Let's start with Thursday. Dunedin is hosting the International Film Festival for 3 weeks, which is featuring 74, I think, films from/about all sorts of things. I went to the opening film called Antarctica: A Year on Ice. The director was actually at the showing with his wife--he was a kiwi and she was American. They met in Antarctica because the NZ and American bases are the closest two and he proposed on the ice with a huge ring carved out of ice, then they had a very makeshift wedding in Antarctica (how cool)!! He has spent 15 summers and 9 winters there and she was something like 10 summers and 8 winters. A few of the coolest things were that he said they have 4 months of complete sunshine and 4 months of total darkness. They discussed how your perception gets messed up over time--his wife once asked him how the weather was and his response was "not too bad" but then when they thought about it 1-she asked if the weather was nice in the middle of winter in Antarctica and 2-he said "not too bad" when it was -40 with 100mph winds and they hadn't seen the sun in 3 months! Also, the southern lights looked AMAZING there. They work hard though--6 days/week, 7:30-5:30! Anyway, just a really really interesting and cool documentary.
It was so warm as well. I was sleeping in a cave, on a beach, with a fire, and listening to the ocean waves crashing maybe 50m away, but it gets better!! (that speaker you got me, Andrew, was sweet again) To make things better, we could walk out to a point on the rocks and you just pull mussels off the rock. We cooked mussels on the fire in tin foil for dinner and breakfast, then I brought a bag home for lunch as well! However, when we woke up, the sunrise was awesome, and I got the fire going again and was in
So, on to Saturday. We were going to camp in the Catlins, but decided to just kind of chill for the night instead, so we did and went into town and even did some homework (added that for you Pops!) Going in to town was also a kind of special time because it was my first real weekend night here and I ran into tons of people I know in town--not just Americans, but kiwis too--and it was the first time when I really felt like this town is becoming more of a home then a place that I'm staying for a little while! Except, if I want to fit in I've got to stop wearing hoodies and sneakers, but they're too comfy to give up!
Now that Saturday night bored you, we're on to Sunday. Just did some homework in the morning--really sucks that school work is picking up a bit--then went with a friend to watch the Dunedin Thunder of the NZIHL (New Zealand Ice Hockey League) play their final game. What a, umm, I guess we'll say "show!" They were bad. As in, significantly worse than CSU's club hockey team. Check them out in the video if you want! However, it was really cool. How many people can say they've been to a NZ "pro" hockey game (it's technically amateur hockey)? With that said, I think I could play here, in all honesty. Told ya I could be a pro hockey player! Then I had to make flat dinner, so we had paninis--easy to make vegetarian or throw some meat in. I ended up slicing three of my fingers open on a tin can though--never thought I could hurt myself making a frickin sandwich!
Alright, if you're still with me, this is the last paragraph. In all honesty, I don't know what I will learn from this study abroad experience. I know I will learn tons and am learning things now and these experiences will stay with me whether I ever make it back here or not, but it's hard to put a finger on exactly what the "it" or "these" are right now. However, I've been reflecting some. First of all, before we even left, they warned us at some point 1-2 months in lots of students go through a period of being kind of on edge, where little things bother you and you don't know why, then you snap out of it ideally. I think the weekend for Christchurch was that for me. My friends were annoying me, the city was annoying me, I felt I was missing something, not sure exactly what it was, but something was wrong. So, that's why I said I wanted to back away from home a little bit (yes, I still love you all), but I just want to immerse myself in NZ and not worry about all that's going on back home. It'll be there in November and I've got a great support system if I ever need it, no matter what. They told us, when you snap out of it, you'll realize again how special this place and opportunity is--that's where I am now! When I graduated HS, there were paths to take. Enter the workforce, go to college, go play junior hockey, etc, but college seemed an easy choice. International seemed like a big, scary thing. I graduate college in 9 months. There are jobs everywhere. I know now that there is nothing wrong with other countries, other cultures, other people! This is such a huge planet with so much to see. I feel Americans are often surrounded by the "we're the best and everyone else is inferior" culture. In lots of ways America is the best, but there are plenty of other amazing places. It's also a little bit shocking how much everyone knows about us, when we know little to nothing about them. Everyone here knows Obama, but do you know who John Key is? With that said, this weekend was amazing, I am absolutely loving every second here, soaking up as much as I can, and the more I reflect (which I'm sure will be tons when I'm home), the more I realise I really am learning and changing! Anyway, off to Queenstown (just booked a 440ft bungee, sorry!) this weekend and will spend Saturday night in the Routeburn Falls hut. Then off to Australia the next weekend! Can't believe how fast time is flying! Check out facebook for more pictures!
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