The First Week in Kiwi Town

So I've been here long enough to really have a legitimate opinion. The short answer is that life down here is quite enjoyable. I've yet to do anything I haven't liked and most of the people I've been meeting are all really fun. The University often jokes that any student form the US brave and cool enough to choose N Zed (as they call is), already have something great in common with each other. I think there's some truth to it really. Everyone I've met is so laid back and ready for anything.

I spent my last days alone checking out some areas around Auckland City Center. Of the worthy destinations was Mt. Eden and Mission Bay. Mt. Eden is a part of Auckland and in the center there is a dormant volcano you can hike up. From there you can see pretty much all of downtown. I'm told I should go back at dusk and see the sun set and I could see how that would be nice. On a clear day you can see quite far from the top. There's also this huge creator about 800 meters wide that just sort of comes out of no where while you're hiking up. Mission Bay is another suburb of Auckland and it's main attraction is a huge park that surrounds a really popular and beautiful beach. New Zealand is said to have 4 seasons and every day and I got there sometime between fall and winter because it was really cloudy and cold in the middle of what was a perfect day.

Seclusion ended with a flat wide BBQ Sunday. I met pretty much everyone that I'll be sharing the complex with and for the most part everyone was pretty great. It's a unique dynamic here in the flats. I have a room bellow the main courtyard but everything above it is wide and open so you can pretty much talk to anyone across the way from one apartment to the other. The occupants are mostly American or European. Kiwi's are actually a minority but I've met some great Kiwi's randomly. At the BBQ I met my third roommate, Lindsy, whose from Washington DC and studying for her masters. So far I love living in my flat and everyone in the complex is a lot of fun.

The past couple of days have been a combo of dense and relaxing. I've pretty much settled in completely and I've had a good chance to see more of Auckland. Today we went to a huge beach in the north (forgot to take pictures) which was wide open and surrounded by these 30 feet cliffs on both ends and a huge grassy hills behind it...and that's just the local beach. We've also done a lot of bonding back at the flats. The Americans decided it would be great to teach all the international students and locals Beer Pong. It was pretty funny watching Kiwi's discover and then reject the typical American frat boy past time.

All and all I'm having a blast. The last 4 days have been about meeting people and the next 4 are about seeing New Zealand. Tomorrow I leave for a 4 day road trip south centered around hiking the Tongariro Crossing, or Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings films. We have a basic plan and a car we're renting so I'm sure we'll have a good time. I'm going to wait to put up picture until after the trip since I'm planning on coming back with some great ones.