More Amazingness

I believe I have hit that point in the semester where everything catches up with me at once. Homesickness, emotions, school work, travel galore, craziness, etc.
Yes, I have reached this point.
My work load is increasing and sometimes I am struck with an immediate realization that I am very far away from home and will not be returning for a while. This is not meant in a negative way. I'm just feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with my New Zealand home. But only good things, yes? Only good things.
That is another thing - I'm really starting to incorporate Kiwi lingo into my everyday conversations. I have started actually and seriously using words like "sweet as" "keen" "wee bit" and "cheers." It is funny when I catch myself saying things like that.
I am goimg to try and make this entry as quick as possible because I am going to go to a cafe after this and catch up on all of my reading and take amazing notes and feel like I have more control over my life by doing this. I am not slacking in my classes! I do not want any of you to think that I am forgetting about my classes. I have not yet missed a lecture and am keeping up with all my reading and assignments.
This past weekend was incredible - and last week as well.
I AM SO CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO ROLL! Last wednesday I almost got it! I am so close I can feel it. Sadly, there are no more kayaking adventures. It is getting too cold in New Zealand and they have no more organized trips. I am still going to continue rolling every wednesday morning though, and I hope to find a white water kayaking club when I return to the States.
Thursday night was prom. Molly was curious as to what my prom outifit was =) I wore a black komono and did my hair up in chopsticks. The prom was held at Leith St, which is an apartment complex of about 40 students consisting of Americas, Kiwis, and a lot of Europeans. It was a great night, much better than any actual prom I ever went to.
Friday night I went cave camping with a group of writers I have been getting close with. We meet at a cafe once a week and bring our writings and ideas and read aloud and just talk and inspire one another. So Friday night we camped out in a cave and we all brought our writing and a book that inspires us. I of course brought The Little Prince. Other people brought Tao of Ching, The Celestine Prophecy, and a bunch of Buddhist literature. We had a sort of Dead Poets Society and read aloud and commented on each others work and I read The Little Prince aloud cover to cover to start off the circle. Jordan brought a Native American peace talking stick and we passed it around the circle and whoever was holding the stick could be the only one to talk. We had an incredible sky of stars and a great bonfire going. Lots of inspiration, really happy and moved that I found a group of wonderful writers out here.
Saturday we started our road trip out to Te Anau and The Milford Sound. I am living in Te Anau one day. It is this adorable little town right on the water and SURROUNDED by mountains. We camped out next to the water and went on a glow worm cave tour! It was the first touristy thing I have done so far - but so amazing! We hiked through a cave then went out on a boat into the depths of a cave and watched glow worms shine on the ceiling and walls of the cave! Sunday we did a boat tour of the Milford Sound in the Fiordlands - beautiful. Beautiful times a thousand. I cannot express how utterly gorgeous the Fiordlands are. It was the most beautiful place I have ever laid eyes upon. Every book tickets to New Zealand NOW and go see the Fiordlands. Huge mountains coming out of the ocean covered in trees and waterfalls and ahhhh it was so incredible. Google pictures because I do not have any to put up online.
Monday we did the scenic drive down through the Fiordlands and around the coast through Invercargill and such. We stopped at all these tiny beaches tucked behind the rocks.
Last night we chilled and watched Flight of the Concords. Cousin - people here LOVE the show just as much as the States except they can appreciate it differently when they make silly jokes about New Zealand. It's not that different from the States.
For everyone who has not seen the show, it is about these two Kiwi musicians who move to New York City to make it big. They are very awkward and small in the giant city and often talk about their lives in New Zealand with the penguins and they have silly accents no one can understand. It is a goofy show loved by both Americans and Kiwis.
Okay I have a lot more stories and details of my trip but I really need to get my reading done! My blog does not work from my own computer for some reason so it is difficult for me to post, especially pictures. I hope I will find a way to post more soon.
Open mic night at Backstage tonight, more rolling tomorrow morning - and Queenstown and Lake Wanaka this weekend! From April 17th-28th is my mid-semester break so I will not be posting for a while. I'm going to Tasmania and Australia with a bunch of friends. More later! Much love! Hope the springtime weater is bringing lots of smiles and happiness to the States!

Dunedin, New Zealand