Acceleration.

I've been a horrible blogger. I was so dedicated. I've been so distracted. The weather has been non-stop stunning, as with every day autumn is creeping closer and closer. Let's just say I should have been keeping tabs on my daily adventures, being that something strange/humorous/noteworthy has been consistently occurring. Unfortunately, my absent mind has forgotten much of the past week. I'll attempt to mend the debris of my memory. Ladies and gentleman, I give you, the list. Short, yet fairly to the point.

1. Helped a kid earn 20 dollars from his mates by riding a tandem bicycle and making an ass out of myself.

2. Saw a dangerously high unicycle being rode by a man in a bathing suit down a crowded beach.

3. Met many intoxicated Kiwis around a fire; they proceeded to beat each other senseless.

4. This guy. Casually drinking at bar near the harbor.

5. Experienced 5G's at 200kph in 2 seconds.

6. Experienced 5G's at 200kph in 2 seconds.

7. Did I mention I experienced 5G's at 200kph in 2 seconds?

For only $40 NZD, you can feel like an astronaut (minus the whole prolonged feeling of nausea and potential unconsciousness at lift-off). There's something frightening about catapulting straight up attached to nothing but a seemingly thin elastic band. Catapulting your way straight toward the ground is another thing. I felt this was necessary to prepare myself both mentally and physically for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckym6W3t5kQ

Can you dig?

Plans.

This country is so beautiful, that sometimes I think my head is going to explode. My brain feels over worked from trying to process everything I'm seeing and doing on a day to day basis. I just got back from yet another amazing road trip in the Coromandel area. Despite our one day of rain and trek through the thick mud in our bare feet, it was stunning. Our Kiwi friend, Sheri, was kind enough to show us some of the most incredible and unknown areas on the peninsula. A 45 minute hike at dusk up steep rooted trails and rocky terrain eventually brought us to a small house on a huge hill overlooking the pacific ocean. Its plywood interior and 6 bunk beds made the group's hearts flutter, being that we had spent the previous night on a beach in a rainstorm. My bleeding, sore, bruised feet meant nothing after I had a look at the view from the front lawn....

It was stunning. Greens, blues, inclines, rolling hills, anything you could find in that picture of a place you've pointed at and said, "I need to go there before I die." The best part was knowing we could get down to that beach and be 8 of few who would show up. We would then be greeted by red stone walls and marbled driftwood flaunting their colors above the stark white sand. Unfortunately, we were only able to stay for a short while being that the van was to be back in Auckland by 4:30 that afternoon. We still managed to bring it back 2 hours late.

Prior to our visit to this beach, we met up with Sheri's foster grandmother and grandfather, who were kind enough to let us use their facilities to shower off the dampness and sand from our night on the beach. After we had all cleaned up, we sat in their den for awhile chatting about life. Her foster grandfather made some extremely poignant remarks regarding the quality of living and abundance of rules governing our society. After discussing our world of regulation and disdain, he simply stated, "trees were meant for climbing," and "we change for the sake of change, not for improvement." Although these statements may seem unimportant and meaningless to those reading this entry, they resounded in the heads of all of us at the time we heard them. There was something about sitting in a complete strangers living room, looking wide-eyed toward a big brown recliner in which the older man sat, that made the moment much more significant. I won't forget those words.

We spent that rainy night on Cook's Beach singing songs around a campfire, telling stories, laughing, and tripping over tent ropes. Sometimes I force myself to step outside the moment and observe who and what is around me; the moment becomes much more meaningful and time slows down. When you're in a place like New Zealand, it becomes necessary to do these things for the full effect.

This was before our hike to Cathedral Cove. It was cold, wet, rainy, and absolutely beautiful. Once again, it was us vs. nature. We still don't know who won.

As of today, I think my plans for the Easter break are pretty solid. Greg and I are going to travel to the South Island and explore areas like Queenstown and Milford Sound via camper van. I've heard so many wonderful things about the South Island, from its extreme adrenaline junkie reputation to its beautiful landscapes. I personally can't wait to bungee jump off the second highest platform in the world...or tandem skydive with an oxygen mask from 18,000 feet...or white water raft over waterfalls...you catch my drift. Knowing that this trip is only a mere 2 and a half weeks away makes me pee my pants a little. I mean that in the best way possible. If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

And now for some more eye candy.

Which Way?

Look right, look left, look right. Not the other way. If you do, you're likely to get hit by a environmentally friendly bus. Note that they are not pedestrian friendly buses. Auckland has some outstanding statistics on the number of people who are killed per year by simply crossing the road. They make up for it by having obnoxious cross-walk signs and space-esque sounds. I've noticed that when walking up and down stairs, people still follow typical traffic flow. Those going down, stay to your left, and those going up, stay to your right. This has gotten me into some awkward face to face "do I cross to his/her left or right?" situations. You know, the typical chicken headed lean toward the direction that you want to go, yet the other person chooses the same path. The casual chuckle, the inevitable "I'm sorry", then continue on your way.

My finger nails look like they've been mauled by a chipmunk. My nervous habit seems to be getting worse as a result of my unfamiliarity with the surrounding environment. I sit there casually chewing away when someone leans over and warns me that I may not have a finger left by the time I'm done with it. My dreams have been getting a little out of hand too; some very realistic and others completely bizarre. Last night, for instance, I had a dream that certain someone came to visit me. I remember looking him in the face, and asking if it was a dream. Not more than five seconds later, I came to the realization that I was in fact, dreaming. Being in a dream and realizing that it is in fact, a dream, really sucks. Once you reach that point, you become determined to never leave the world of sleep. However, when you have preceding 'nightmares' of a obsessive stalker killing off your friends and family one by one, it tends to be a sigh of relief.

I've been asked heaps (a lot...Kiwi slang) for pictures of my apartment and the surrounding city. I'm yet to take my camera out on the streets, but I have taken pictures of my room and the building.

The pictures above are 1. my uncharacteristically clean room 2. the apartment complex 3. the view from our common room. I've taken a few more boring, white wall shots, but nothing really worth posting. It's a beautiful apartment and we're all extremely fortunate to have floor to ceiling windows. Light is highly valued.

Another school week has come to a close and the weekend is on the horizon. The plan is to visit Coromandel (http://www.davidwallphoto.com/images/%7B775E773E-D361-4B20-9CBB-31E7423764AD%7D.JPG), a continuation of our journeys north. We figured now would be a good time to explore beach areas, being that it is starting to get fairly chilly here in Auckland. Nights have been getting down to the high 50's, a big difference from the 78 degree weather we had upon our arrival. I feel like the temperature has undergone a dramatic change in only a day, when in fact I've been here for about 3 weeks now. I'm still yet to decide whether this semester is flying by or creeping slowly. You tend to lose your sense of time when in New Zealand. What date is it? No complaints. Come to think of it, I haven't seen one store that sells watches...

Catch you on the flip side.

Extras.

I should probably start writing these entries during the day, due to the fact that I become somewhat solemn and over conscious at night. I find myself writing more about my feelings than what I have experienced throughout the afternoon. It's not a terrible thing whatsoever, I just feel I'm lacking proper input on being in another country.

On another note, my friend Heather allowed me to upload some photos from her camera today. She has many shots of our trip to the northern tip of the island, from our night on the beach to pink sheep. Her and I have been getting along real well, playing hourly long games of volleyball in the courtyard whilst upholding the standard American 'shenanigans' many are familiar with. I remember now how much I hate to sweat, yet also how good I feel after playing a solid game. Trials for the Uni-Games continue this Wednesday...something that I've been looking forward to since last week.

Everyone has been discussing travel plans for this weekend. There are proposals of going to Hot Water Beach, a beach in which you can dig a hole that fills with natural hot spring water from the volcanic activity underneath the sand. After forming your own 'jacuzzi', the ocean is just a hop away from cooling off. The closest thing you'll get to this when in New York is if your best friend pees right next to you while your playing in the water at Robert Moses. Voila. Instant temperature change.

For now I'm just going to sit here and worry about waking up for class tomorrow morning. Although its only 1am, I feel like I could sleep for days. Pardon me, but I've got a soft shirt and a comfortable bed to curl up in.

Reminders.

There are little things here and there that hint at home. Whether they be meaningless bar fights or meaningful songs, New Zealand tosses shrapnel in your direction that you thought you left in the states. Note the use of 'shrapnel'. As much as I thought they would upset me, those small reminders are what get me through the day.

I went to my first rugby match yesterday evening. Eden Park (the name of the stadium) was packed with hollering Kiwis and South Africans, as two rival teams competed for the win. I can't honestly compare the insanity of a rugby game to anything like an American football game, purely because I've never attended a football game. But if it were anything like rugby matches, I think the NFL would be dealing with more than they can handle. The Auckland Blues and the South African Sharks battled, but despite our efforts to scream, cheer, boo, and stand on our seats, the Sharks came out on top.

I screwed around with some of the 'sport' and 'action' settings on my camera, and came out with some fairly good shots. The zoom capabilities on my camera never cease to amaze me. Even after buying nosebleed tickets, I achieved photos that look as if I was on the field.

After our rugby experience, a few of us went into town to check out what Mount Eden had to offer. We came across the drunken stupor that tends to ensue after every game, whether win or lose. Once again, I feel like I need to reiterate the fact that the Kiwis are out of their minds, but in the best way possible...I think. Later that evening we ended up back in Auckland Central at a bar called Father Ted's to see our international study abroad advisor rock out with his band. As if it wasn't already strange enough watching your twentysomething year old school related staff member jump around on stage, professors came walking through the doors to join their students for a beer. This is in a whole other league of its own. Things are so different.

Hot.

Despite my appreciation of the environmentally friendly practices of New Zealand, something could be said about a few air conditioners. How suburban of me. I've been waking up in sweat the past week, as it's been humid and generally uncomfortable come morning.

I must have been mid-dream when I opened my eyes. It was the first time I felt incredibly panicked as a result of not immediately recognizing my surroundings. The room had the same feeling of waking up in my bed at home on a hot summer morning. To be honest, I was a little disappointed at first. Lets invest in the technology to teleport.

On another note, I bring you a short story. We've befriended New Zealand's top comedian, Brendhan Lovegrove (check him out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcQEsuhvmx4). During a night on the town, my buddies and I ended up in a bar called Shakespeare's. I began typical conversation with an older gentleman; where are you from, how do you like living here, what are you studying? After awhile, we all began joking with one another, poking fun at both Americans and Kiwis, having a good laugh. Toward the end of the night, he invited us to his "show". Show? What show? Where was he going with this...Turns out he was performing at one of New Zealand's top comedy clubs. We showed up, had a great laugh, met some great people, and ended up at a flat party hosted by another comedian. How these things happen, I'm not too sure.

Our school has been hosting a hodgepodge of events on campus. Two very well known bands in New Zealand, Shihad and The Mint Chicks, performed in our courtyard. A good 2,000 people showed up, one of those 2,000 not being me, but I heard from others that it was a good time. As for today, the beach is looking like a possibility. Can life get any tougher?

Normality.

Correction. My teacher is 'transgender'. Did you ever find out the truth about something you suspected for awhile? I mean, maybe you're just better off not knowing...I think I was. Its hard to sit in a class for two hours and have the only thought on your mind be, "male or female?" Auckland is a crazy place. I feel the realization of my professors sexual orientation has aided me in understanding just how insane the Kiwis are. It wasn't one week before I had stumbled across the Beer Olympics, an event held at the Bay of Islands where, to put it simply, kids dressed as animals ran three legged races while chugging beers and puking in the barf bag tied to their necks. Our arrival in Auckland was no different, as we observed guys in girls dresses, and women dressed in bright, mod wigs, running drunk around the streets in hopes of winning costume contests at the bars and clubs in the city. I'd call this country somewhat unpredictable.

The class week is finally over (and yes, it's Thursday mid-afternoon), so I'm already attempting to plan out my weekend. Tonight is the 'Kiwiana' party, in which study abroad students are asked to dress based around the theme of New Zealand. Whether you decide to dress as a sheep, or a surfer, is at your discretion. Why is it that a large part of me feels this is just an excuse for kids to get drunk and run around in costume? See aforementioned paragraph. Aside from the typical drunken debauchery, a few of us were discussing a trip to Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland. It's been praised for its snorkeling and beautiful beaches, so...when in Rome.

I'm not completely enthralled by the pictures I've been taking; I still feel like I need more time to get familiar with my camera. Messing with the apeture and shutter speed have gotten me some cool shots, but I'm impatient. I'd like to think that if I had Photoshop I could adjust these pictures to perfection. I don't know the first thing about Photoshop. Balancing the red, blue, and green hues via adjusting the line values in a graph? I'm already yelling at my computer. My camera has spewed out some interesting shots as a result of my lack in photography knowledge.

I must say that Auckland is definitely not at its finest point. It's pretty miserable out. Rainy, windy, dreary, cold...feels like home. I'd like to go and make myself useful, but I'm afraid the only place I can do that is in my bed, asleep, wrapped up in a t-shirt. It sounds like a wonderful idea.

Tuesdays are Overrated.

I've still be in a slight haze the past few weeks. As much as I'd like to think im good at acquainting myself with new surroundings, I find myself questioning my environment from the moment I open my eyes to start the day. Class has begun, but is quickly disguised by the massive stage in the courtyard and the campus bar set in the corner. I've never been so confused. Is this an excuse to slack off? First week jitters? The result of no homework? Whatever it may be, I'm still calculating its impact on my sanity.

I'm cut up, sore, and bruised from God knows what. I told myself that if I wasn't risking my life everyday, I'd be disappointed. I want to scare the hell out of Kate.

My mind has turned into a thick pulp of emotions as a result of a lacking reality. Strangely enough, a fairly decent part of me feels the need to catch a plane back home. The honeymoon period has ended, and I'm now left with just my thoughts. You don't realize the importance of something until it's 15,000 miles away, whether it be material, emotional, mental, or physical. Everything has been put on hold so abruptly. I guess there is no grace period in which you will inevitably have to force yourself to adjust.

On a lighter note, I present to you and epic sunset.

Oh, and to follow that trend, my Event Planning teacher is a transvestite. Super fabulous (only to be spoken in drag).

Reality

Is this reality? I see nothing but turquoise water as I look out my 14th floor apartment room window in the heart of Auckland. Confusion has been a friend of mine for the past two weeks, as every morning I seem to wake up wondering where I am and how I got here. I strangely don't mind the stark white walls and the rough carpet floors being that the world is nearly a ride down the lift (aka: elevator, Kiwi speak). To be sitting at my desk for periods stretching longer than an hour bother me more so than it ever has. What the hell am I doing on the internet in New Zealand?





This place is intense. Overwhelming perhaps. My cheeks hurt from smiling.








Acquaintances have turned into life long friendships in no time. As much as I'd like to blame this on the typical college 'phenomena', this may be the real thing. We've already packed 8 of us in a minivan and toured areas of the North Island. The van stunk of alochol, body odor, and sea air by the time we were through with it. I suppose its times like those that bring people together immediately. Activities consisted of sleeping on the beach, sandboarding, chasing sheep, late night swimming, and showering only once during the long haul...you can only imagine.




Laura, Vic, Eugene, Heather, Andrew, Phil, Dario, Kate.

I suspect we will become an acronym in the near future.