the old convent

Kia ora!

That’s kiwi lingo for “hello” here in Aotearoa (New Zealand). We are located in Kaikoura, which is on the South Island of New Zealand. It is cold but beautiful here. I cannot find the words to describe this place, so to make the task easier attached is the view from our backyard.

The staff has been keeping us busy with orientation. Our days are filled with activities (briefings, sheep shearing, bike rides to town, photo scavenger hunts, museums, tramping, etc.) so we actually have a farmer mind set here in the house “early to bed early to rise.” By the way, our house-previously a convent and bed and breakfast. Our room is "haunted." It just had to be my room.

There are twenty three of us from all over the United Stated + Canada. We have a great staff of five here. The professors are being flown down from the states the week that they teach. Everyone seems to get along, and we’re getting closer and more comfortable with each other every single day.

Since in New Zealand, as a group we are making the conscious effort to be more ecologically friendly. Most of the protein that we get are from free-range animals, all of our delicious meals are organic (by the way Jess our chef makes us the most delicious food ever!!!), we have a zero waste policy-everything we use is either biodegradable or recyclable, and simple rules like “if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down.” It is actually kinda fun.

Kaikoura is a really small town of 3,000 people. There is a big sense of community here, and I think that it is something that I would want when I settle down. Our neighbors wave to us on the street as we bike into town and many of them actually expect conversation from you rather than a quick hello. But I do think that sheep and cows actually outnumber the amount of humans in this town. There is a forty to one ratio of sheep to a person.

We leave for student trips this weekend, I think we might be going tramping or taking the bus up to Christchurch. And in a week and a half we’ll be flying down to Samoa. Sorry this post has taken so long, our internet was just installed today. I’ll try to update as much as possible.

I’ve decided not to upload masses of pictures onto facebook, and instead just share them with you guys when I see you in the spring. I can’t wait!

Ka Kite!