So it's been about a month since i've last written anything, and even though i don't think anyone reads this anymore, i'll write one more for oma and mom.
Last month began with the farewell AFS camp, which was surreal in itself as i couldn't believe that i only had a month left at the time. Honestly, these past 6 months have gone by so fast, it's ridiculous. But what i began to grasp as i said my goodbyes to some of my exchange student friends was that i almost wasn't ready to leave. Yea, there have been times in which i've yearned to come home, and now as i face leaving, i could stay. However, i'm super stoked to get back to Marin. To see my family and my friends, and my dog, is going to be awesome. And to be able to surf and be back on Mt. Tam as well as share my experience will be crazy, i just get excited thinking about it. But still, it's hard to say goodbye to my good friends here, i don't know, but they're just my mates, and even though it's only been half a year, i feel like i've known these people, my friends and my host family, a lifetime.
Yet as my time here dwindles down, i haven't stopped having a good time. Although it often feels like i'm stuck in some sort of weird limbo in which i can't decide to stay or leave, it just keeps on staying fun. Being out with friends, going into Auckland, exploring the Waitakere ranges, it's just keeps on keeping, adding to the mentality that i'm just a permanent fixture here in West Auckland.
But overall, what can i say, my time here in NZ has given me the greatest experience of my life. What i've learned about myself and how much i've grown and matured can't really be measured, it just seems boundless. I don't remember who i was when i left, i just understand now who i am, and i like that. Having been exposed to another culture, as well as heaps of other exchange students has taught me a lot about the world and just how similar all people are essentially. The people i've met and the times i've had, both good and bad, have began to define me and who i am today, and i regret nothing, it's been the best.
It's been a long strange trip, and now as i began to turn myself back to California time, i guess i'm ready to go home. I know this blog hasn't been the best, as it hasn't been my top priority over the last few months. But if anyone wants to know about AFS, cultural exchange, or my time here, in more detail, just hit me up, i'll always be keen to talk about it.
If anyone has read or even glanced at this blog since January, thanks, it really means a lot that you care enough about me to look at it, cheers guys, it's been good, but now i'm headed home.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
june
well, it's june, and seeing as how i haven't written on this blog for about a month, i figured i should give an update. This last weekend i was in lake Taupo in central north island visiting some friends from the south island trip. We hung around, checked out town, and it was really fun to see everyone again, seeing as it may be the last time i see most of them until we depart at the airport in a month's time. Taupo was great, but i just cannot believe that it's already june, i remember everything up to this point perfectly and it's totally spooky how fast time has gone by. it just feels like i was in march, and now it's june. crazy.
but as time goes by so fast, i've just been really enjoying life in new zealand. it's been fun, doing stuff going to parties, and now that i've taken my internal exams at school, i can sort of just kick back and cruise. i just feel as if this is my life here now, i don't remember who i was before i left, because, even though time has gone by quickly, that still seems so long ago. I can't even rationalize leaving this place, because it's my home now too. That being said, i'm excited for summer again, excited to surf, but i love nz, and i love west auckland, even though it's a hit-and-miss sort of place, if that makes any sense.
But having lived here for over 4 months now, life here just seems like normal life, i don't recognize accents really anymore, now it's just how people talk, and i only sometimes have to remind myself that i live in new zealand (how cool is that?) But day in and day out, i love it here, and i can't even fathom leaving, even though it's really only a few weeks away.
Crazy.
but as time goes by so fast, i've just been really enjoying life in new zealand. it's been fun, doing stuff going to parties, and now that i've taken my internal exams at school, i can sort of just kick back and cruise. i just feel as if this is my life here now, i don't remember who i was before i left, because, even though time has gone by quickly, that still seems so long ago. I can't even rationalize leaving this place, because it's my home now too. That being said, i'm excited for summer again, excited to surf, but i love nz, and i love west auckland, even though it's a hit-and-miss sort of place, if that makes any sense.
But having lived here for over 4 months now, life here just seems like normal life, i don't recognize accents really anymore, now it's just how people talk, and i only sometimes have to remind myself that i live in new zealand (how cool is that?) But day in and day out, i love it here, and i can't even fathom leaving, even though it's really only a few weeks away.
Crazy.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
the south island
The trip as a whole had to many highlights to recount. honestly, it was one of the greatest things i've ever done in my life, and by the time we were all packing up our bags, i didn't want to go back to Auckland. But just to name a few highlights:
-seeing Dunedin and checking out the college (and the worlds steepest street)
-being on a boat in the milford sound - it was amazing, totally like lord of the rings
-queenstown, possibly the coolest, most action-packed city on earth
-bungee jumping the biggest bungee jump in australasia (143m) give or take 400 feet
- renting a four person bike with friends and taking it to a skate park, it was awesome
but the coolest thing by far was just meeting all the people on the trip itself. Our tour guide Stefan was also a really cool dude who just seemed to embody everything that was NZ. And i guess overall, the south island trip taught me that all people, regardless of background or origin, are really similar. Everyone i was with had the same feelings of homesickness i have had, everyone felt pretty similar on NZ, and everyone just seemed on the same page about a lot of things. I don't know, but it just seems like people are pretty similar in a lot of senses.
Overall, south island was amazing, it was some of the most fun i've ever had and the experiences throughout the trip were insane.
I thought i would have a lot more to write, but i guess not.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Rotorua and a long overdue surf
Two weekends ago, my family and I headed south to check out the town of Rotorua, in central North Island. Rotorua itself is a pretty cool place, it's a geothermal hotspot, featuring lot's of cool geothermal parks and hot spring areas, however it smells like poo everywhere as well. But the smell fades away after a day or so of being there.
The first thing we did when we got there was Zorb. The Zorb itself is pretty much a giant hamster-ball for humans that is filled with water. You jump in and are pushed down a designated course that twists and turns down the side of a hill. The whole thing is crazy! You're being flipped upside down and tossed in every direction, and when you come out of the Zorb, soaked in water and dizzy, it feels like you've been born again, sorta.
The long weekend in Rotorua continued with checking out the Kiwi bird preserve. my assumptions of kiwi's were that they would probably be really small little balls of feathers. However, they're actually really big. About a foot and a half tall with absolutely huge feet, and a huge beak. They're really cool, beautiful birds and it's just awesome to see them up close without a cage surrounding them. I'm just glad i've gotten to see the symbol of NZ in my time here, the Kiwi people themselves are extremely proud of the bird, strange it may seem, it represents a lot to them, and now, i see why, because it's just a really awesome, beautiful bird, and unfortunately there aren't that many left in NZ.
Our last day in Rotorua, my host dad and I tramped to a awesome place out in the Rotorua country called Kerosene Creek. Being a geothermal area, most of the lakes, and some of the rivers, are pretty much like hot tubs, reaching 100 F. Kerosene Creek was one of those few rivers. It had decent sized waterfalls, and was actually a pretty big river, except it was just like a natural hot tub. And with hardly any people besides ourselves, this secluded area was awesome! It is definitely one of the coolest things I've done in NZ, maybe ever.
After Rotorua we stopped over at Raglan to check if there was any surf. Unlike last time, there was, and the day couldn't have been prettier. Blue skies, warm, glassy water, solid shoulder-high surf that was breaking into flawless machine-perfect lefts, with surprisingly few people, made it a picture-perfect surf day. And, after getting my fill on waves, we headed back to West Auckland.
Otherwise, NZ has been awesome, and is now my home. Term 1 has ended for school, and it seems that i'm halfway through my stay here. It's sad, but then again i think i'll miss my home until the day i get back there. But i love it here. My friends, my family, everything is just so fun.
Tomorrow i'm headed to the South Island for 10 days to check out what it has offer. I'm so excited, and i'm not going to forget my camera.
The first thing we did when we got there was Zorb. The Zorb itself is pretty much a giant hamster-ball for humans that is filled with water. You jump in and are pushed down a designated course that twists and turns down the side of a hill. The whole thing is crazy! You're being flipped upside down and tossed in every direction, and when you come out of the Zorb, soaked in water and dizzy, it feels like you've been born again, sorta.
The long weekend in Rotorua continued with checking out the Kiwi bird preserve. my assumptions of kiwi's were that they would probably be really small little balls of feathers. However, they're actually really big. About a foot and a half tall with absolutely huge feet, and a huge beak. They're really cool, beautiful birds and it's just awesome to see them up close without a cage surrounding them. I'm just glad i've gotten to see the symbol of NZ in my time here, the Kiwi people themselves are extremely proud of the bird, strange it may seem, it represents a lot to them, and now, i see why, because it's just a really awesome, beautiful bird, and unfortunately there aren't that many left in NZ.
Our last day in Rotorua, my host dad and I tramped to a awesome place out in the Rotorua country called Kerosene Creek. Being a geothermal area, most of the lakes, and some of the rivers, are pretty much like hot tubs, reaching 100 F. Kerosene Creek was one of those few rivers. It had decent sized waterfalls, and was actually a pretty big river, except it was just like a natural hot tub. And with hardly any people besides ourselves, this secluded area was awesome! It is definitely one of the coolest things I've done in NZ, maybe ever.
After Rotorua we stopped over at Raglan to check if there was any surf. Unlike last time, there was, and the day couldn't have been prettier. Blue skies, warm, glassy water, solid shoulder-high surf that was breaking into flawless machine-perfect lefts, with surprisingly few people, made it a picture-perfect surf day. And, after getting my fill on waves, we headed back to West Auckland.
Otherwise, NZ has been awesome, and is now my home. Term 1 has ended for school, and it seems that i'm halfway through my stay here. It's sad, but then again i think i'll miss my home until the day i get back there. But i love it here. My friends, my family, everything is just so fun.
Tomorrow i'm headed to the South Island for 10 days to check out what it has offer. I'm so excited, and i'm not going to forget my camera.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
camping, bushwalks and all that good stuff
it's the last day of march now, and all i can say as that it went by way to fast. I'm so adjusted to life here in NZ that it's hard to fathom how fast time is going by, and really, how i can't imagine leaving this place. I've got my friends here, what feels like family here, and it's scary how fast it's all going by. But i guess it's true that the times are best when moments pass one after another.
This last few weeks have been really great. A long weekend, a pretty cool exchange student field trip, actually winning a waterpolo game, camping with friends, it's been good.
About two weekends ago, we had yet another long weekend (no complaints.) It was fairly awesome, filled with jungle-trekking, trail blazing bushwalks in the New Zealand woods. Bushwalking (tramping) is pretty much a way of life amongst people here. And who really needs trails? After school two Thursdays ago, a few mates and myself trekked the bush up by Titirangi to this really cool double-decker waterfall/natural pools area. There were no trails, and the bush was really thick. It pretty much is jungle, but if you call it that here, they just laugh, and say: "na bro it's just bush." The walk itself, although sometimes sketchy, was beautiful. With massive ferns the size of trees, jungle vine, and waterfalls, it felt like something right out of Jurassic Park, or land of the lost. Point is, it was really cool.
The rest of that weekend was also dedicated to bushwalking with friends and with Paul (host dad.) In fact, that Sunday Paul and myself walked the most beautiful area i've seen in NZ so far. It had everything. Huge Kauri trees, a really amazing swimming hole with a waterfall emptying into it, thick green bush, it was amazing. And with hardly anyone else around in the area, it truly felt like NZ, empty and beautiful.
That week of school was fairly average, you know, it was just school. Except a new AFS exhange student arrived, a girl from Chile. We also had an 'exchange student field trip' that week into downtown Auckland to experience the city 'first hand.' It consisted of a boat ride, seeing someone bungee jump off the Auckland Harbor bridge, and checking out the Auckland Winter Gardens, overall, not that exciting, but hey, it was a day off of school!
The rest of the week continued, and what i've really noticed is that my friends here, and pretty much all people (at my school) in general don't do much after school. Used to surfing after school heaps, it's weird not to do much after school, or to just go home. But with walking home everyday with friends and kids, i've really gotten to know a lot of people better than i really thought i would ever know them. By walking to and from school most days with just one friend, or a few, or many, i really know this people really well now, and it almost feels like i've known them more than just a few months.
Last weekend was also a really great one. I guess there's just so many activities to do. But last weekend, the plan was to go camping in whangamata (pronounced fangamata) with a few mates, Brook, Aubrey and Andy. All was looking good until we checked the weather forecast, which read, literally : "rain, with periods of torrential rain." But we ventured on, a 2 1/2 hour drive in a car packed to the brim with guys, food and camping stuff. By the time arrived at our destination it was pissing down rain, but we tried our best to have a good time. Eventually, after a few hours of checking out the car show in town and having fun and stuff, we began to contemplate setting up the tent. In the end, we all slept, or tried to sleep in the cramped car. it didn't work out so well, and we all were sore the next morning from sleeping, if that's possible. Anyway, we decided it wasn't worth it to stay another night and we headed out to Brook's house for a sleep and some food that wasn't just salsa dorritos. I was completely tired the entire day, and ended up just going home and sleeping about 13 hours that night.
Well, now the weather has turned and it's looking good for my long-weekend family trip to Rotorua with Paul and Bridget. Were off to Rotorua to Zorb, check out stuff and, i don't know, just have a good time i think. Then were going down to Raglan, were hopefully i can get some decent surf after getting totally skunked last time.
NZ is awesome
This last few weeks have been really great. A long weekend, a pretty cool exchange student field trip, actually winning a waterpolo game, camping with friends, it's been good.
About two weekends ago, we had yet another long weekend (no complaints.) It was fairly awesome, filled with jungle-trekking, trail blazing bushwalks in the New Zealand woods. Bushwalking (tramping) is pretty much a way of life amongst people here. And who really needs trails? After school two Thursdays ago, a few mates and myself trekked the bush up by Titirangi to this really cool double-decker waterfall/natural pools area. There were no trails, and the bush was really thick. It pretty much is jungle, but if you call it that here, they just laugh, and say: "na bro it's just bush." The walk itself, although sometimes sketchy, was beautiful. With massive ferns the size of trees, jungle vine, and waterfalls, it felt like something right out of Jurassic Park, or land of the lost. Point is, it was really cool.
The rest of that weekend was also dedicated to bushwalking with friends and with Paul (host dad.) In fact, that Sunday Paul and myself walked the most beautiful area i've seen in NZ so far. It had everything. Huge Kauri trees, a really amazing swimming hole with a waterfall emptying into it, thick green bush, it was amazing. And with hardly anyone else around in the area, it truly felt like NZ, empty and beautiful.
That week of school was fairly average, you know, it was just school. Except a new AFS exhange student arrived, a girl from Chile. We also had an 'exchange student field trip' that week into downtown Auckland to experience the city 'first hand.' It consisted of a boat ride, seeing someone bungee jump off the Auckland Harbor bridge, and checking out the Auckland Winter Gardens, overall, not that exciting, but hey, it was a day off of school!
The rest of the week continued, and what i've really noticed is that my friends here, and pretty much all people (at my school) in general don't do much after school. Used to surfing after school heaps, it's weird not to do much after school, or to just go home. But with walking home everyday with friends and kids, i've really gotten to know a lot of people better than i really thought i would ever know them. By walking to and from school most days with just one friend, or a few, or many, i really know this people really well now, and it almost feels like i've known them more than just a few months.
Last weekend was also a really great one. I guess there's just so many activities to do. But last weekend, the plan was to go camping in whangamata (pronounced fangamata) with a few mates, Brook, Aubrey and Andy. All was looking good until we checked the weather forecast, which read, literally : "rain, with periods of torrential rain." But we ventured on, a 2 1/2 hour drive in a car packed to the brim with guys, food and camping stuff. By the time arrived at our destination it was pissing down rain, but we tried our best to have a good time. Eventually, after a few hours of checking out the car show in town and having fun and stuff, we began to contemplate setting up the tent. In the end, we all slept, or tried to sleep in the cramped car. it didn't work out so well, and we all were sore the next morning from sleeping, if that's possible. Anyway, we decided it wasn't worth it to stay another night and we headed out to Brook's house for a sleep and some food that wasn't just salsa dorritos. I was completely tired the entire day, and ended up just going home and sleeping about 13 hours that night.
Well, now the weather has turned and it's looking good for my long-weekend family trip to Rotorua with Paul and Bridget. Were off to Rotorua to Zorb, check out stuff and, i don't know, just have a good time i think. Then were going down to Raglan, were hopefully i can get some decent surf after getting totally skunked last time.
NZ is awesome
Sunday, March 13, 2011
post/update!
well, it's been a while since i've updated everybody, so here it goes.
Some highlights of the past week and a half-ish:
. went to AFS exchange student camp
. joined the barbershop quartet at school
. went to an awesome free concert at Auckland Uni
i think i'll start with last weekend.
Last weekend was AFS exchange student camp with all the kids from around the world staying in the greater Auckland area and Northland. About 40 kids in total, and i was the only American, and probably the only kid that new just one language well. But it was some of the most fun i've had since i've arrived in NZ, and making friends from around the world was pretty cool in itself.
The weekend began with the arrival of all the exchange students on Friday night at this camp about 2 hours outside Auckland. At first, it was kind of weird, i didn't really know anyone except the few people from my West Auckland chapter, and it seemed as if everybody, except me, knew someone else that was there. But soon enough i felt as if i knew everybody there personally. In just a matter of hours i felt as if i had known all these kids from around the world (mostly Scandanavia and Argentina) for my whole life.
Unfortunately, it rained most of the weekend there, and it was boring at times with the repetitive orientation stuff that i had already heard about a dozen times. However, that hardly stopped anyone from having fun on the huge waterslide in built on this steep hill, or from hanging out, pretty much all night, and talking, jamming and doing fun stuff, etc.
But, the weekend had to end, and as we all said goodbye to each other and left, each of us had made more friends in NZ, and that seemed really cool.
Then the school week began. Fairly event-less as far as a school week goes, maybe that's just because by now i've adjusted to school here. However, Friday was a teacher work day and Thursday was what is known as a Mufti day, a day in which everyone is allowed to wear normal clothes instead of the heart-clenching uniform.
But Thursday the fire alarms also went off at school (so exciting, right!) and that was just sort of a bummer because it went of during lunch, and pretty much wasted our entire lunch time with our lunches locked in the classrooms.
But school is all good, still boring, but that's school anywhere. I got to say though, the best part about school is the Year 9's. The equivalent of 8th graders in the states, they are pretty funny little people. They're mostly overweight, short and think they can take anybody in a fight, and always fight at lunch. They scream at each other and at other people - "EY BRO i'm a gonna smash you afta schoo" and then just end up taking off their shirts and fighting (or slapping) each other on the field during lunch. It's pretty entertaining and can get super funny sometimes.
But strangely this week I felt a lingering homesickness that stayed with me throughout the week, that is until Thursday. Mostly I just missed my dog, which may sound pathetic and weird and stupid, but i totally missed my dog.
But Thursday soon came and I, along with my friend Nick headed to Sounds in the Sun, a free concert at Auckland Uni. Upon reaching Uni, we met up with my friend (who i met at AFS camp and who went AFS last year) Anton. He goes to Uni and we all hung out with his friends and jammed out for like 4 hours to a bunch of Kiwi headline bands like Katchafire, Black Seeds, Mt. Eden Dudstep.
it was the most fun ever! Just a few hours in the sun listening to music and hanging out with friends.
The coolest part though, was running into my exchange student friends there totally unplanned. I was dancing in the center of the crowd and totally just ran into about 10 kids i had just been with the last weekend! it was so cool , and that whole afternoon/night was really fun.
well, that feels like enough for this post, and i'm going to start posting more consistently, like weekly (at least i'll try.)
But i gotta say, NZ is just getting better and better and i'm really learning a lot about this culture and about myself as i move along.
I've been here about 2 months and have another 4 to go, but i'm starting to find this place as home now. I feel as a fixture here almost. I have my friends, my home and my life here. I love it, i don't really know how to explain it, but it's awesome.
I don't know how to post pictures on this blog, but i'll figure it out.
Some highlights of the past week and a half-ish:
. went to AFS exchange student camp
. joined the barbershop quartet at school
. went to an awesome free concert at Auckland Uni
i think i'll start with last weekend.
Last weekend was AFS exchange student camp with all the kids from around the world staying in the greater Auckland area and Northland. About 40 kids in total, and i was the only American, and probably the only kid that new just one language well. But it was some of the most fun i've had since i've arrived in NZ, and making friends from around the world was pretty cool in itself.
The weekend began with the arrival of all the exchange students on Friday night at this camp about 2 hours outside Auckland. At first, it was kind of weird, i didn't really know anyone except the few people from my West Auckland chapter, and it seemed as if everybody, except me, knew someone else that was there. But soon enough i felt as if i knew everybody there personally. In just a matter of hours i felt as if i had known all these kids from around the world (mostly Scandanavia and Argentina) for my whole life.
Unfortunately, it rained most of the weekend there, and it was boring at times with the repetitive orientation stuff that i had already heard about a dozen times. However, that hardly stopped anyone from having fun on the huge waterslide in built on this steep hill, or from hanging out, pretty much all night, and talking, jamming and doing fun stuff, etc.
But, the weekend had to end, and as we all said goodbye to each other and left, each of us had made more friends in NZ, and that seemed really cool.
Then the school week began. Fairly event-less as far as a school week goes, maybe that's just because by now i've adjusted to school here. However, Friday was a teacher work day and Thursday was what is known as a Mufti day, a day in which everyone is allowed to wear normal clothes instead of the heart-clenching uniform.
But Thursday the fire alarms also went off at school (so exciting, right!) and that was just sort of a bummer because it went of during lunch, and pretty much wasted our entire lunch time with our lunches locked in the classrooms.
But school is all good, still boring, but that's school anywhere. I got to say though, the best part about school is the Year 9's. The equivalent of 8th graders in the states, they are pretty funny little people. They're mostly overweight, short and think they can take anybody in a fight, and always fight at lunch. They scream at each other and at other people - "EY BRO i'm a gonna smash you afta schoo" and then just end up taking off their shirts and fighting (or slapping) each other on the field during lunch. It's pretty entertaining and can get super funny sometimes.
But strangely this week I felt a lingering homesickness that stayed with me throughout the week, that is until Thursday. Mostly I just missed my dog, which may sound pathetic and weird and stupid, but i totally missed my dog.
But Thursday soon came and I, along with my friend Nick headed to Sounds in the Sun, a free concert at Auckland Uni. Upon reaching Uni, we met up with my friend (who i met at AFS camp and who went AFS last year) Anton. He goes to Uni and we all hung out with his friends and jammed out for like 4 hours to a bunch of Kiwi headline bands like Katchafire, Black Seeds, Mt. Eden Dudstep.
it was the most fun ever! Just a few hours in the sun listening to music and hanging out with friends.
The coolest part though, was running into my exchange student friends there totally unplanned. I was dancing in the center of the crowd and totally just ran into about 10 kids i had just been with the last weekend! it was so cool , and that whole afternoon/night was really fun.
well, that feels like enough for this post, and i'm going to start posting more consistently, like weekly (at least i'll try.)
But i gotta say, NZ is just getting better and better and i'm really learning a lot about this culture and about myself as i move along.
I've been here about 2 months and have another 4 to go, but i'm starting to find this place as home now. I feel as a fixture here almost. I have my friends, my home and my life here. I love it, i don't really know how to explain it, but it's awesome.
I don't know how to post pictures on this blog, but i'll figure it out.
Monday, February 28, 2011
welcome to new zealand
this last weekend was the the most fun i've had so far in new zealand. Mostly just because i spent it not doing anything but hanging out with my friends. It was fun, and all i can say is that i feel home here now, and that this place that used to feel unfamiliar, has lost that feeling of unfamiliarity.
Friday, after another water polo loss, I met up with some friends and saw a concert nearby and just hung around and got food. it doesn't sound super interesting or anything, but it was really fun, and for me, was great because it finally felt like i wasn't just some kid from america anymore, but that i was now someone other than that to these new people, my new friends. They even stopped and told me "welcome to new zealand," and it felt cool, just to know that these people saw me as one of them now as well.
saturday was really fun as well. not much happened during the day, but that night, some friends picked me up and we all went to a party. it was, again, just really cool for me for the same reasons. again, it's not to interesting to read about, but it to was really fun.
and then began the school week, another few days at school, more sitting through classes, BUT, monday was different; because, monday, after school, my music class and i, went to go see opera in auckland. It was so cool. The opera itself was alright, more or less (i slept through most of the second act,) but going into town on a monday, seeing the opera building, and being with friends, was really cool.
mostly, the best part about the opera was hanging out with friends. just being there, making jokes, looking fancy, hanging out, was pretty cool, and more interesting than the opera itself.
The opera itself, was called Xerxes, by Handel, and was a really complicated, to confusing, story about the king of persia and this complex love-triangle thing. like i said, i slept through the second act.
But it was all good, better than a traditional monday night.
And now, here i am, finally feeling like someone who belongs in New Zealand, after a month of actually being here. It's been awhile since i left home, and, as of now, i don't miss it at all. i'm having too much fun to stop and think about it now, and i'm also too busy. between activities, school, water polo, there's not much time to be homesick, and really, there doesn't seem to be much time at all. it's already been a month, and it still feels like it was yesterday that i was in LAX, preparing to leave.
But it's all good, it's all fun, and it's just getting better with everyday.
Sorry if these blog updates are getting boring, i feel like they are. they're becoming more tedious everyday.
But, i'll try and keep it up, at least for March.
also, i'll try and put pictures up on the blog, i don't really know how, but i'll find a way.
Friday, after another water polo loss, I met up with some friends and saw a concert nearby and just hung around and got food. it doesn't sound super interesting or anything, but it was really fun, and for me, was great because it finally felt like i wasn't just some kid from america anymore, but that i was now someone other than that to these new people, my new friends. They even stopped and told me "welcome to new zealand," and it felt cool, just to know that these people saw me as one of them now as well.
saturday was really fun as well. not much happened during the day, but that night, some friends picked me up and we all went to a party. it was, again, just really cool for me for the same reasons. again, it's not to interesting to read about, but it to was really fun.
and then began the school week, another few days at school, more sitting through classes, BUT, monday was different; because, monday, after school, my music class and i, went to go see opera in auckland. It was so cool. The opera itself was alright, more or less (i slept through most of the second act,) but going into town on a monday, seeing the opera building, and being with friends, was really cool.
mostly, the best part about the opera was hanging out with friends. just being there, making jokes, looking fancy, hanging out, was pretty cool, and more interesting than the opera itself.
The opera itself, was called Xerxes, by Handel, and was a really complicated, to confusing, story about the king of persia and this complex love-triangle thing. like i said, i slept through the second act.
But it was all good, better than a traditional monday night.
And now, here i am, finally feeling like someone who belongs in New Zealand, after a month of actually being here. It's been awhile since i left home, and, as of now, i don't miss it at all. i'm having too much fun to stop and think about it now, and i'm also too busy. between activities, school, water polo, there's not much time to be homesick, and really, there doesn't seem to be much time at all. it's already been a month, and it still feels like it was yesterday that i was in LAX, preparing to leave.
But it's all good, it's all fun, and it's just getting better with everyday.
Sorry if these blog updates are getting boring, i feel like they are. they're becoming more tedious everyday.
But, i'll try and keep it up, at least for March.
also, i'll try and put pictures up on the blog, i don't really know how, but i'll find a way.
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