Exploring...

These pictures are in the order that I saw them. My roommate Paul and I took a journey to the park and then continued on all the way down to Mission Bay yesterday since it was so pleasant outside!



Check out these signs, How many American places are in this picture?

1. McDonalds
2. KFC
3. Subway
4. Pizza Hut
   

(You can't really see the Pizza Hut but it's there I promise!)

This view was taken on a bridge east of the Skytower. The Skytower, since it is the tallest man made structure in the southern hemisphere, enables me to always find my way home.

I couldn't even capture all of this huge tree in one photo. There were many like this one all throughout the Dove-Myer park.

I'm not sure if I'm looking at an island or just another part of Auckland... But look, there's water!

This was also taken from the bridge in the previous photo. Paul and I followed the path on the left about 5K from here to Mission Bay Beach! Hopefully I'll start training on this path before the Adidas Marathon that I would like to run in November...

(Don't worry i'll only be doing the 10K for my first Marathon!)

Heaps of Kiwi Things

Fun facts I've learned since arriving in New Zealand: (to be continuously updated)

1. At crosswalks you can cross the street diagonally- And you won't get hit by a car!
2. Kiwi's (the people, not the fruit) use the term heaps! Heaps of times! (aka "a lot")
3. Heaters are seldom felt in flats, hostels, restaurants! Why don't Kiwi's believe in strong heaters?!
4. Taking a university course is called a "paper" But you don't write papers, only essays.
5. The term "sweet as" is an equivalent to our "cool"... I think
6. Don't try to pass someone on the sidewalk on the right hand side- they get very confused!
7. Don't buy bacon here. It's not bacon. :-(
8. Kiwi's (the fruit) are delicious here- but they did not originate from here.....strange, i know!

~These pictures are from around Auckland Central- all within walking distance of my flat~

The All Blacks Game

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby game against the Australian Wallabies was this past weekend- with the All Blacks winning 22-16! It was my first rugby game and besides being quite cold I had a lovely time!

















Here I am all bundled up- it was windy, cold and a little rainy! This weather will take a little bit of getting used to!

A few pictures from my iPhone and friend's cameras

Our AustraLearn group learned the Haka, a Maori war ritual. It is also the same one that the All Blacks Rugby team performs before games!

Here are the words for "Kamate" that were written on the white board

Ah kia mau Hi
Ah kamate kamate
Ka ora ka ora
Ah kamate kamate
Ka ora ka ora
Te nei te tangata
Puhuru Huru
Nana i tiki mai
Whaka Whiti tera (this line sounded like fucka-fiti-tear-a)
Ahupane kaupane
Ahupane kaupane
Whiti tera Hi

(Then you make a mean face and the men stick out their tongues to represent their penis. It's really scary when the Maori perform this!)





Here I am posing as a kiwi at the backpackers hostel our AustraLearn group stayed at in Rotorua, New Zealand. The rooms resembled cabins with a loft area up top and four tiny twin beds. The people at the Kiwi Paka resort were very friendly, they just didn't seem to understand why we were so upset. You see, apparently New Zealand doesn't believe in heating. Those few nights at that hostel were the coldest i've ever been sleeping inside! Oh camp Rotorua, what an experience!













This image was snapped while I was napping comfortably on the Magic Bus. Luckily our very entertaining bus driver was for once not talking about rugby being the greatest sport that only real men play or asking riddles or making jokes, so that i was able to get some shut-eye!

The start of living in New Zealand!

I've been in Auckland Central now for a little over a week and i haven't yet figured out the bus system!

Before arriving in Auckland our AustraLearn program group took us to Rotorua to see and learn a Maori Haka! We also went to Waitomo to go caving! Check out our nifty wetsuits! I would have froze without one!




And while in Rotorua, I chose to go for a hike in their Redwood forest which New Zealanders apparently planted. The place looks like a scene out of Jurassic Park!













Since arriving in Auckland i have managed to go to some international film festival movies including: Moon, Rip: A Remix Manifesto, and Examined Life. I'll also go to see the Antichrist 26 July with my flatmate Paul. It's the closing film for the festival so hopefully it will be good!