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Published: March 25th 2007
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Hey All,
Hope you are all well. My time in New Zealand continues to be amazing…I just don’t think this will get old. Since I last wrote I spent last weekend here in Dunedin celebrating my friend Yvonne’s 21st and St. Patty’s Day. All those of you on facebook can see the numerous photos of me posted in full on green gear. It was pretty nice to have a weekend chilling here just hanging out and lazing around. Big news of last weekend was that I found out there is enough money to fly me home to play in the elite eight of nationals for Bowdoin Women’s Rugby, which is absolutely crazy but also an awesome possibility. I however have been struggling with my Achilles, which I think I have mentioned before and am still receiving treatment for. I have to make the big decision whether or not I can make it back pretty soon tomorrow would be helpful as that is when I am allowed to run again and will be able to see how my Achilles feels after testing it. I continue to struggle to motivate myself to do work but hey…its getting done so I am
Free Falling
Not me but just before I went! not too worried.
This weekend was perhaps one of the best yet. Scott, my flat mate from New Zealand, has a house in Wanaka, which about 12 of us left for on Thursday night. We called it an early night on Thursday so we could get up at 6am and head out for a big day hiking in Mt. Aspiring National Park. Due to my Achilles I am not supposed to be hiking so only did the 1st 2.5 hours of the hike that was relatively flat and through the valley between the most amazing mountains and glaciers that you see in my pictures. I then proceeded to spend about 6 hours in the Mount Aspiring Hut reading up on Nitric Oxide’s role in the brain (fun huh! for my neuroscience class which I have a big paper due on Thursday) but mainly just hanging out and chatting with the people who passed through, while the group of 7 others hiked up Cascade Saddle. I hiked back the 2.5 hours to the car and headed back to Scott’s house where we were joined by 4 of his friend from Milton (Isaac, Pies, Jonesy, and Sam). We have hung out
with them a lot and I absolutely love their company so it was great to have them come. Saturday we got up and Ally, Yvonne, Scott and I headed to the Wanaka airport where……. WE WENT SKYDIVING!!!!! It was absolutely the coolest thing I have ever done. At about 2:15pm I was hurdled out of a plane that was 12,000 ft in the air with an instructor on my back and proceed to freefall into the biggest rush of my life. We free fell for about 20 secs and after a flip were falling at about 180 ft per second. IT WAS AMAZING! We had the most gorgeous views of the mountains and it was such a nice day so as soon as the parachute opened it was the most peaceful ride down to the ground. I literally had a smile glued on my face the rest of the day. I can’t even begin to explain how awesome it was. We couldn’t bring cameras up so these were the only pictures I got but I do have a DVD here that I want you all to see. Pretty cool day huh?!?! Anyway I spent the rest of the day on
the shores and in Lake Wanaka and then went to watch the Otago rugby game at Scott’s friends house we had a fun night out on the town that ended in the Milton boys doing the haka on the street at 2 in the morning. On our walk home we passed this outdoor art exhibit of about 100 aerial photos of different places on the globe that was absolutely spectacular. Sunday was spent tidying up Scott’s house and then driving to a near by river which had some fun cliffs to jump off of. It was kind of cold so I didn’t swim but took some cool photos of the people who did. We had a quick stop in town and then headed home. I have finally found myself with work to do so am trying my hardest to get it all done by Thursday (MY 21st!!!!). So I am going to get back to that work but hope to talk to you all soon.
Miss you and love you all lots!
All my love and Kiwi kisses,
Em
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Swannium
non-member comment
you so crazy
Emmmmmmmmm, I don't think any of my comments have successfully stuck on your comment wall, but I thought I'd try once more. SO great to follow along on your adventures. Great photos and fun stories! I can't believe you went sky diving! I chickened out when my friends went in Spain, but I'm soooo glad you did it. Maybe someday... Keep us all posted. Keep the adventures coming!!! xoxo