full circleWednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
texture
The academic portion of this semester is finally over. 40 pages and 26 slides later, I find myself swamped in inca wool, a game of settlers, and a teenage romance-comedy of the 90's.
Presentations began this afternoon at 1:00 and ended promptly at 6:00. It was followed by a dinner of lamb, squash couscous, and homemade raspberry cheese cake galore. I have so much time and energy, that I don't know what to do with it, since for the past few days it was spent procrastinating.
This semester I really go into taking texture photos. Here's a random selection of crap:
I really like chai lattes.
Presentations began this afternoon at 1:00 and ended promptly at 6:00. It was followed by a dinner of lamb, squash couscous, and homemade raspberry cheese cake galore. I have so much time and energy, that I don't know what to do with it, since for the past few days it was spent procrastinating.
This semester I really go into taking texture photos. Here's a random selection of crap:
I really like chai lattes.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
home
home
the driveway
garden patch - lettuce and rocket
the backyard
my rooms on the top left corner. sorta.
first day of spring
the classroom
the kitchen
logging
We've returned safely from our Forest Ecology excursion. We packed up Thursday morning and headed over the Lewis Pass to Reefton where we stayed at Waiuta. Waiuta's an abandoned mining village in the middle of nowhere. I guess they really wanted us to focus on trees because that's all that was there. But the place had a slightly haunting feeling, the visitor's log had several accounts to be wary of the "wood-man." No worries, we're all still alive.
We then headed through Greymouth, made a pit stop at Franz Josef glacier where we once again looked at more trees. Well, this was Forest Ecology week. I'm not being sarcastic, I really enjoyed researching trees. The rest of the week we stayed at Bruce Bay, where conditions were...okay. The weather turned to crap. We stayed at an old hall, and the town consisted of three houses and a penguin. It was cold, rainy, windy, full of sand flies, etc. I cried. If it weren't for the trees I would've died.
Sleeping conditions
Franz Josef
Towards the end of Forest Ecology weather conditions turned miserable. Our last field day we went to Lake Matheson to study trees one last time. There was wind, rain, cold, all we needed was some snow. So this is the scenario: I have got thermals, jeans, snow pants, two long sleeves, a jacket, and a rain coat, soaking wet shoes, and a bag of rocks. We studied trees and skipped rocks at the lake, in the worse conditions ever. I loved it. kinda. Well now I do.
we're studying them. i promise.
Even though the tone of this post is really negative this trip had its good moments. Singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs in the van, the endless amounts of pesto-turkey-roast beef sandwiches, playing Settlers of Catan, hiking Copeland Valley, star gazing, and kiwi hunting were a few highlights.
mmm. pesto-turkey-roast beef-avocado-lettuce-and brie sandwich.
I'm basically two pages away from finishing this stupid paper. Don't get me wrong I still love New Zealand. I'm just having my first crappy day in New Zealand. I've got a cold and I bruised my toe nail. AGH!
We then headed through Greymouth, made a pit stop at Franz Josef glacier where we once again looked at more trees. Well, this was Forest Ecology week. I'm not being sarcastic, I really enjoyed researching trees. The rest of the week we stayed at Bruce Bay, where conditions were...okay. The weather turned to crap. We stayed at an old hall, and the town consisted of three houses and a penguin. It was cold, rainy, windy, full of sand flies, etc. I cried. If it weren't for the trees I would've died.
Sleeping conditions
Franz JosefTowards the end of Forest Ecology weather conditions turned miserable. Our last field day we went to Lake Matheson to study trees one last time. There was wind, rain, cold, all we needed was some snow. So this is the scenario: I have got thermals, jeans, snow pants, two long sleeves, a jacket, and a rain coat, soaking wet shoes, and a bag of rocks. We studied trees and skipped rocks at the lake, in the worse conditions ever. I loved it. kinda. Well now I do.
we're studying them. i promise.Even though the tone of this post is really negative this trip had its good moments. Singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs in the van, the endless amounts of pesto-turkey-roast beef sandwiches, playing Settlers of Catan, hiking Copeland Valley, star gazing, and kiwi hunting were a few highlights.
mmm. pesto-turkey-roast beef-avocado-lettuce-and brie sandwich.Wednesday, December 3, 2008
greenstone
Forest ecology week is on its way. Its our last class here in New Zealand, and its proving itself far more challenging than stream and marine. Already we've hiked through uncharted territories in the New Zealand low-forest. I've been hit by a tree, and it bruises. Tomorrow we leave for the West Coast: Bruce Bay and Franz Josef. Half of our final two weeks in New Zealand will be spent frolicking under giant tree ferns.
I've got a lot of mixed feelings about the closing of the semester. The Old Convent has felt closer to home than any of my dorm rooms at Westmont. I'm terribly fond of peeking out my window to see the Southern Alps in my backyard, riding through the smell of cow and burning wood each morning on my favorite mountain bike, and running across black sand most days after class. At times I feel like I've been here forever, but most days its like only yesterday that my roommates and I were unpacking suitcases into empty drawers, spreading sheets onto our country inn beds. The absence of home is quickly filled with lush rolling hills, where mountains meet the ocean, adventures into the sky. Even though I miss unlimited internet, the comforts of a cell phone, and in-n-out, I've learned to adapt and live without. I long for the embrace of California, but my heart wonders if I'll ever come back.
---sunrise at Rarangi Beach
I've got a lot of mixed feelings about the closing of the semester. The Old Convent has felt closer to home than any of my dorm rooms at Westmont. I'm terribly fond of peeking out my window to see the Southern Alps in my backyard, riding through the smell of cow and burning wood each morning on my favorite mountain bike, and running across black sand most days after class. At times I feel like I've been here forever, but most days its like only yesterday that my roommates and I were unpacking suitcases into empty drawers, spreading sheets onto our country inn beds. The absence of home is quickly filled with lush rolling hills, where mountains meet the ocean, adventures into the sky. Even though I miss unlimited internet, the comforts of a cell phone, and in-n-out, I've learned to adapt and live without. I long for the embrace of California, but my heart wonders if I'll ever come back.
---sunrise at Rarangi BeachSunday, November 30, 2008
summiting
Last week we finished God and Nature. It was a wee bit stressful considering I had 5 bible studies and 5 reading reflections to do. But three cheers for joy cause its over! All that's left is ISP and Forest Ecology and we're homeward bound.
On Saturday we had our farewell Hangi (sp?) with the Kaikoura neighborhood. Its basically like a Hawaiian luau where the pig and the rest of the food is cooked in a fire pit underground. After experiencing, the Maori, Samoan, and Hawaiian versions of this cooking method I still like Hawaiiain food the most.
After the Hangi which ended at 5 or 6 for I took another stab at spontaneity and decided to climb Mt. Fyffe. So with Sarah and Leah convinced we packed our sleeping bags and made peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches and began our ascent to an altitude of 1090 m in 2 and half hours. Outside of the hut we watched the stars appear and saw the most incredible shooting stars of my life. The shooting stars shot bright across the sky for durations of five seconds each. Bloody brilliant.
The next morning we summited at 1602 m. We rose above the clouds to the very peak of Mt. Fyffe. A sea of clouds awaited us, and the sound of the wind at that alititude mimicked the crashing of the waves on the beaches far below us. Not to be crude, but my ass and legs hurt like hell.
Mt. Fyffe from ground level
summiting. (>_<) the mountains behind are the southern alps. its another gajillion hours to get ontop of that.
In God and Nature we learned that if one dominates nature then they must also support the domination of women. Considering that I raped that mountain (^_^) its concluded that I'm anti-ecofeminist. hah.
sweet as! (kiwi for awesome, cool, fine by me)
On Saturday we had our farewell Hangi (sp?) with the Kaikoura neighborhood. Its basically like a Hawaiian luau where the pig and the rest of the food is cooked in a fire pit underground. After experiencing, the Maori, Samoan, and Hawaiian versions of this cooking method I still like Hawaiiain food the most.
After the Hangi which ended at 5 or 6 for I took another stab at spontaneity and decided to climb Mt. Fyffe. So with Sarah and Leah convinced we packed our sleeping bags and made peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches and began our ascent to an altitude of 1090 m in 2 and half hours. Outside of the hut we watched the stars appear and saw the most incredible shooting stars of my life. The shooting stars shot bright across the sky for durations of five seconds each. Bloody brilliant.
The next morning we summited at 1602 m. We rose above the clouds to the very peak of Mt. Fyffe. A sea of clouds awaited us, and the sound of the wind at that alititude mimicked the crashing of the waves on the beaches far below us. Not to be crude, but my ass and legs hurt like hell.
Mt. Fyffe from ground level
summiting. (>_<) the mountains behind are the southern alps. its another gajillion hours to get ontop of that.In God and Nature we learned that if one dominates nature then they must also support the domination of women. Considering that I raped that mountain (^_^) its concluded that I'm anti-ecofeminist. hah.
sweet as! (kiwi for awesome, cool, fine by me)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
post-birthday celebrations
i am officially twenty. it seems to have gone by so quick, it only seems like yesterday that i was blowing the candles of my first "-teen" birthday. but to celebrate before stepping into the doors of adulthood, we had a week of fun and irresponsibility (what was once known as ISP week).
i'm twenty!!!
the weather's warmed up considerably, now that the first day of spring has come and gone. despite the freak wind storm we had yesterday, we run around barefooted and delight in the sun's rays just a bit too much. last week we were given off to dedicate to finishing the bulk of our ISP papers. but in between research and analysis here's a list of stuff we did: slept on the porch, banana nutella crepe's, mickey mouse pancakes, the transformation of the staircase into a super slide, long bike rides, eggs in a basket, skipping stone's past the animal park, labryindth, fort building, paint balling, trips to the candy shop, gas station magnum bars, real life-pac man, mortal combat, mario kart, whale watching, cliff hiking, ultimate frisby...a whole bunch of spontaneous, irresponsible stuff, to commemorate the end of being a teenager.
banana-nutella crepes
the labyrinth
we also experienced our new zealand homestays this weekend. i got placed in a farm family with tommy and matt. my farm family consisted of an elderly couple, 3000 sheep, 150 cattle, 30 hens, 20 dogs, 2 cats, wild deer, wild goats, and a billion sandflys. i actually don't know how else to describe it.
the 3000 acre farm (or part of it)
i've been assessing all the damage done to my body from this trip. after paintballing and the fact that i'm not graceful like a swan i've counted three minor scratches, 13 bruises (i currently have 8 bruises on my body-i look like a battered drug addicted wife), and probably a three digit number of sand fly bites and scars.
paint balling!
on sunday we celebrated my birthday for real. the staff had prepared a spa night in my honor, Los Ramos Spa. ha. full service spa with massages, facials, mani/pedis, haircuts and fun. on monday we celebrate bry's birthday and went paintballing for the second time. and on tuesday we had laura's birthday where we had euro-trash fashion night. lol. today we have a break. but tomorrow is thanksgiving dinner, and on friday we celebrate professor Brett's birthday!
euro-trash runway show
i guess this is the cliffnotes version of what i've been doing for the past three weeks. i'll try to update more frequently, considering that i'll be back in the states in three weeks.
i'm twenty!!!the weather's warmed up considerably, now that the first day of spring has come and gone. despite the freak wind storm we had yesterday, we run around barefooted and delight in the sun's rays just a bit too much. last week we were given off to dedicate to finishing the bulk of our ISP papers. but in between research and analysis here's a list of stuff we did: slept on the porch, banana nutella crepe's, mickey mouse pancakes, the transformation of the staircase into a super slide, long bike rides, eggs in a basket, skipping stone's past the animal park, labryindth, fort building, paint balling, trips to the candy shop, gas station magnum bars, real life-pac man, mortal combat, mario kart, whale watching, cliff hiking, ultimate frisby...a whole bunch of spontaneous, irresponsible stuff, to commemorate the end of being a teenager.
banana-nutella crepes
the labyrinthwe also experienced our new zealand homestays this weekend. i got placed in a farm family with tommy and matt. my farm family consisted of an elderly couple, 3000 sheep, 150 cattle, 30 hens, 20 dogs, 2 cats, wild deer, wild goats, and a billion sandflys. i actually don't know how else to describe it.
the 3000 acre farm (or part of it)
paint balling!on sunday we celebrated my birthday for real. the staff had prepared a spa night in my honor, Los Ramos Spa. ha. full service spa with massages, facials, mani/pedis, haircuts and fun. on monday we celebrate bry's birthday and went paintballing for the second time. and on tuesday we had laura's birthday where we had euro-trash fashion night. lol. today we have a break. but tomorrow is thanksgiving dinner, and on friday we celebrate professor Brett's birthday!
euro-trash runway showi guess this is the cliffnotes version of what i've been doing for the past three weeks. i'll try to update more frequently, considering that i'll be back in the states in three weeks.
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