od1krweBfySsiQUckeFMDPMfV8eehtcqeQA4CtJY_KW93pLzcfpqlnKQ4eXoh6s/s1600/DSCN0109.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIyoPXXb3i-o-PJ16UDnLs1KWCJm42-_9zLmJ51drqT4Uemy0BGmTQtV72vaTtaCUJvExGtPzijrU4Od1krweBfySsiQUckeFMDPMfV8eehtcqeQA4CtJY_KW93pLzcfpqlnKQ4eXoh6s/s320/DSCN0109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562357274915623426" /></a>How's winter treating you, people?? No big.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAXEl0s_n7P02wc4Gv5775JFU5eMHUTwDjQdHtQPNps68K7vlNBqRgrixsPIJeVDRbpHHJeLygJ4FlSuY8nCki6lumJGc0aLFSzKvVtvKAUPOWLfMP932dCXrMZUFWzEfHdf16X5hCj_X/s1600/DSCN0131.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAXEl0s_n7P02wc4Gv5775JFU5eMHUTwDjQdHtQPNps68K7vlNBqRgrixsPIJeVDRbpHHJeLygJ4FlSuY8nCki6lumJGc0aLFSzKvVtvKAUPOWLfMP932dCXrMZUFWzEfHdf16X5hCj_X/s320/DSCN0131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562359078308892162" /></a>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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGglKZ2n2daE42yoaYfKBDtM0kyPQj-BbK9ftgK2Rqx1n_cTFvrXHBZ9p156MLBmBi9LT784X0TeA4oEZe3h6-1KK51VyZBxEbcth9rgMIniEV7yHK2DB-_anB51UF5JnU9BgllUvAnJd/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGglKZ2n2daE42yoaYfKBDtM0kyPQj-BbK9ftgK2Rqx1n_cTFvrXHBZ9p156MLBmBi9LT784X0TeA4oEZe3h6-1KK51VyZBxEbcth9rgMIniEV7yHK2DB-_anB51UF5JnU9BgllUvAnJd/s320/IMG_3317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562360807562631202" /></a>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)...Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-42840124765858128922011-01-10T01:29:00.001-08:002011-01-10T02:11:48.646-08:00Sunday in Waitakere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMBYxRIPzrGMg5pAjwL-X_gtTy_43sVDQc4C7_3lshvQqWUVYf8QBZ9gfI0l_yCC_Z57LCoCgRsTbJ651JBfKQD2oFR2flEfCvLKM2EYekkDXd5jiu4eRBIB8eJ32IDlGeWMI_stkBKfN/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMBYxRIPzrGMg5pAjwL-X_gtTy_43sVDQc4C7_3lshvQqWUVYf8QBZ9gfI0l_yCC_Z57LCoCgRsTbJ651JBfKQD2oFR2flEfCvLKM2EYekkDXd5jiu4eRBIB8eJ32IDlGeWMI_stkBKfN/s320/IMG_3258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560489249438000978" /></a><br />Yesterday, Heidi and I spent some of our relaxing Sunday afternoon to document our home while here in New Zealand! Here I am walking up the front walk, with some of their cool plants, although that big bush is unfortunately covering up two Ponga trees (refer back to my post on a pukeko in a ponga tree)! The plants here are so cool and the whole place is so green right now. Our room is just on the other side of those windows to my left! The windows in the whole house are open 24/7 to let a breeze in, which makes for a lot of flies (but, can't complain) but it is funny cause we can hear people talking in other parts of the house through the windows all the time! For example, those windows straight in front of me lead to the "lounge" aka family room, so every night we can hear the shows and chatter going on, or loud toys playing during the day. No juicy gossip so far, but I'm keeping my ears open, as well as my mouth shut.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPeg827Nhc8hZoml_akpjSYARKQhcbPy7idC3CO0oB7fPwuU3hVbmSHEWAVXklEx-fEweL3cN9kkOnMyFnYJO4i772AcBkrVSVwj_nGVD065lSoxN7UbsiSPI2wnT6apYz3zToy6JoF4s/s1600/IMG_3261.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPeg827Nhc8hZoml_akpjSYARKQhcbPy7idC3CO0oB7fPwuU3hVbmSHEWAVXklEx-fEweL3cN9kkOnMyFnYJO4i772AcBkrVSVwj_nGVD065lSoxN7UbsiSPI2wnT6apYz3zToy6JoF4s/s320/IMG_3261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560491478362815970" /></a><br />This is the view at the back of their backyard (hence, the fence), isn't it beautiful! I could sit back there all day, and I would except there is nowhere to sit but the ground, and I have issues sitting in grass because I feel like bugs crawl all over me. There is a bench, but it sits just a little too close to the beehives for me (they have bees, its tight, we eat lots of honey...from the store though, I don't know what that's all about), so until I get a chair back there, I'll just have to paint a picture and enjoy my picture from indoors, or maybe the deck if I want the added breeze for effect. We (meaning Heidi, Jess, Christine, and myself) are planning to try and walk down to the water from here, cause Kerry (the dad around here) says it can't be done, but how hard can it be?? Yeah so what if there is an overgrown forest to go through and a cliff to scale? I just don't want to get stuck down there cause when Kerry comes to rescue us he'll hate us cause we were stupid. PS sighted: ponga tree! That first one just on the other side of the fence, short little guy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BcJSJ5sRoZWg-ZCI8kx_rdt3gkxY6jacw_hBWByA_uB_QYaK6ONZhPlN3WTKr8BtZlIi-jFWzYNXSo9MABpGZqXT4pKJDtQejVXXAx02x3y8Y2v1ALtvCaRLUICWCMlhXNtX1m6RR99v/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BcJSJ5sRoZWg-ZCI8kx_rdt3gkxY6jacw_hBWByA_uB_QYaK6ONZhPlN3WTKr8BtZlIi-jFWzYNXSo9MABpGZqXT4pKJDtQejVXXAx02x3y8Y2v1ALtvCaRLUICWCMlhXNtX1m6RR99v/s320/IMG_3271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560493889059855634" /></a><br />Here I am with pretty flowers! For those of you who don't know me (get off my blog, find a less-creepy hobbie, how about piano lessons?) I am a flower girl, maybe more so than the typical girl, so this place has been heaven! Heidi and I were just hanging our laundry out to dry (old school, I know, so fun! maybe I'll put a picture up of the hanging things, that would be so interesting for you all to look at...) and we found these flowers just out by the drying thing! I think they should be showcased in a higher-traffic area, but I guess they have so many of them that they're really not all that exciting to the locals. There are even 4 or 5 different colors of these! Love it!<br /><br />Sorry, not the most exciting blog but I had so much homework tonight and will again tomorrow so I just wanted to get something up, more to come in a couple days :)Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-62022452434822091392011-01-08T02:19:00.001-08:002011-01-08T02:58:58.351-08:00No Big<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9quTTtWTnrLprv_JqHMRW17yzpDQMwILPxpQhhdP4C768VRkZnKEz3owsMfbgByFt-mYeG46R4eRppp3zyk45Yle_vX3EwWNWMPqV58FJq4P0ZTZxUOlML-HFZEIaMINVrjxznCKMpJ1/s1600/P1070025.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9quTTtWTnrLprv_JqHMRW17yzpDQMwILPxpQhhdP4C768VRkZnKEz3owsMfbgByFt-mYeG46R4eRppp3zyk45Yle_vX3EwWNWMPqV58FJq4P0ZTZxUOlML-HFZEIaMINVrjxznCKMpJ1/s320/P1070025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559757903060091154" /></a><br />For those of you trudging through the snow, maybe sledding or building a snowman,THIS is what I was doing today: Playing on a beach, with a sun so hot I had to use SPF 50 just to try and stay pastey white! <br />Here are all 16 girls from my program at Orewa beach this afternoon! Too cute, too cute. I am third from the left if you can't find me. I like this place, its east coast which means white sand and minimal waves (Tasman side has black sand and big waves) but the waves were just barely there enough to boogie board! I sometimes get a little chicken when the water is super rough like it has been at the beach backhome the past couple of years, so this was a great way to boogie board for a wuss like me, although you don't go very fast. We went on a long walk down the whole stretch of beach until it ended...at a straight up rock face/cliff thing which was so cool! I will post pictures once I get them from Rebecca, cause it looked so tropical, like something you'd stumble upon in theamazon. We also played in the sand and had quite the photoshoot (for before/after pictures, duh, gotta have those) and got fresh strawberry ice cream on the way home! The perfect summer day :)<br />I learned a new word yesterday (I learn a lot, this one was significant to me): Morish (pronounced more-ish). Heidi brought peanut butter m&ms for our homestays to try cause they don't have them here, and last night Sheryl said they were very morish. I've been trying lately not to act like such a stupid newb-American girl by just going along with what people say, pretending that I'm following (ya know how I said they probably think I'm slow...trying to act like I'm not) but when she said that, I just had to ask her what she meant. "You know, like they make you want more and more of them!" hahaha they made a word for that? I like that one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVEZWZ0M57lM-Satfo-UQyKHWtj5Fkg1o9lLgFPLfOZ5BHS9uGHGJ_JshAWSPi-7I0CUnkfCLexzlGMTEDEd79mIDDBjv6hW4Gu1PQkHVdaViZjds6aYMRM8lUWISCO7poPvqfs-yN9kN/s1600/IMG_3251.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVEZWZ0M57lM-Satfo-UQyKHWtj5Fkg1o9lLgFPLfOZ5BHS9uGHGJ_JshAWSPi-7I0CUnkfCLexzlGMTEDEd79mIDDBjv6hW4Gu1PQkHVdaViZjds6aYMRM8lUWISCO7poPvqfs-yN9kN/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559766611666219474" /></a><br /><br />Other than that, we go to school, do homework, play with Kodie and Alexis (Alexis has been slowly giving me her most prized possessions, such as a funky green rock, a barbie pencil case, or today a matchbox car and a ribbon!) (and Kodie always has to come in a give Heidi and I kisses before bed, love him! plus "Anna" is one of his like 3 words), go on walks to Jess and Christine's house, go for runs on these impossibly hill-y streets, try to go swimming but never make it to the pool when they come over, and we even had a girls night with Phyllis tonight! She is Jess and Christine's homestay, and when we were painting our nails tonight, she said she had never had paint on her toenails before (she's like pushing 70)! So Jess painted her nails for the first time, it was precious. She served us milo, similar to hot chocolate, but her version is very watered down. Sis Anderton said we will be drinking milo every morning at school during "morning tea" where all the teachers take a break to get some tea while the kids go outside. Then we watched sister act which didn't seem like a very proper, old, British woman's type of movie, so it was great :)Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-509657526850814922011-01-06T01:27:00.000-08:002011-01-06T02:02:47.038-08:00First day of School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEghyphenhyphentoyAToykIMnYlgjSLj2iJrs8-WZP6OnpggzcP9PqfOhLV7vktxEl0pJHsHSSA9WY5AQKmqvw2eN3vzX9lPfXd0Ir_H-v8nzbn120JUnZ3UAF-4kTzqHF4CY6huBjcQ-ZIvjkjohk1/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEghyphenhyphentoyAToykIMnYlgjSLj2iJrs8-WZP6OnpggzcP9PqfOhLV7vktxEl0pJHsHSSA9WY5AQKmqvw2eN3vzX9lPfXd0Ir_H-v8nzbn120JUnZ3UAF-4kTzqHF4CY6huBjcQ-ZIvjkjohk1/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559003821204109106" /></a><br />Here we are walking into class on our first day of school! Ok, you're right, this is staged at the end of the school day, but you have to have a first day of school picture! Class was so fun today, we really didn't do much schoolwise other than learning about the general structure of the school system here in New Zealand. The first half of the day our instructor, Sis Anderton who is half pacific islander pretty much raised in New Zealand, spent three hours just going over the culture here, focusing a lot on the Maori culture. We got to taste some new foods like Marmite, kumaras (sweet potatoes), L&P (lemony soda or "fizzy"), meat pies (exactly that: a pie filled with meat and gravy), and golden kiwis (deceptively normal from the outside, yellow on the inside and much sweeter than the green, SO good). We learned TONS of Maori words along the way, few of which I actually remember. Like Hangi is when they cook meat in a pit in the ground, not to be confused with Hongi is when you press noses together as a greeting (she made us practice that a bunch cause we have to do it in a formal welcoming without giggling as that is the first rule to the Hongi: no giggling.) which I'm probably going to have trouble with since I had trouble with the cheek kissing or whatever when I went to the Polynesian ward with Brock Bolen (he made so much fun of me cause I blushed so much every time!).<br />Most exciting part of the day: learning a Maori dance! And lots of songs (we have to sing one of those at the welcoming thing too)! Sister Anderton's granddaughter came in and taught us, and I can't keep the moves in order, but its basically really subdued hula dancing, like similar motions but she told us to not get crazy with it, which is hard for me to do :)<br />First thing we learned though was the twelve days of Christmas: New Zealand! Here are the elements, sung to the same tune, but its much easier to sing if you know how to pronounce Maori vowels. Give it a go!<br />1. Pukeko in a Ponga tree<br />2.kumara (NZ sweet potato)<br />3. flax kits (grass bags, flax grass has HUGE leaves and grow like weeds here)<br />4. huhu grubs (I don't remember what those are)<br />5. big fat pigs (self-explanatory, no?)<br />6. <a href="http://www.nztramping.com/NZTrampingBlog/images/Poi-manutuke.jpg">poi</a> a twirling <br />7. eels a swimming<br />8. plants of puha (NZ version of a dandelion)<br />9. sacks of pipi (pronounced pee pee although no one else seemed to find that funny today... pipi are clams)<br />10. juicy fish heads (Maori delicacy, I'll pass)<br />11. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y">haka</a> lessons (just check out the subtitles)<br />12. pui pui swinging (don't know this one either)<br /><br />Hope everyone else had a great day in their own special way as well :)Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-52441946525830516882011-01-05T00:46:00.000-08:002011-01-05T01:18:26.481-08:00Octo? Sorry, spell that? O-T-T-OSo, these people are way harder to understand than I thought! I have been anxiously awaiting the constant murmur of New Zealand accents, but I had no idea how much longer it would take me to process each word they say. I'm afraid I am starting to come across as slow to the locals! It takes so much concentration to comprehend some meaning behind the sounds coming out of their mouths that I often find myself tuning out when I get tired, especially if they are off on a monologue. This afternoon I was asking my host family's daughter, Alexis (6) what the dog's name was and I could have sworn she said something like "Octo" and she repeated it several times, as did her mom until she finally just spelled it for me: O-t-t-o. I would have never guessed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDjqWDk6JhLZ56GaAWYWU6Vvorer-Au9I8f_S3R-rOxViF8j8Fm_ihqdyh69iVGAmYuQTtHyjC3DDxUiNtgpmCRWoT44G8Z8N5zrORzb7bdUl93HIxr_qA6FmFC962AlC7l-eyFjVtLw3/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDjqWDk6JhLZ56GaAWYWU6Vvorer-Au9I8f_S3R-rOxViF8j8Fm_ihqdyh69iVGAmYuQTtHyjC3DDxUiNtgpmCRWoT44G8Z8N5zrORzb7bdUl93HIxr_qA6FmFC962AlC7l-eyFjVtLw3/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558623424457783250" /></a><br />After showering when we first got to the Lord family's home, we went with the mom, Sheryl to the day care center she owns (called Tui's Nest, I gotta look up Tui) and helped them set the place back up after it was just painted. While there, Alexis also took Heidi and I across the street to the Garden Center where we got to see lots of pretty flowers and cool plants. Can I just say, they have a much wider variety of plants here, even just what is in their yard/ wild stuff. Here I am with Alexa and a butt load of hydrenga's.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmQ4NbA_wbzrGJexOqH_Ioj7dqxt3ShsqQycAnMxd6uxsOspcXYZy_RD55W1PMdWr4Y4Bh-VyW3_3BLPqwUX7WevwysX7OUOCki9DjE3iHwG2YFk1UYBgX0ow8ZKkNPRNqH-mt0pFAKFK/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmQ4NbA_wbzrGJexOqH_Ioj7dqxt3ShsqQycAnMxd6uxsOspcXYZy_RD55W1PMdWr4Y4Bh-VyW3_3BLPqwUX7WevwysX7OUOCki9DjE3iHwG2YFk1UYBgX0ow8ZKkNPRNqH-mt0pFAKFK/s320/IMG_3242.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558628485447384962" /></a> Later we went grocery shopping with Sheryl (at the Dairy, how cute?) and that was a much greater adventure than anticipated! At first glance, it is exactly the same as our grocery stores, but as you look closer, everything is labeled just wrong! The Rice Krispies are like Rice Bubbles or something, cookies are biscuits, popsicles don't exist (side note: when we were at the Garden center, Alexis was pointing out her favorite ice cream bars out of a little freezer thing there and she called them Ice Blocks, and we asked her if she knew what a popsicle was and she said no very sheepishly. So we asked her cousin Tipany who is maybe in high school and he gave us a blank stare.) except for a brand called popsicle, so like one box in the entire freezer section, the eggs come in packages with all different sizes colors (shades?), and they have weird ice cream flavors like hokey or jolly raspberry something, and the most disgusting thing was the dog food: looked like those sausage tube packages but HUGE and its refrigerated and you just cut off slices for your spoiled dog! It was a very exciting trip to say the least and we had a lot of fun with Sheryl, taking pictures with different things like vegimite (we bought some so I'll let you know how it is!). In this picture, notice that there are no orange cheeses. Out of this world, right? Well we were talking about it and wonder if our cheese is just colored, cause how would you get orange from something made of milk? Food for thought. And let me know if you find out whether or not its colored.Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5930359421844621172.post-80202863074139566912011-01-02T16:46:00.000-08:002011-01-04T20:43:52.901-08:00I'm leaving on a jetplane!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtC775S2FlqSJErPJc_K-qXYEaFBrZUtCAQ4804j8lcHfVcuCWCg-XZBGcBOhp1DNzrGK-h89xKehAQd3TdzrDHcsQYxxy7P_82w4Kvgz-IC_nMu1X3-du2Upgxq94euNfFiYOCIzqhyO/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtC775S2FlqSJErPJc_K-qXYEaFBrZUtCAQ4804j8lcHfVcuCWCg-XZBGcBOhp1DNzrGK-h89xKehAQd3TdzrDHcsQYxxy7P_82w4Kvgz-IC_nMu1X3-du2Upgxq94euNfFiYOCIzqhyO/s320/IMG_3220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558556550955278578" /></a><br />Dulles to LA: 6 hours<br />Layover in LA: 10 hours<br />LA to Auckland: 13 hours<br />Plus driving time/ security/ customs...but I made it! This place is awesome. <br /><br />Clearly 10 hours is entirely too long to spend at one gate. You start to do yoga and have a journal writing club and take lots of weird pictures like these... At least I wasn't alone though!Anna Goodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935402947868194032noreply@blogger.com0