Today was the official start of my program. We had our classroom orientation today where we went over rules, the values of the program, fire escape, etc. basically everything that was in the binders they gave us. We also got together in our different schools (there are 3, but mine is definately the coolest) and I got to see firsthand who all is in my program, and it's about 6 girls and 7 guys, most of whom are around my age so that should be fun. One of the leaders of my group are Simon, who I mentioned before as the guy who took us up The Mount, and he's really cool and a lot of fun to play games and hang out with. The other one is Madeline, or Maddy, and she is 22, has dark red hair that is twisted into dreadlocks, and a face that kind of looks like Jennifer Lawrence. Anyhow, the adventure group looks like its going to be doing a lot of really cool things: hiking, kayaking, caving, fishing, bungee jumping (I'm not so sure I'll join in on that one yet) and luging, which if you've seen the geico commercial with the guy in the lay-down cart thingies when a pig on one comes by him with a pinwheel, then that's luging. Apparently the cart things can go up to 60mph.
I also learned today that the program is a requirement for a University of the Nations degree, which may not be why I'm going on one, but along with that, it means the program is graded pass/fail. Or in other words, it is possible for me to fail my gap year program? What? Oh well, I'm in it for the experience. Along with the fact that the program is a course means that we have journals due every week and a book report due every 3 weeks. They gave us our first one today and the books about the guy who founded the program. It's also due the day after my birthday, which basically means I will be spending part of my birthday working on it. On that note, I am very sad to not be celebrating in the good ole USA this year. I suppose my first lottery ticket and BB gun will have to wait until December. Oh, and my first voting election will be in another 4 years. Whatever, we're probably
screwed whether Romney or Obama gets in office. Maybe I should just stay in New Zealand and
avoid all that. Just kidding, of course.
As part of the program, everyone has household chores/responsibilities. I completely lucked out with mine. On the board were things like dinner cleanup, grounds maintenance, and hospitality which who knows what that entails, but I'm guessing I wouldn't do that job very well. I got dinner prep, which means I get to help cook dinner. The cook for the program is a young guy named Thomas who is really nice, a suprisingly great cook ( I am LOVING the food here), and he looks kind of like Waldo from "Where's Waldo" but without the turtleneck or glasses. So basically during our allotted chores time after classroom me and 3 other girls and an Indonesian boy named Kevin go over to the guys' house, because that's where we eat lunch and dinner, and help make dinner, and when we're done we hang out with some of the staff and whatever guys are around and play games and chill. One of my favorite things about this experience so far is hanging out and learning new games to play, and for some reason since the guys' house is the main meeting place we don't really play games in the girls' house, so since I'm on dinner prep squad it makes me feel like I have a legit excuse to chill more in the guys' house and play games. Things are going generally well for me, we are going to learn what outreach locations are available to go to soon. Keep reading, and I miss all of you terribly!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Sunday (Saturday for you)
It's actually a great deal colder here than I had anticipated, about 54F each day, which was a bit of a shock considering the fact that I packed more shorts and T-shirts than anything. Apparently I was also supposed to bring my own blanket but not sheets which I brought, so it looks like I'll be sleeping in my sleeping bag for 5 months. It's one of those that can keep you warm in below freezing temperatures, so I'm not worried. Really, bring it on New Zealand. When I woke up this morning there were two of my roommates already here and asleep. I met them and one 20 named Brianna and one is 19 and named Shelby. Shelby is in my Adventure DTS program as well. I was a little worried I would be the only girl in my program because yesterday is was basically me and 5 guys chilling playing cards, Settlers of Catan, and we went for a climb on Mt. Maunganui (aka the mount), and although it was a little drizzly and cold it was still a really nice view. Hopefully we'll go when it's a lot nicer out so I can get some good pictures.
I tried to unpack and organize, but the room is about the size of mine at home with a closet and 2 small bureaus, but housing 4 people. Most everyone went to church this morning, but it was optional today, so I jumped on that and chilled at home with Shelby since she was the only other person who didn't go. We hung out and ate breakfast and chatted a bit before we hunkered down with a book to read. I started My Sister's Keeper while at the airport in San Francisco and I'm already halfway through it. It's a very intersting topic and I really like how the author switches points of view. I find Jesse's particularily entertaining. Anyway, I trekked over to the guys cabin for lunch with Shelby and since we were early, one of the staff, Simon, showed us how to play the card game scum and we played that until everyone got back from church. The entire day was pretty much eating and playing cards, very chill, but also fun. My roommate Brianna and one of the guys named Patrick taught us to play a card game called Mau which is so confusing and ridiculous because the rule is that no one can know the rules. The Fight Club of cards. So they knew the ground rules and we had to figure them out, and once someone won a round they could impose a rule of their own, and only told one person it to keep them honest. And one of the rules was no talking. It was pretty crazy but also kind of entertaining.
Since today was still not officially the start of the program, we got fish and chips for dinner from a local Tauranga restaurant that the staff claimed made the best fish and chips in the whole city. It was really good, even without ketchup (I know, I'm such an American). After dinner, there was another opportunity to go to church at 5, and surprisingly most everyone chose to go again. They said they wanted a few girls to stay back because another girl might be coming, so naturally I jumped at the chance. I hope they don't make note of the fact that I stayed back both times, but come on, it wasn't mandatory. So, right now I'm just chilling in the girls living room area with Megan who is 17 and from Texas, and Audra who is 23 and from Portland. I asked her if she had ever seen Portlandia and if people in Portland hate it, and she said she didn't mind it, but not everyone is like that in Portland. Good to know I guess. Right now we're all just sitting in the living room near the heater going on our computers. Pretty chill day in a pretty chill(y) country.
I tried to unpack and organize, but the room is about the size of mine at home with a closet and 2 small bureaus, but housing 4 people. Most everyone went to church this morning, but it was optional today, so I jumped on that and chilled at home with Shelby since she was the only other person who didn't go. We hung out and ate breakfast and chatted a bit before we hunkered down with a book to read. I started My Sister's Keeper while at the airport in San Francisco and I'm already halfway through it. It's a very intersting topic and I really like how the author switches points of view. I find Jesse's particularily entertaining. Anyway, I trekked over to the guys cabin for lunch with Shelby and since we were early, one of the staff, Simon, showed us how to play the card game scum and we played that until everyone got back from church. The entire day was pretty much eating and playing cards, very chill, but also fun. My roommate Brianna and one of the guys named Patrick taught us to play a card game called Mau which is so confusing and ridiculous because the rule is that no one can know the rules. The Fight Club of cards. So they knew the ground rules and we had to figure them out, and once someone won a round they could impose a rule of their own, and only told one person it to keep them honest. And one of the rules was no talking. It was pretty crazy but also kind of entertaining.
Since today was still not officially the start of the program, we got fish and chips for dinner from a local Tauranga restaurant that the staff claimed made the best fish and chips in the whole city. It was really good, even without ketchup (I know, I'm such an American). After dinner, there was another opportunity to go to church at 5, and surprisingly most everyone chose to go again. They said they wanted a few girls to stay back because another girl might be coming, so naturally I jumped at the chance. I hope they don't make note of the fact that I stayed back both times, but come on, it wasn't mandatory. So, right now I'm just chilling in the girls living room area with Megan who is 17 and from Texas, and Audra who is 23 and from Portland. I asked her if she had ever seen Portlandia and if people in Portland hate it, and she said she didn't mind it, but not everyone is like that in Portland. Good to know I guess. Right now we're all just sitting in the living room near the heater going on our computers. Pretty chill day in a pretty chill(y) country.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Up Up & Away
Leaving the familiarity of Champaign Urbana and all my wonderful friends and family wasn't easy. I tried not to think about it and more just focused on the fact that I would be home by Christmas. It's when I'd see everyone again anyway if I were at college. I drove up with my dad to Chicago early Thursday (if it even was Thursday, I'm kind of confused about the days. I think today is Saturday in New Zealand, but I'm not certain.) and visited with my Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle for a while before we headed off to the airport. The flight from Chicago to San Francisco was better than expected, I actually had an inseat TV which normally I don't get on a 4 hour flight, so I was pretty excited to enjoy Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Colbert Report, Friends, AND Phineas and Ferb.
I had a four hour layover in San Francisco that involved a lengthy conversation with the lady at the Air New Zealand ticket counter involving why I didn't have a visa when my return flight was in 5 months and they only automatically give a 3 month visa, and after a phone call with some guy in New Zealand that I could barely understand, I got my ticket on the condition that I speak with immigration once I arrived. I then felt I deserved a "splurge" on a falafel sandwich at an airport cafe before my flight. With still 2 hours to kill I hung out by the gate which for the most part was uneventful other than a 38 minute phone call with Leah and a cute guy with an Austrailian accent informing me after hearing me panic to Leah over the phone that my flight was supposed to leave at 9:45 and the clock above the gate said 11:48, that it was only 8:50 and I had nothing to worry about. Seriously, why would you have a clock ANYWHERE in an airport that is 3 hours fast.
The plane to New Zealand was huge. It has a second story section in the front of the plane and the wings were as big as most of the planes I usually fly on. I was placed in one of the emergency exit seats with extra leg room which I at first couldn't believe my luck. Then after then seeing that that meant there was no seat in front of me to hold a personal TV screen on a 12 hour flight when some of the movies included The Hunger Games, 21 Jump Street, and Friends With Kids (It has Kristin Wiig in it y'all), I REALLY couldn't believe my luck. A flight attendent shortly before takeoff put my worries to rest by showing me and my row mates that the screens were folded in between the seats. After watching Friends With Kids while enjoying an airplane meal that was a far cry from the rubbery pizza that I got when I went to Japan, I slept for about 8 hours and woke up just in time for breakfast and 21 Jump Street. Both excellent.
I landed in New Zealand at Auckland around 5:45 am, so it was too dark to see anything out the window but stars. Things were going fine until I got to customs. I was really hoping that I would be able to slip by and be on my merry way and that perhaps that guy I talked to on the phone wasn't here or had forgotten about me or something, but no. As soon as I gave the customs lady my passport she told me to go sit on the black couch by the wall near the immigration desk, a total couch of shame, until I could be helped. After about 10 minutes I was pulled into a little office area and asked about the program I'm on,how much money I brought, etc. Since I apparently didn't have the recommended $1,000 per month of stay, I was only granted a 1 month visa instead of a 3 month as anticipated ( $3,000, really?).
I met my shuttle driver about an hour later than planned but he didn't seem too upset. He was in his mid sixties, bald, and had an English/Australian accent. Less than a mile away from the sirport a car cuts him off and he exclaims "You bitch!" then quickly "pardon my language, but I hate when people drive like that." He also mentioned that it was lucky one of the towns with murals was lucky no "little shits" have graffitied it like the rest of New Zealand. We got along just fine. The 2.5 hour car ride went relatively quickly. The driver would point out landmarks and tell me about the towns we would go through and it was all very beautiful, lots of hills and cows and sheep, and green everywhere.
We got to the dorm, well the correct one since at first we went to the guys, a little while ago. I learned I was the second girl to arrive, and the first "girl" is like 40. Oh well. I'm just hoping the group's mean age is somewhere near mine.
I had a four hour layover in San Francisco that involved a lengthy conversation with the lady at the Air New Zealand ticket counter involving why I didn't have a visa when my return flight was in 5 months and they only automatically give a 3 month visa, and after a phone call with some guy in New Zealand that I could barely understand, I got my ticket on the condition that I speak with immigration once I arrived. I then felt I deserved a "splurge" on a falafel sandwich at an airport cafe before my flight. With still 2 hours to kill I hung out by the gate which for the most part was uneventful other than a 38 minute phone call with Leah and a cute guy with an Austrailian accent informing me after hearing me panic to Leah over the phone that my flight was supposed to leave at 9:45 and the clock above the gate said 11:48, that it was only 8:50 and I had nothing to worry about. Seriously, why would you have a clock ANYWHERE in an airport that is 3 hours fast.
The plane to New Zealand was huge. It has a second story section in the front of the plane and the wings were as big as most of the planes I usually fly on. I was placed in one of the emergency exit seats with extra leg room which I at first couldn't believe my luck. Then after then seeing that that meant there was no seat in front of me to hold a personal TV screen on a 12 hour flight when some of the movies included The Hunger Games, 21 Jump Street, and Friends With Kids (It has Kristin Wiig in it y'all), I REALLY couldn't believe my luck. A flight attendent shortly before takeoff put my worries to rest by showing me and my row mates that the screens were folded in between the seats. After watching Friends With Kids while enjoying an airplane meal that was a far cry from the rubbery pizza that I got when I went to Japan, I slept for about 8 hours and woke up just in time for breakfast and 21 Jump Street. Both excellent.
I landed in New Zealand at Auckland around 5:45 am, so it was too dark to see anything out the window but stars. Things were going fine until I got to customs. I was really hoping that I would be able to slip by and be on my merry way and that perhaps that guy I talked to on the phone wasn't here or had forgotten about me or something, but no. As soon as I gave the customs lady my passport she told me to go sit on the black couch by the wall near the immigration desk, a total couch of shame, until I could be helped. After about 10 minutes I was pulled into a little office area and asked about the program I'm on,how much money I brought, etc. Since I apparently didn't have the recommended $1,000 per month of stay, I was only granted a 1 month visa instead of a 3 month as anticipated ( $3,000, really?).
I met my shuttle driver about an hour later than planned but he didn't seem too upset. He was in his mid sixties, bald, and had an English/Australian accent. Less than a mile away from the sirport a car cuts him off and he exclaims "You bitch!" then quickly "pardon my language, but I hate when people drive like that." He also mentioned that it was lucky one of the towns with murals was lucky no "little shits" have graffitied it like the rest of New Zealand. We got along just fine. The 2.5 hour car ride went relatively quickly. The driver would point out landmarks and tell me about the towns we would go through and it was all very beautiful, lots of hills and cows and sheep, and green everywhere.
We got to the dorm, well the correct one since at first we went to the guys, a little while ago. I learned I was the second girl to arrive, and the first "girl" is like 40. Oh well. I'm just hoping the group's mean age is somewhere near mine.
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