Kia Ora, Stevenson, from the land of the long white cloud, or Aotearoa, more commonly known as New Zealand!
My adventure began for me almost a week ago and here is what I’ve done so far!
Day 1: Tuesday July 7 – Thursday July 9 – 2009
The day I left the USA was spent checking and rechecking weight limits on my bags and tossing aside what I didn’t really need and what I truly did. Went outside with my father and Alice, and waited around until finally 2:00pm would roll in so I could load up and on out to the airport.
Although I’ve been doing a countdown for quite some time, it didn’t really strike me that I was leaving until my family approached the airport – PHL.
Check in was smooth, wait wasn’t too long. My childhood best friends called me and time went by fast. The plane was delayed, however, but I still made it to LAX in good time, even stopping for some dinner at Chili’s Too (a mini Chili’s) since my plane ticket said a meal.
When I boarded the plane I WAS SOOOOO TIRED! It was 3am or so Eastern Time and I was getting on at 12am! I fell asleep as soon as I hit my seat, missing the “Here are the emergency exits” speech and even take off. Three hours into the flight, the Aussies next to me gave me a nudge to let me know dinner was being served. So I ate. And went back to sleep, waking up on and off for the majority of my 16 hour flight. (24 hours total if you count how long I waited in PHL, that flight, etc…).
Surprisingly, I only listened to my iPod for about an hour and played Solitaire on the planes television.
Enough of the boring stuff…
ARRIVAL!
Getting through customs was smooth, however, because I checked yes to “Have you been camping in the past 30 days” on the entrance form, I was detained for a few moments. A woman speaking a mix of Kiwi and some other language questioned me about the camping trip and assumed I brought camping gear into the country, so I was sent to level 1 of international threats… I wasn’t carrying any camping boots or tents though. Jane Gunn-Lewis, a fabulous New Zealand staff member of Arcadia University picked me up, and took me to meet up with my group.
Weather wise, it was cold enough for a hoodie.
When the group of 14 American students assembled Kate Casey (another fabulous staff member) and Jane showed us around Auckland – showing us the university, a park, and taking us to an island across the bay that once was Maori land, taken over by the NZ gov’t to look out for Japanese bombers during WWII, and was never properly returned to the Maori.
Rangitoto – A dormant volcano off the shore of Auckland.
Climbing a big tree with some new friends.
Auckland from the island.
We then proceeded to Sky Tower, a landmark of Auckland. We went to the top and looked around, getting our bearings of Auckland. Seeing where we lived, the university, etc.
Dinner at a pizza shop and then bed at 6:55pm!!!! Jet lag was horrible!!!!
Day 2: Friday July 10 – 2009
At 9:00am we proceeded to board a coach and began the 3 hour drive south to Lake Rotorua (meaning Lake Two in Maori), pit-stopping at Mata Mata (said as Meta Meta) – the town made famous for the hobbit holes in Lord of the Rings. The town is so proud of their part in LotR that they have renamed themselves Hobbiton. Although we did not get to see the actual hobbit homes, we did a bit of the cheap tourist thing, ate meat pies, and took off on the coach once again.
Being a tourist
Pit stop number two – Agrodome – a farm show in Waikato (said as Why-ket-o). NZ is famous for it’s population of 4 million people… and 40 million sheep!!!! The show taught us about the different types of sheep and sheered one right in front of us. Next he asked for volunteers to milk a cow (random, but hey, it’s a farm show) and I went right up there and milked my first cow. Darn was I good at it. Haha.
I went to give this bad boy a kiss and he moved close to me. Scared me.
Part of the Arcadia group waiting for the farm show.
Pit stop 3 was Rainbow Springs, a reservation park, protecting trout, native NZ birds, and even Kiwi.
We finally arrived at the Sudima Hotel, situated on the edge of Lake Rotorua and were able to go explore the town of Rotorua (a touristy area), eat dinner, and get ready for an 8:00 date with the Polynesian Spa – Natural Hot Springs!
Rotorua is the 2nd largest lake in NZ, and it is one of many places provided natural hot springs… how? Why? Rotorua is a collapsed volcano. As soon as we arrived in Rotorua the air smelled of deviled eggs – aka Sulfur. The heat from underground causes the water to heat. Throughout town you will see steam coming from the ground in people’s backyards, on sidewalks, anywhere really.
Weather wise, this day and the next few days were FREEZING! Wearing as many layers as possible – 2 sweaters, long sleeves, a hoodie.
Day 3: Saturday July 11 – 2009
After breakfast the group traveled to a boiling mud pit, then to Lady Knox geyser where it erupted for us at 10:15am… the geyser was found accidentally when a small group of people used the hot water to bathe. When they dropped their bar of soap into the water, they found that it exploded. The geyser did not naturally go off, however, a bar of soap was dropped in and we soon saw the effects.
Random group of tourists wanted a big picture with us.
Steaming mud.
Geyser in background.
Geyser going off…
Next was Waiotapu, meaning Sacred Water in Maori for the reason that this area is yet again another sunken volcano, more commonly known as a caldera. The area is filled with streams and sink holes from volcanic elements eating away at the soil. The area is called Waiotapu because no animals or life live in the streams. The water is so hot, so sulfuric.
Below you will see why it is Sacred Water…
Devil’s Bath – so many elements the water is lime green!
Steaming sink hole.
Waters from this lake get to be over 500*F!!!! And it contains gold!
Calderas in NZ – sunken volcanos.
Afterwards we all went Zorbing! Pretty much it’s a big plastic ball that rolls down a hill… The catch – you’re in it…. In your bathing suit… in 30*F weather (with an added bonus of hot water being pumped into your zorb)! Although it only lasted for 35 seconds, it was super fun.
For dinner we proceeded to Tamaki Maori Village for a traditional Maori welcome (tribe to tribe acceptance), Maori song and dance, and ending was a Maori dinner (or hangi). The Maori are very proud of their background and eager to preserve their culture by entertaining those who would otherwise have little or no knowledge of their culture.
Day 4: Sunday July 12 – 2009
After breakfast we drove back to Auckland, went to the Warehouse (a NZ walmart) to pick up the essentials for our rooms – duvets, blankets, etc… (NZ does not believe in central heating!!!!)
I was also able to finally meet my roommates!
There is Nigel, my Malaysian RA, who is studying at Auckland on a scholarship from his government. He has one semester left until he has to return and teach high school level English. Nigel has been my tour guide and is eager to show me around or tell me what’s what in NZ.
Next there is Jack, the only Irishman studying in Auckland (or so he’s said and he won’t let us forget that he’s Irish either!). Jack is a talker and has a great sense of humor, however, his sense of direction is not so good yet.
Sophia is French and is studying management here because it is cheaper than to study in France. Although her English is very little, she isn’t afraid to join the group and listen in. Nigel is also eager to learn French (as he knows about 5 languages) and Jack and I each have 1 French song on our iPods.
And last but not least is my Arcadia bff – Kristi. Well, right now she lives next door, but because she is a very extroverted person and her roommates are introverted, she is going to see about moving into our spare bedroom. We’ll get that sorted out today.
The US Embassy:
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH A DEAL!!!!
McDonald’s is super …. legit in NZ. It is set up to be a fancy restaurant. They even have 24/7 “McCafe”s.