Christchurch and things

A few random things from the week before I discuss Christchurch.

1. I scored my first points in netball....and also seemed to get a penalty every play (I learned what offsides was, I learned that you can't be within 3 feet of the person you're defending, and I learned that no contact really means NO contact).
2. I met a Caps fan from McLean, VA (yes, I wore my Caps hoody to a bar...)
3. I was told that I "reek American" (maybe I shouldn't wear my Caps hoody to a bar...)
4. For those of you who haven't seen, I did a little blog-style write up of some of the work I've done on Poplar Island with my internship and they've posted it on the Northeast Region blog site and the Dept. of the Interior employee page.  Here's the write-up

Now, for my weekend in Christchurch.  Let's start off by saying, thank the lord I picked to study in Dunedin, not there.  On Saturday, we went to Akaroa, a small peninsula town that's supposed to be pretty scenic, and did a 3+ hour hike.  It was a nice walk, but the low clouds were higher than the peak we climbed.  The views from Stony Bay Peak were awfully white.  I also gave my new $15 Walmart rain-pants their first test...they failed.  Within 30 minutes of walking, they ripped, so I learned that lesson--sometimes, cheap isn't always worth it. Then after Akaroa, we went into Christchurch--what a boring place.  I'm glad I went and saw it, but it is still very messed up from the earthquake and there really is no "downtown."  From what locals say, there never really was.  Even some students who study there (Kiwi students) asked "If you're from Dunners (Dunedin's nickname), why would you come to Christchurch?"  I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures, but lots of buildings and roads are blocked off and show obvious signs of damage.  Then today, we were going to walk around the hills near town and maybe stop by the beach, but it was foggy and dreary with a chance of rain, so we decided to do a high ropes adrenaline course instead.  That was fun (and surprisingly cheap!), but I forgot my camera so sorry there's no pictures, but we didn't see much picturesque.  We stopped in Oamaru on the way back to hopefully see some blue penguins, but we didn't see any--it was $20 to walk to the edge of the peninsula to see them, so we jumped the fence, didn't see any penguins and got yelled at--oh well!  Anyway, as of now, no plan for this weekend, so we shall see.  I may actually spend my first weekend in town!  Goodnight from here!