Cant complain

When I first began to realize that I was actually going to be spending 6 months living, learning and exploring a new country on the other side of the world I really started to wonder what on earth it was going to be like? Im not sure what I pictured in retrospective but I dont think it ever occurred to me how rare of an opportunity this was and how fortunate I am to be able to do something like this. I know realize what an insanely awesome country this is for so many different reasons. One thing that was strange for me initially was actually living in a city. At home in the ole 518 I can be in a forrest in 5 minutes at almost any given time. At school its not too different but its also by no stretch of the imagination a city, Burlington is great but its a town lets be honest. After about 2 weeks I realized that I had never spent more than a few days in an actual city. I have to be honest I think Dunedin has the best set up possible in terms of city life. You can spend as much time as you want in the streets or downtown dodging cars and avoiding rubbish but you can also be driving right next to a beautiful harbor flanked by lush green peaks in less than ten minutes. Give it another ten or twenty minutes and you can be walking down a beautiful beach watching the sunset (or rise). ------>

So this weekend we took the half hour or so drive to long beach and camped/partied in a cave on the beach. I was lucky enough to wake up and catch the first rays of the morning sun as it sauntered its way into the Sunday morning sky.

The cave itself is pretty sweet, big enough for a bonfire and for 25 kids to sleep comfortably. Much to my dismay there were no secret passage ways or treasure chests. To my disgust there were 2 dead sheep who had tumbled down from the hundred ft or so cliff above the cave, RIP lamb chop.

Lets see what else is new?

Yeah I have to do school work now

so thats pretty beat but its all good because every weekend brings new adventures. We all know life is all about the balance of work and adventures because if we didnt have to do some work then how could be appreciate how great adventures are? Little bit of Maori world view right there.

self portrait

Met my kiwi neighbors last week, what a bunch.

My first impressions came from their blasting techno and dub step at all hours of the day and night. I have to say I was not disappointed when I met the owners of these prolific beats they are equally loud and energetic. They were real excited to met Whitney, Colleen and I which was has really been the overall sentiment from the Kiwis here; just super friendly and real curious to know about things like American music and the differences between our college experiences.

One difference Ive been noting is the library usage, here they use it from a

bout 3 to 6 or so then do god knows what. I feel like at st. mikes we have kids in the library mostly past 8 up until close. Sweet as library though. The gym here is seriously small for the size of the student population though. They also dont even have a pool but for the amount of time that st mikes lets you use the pool we might as well not have one either.

Oh yeah I got an email today that wifi is now in all residential buildings on campus. Good hustle st. mikes! Didnt really want to jump on that trend, good thinking waiting it out and seeing how the whole internet thing took off.

I do miss the summer that is for sure.

Especially because of little buggers like Thomas here.

That and the relaxing aspect.

But mostly the family time.

Treasure it.

Thanksgiving is going to be the best holiday/meal/time/AMERICA ever.

Alright enough mindless dribble

be safe

be awesome

wear respects

hahaha

Matt