Wasabi, Cows and Flowers

Hello all! This will probably be the last post, seeing as how I will be a little hectic this next month traveling the country (aka ignoring the internet for all intensive purposes of living up the tourist experience). I will have you know that I finally gave in to buying a pair of "stubbies," please don't judge. Haha!

I trekked around campus taking pictures today for sentimental snapshots to look back on when I get home. I'm bound to miss Hamilton - it has treated me very well! This picture of the cow was taken on a class field trip to Tirau, a small town that has been developed due to the large flow of tourists passing through constantly - the town has completely unified itself with corrugated iron signs and buildings (some in the shape of sheep, I know...awesome) for the shops.

Here's my friend Matt and I in the process of a wasabi contest at one of the billion cafes on campus - I was clearly frightened. However, it was my idea, so I couldn't very well chicken out:



Here's a cute little picture of the flowers mom sent for some encouragement while I studied for finals! Monday was the last load of exams and essays EVER. Or...at least until graduate school, which could possibly be in the cards for the future; but who knows! I've never in my life had such an intense load of schoolwork. This semester I've had the BEST teacher of my life as well as the WORST. Haha, Waikato seems to be all over the map with the quality of their teachers. But dang, when they're good: they're really good.

Just to give you a little idea of what my last 2 essays of the semester were on: for the last couple weeks I've been studying/writing about 1. whether free will exists in humans, and if so - what does that look like? and 2. the epistemological approach to discovering whether or not religious belief is rational. Can you just take a deep breath with me? Haha, seriously - the craziest/ coolest/ most difficult topics of my college career! Phew. I feel like I just ran a race. This is a picture of me, Liv (in the middle, from Norway) and Mulela (on the left, from Zambia) at the international "graduation" ceremony. They spelled my name wrong on the certificate - some kind of graduation! Haha!

And I am just so thankful to my parents who made this trip possible at all - Dad, Becky & Mom and John contributed a lot to help me come here and I really appreciate it! Their continued support throughout college has been a big encouragement.

Dad arrives next Tuesday to the North Island, and we're going to do some exploring for a week. When he heads out, I'm off to a conference up in Matamata for a couple days and then over to Auckland to pick up Matt, Kar, and Justine from the airport. I'm so excited! I really miss friends and family. I sent this picture of me and the Maori carving to my dad tonight, telling him I found a Kiwi boyfriend and wasn't coming home. Haha!

It will be so strange returning home though (I suspect at least...), because New Zealand - though unfamiliar at first, has become the familiar. I can honestly say that there are a few faces I'm really going to have a hard time not seeing at school and on the weekends. But...this next phase in life is going to be wonderful, I have a really good feeling about it.

Until the next time we meet...

Cheers!

In True Scholarly Form

Today in NZed land I not only went to Hobbiton (a "Lord of the Rings" movie set), but went there for a school assigment. The only thing wrong with that statement is that I had to make it on a saturday. That's right - I went on a class field trip on a SATURDAY. I've never felt more like a scholar than I do right now in New Zealand. School on Saturdays? I thought that wasn't allowed!

Along with weekend assignments, I can honestly say that I've never written this many essays in my LIFE. I have written more scholarly essays this semester than during the duration of the rest of my college career. Wow. New Zealand really knows how to pick your brain. Go kiwis! Although my mind is taxed, I am thankful for the challenge.

I only have one and a half more months in this beautiful country and I can honestly say I am going to miss a lot of things; those things mainly being people. Oh man, have I been blessed with some amazing women in my life here. I meet with a group of 4 other women every Thursday for coffee, treats, and bible-talk. The vulnerability, joy, and sincerity I have seen and shared with them is truly beautiful.

Not to mention the great group of characters I join in fun with every weekend to be goofy and crazy! My favorite ;) This weekend we went bowling...in costume (I was chosen to be the cop!) It was glorious, haha! I thought you might enjoy some of the photos!

My next door neighbor is a phenomenal pianist and I just found out that her and the rest of the music students have rehearsals every Friday afternoon, which are free for anyone to sit in on. I went for the first time this week and I will definitely be going back every Friday until class is out! The music school here is ALL modern based - none of that boring Classical stuff they're always teaching kids in school, haha. It's really neat.

Well that's about it for now. I'm going to go pick some feijoas >>>


Love and miss everyone!

Cheers

Nostalgic in New Zealand

That fragile, fleeting thing we like to call time is slipping through my fingers as it tends to do. My head has been filled up with worried thoughts about soon-due assignments and excited planning for when Matt, Kar, and Justine arrive.

I was out to dinner last night (we had Korean food, yum....) and my friend said to me, "We've got pretty cool lives right now, don't we? I would've never thought a year ago that I'd be sitting in New Zealand...eating Korean food...with another American." Haha! Isn't that the truth?

I was so happy he said it too, because it instantly took my anxious thoughts for future happenings and zoned it right back in to the present. Do you ever do this? Get caught up in tomorrow and forget about how fabulous today is? It's good to have people around to catch your thoughts and set them right back to where they're supposed to be.

My friend Erika, who is getting married the week we get back to the U.S. (ooo I'm excited! but eek! stop thinking about the future...) gave me an awesome present before I left: "Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie. If anyone has read this, you will understand why I say it is "awesome." I looked at her like she was a loony bins when she handed it to me, thinking, "What the heck am I going to read a children's book for?" And she just said, "Just read it. You'll be surprised what it means through an adult's eyes." She was right. Here's a sweet little excerpt I will share with you; it's only appropriate, because tomorrow is Mother's Day.

"Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtinesses and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind, and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on."

I would say that is indeed the goal of any good mother.

On a gloomier note, and I mean gloomy quite literally, Hamilton weather is far from agreeable.

The days have been unendingly rainy and cold. Today, to my delight, the sky was shining and blue with one cloud in it. But what do you think that one tiny cloud did? Oh yes, it rained right on my little head. Haha!

I took a trip to a nearby vineyard on a rainy day like this one last week. It is called "Vilagrad" vineyards and owned by 3 brothers, who are 4th generation family owners - very neat to see. They had a vine overhanging the main dining room that was over 100 years old and still growing juicy grapes.

For a steal of $10 NZD's (about $7.50 USD's) we received a ride to the vineyard, a tour, a winetasting, and dinner! You can't beat that. They make a wine there that is unique to the vineyard called Charminer. I bought a couple bottles to share with friends and family as they come visit the country.

I better get back to my essay on St. Augustine. I'll write again soon!

Cheers

I Sound Like A Kiwi? Preposterous!

I recently talked to my good ole' best friend on Skype and you know what she said to me? She said, "You sound like one of them! This is so weird!" Apparently the phrase "I look a fright" isn't a usual American phrase. Woops! I have no clue when exactly such strange phrases embedded into my working vocabularly, but there they are and they make me laugh. Or shall I say, "I reckon they are quite funny?" It sounds like a southern comment, but I promise, in a kiwified accent it is quite classy!


Our "Spring Break" aka Fall break has come to a close. They sure know how to relax here! Two entire weeks of no school, no work, and all play. I don't even know what to do with myself! I never thought I'd be asking for school work...but hey, I must be desperate. Haha!

But surely you want some good stuff - something more interesting than me sitting in beautiful New Zealand reading everyday? Last weekend I took a trip 9 hours south to the bottom of the north island and PHEW, was that a long bus ride! But entirely worth it. Plus, I had my friend Haley with me, who made me laugh the entire bus ride anyway! Going to Wellington finally gave me the chance to meet some relatives for the first time EVER! Michelle and Wayne are amazing people. Their little lady Genevre is literally an angel - and I'm not just saying that. This little blonde piggy-tailed bundle will be much missed when I go back to the U.S. The city they live in is called Wellington - it's the capital of New Zealand. Very cool city: lots of green, surrounded by beautiful views of the ocean, modern AND classic architecture as well as art - just really neat all in all. I can't wait to take Matt, Kar, and Justine there when they arrive!

I have decided that it takes about 2 months to get settled into a new country, because these past 2 weeks have been the first time I really feel "comfortable" here. 2 months time yields the opportunity to not just meet heaps of new people, but to actually get to know some of them as well! Thank goodness. Life is much more satisfying when you can share it with others around you...

On a lighter note, I've discovered a lovely liquid creation called Milk Tea. Have you ever heard of it? DELICIOUS. Sounds sick though, right? (Ay?) Oh no, a taste of heaven in a glass. And you know what else is a taste of heaven? The grading system: anywhere from 70-100% is an "A"! Can you imagine? I received an 80% on my first test, and if you know me very well, that is just NOT acceptable. Haha! But when 80% means "A," it's definitely okay.

I'm off to...study...urgh...should not tell a lie...haha!

Miss you all dearly,

Cheers

I'm Beached As Bro

The kiwis really like to relax, so spring break isn't just one week, like in the USA, but two full weeks of splendorous rest! Last weekend yielded an amazing traverse northeast to Waihi Beach with a group of really fun people: the retreat was called "Beached As," named after a funny YouTube video an Aussie made to mock the Kiwi accent. It's going on the Lise' List of Favorite Weekends because it not only included lots of coffee drinking, but heaps of gaming, music, sandy beaches and deep, challenging conversation.

As far as coffee goes - being a barista the last 2 years of my life means nothing. All the names for the different types of coffee's are different! I've come to find the "flat white" as a great and tasty energy boost - it's sort of like a latte, but STRONGER! Sounds good, eh? Here's what your average Flat White will look like (yes, they always have cool designs in the foam)!


What kinds of games did we play, you ask? Well for starters, if you've ever played the card game "spoons" before, you know it can get bloody intense. And I literally mean bloody, because you don't go into a real game of "spoons" and come out completely unharmed, haha! Next in order was a three hour long game of Capture the Flag, where I proceeded to go to jail at least 19 times. Other fun stuff included a beach-themed walk-off, where you flaunted an awesome costume by dancing in front of about 50 people - can you say awesome? Ya. Awesome. (Try saying that with a kiwi accent, it is hilarious).

But don't worry, I'm not having too much play and no work. Classes are challenging, but in a wonderful way. I've continued to write for The Lumberjack while I've been here and it sounds as though my conservative articles stick out like a sore thumb, which is what being an Opinion writer is all about! You know you're doing your job when you're riling people up (of course this doesn't go for all jobs, be careful)! Haha. I even wrote a song since I arrived. If you care to listen, check out my Myspace page at www.myspace.com/liselovesu.

Side note: I have a new favorite spot on campus that I've named the Pond for Pondering. Here are some photos I took/edited-up for your viewing pleasure :)

<3

Well that is all for now friends and family. I am off to meet some long-lost/long-distance family in Wellington this weekend, can't wait. More updates to come.

Cheers!