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Published: February 14th 2007
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Hey Everyone!
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. I am still working on getting internet access in my flat but have finally gotten my student id card and password for the school computers. Well there is a lot to tell. I met the Butler University group in the airport at about 6:30 am on the 5th of Feb. Once we loaded everybody’s luggage (this was quite a process…I packed light compared to everyone else!) we headed north of Auckland to Whangaparaoa Peninsula to Shakespear Regional Park for our orientation. It was absolute gorgeous! Orientation was pretty relaxed a lot of kai (Maori for food) and a lot of rest time for those trying to get over jet lag. We had a few informational sessions but got to hike, herd sheep J (yes there are something like 10 sheep for every New Zealand person!), did some orienteering, went to the beach, played some rugby and cricket, went to a hot spring water park, and just tried to get to know one another. In total there are about 40 of us so it was a lot of names and faces to try and connect but I think I
Orientation
Yes this is real... finally have a handle on it. I really enjoyed orientation but it definitely was a little overwhelming. Being one of only 4 who had traveled around before hand, everyone else came so pumped up and excited, and while I was excited, I was also starting to hit the point where I was ready for things to settle down. But that feeling passed after the first day of orientation.
After two full days we left Shakespear and got to do an overnight at the marae, a traditional Maori meeting place. We went through a formal powhiri (Maori welcome) that was done completely in Maori. One person spoke then they sang for us. Then one of our men spoke followed by us singing the national anthem, which was not quite as beautiful as their song. We also later sang to them a Maori song that we had learned. While we couldn’t understand what they were saying it was such an amazing and actually pretty emotional experience. They have such a rich culture and traditions it is really quite amazing to experience. At the end of the powhiri we were all welcomed and went down the line receiving a hongi from each member
of the marae (the traditional welcome where you touch noses, similar to our handshake.) We had a delicious meal where the men, women and children all performed for us. They attempted to teach out boys the haka (a traditional war challenge more commonly seen performed by the All Blacks the NZ rugby team). It was pretty entertaining. We had a Maori history lesson that was very interesting and all slept in one big room together on the floor. After breakfast and a formal farewell we headed to the Auckland museum and then hiked One Tree Hill (an old volcano which used to have one big tree at the top of it but it was cut down by a Maori activist a few years ago).
We then headed to the airport and flew down to Dunedin via Wellington. It was the most amazing flight ever the views were just amazing. We stayed in a dorm the first night together and went out to Captain Cook for our first experience on the town in Dunedin. In the morning after a quick briefing we were handed the keys to our flats and sent off on our own. That was a little overwhelming but
Scenery from the most amazing flight I have ever been on
This was out the window on our flight from Auckland to Dunedin! once I put my stuff in my room I felt a lot better. My place at 89 Dundas St is actually very nice. I have a pretty big room and we have a decent size kitchen, living room, washer and dryer, and fairly nice bathroom and shower. None of my roommates have arrived yet but it has been nice to settle in on my own. The rest of my time in Dunedin has been spent running lots of errands: grocery shopping, setting up a bank account, enrolling in courses, and exploring Dunedin. Classes don’t actually start until the 26th so I am headed off to Te Anau and Milford Sound for a few days with some really cool people that I have met.
Well congrats on getting to the end of this very long-winded update. I hope you have enjoyed the pictures and the videos. I hope you all know that I miss you and am thinking of you lots!
Lots of love,
Em
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Jo
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Holler
Emily!!! Time for you to call your old freind jojo or email @ least :p Are you going to get a cell phone while in NZ? if you do then my number is 0272116065. sounds like your having an amazing time cant wait to come and party with you!!!