Northland: Days 3 & 4, Last of Auckland

Saturday was a chill day; we got to sleep in and shop.  We hoped for etter weather in the afternoon to go to the beach, but no such luck.  In the evening we went to Catholic mass, which was a cool experience.  More chilling and hanging out.

 

We went to church on Sunday which was actually fast sunday instead of conference since they watch conference delayed in NZ.  In the afternoon we drove up to Waitangi for a picnic lunch, which was very nice.  We actually went to a Waitangi historical center where we got to see where the treaty was actually signed and it was a fascinating place.  Our tour guide sure knew her stuff.  A well-spent afternoon.  Came back and watched a couple of good movies.

We made our way home on Monday and basically drove the whole day.

We had a few days left in Auckland to do some last-minute things before officially finishing the program on Friday.  We learned how to weave flax, bought some last minute souveneirs, and hiked Rangitoto.  Rangitoto was a particularly fun activity because we went early in the morning for the hike, which was a nice hike, and spent the afternoon doing last-minute shopping in the city.  I'm glad we got to do the hike and I feel it was a well-spent morning.  It was hard to believe that it was the last time for us seeing a lot of the people we've spent every day with since January!  We had a get-together the night previous and fortunately we got to see James again, and he's such a dear, he got us matching lava lavas and hats with our initials.  It was a great ending to our time in Auckland.  We got everything packed up and ready to go for our trip to Australia.

Northland: Days 1 & 2

We departed for the northland on Thursday morning, the 1st of April.  It was a long, scenic drive up to Paihia, where we were staying.  We had reservations at a nice motel and quickly dropped our bags to catch the last boat out to the hole in the rock.  I should mention it was a speed boat and it was a treat to go so fast out on the open ocean and do some tricks like really riding the water!  It was spectacularly beautiful out there and I'm glad we rushed to catch that boat!

The next day we had a full day.  We started with a lot of driving to Cape Reinga, the northern-most tip of NZ.  Also spectacularly beautiful!  This is where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet, which is similar to what we saw when we were in the South Island.  So cool!  After that, we had a picnic lunch at the bay and then went sliding down these massive sand dunes.  It was pretty fun because we had the dunes all to ourself where we were, but boy was it a hike getting up!  We went down on boogie boards and if that dune wasn't so high, I would've done it again and again...

After that, we drove the 90 Mile Beach.  It's exactly what it sounds like: a long stretch of beach.  Very nice.  We stopped at a kauri wood shop, which is a beautiful native NZ wood.  It's like the koa wood of NZ.  It's also ridiculously expensive, so none of you will be receiving anything kauri.

To top off a great day, we had dinner at a really, really great fish and chips place.  By far the best fish and chips I ever had in my life!  The perfect ending to a great day.

Rotorua: Days 3 & 4

Monday was a free day in Rotorua.  We started the day zorbing, yes, zorbing!  It's a big inflatable ball and you go rolling down a hill sloshing in water, going every which way.  It was so fun!  We had the option of going straight down the hill or going zig-zag; I chose the zig-zag.

After zorbing we went shopping in town.  There's some good souveneir shopping and I found lots of cool things, probably something for you, the reader!

That night we were treated to a delicious traditional dinner and show put on by our host family there in Rotorua.  Actually, they own a business that does it professionally so think PCC on a very small scale.  The food was absolutely wonderful and the show, entertaining.  I would reccommend it for anyone visiting New Zealand.

Tuesday was our last day in Rotorua and so we went to the Waitomo glow worm caves.  We could either go black water tubing or take a boat tour; I went on the boat.  There were definitely a lot of glow worms! 

And then we came home.  Now: gearing up for our tour of the north land!

Rotorua: Days 1 & 2

Our first activity in Rotorua was the Te Puia cultural center.  We received lots of exposure to ancient Maori culture and I found it quite interesting.  In addition to learning about ancient Maori culture, we also got to see two little kiwi birds and got to see the on-site carving and weaving schools.  Very cool stuff! 

We also were treated to seeing a natural geyser, very similar to Old Faithful in Yellowstone.  It was hot by then.  We went for lunch and then headed for our next adventure: luging!

Luging was very fast and very fun.  James got us to the front of the line and we were on our way in no time.  For those of you who don't know, luging involves going on a track downhill in a cart-type vehicle. There were 3 different tracks: scenic, intermediate, and advanced.  I went down the scenic twice and intermediate thrice because the intermediate was voted best track. 

After so much fun and adventure, we called it a day and headed home.

The next day was Sunday and so we went to church.  It happened to be the Fairy Springs ward conference.  After church was over, the ward had a luncheon where once again,  the little fed the masses.  After church we went for a nice long scenic drive to a couple of lakes and finally to Lake Taupo.

Hamilton

The end of school meant the beginning of travelling!  We started with Hamilton and headed straight to the temple.  Despite our best efforts, we arrived a bit late and so I missed the 10:00 session.  Fortunately, I still got to do some work and the rest of the group was still able to do their baptisms.  Then we stayed for awhile at the visitors centre and James brought us fresh donuts from a roadside stand (where the best food comes from) and we took off for Hamilton Gardens.

The gardens were very nice, we went through several themed gardens and enjoyed the natural beauty.  We spent an hour there; we were actually alotted 2 hours, but I went with a group to retrieve forgotten items at the temple.  It was a perfect nap opportunity and I took full advantage of it, which explains some of the I-Just-Woke-Up looking pictures.

After the gardens we were off to Rotorua, where we were to spend the rest of our trip.  When they say that you'll know when you've reached Rotorua, they don't lie; you can smell this place a mile away.  But that's just because of the natural hot water/mud springs and geysers and such.  We stayed with a very gracious family that let us have free reign on their personal hot pot and internet.  Yup, 13 girls in one room...we had a cozy stay.

Last Day of School

We finished our time at Ranui on Thursday, March 25.  The day was filled with food, laughter, and cameras.  I made paper flower leis with my class which they did very well.  We had a delicious lunch which was hosted by Pani, one of our cooperating teachers.  I also finally got a sausage sizzle from our fundraising 5/6 graders.  I wish I could bring back packages of those sausages home to the states because boy are they delicious.

However, it was anything but an easy day; I experienced my first student accident of my teaching career.  And this was a big poopy accident.  Ordinarily I wouldn't write about such events as a poopy accident, but it was of such big proportions that it'd be wrong of me not to write about it.  One poor student just did not make it to the bathroom in time and well, we had to have the classroom evacuated and cleaned, then we had to find something to do with said-student.  He couldn't be sent home because his mum wasn't asnwering the phone but he couldn't be sent back to class!  This caused a flurry in the office.  His mum was finally reached and the room thoroughly disinfected; oh the joys of teaching Kindergarten.

Kelly Tarltons, Auckland Blues, Umu

This was an eventful week!  On Monday we had FHE with Joy and so we went to the Waitakere Ranges just a 30 minute drive away from our house and into the secluded rainforest.  Absolutely beautiful.  We did a surf and turf thing because after we hit the mountains, we went to Bethell's beach which in my opinion has been the nicest beach that we've been to so far, and I've high beach standards.  However, it was cold and I don't like going to the beach when it's cold, but we went to have dinner at Burger Fuel.  A fried egg in my burger and kumara fries?  Yes, please!

Thursday I totally lucked out and got to go with the 5th and 6th graders to Poly Fest!  It was like Pacifika but with more performances, I guess.  I tagged along with Matua Shane and 6 of his students, and we have a lovely day in the park.  We all got cool freebies and I only wish I had less shame to get that University of Auckland bag...

On Friday we went to an underwater aquarium called Kelly Tarlton, named after its founder.  Revolutionary to NZ he brought the underwater world to the massess by taking over an underground abandoned sewage line and filling it with sharks, sting rays, and many other ocean creatures including penguins.  It was very very cool for the hour I was there. 

We prepped that afternoon for the umu on Saturday.  We peeled potatoes and kumara, cut bread and onions, and stuffed chickens.  Actually, it was an underground Thanksgiving feast.  The food was delicious and plentiful and I must mention one more time that delicious potato salad.  So delicious.  We were not lacking in drinks or dessert, and there was even an ice cream cake and a chocolate log!  Think cake-sized ho-ho.  Yum.  We then zumba-ed for the crowd.  More than a little weird, but who cares when you're eating that good.

I must re-wind to the rugby game Friday night.  My first rugby game watching the Blues against an Australian team, I think.  Rugby is fast-paced and hard-hitting but the crowd sounds like...well, they're not very noisy at all.  That's ok.  It was fast and fun.

I taught my last lesson to the Beehives today as it is our last Sunday here in Auckland.  Starting Friday we will resume our travels and head to Hamilton, Rotorua, and various places in the northland.  Just 4 more days of school left!

Goat Island and Pacifika

 This Friday we went to Goat Island, which, interestingly enough, is not nor has ever been a home to goats.  However, it is an excellent site for snorkeling, which we did!  There was a sting ray sighting, but I did not venture far enough out to see it.  It was a relatively cold day, but we did not let that stop us from seeing the wonderous ocean world.  Also, Joy brought a faaaaantastic picnic which we enjoyed while chasing the birds away.

Friday night I had a delicious Filipino dinner by one of the members in the ward.  She is family with some members who used to live in Waianae, and it turned out to be somewhat of a family reunion.  It was a nice way to spend an evening, and I came home absolutely stuffed.

 Saturday found us at the annual Pacifika (spelt with a "k") festival, which is a celebration of island nations in the Pacific.  Only a certain few had "villiages" (think PCC?) including Niue, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tokelau, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Kiribati, and of course, Aotearoa.  Hawaii had dancers on the main stage and so while we did not merit our own village, at least we were represented.  There were heaps of food and crafts, but I spent my money on food.  You would have too.

Saturday evening we went up to Mt. Eden, which is kind of like Diamond Head because there's this massive crater and a spectacular view of the city.  It was already quite windy and drizzly by this point, but it was quite lovely.  Then we watched Bambi.

Today I taught the Beehives again on sharing the gospel, one of my favorite topics.  I love the Beehives and am glad that I get to teach them again next week since it will be our last Sunday in the Lincoln Ward.  After that, we're on the road again and will be until we go home!  So only 8 more days of school and then my summer begins!  Well, it might also end in a month, but that is to be determined.

Auckland Day: 2

This Auckland Day found us at the famous Sky Tower in downtown Auckland.  The Sky Tower has already made its picture debut here, but now she is the center focus.  There wasn't much to her, unfortunately, as you just pay money to go up and see the city.  Megan appropriately pointed out that we are becoming bored locals; it was nice to see it anyway, though, and it was right in the middle of the day so I slept in, cleaned up, did some laundry, then headed out and came back in plenty of time for our Friday night line up: Shortland Street and a 2 hour American Idol.

Saturday was special because it was our ward's temple day.  I got to ride down in the ward van and do a session in the Hamilton temple; it was a beautiful day and the temple was very very nice.  It's located literally in the middle of nowhere and is surrounded by open fields; here are a couple shots of the temple, but expect more because at the end of hte month our group will go to the temple on our way to Rotorua.  I'm not sure if it's considered a small temple, but it's definitely a smallish one.  And although it looks like I took this picture off the church website becuase it's so nice, alas, I snapped this myself.  On the way back we stopped for ice cream, which in NZ is always good.

Today was a lovely day at church.   We had a very nice lesson in Sunday School by one of the boys here and then I got to teach the Beehive class.  I discovered there is yet a newer Personal Progress program/book and they look so nice!  Appropriately enough, the lesson was on the blessings of the temple.  It's as if it were all planned out that I go to the temple the day before my lesson the temple! We had 6 or 7 girls in our Beehives class and they were so cute; it seemed to be a hit because I am in charge of the lesson next week.  The advisor, Virginia, is a lovely lady from Peru so we talk to each other in Spanish and it's fun.  Now I am tired and will rest.