Blogs from Hamilton, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 2

Just a quick test to make sure I know how this all works... read more

Orientation back in the states usually involves all the students going to countless powerpoint presentations teaching them what to expect at their school. Well we did have two very boring sessions just like that but the University's Student Union also puts on "O- Week" which is basically the entire week filled with all types of activities on campus, free concerts and comedy nights, and most popular are the themed bar nights in town. The week was kicked off with the "B.O.C.S" party. Each letter representing a residence hall ( B- bryant, O- Orchard Park, C- College Hall, and S- Student Village) Everyone living in those hall has to dress up as something starting with the first letter of the Res hall name. For College Hall, we had cats, clowns, canvases, cleavage, cucumbers, chicks, etc. Everyone got ... read more

A few weeks ago we took another risk using the Woofing HotList website. We replied to Judy's advert wanting a pair to housesit her 'wonderful house' whilst she was on holiday in Christchurch. Quite what wonderful meant we didn't know nor want to risk looking forward to. As it happens as we drove up the drive and saw a large 2 storey house complete with balcony, hybrid car and acres and acres of countryside surrounding it we were instantly relieved. Judy was normal and not the hairy hippy lifestyler we were dreadding. The first couple of days we chatted to her and her annoying 13 year old cocky grandson (typical teen). Our room is fantastic and in (again!) a self contained area of the house. Her house is large, bright, modern, clean and perfect for us ... read more

On Xmas Eve after I had finished work we went up to the racetrack which was where Uncle Andy and Aunty Tina took me on day 2 of arriving here. Thank goodness I wasn't as tired. We got there about 4 o'clock and the sun was shining so we sat out on the track side. There was loads of people there and quite a few had taken their own seats and blankets along with cool boxes full of beer and wine. We just sat on the grass trackside and got bitten to death. I have got 2 bites on my right hand, one on my left hand and one on my ankle - and they itch and hurt like mad. Don't know what to do with my hands. Have tried allsorts, ice and any cream we ... read more

Left Manchester on Thursday 7/9/06. The journey was very tiring and the food was disgusting. I have now gone off Chinese food forever. The Singapore Airline staff were brilliant and looked after me the whole time so didn't feel lost. Glad I didn't have any more time in Singapore or I would have died of starvation - Hot Dog pastie was like a plastic sausage in pastry and all I could think about was dogs missing from the streets so I threw it in the bin. After 13 hours I managed to get a Mars Bar on the plane but even that didn't taste the same. Started to feel a bit faint from the lack of food, but managed to eat a couple of bread rolls and some ice cream. Landed in Auckland on Saturday morning ... read more