New Zealand Student, American University. - Crosswood
Title says it all really.

Start up hassels
Palmerston North, New Zealand
A friend of mine went on a trip to England last year and blogged that. My mother is heading to Europe and is blogging her trip as well. Apart from the fact my writing style is boring and I’ll probably forget my password, why shouldn’t I blog too?
This is just the ‘filler’ post I suppose.
I have won two scholarships to go to the University of California (Berkeley campus) in the US of A. How this happened I don’t know – I signed a form here, chatted to a person there, and suddenly I’m being congratulated on my imminent deportment from fair New Zealand.
For those of my friends that live under a rock (Hi Stephen!) I am an Army Officer Cadet in the New Zealand defence force. This has made organising a Student Exchange trip to America both interesting and intellectually stimulating.
Firstly I sent an army ‘minute’ (an official request form) to my bosses. My immediate boss (my Captain) wasn’t very keen, as I am probably the worst Officer Cadet in the entire world, and she knows this full well. Despite her reservations, it was sent up to my big boss (my Lieutenant-Colonel) who was very pleased. It’s not everyday an Officer Cadet is asked to go to a prestigious university in America, and because he’s a bit more removed from me, he only intellectually knows I’m the worst Officer Cadet in the entire world. He sent it up the line to army HQ, where it disappeared. It only emerged four months later after a full Colonel (my lecturer at University) hunted himself down some snark.
I then had to worry about the University itself. Firstly was the accommodation people, who took my application money and never sent me an email again (despite me emailing them a couple of times to find out where it went, and being told that they’ve got my application, but nothing else.) Next was the visa people – I did the interview and paid my mega amounts of money to have it processed, but the university needs to send a form to the US embassy in New Zealand as well, so the US embassy knows that I’m not just lying to get entry into the US. They only sent this special form yesterday, a month after it was requested, and only after an amazingly angry official from Massey University (where I study) sent off a blistering email to them.
Adding insult to injury, the university is now demanding the princely sum of 50c USD, for goodness knows what. I can’t even pay them, because they only accept transfers from American bank accounts, and no credit cards.
I have paid for my tickets, and am sweating blood when I think of everything that can go wrong.
That's pretty much it - I will post news as its comes.
Margie
written by  Crosswood on July 5, 2007 from Palmerston North, New Zealand
from the travel blog: New Zealand Student, American University.

Exercise Frosty Boy
Queensbury, New Zealand
Yeah - the town on this thing is wrong. I'm actually in Queenstown.
Some of you may have heard that this week I have been on an Army Exercise called Exercise Frosty Boy. It's personal development - on skis! Now I haven't been able to ski before so I was naturally a little nervous. Actually a lot nervous. To cap it off I wasn't even with my army year-group, who are Officer Cadets I with whom I risk life and limb on a semi-regular basis and whom I trust and respect. Instead I was with newbie OCdts who don't know their 'shun from their turns and wouldn’t care if someone pointed out the difference. Actually I’m lying – this trip has taught me a lot about them, and they’re pretty bright. Most of the time.
Sunday last week, we flew to Christchurch, and then to Burnham military camp. The army, in its infinite wisdom, decided to entrust me with about $8000 (at least) worth of personal kit (skis, crampons, harness, crash helmet, ect) for me to look after.
This made me paranoid and I have been walking around with a queer sideways look at people all week. I was pleased to hand it back this morning, even if I was the coolest kid on the Queenstown Ski fields (brand new skis coupled with army camo snow gear? People were coming up to us to ask us where to enlist. People respectfully got out of our way on the magic-carpet. It was awesome, except for one lady at the snow farm who asked if we were part of a weird club. She’s sorta right.)
After a day or so driving down to Queenstown (and myself unsuccessfully trying to eat $35 dollars worth of food, because the Army was shouting), we hit the snow on so-called 'misery sticks' - cross country skis. The directing staff said to us - "Personal development team! Go down River Run road and get to Meadow Hut." Boldly the others set forth along the road, but I decided to take a different route. A hint for future travelers at the Cadronia Ski Farm: if you want to get to Meadow Hut on River Run road, you should do what I did and take the path marked with the big sign that says "River Road", instead of the road the other officer took marked "The Highlander" (which they’d already been on and knew took a giant circle back to the lodge.) They did catch up to me however - Ma'am (our Officer) threatened to kick anyone who didn't out of the Kippenberger Class. I am the most unfit person in the class, and so thought the instructors were taking the piss when they congratulated me on making it to the first large corner so quickly.
After making the hut, there followed the drudgery of uphill skiing. I didn't even realise it was possible. It shouldn’t be – it’s reasonably unpleasant. It was beautiful however, so you quickly get over everything else.
My glasses were not being kind to me. First they fogged up hard, then they started to buckle from the rapid changes in temperature (it was 2 degrees out of the van), and later on they froze to the floor of the tent. Did I mention we slept outside? Negative 15 degrees. Our breath was freezing to everything it touched (including the tent) and when I left my water bottle outside my sleeping-bag for literally 30 seconds it froze totally solid. The glasses continued to be a problem, fogging up while digging the snow cave and repeatedly loosing the clip-on sunnies that were the only thing stopping me from a more painful blindness than I already have.
The night navigation circuit before we tented that first night was fun though - we were given a GPS at night and told to find some markers. Since the GPS told us where to go with a giant arrow, it wasn't very hard, but some Muppets still managed to walk round and round in circles until time was up.
The next day was more skiing. Bearing in mind that we'd only been on skis a day, the instructors decided we were good enough to do the 'Advanced Only' route, which we duly did. The views of Mt Aspiring were awesome.
Downhill ski day was a blast. There is no only way to describe it. I love skiing – it’s my type of sport. Chairlift up and gravity down! The only thing you have to worry about is stopping. That gets tricky when you load a 35kg + pack on and try skiing down the slope. I looked so cool doing it people were cheering me from the chairlift when I rocketed by underneath. Luckily they gave us a whole day to get used to the new type of skis before we had to do this, otherwise I’d have looked like a slowly moving twerp.
Unfortunately, the second day our chairlift passes expired and we got to walk to the very top of the Remarkable Ski area, on skis. Then we built our sweet snow-caves which we then slept in that night. Snow caves are shaped like an L and you can tell how claustrophobic people are by how big they dig them. Mine was really wide, but very low, which I later regretted. I’m tall and couldn’t sit up properly. It was also something like 15-18 feet long, when it was only supposed to be about 9-12 feet long, because I misheard the instructions. (I was toasty and the others weren’t though, so I win!) It took me an hour to get dressed the next morning, because whenever I touched the roof my beanie would freeze to the roof, and the struggle to free myself would entangle me in something else. The glamour of it all nearly overwhelms me.
Today it’s home time. I’ve learnt, experientially, that I withdraw inward when tired. I’ve also experientially learnt that first year Kippenberger Cadets look after kit a whole lot better after a big ex-SAS, ex-Warrant Officer whose face looks like its been beaten with a shovel, tells you calmly that he’ll take it amiss if anything is lost.
It’s been a great exercise, and thanks for everyone who’s reading this blog. I’ll post more on the saga of the Great American Trip next time, and it’ll be much more funny. This is a splurge post, as I haven’t totally finished and am still tired and bruised (or so bruised!) from the whole ‘skiing’ thing.
written by  Crosswood on July 13, 2007 from Queensbury, New Zealand
from the travel blog: New Zealand Student, American University.

Another ‘PANIC!’ post
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Well, thanks to the accommodation people, I have nowhere to live, and thanks to my father the combined churches of Berkeley think I have no grammar.
Dad decided that he would ‘help’ me try to find a billet by sending an email out to the Episcopalian churches in the Berkeley area. Obviously the words ‘a’ and ‘the’ are just optional extras to the English language and so he left them out. (His explanation was that he was making it ‘succinct.’) Mum then read it an commented it made me sound like a bit of a whore. All in all, not one of Dad’s more successful interventions.
But the accommodation people are the real problem. Imagine making reassuring noises to hundreds of students coming to the states over from all over the world, and then telling them they have to pay an extra $4000 to go to your hostel? Hmmmm.
The US visa people want more money, but that isn’t anything new. It’s like pouring water into a large black hole.
On the positive side, I have applied for some courses. They all have names like ‘Russia: Bronze age to 1700’and ‘National Security Concerns in a Modern World’’. Sounds pretty cool – but subject to change, and it looks like since I’m the least important student on campus I’m going to get dicked around if an American wants to go to that class.
I looked at my airpoints and might have enough to go on standby for the Premium Economy seats. That’d be nice – room to stretch out a little.
All in all, everything is bad, and I am starting to stress. Those dastardly propaganda posters! ‘Study in America’ they say – they don’t mention the mega amount of paperwork you have to do.
Anyway, I will try to keep updating. Nothing interesting is happening as yet.
written by  Crosswood on July 23, 2007 from Palmerston North, New Zealand
from the travel blog: New Zealand Student, American University.

Great News!
Wellington, New Zealand
I know it's been a little longer than planned after the last post, but nothing much has happened, so you can forgive me for sparing unfortuniate readers the tedium.
Anyway, yesterday I finally managed to find accommodation! Actually, using the word ‘I’ is a little/lot misleading – my mother found it. Honestly, speed and aggression seem to be the key to getting what you want! Mum took one look at my increasingly desperate attempts to find a place to stay, took charge (to my annoyance) and in about half a day had a suitable place.
It’s called ‘Westminster House’ and it’s a Christian non-residential hall. It sounds like I’m getting my own room, but its jolly expensive. This room was possibly the last one left, and the people at the house were dropping hints that there was more than one person after the room. I was sent the agreement to sign, all nice and properly, only I had to fax it back. Who in the world under the age of thirty has used a fax machine nowadays?? I had to do the mean sprint down to church (where my sister was being confirmed), drag my Dad back to our house (he didn’t protest much though – these occasions, important as they may be, are often excruciatingly painful for those watching), and send a fax for me. Luckily Annabel hardly missed us at all – she looked gorgeous up in the sanctuary for the record. Bishop Tom’s (Bish. of Welly) daughter designed his periwinkle blue/purple-shot official robes (she was a costume designer for the Lord of the Rings and got a little creative) and even HE didn’t outshine Annabel. But I digress.
Unfortunately, Mum’s rather successful intervention in my organisation has left both her and dad with the idea that it’s now somehow their trip as well. I had to fight them in order to make sure I was paying for the damn thing – honestly, how selfless can you get, trying to pay for your daughters’ hugely expensive semi-holiday to the United States?? And I won scholarships (MORE THAN ONE!) to go, so it’s not as if I’m paying for most of it anyway!!! Absolutely mad. Less appreciated, but still selfless is their meddling in my banking arrangements. (‘Oh, just use your card and put all your money in our account. We’ll just top you up as you need it!’)
That ain’t happening.
But the biggest and most pressing of my problems has kinda vanished, and it’s now time to sort of the niggles. I will post more as the time gets closer. Leaving date – 17 Aug 2007! (And I still haven’t decided how I’m getting up to ye old Auckland Airport. Wish me luck on that as well.)
written by  Crosswood on July 29, 2007 from Wellington, New Zealand

Last Week
Wellington, New Zealand
Well chaps and chapessess. This is it. The big one. The one we've all been waiting for.
The countdown has begun until I'm on the plane and going to the USA.
Accomodation: Sorted. Paid for. Done.
Army worries: Punishment for minor crimes taken and discharged. I'm free to go -
(a bit alarming was them asking me WHERE I was going a day and a half before I left them, but in hindsight this is a good thing. The less they actaully care about me, the more freedom I have.)
Food: Haven't paid for. Will put on the highest prioirty when I arrive.
New Camera: Paid for. Won't work on the laptop I'll be taking. Drat!!
Clothes: A day of pain and agony have resulted in a wardrobe that my perants don't cringe over, and that I feel comfortable in. My little sister came as well, and I notice she still thinks that the bigger and uglier the belt is the more fashionable the outfit beomces. Urrrgh.
Travel: Booked and paid for tickets to Auckland, then to San Fransico. Good/great friends of my family coming hugely long way to meet me at the airport. Feeling guilty about that. Feeling happy they're coming though!
Study: Berkeley hasn't changed its mind. I'm coming now if it's ready or not!
I have had two parties - one my friends' birthday and one going away party. My friends' birthday was very fun (for me) but when I get nervous I get loud and annoying, so I don't know if everyone else had such a great time. (Mental cringe factor going on here.)
Leaving dinner was for family - very nice, but all my social energy was exhusted by the stupid shopping and I was as drained as a stien of beer before Gillain's birthday. (In joke - sorry. That's pretty drained.)
Next post will be from the land of the free. I don't know why they call it that, because nothing in America is free, not even if you have a heart attack, but hey. Maybe that's why they call it the home of the brave?
written by  Crosswood on August 12, 2007 from Wellington, New Zealand

Finally!
Berkeley, United States
I am stuffed so I will make this quick.
Dad's apartment was very cool, and his workmates are fantastic. It was a bit of a pity - Mum spent ages with me at the airport and I felt very loved as I stepped on the plane to Auckland, but Dad got a business call and sort-of forgot that he wouldn't see me for ages, and so ust walked off after waving goodbye. I'm lucky he was there at all I suppose.
The airline made a mistake in the upgrading of my flights, so I can look forward to sitting in my flash premium seat on the way home from the states, instead of going to. The flight was pretty bad - I get sick, and so all the time I was trying to stop myself from vomiting over the ldy next to me, who had super-bad breath. Luckily I was nice to the check-in lady who got me the best seats in the plane - right behind the partition seperating us plebs from the big crowd. Lots of leg room, and steaming hot tea delivered every half-hour- paradise! No sleep though.
When I arrived, all's I can say is thank god Andy and Lisa decided that they'd come down. Firstly they have a great car with sat nav, which was cool because A) the hostel is a zillion miles from the airport and no buses go near it B) I had no idea where I was going apart from an address C) the place I'm staying is seperate from the office of the company that owns it, and we had to go there to pick up keys and things, but they didn't tell me this before I arrived. If Andy didn't have his wi-fi gizmit on him then we wouldn't have found the address - what would have happened if the two of them hadn't come down?
I also got myself a bank account very easily from a strange man in a strange bank. Unfortunitly I can't get money in from New Zealand easily because America uses a different transfer system from the rest of the world, and I can't even pay stuff online because I don't have a socal security number. We found this out when I bought a new mobile, and Andy spent forever trying to connect it for me. He is having to stump up the capital and I am pathetically, pathetically greatful. I now hav to sort out how to pay him back. Luckily the bank did give me a check book. Why? Who knows.
My room is in a basement. I am not joking - I am next to the comman room, the lundry and a guy named Greg. I haven't met Greg yet, but he lives next door and his nametag is there, so hey. I do get my own bathroom (with Greg and the visiters to the comman room), my on fridge and my own mircowave. Why? Who knows. My opening line is going to be - "Hi. My name is Margie, and I'm the New Zealander who lives in the basement."
It has a certain something.
Signing off from America
Margie
My firt American meal was a Lebonese lamb dish. It was fantasic, but so big! I passed on dessert - far to much for me!
Tomorrow I go on a supermarket hunt. Wish me luck.
written by  Crosswood on August 17, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

An the admin continues
San Francisco, United States
I am so tired.
The supermarket had nothing I recognised. I was completely at the mercy of Americans.
Take washing powder for instance. They don't have it. They have a funny washing liquid, and each liquid is for a different thing. You'd think they'd put on the label what each was for but apparently it's so comman that they don't.
Milk - more varities than I have ever seen. I just wanted normal milk, but nothing is 'normal', you must have a zillion different choices.
The folders all have three holes in them instead of two, so none of my document can be safely stored away. I bought an 'accordian folder' instead.
I have eaten scollaps and Crab today, and they wre both very, VERY good. I am sunburned and tired, but have been onboard an American submarine and strolled Fisherman's Warf (sp?), with the Golden gate bridge in the background.
Why is American money all the same size and colour?
So tired. Sleep now.
Margie
written by  Crosswood on August 18, 2007 from San Francisco, United States

First Days at Berkeley
Berkeley, United States
It has been two days since my last post, and I am still not fully onto American time. This is probably due to the (relatively) long day (the sun sets at 8 o clock) and my body is used to the sun setting at about 5.
I love America. This place is awesome. I live in a hostel with about 50 other people, who are all ‘freshmen’ or Seventh Formers. They do their last year of collage at University, and so they’re roughly 17 and 18. Yesterday I again wandered round with my friends from America, and at lunch they left and I was alone. Needless to say I felt a sinking in my stomach – if things went pear-shaped, who would save me?
Luckily my dorm-mates invited me to a High School Musical 2 Singalong, and the whole thing didn’t seem so bad. An authors note: Americans are a bit cheesy. Their advertising sells them the idea that a certain product has honour, or courage, or something like that, instead of that it’s a good product. They love the whole idealism thing. It’s a bit strange, but after a while it’s strangely uplifting, because they actually believe it, and try and live like that.
Every American I have met (that wasn’t a crazy homeless man in the street telling me that the apocalypse was coming) has been polite and pleasant (if a little caught up in what ethnicity you are). They have invited me along to stuff, enthused over New Zealand and really made an effort to understand my accent, which is apparently like listening to someone with a mouth full of mushy peas, who chops words off quickly in order to stop them from falling out. I think Americans sound like they’re talking through golden syrup – all slow drawling and few inflections on words.
Today I went to a compulsory check-in meeting, and at the end they gave me a work permit! Happy, happy times! At another place they said (through a friendly Aussie translator) they’d work on one of my more pressing problems, food. The uni wants me to pay for a year’s supply, when I only need six months. As I was walking to get enough money for health insurance (it’s depressing how money runs out so fast) I was halted by a huge brass-band playing a free concert. They were fantastic! They tossed their instruments into the air, waved them in perfect unison and even did tricks with each others’ instruments. It was awesome, and then they gave me a free dinner at the end!
Food is still an issue, but its all good really. I bought a pizza which I have been chomping on for the last three days, and I still have half left. I don’t think you realise how huge the portions served here are – I need to do a lot of exercise or I will gain weight!
Finally, we walked to the top of a small hill to see the whole Bay Area spread out below us, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Some of the others thought it was a hike, and were thrilled with themselves when they reached the top. Think walking up Molesworth Street to the very top. They also believed they were going to die when they were asked to walk sideways along a 30 degree slope. Admittedly, some of them come from places where they have never seen a hill in their lives, so I suppose I shouldn’t be too hard on them.
I am having a lovely time and wish you were here
Cheers
written by  Crosswood on August 20, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

End of the First Week (Almost)
Berkeley, United States
It has been another two days since my last post, and so much has happened that I can't possibly tell you everything. I'll try to keep the interesting stuff, but I'll probably ramble, so stick with me and I'll ty to be brief.
The Cal Berkeley library is magnificent. It's all gleaming marble and inlayed gold, with the most enormous paintings of famous Americans – like ‘Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth’. A nice a nice American showed me that in a burst of patriotism, and I couldn't decide if she was showing me this because she hated me or because she liked me (it shows a whole bunch of British people being ground underfoot, and this was when she thought I was British). Out the fount of the building there is a field where Cal (what students of the University, or 'Golden Bears' shorten the University name to) students gather and have parties, and stuff like that. Today was a fair of all the 600 clubs in Cal, and it was a free-stuff bonanza. Some of the clubs were very funny – each ethnicity had its own association, then each religion, then all the various conscience groups had a stall. Some of the conscience groups I thought must be a joke (‘Veterans for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Eastern European and Asian Countries’) but they were all very serious and had professionally done flyers to try and convince you that their group was the one to support. The Air Force had a stall there as well, but even though the entire area was packed with students, there was a ring of space around that poor cadet. He looked pretty uncomfortable. The military hadn’t chosen the best spot to set-up though – right opposite the ‘end Iraqi war' guys. That was street entertainment at its best.
I also went to the Cafe that students like the most. It was nice, and the food was excellent. It’s very interesting, because you can eat as much as you like, but it’s like four or five restaurants in one place, and you pay to get in. There are apparently five or six of these all over campus, each with different stuff each night.
I have also been going to some ‘On The Same Page’ seminars which the Collage of Letters and Sciences organised to help students met each other. Everyone at Berkeley is a geek in their own way – no one I’ve met hasn’t been anything less than brilliant – so these seminars were really interesting.
The first one I went to degenerated into the official history of America for the disbelieving foreigner, and so was a bit of a fiasco. (There were only five or six people there though, so the lecturer wasn’t getting flustered or anything). The second one I decided to lie low, and so only make comments that couldn’t be contradicted.
We were talking about the declaration of independence, and about the three rights in it that the founders claimed were unalienable – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The lecturer asked why these things were picked and not others. Unalienable means not transferable, so I figured I could make a safe comment here which wouldn't sound too stupid. I said that you can’t really transfer these rights full stop – for example the person next to me couldn’t reincarnate a dead body by giving that dead body his 'life'. It sounds a bit strange when I rock out with that on this webpage, but it made sense to say it at the time. Anyway, I digress. A lovely young lady on the opposite side of the table decided I was wrong. She stood up and said “But Black people were discriminated against so much that its hard for people who haven’t been discriminated against to understand that their life was so bad that it really wasn’t like they were human.”
'..............OK?' I thought. What is this lady on about? I therefore prolonged my suffering by pointing out that in a biological sense the slaves couldn’t transfer their lives to the slave owners' body so that they could live forever or something, so they probably still had the right to not transfer their life. Murmurs of agreement rippled thoughout the room. I possibly should have said nothing however, because then she got defensive and said that I was an undiscriminated against white person, and how would I know? By this stage I was frantic – I really wanted out of this conversation. Unfortunately I inherited my fathers trait of making the situation a joke in the hope it will go away, and so I pointed out she didn’t know if I had been discriminated against because I was a New Zealander.
Mistake. Everyone else laughed though.
Once she stormed out of the room in a huff I stopped talking – it seemed safer.
Today was the EAP meet and greet lunch, which was a bit boring, but I did win a thermal cup for my lame tree-man story. Apparently no one could understand my accent, not even the Aussies this time, so the laugher was sporadic, but I did get a great mug. I also met lots of new people. I have met so many nice people in five days that I can't believe New Zealand lives up to the whole 'we're really friendly' thing. Americans take the cake. And they’re all ruddy smart – you’ve got to be on your toes when you talk to them because they’re pretty switched on and they know when you’re out of your depth.
I'll post some pictures of people I've met - they won't mean anything to you I suppose, but they're nice for me to look at and if they come on here wondering what I'm typing about then they've got soemthing to look at as well.
Cheers and wishing you were here
written by  Crosswood on August 23, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Weekend
Gosh, textbooks are expensive.
I bought enough of them today to fill a library and that was only for two of my five papers! I am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment, because Massey told me to take a minimum of 16 units (which is four more than recommended) and then the American army dumped more on top of that. I think I will be spending more of my precious American time running around desperately trying not to be late rather than soaking up the atmosphere of this magnificent campus.
Today (and yesterday) was Caltopia. This is like a trade fair on steroids – when I went there I made a mistake and went during lunch-time. The gym was full of 15 000 students and one marching band, so things were a little too intense for me. I got lots of free stuff – from the most unlikely of places. I was walking along when a lady from the sperm-bank gave me a key ring with “only the strong survive” on it. I got roasted peanuts from the airline that was advertising there, and I had to move REALLY fast to avoid being recruited into an Army contest to see who could do the most push-ups. That ain’t me team.
Anyway, back to my huge pile of textbooks. Now I am broke. Due to some strange American thing you have to be in New Zealand to transfer money to an overseas account from a New Zealand account. To get around this I get to do a bit of a musical money game where I transfer it to my parents who transfer it to me in America. Parents are great.
Tomorrow I have soccer practice which should be very fun, except I have to get up early and then get hit in the head by a soccer ball fired by someone called Francisco (who is this Italian guy). In fact my entire team seems to be made up of Germans and Italians, the two countries who made the finals of last year’s world soccer cup. I hope I don’t get hurt – medical insurance here costs the earth and they haven’t sent me my blue card that says I’m covered yet. Our mail seems to be disappearing into the mists of time at the moment, and we really need to fix it so I can feel safe!
I am being invited to heaps of things at the moment - like Frat parties and volleyball games ad stuff. The Volleyball games are intense - Americans get really into the whole thing. There were about two thousand people there (at a University womens volleyball game!) and whenever we scored the commentator would yell "POINT!" and we'd throw our fists into the air and yell back "BEARS!" A huge chorus of groans would come when the othe team scored. At half time we had a player profile and then my side of the gym yelled "GO!" and the other side yelled "BEARS!" It was pretty cool actually - it's great to be part of that type of support. They never once booed - even when the refs made some downright wacky calls. Apparently that's an antipodean thing.
Anyway - STILL having a great time
STILL wish you were here (and you should wish that as well!)
Cheers

Where I live
This is where I live...

The First Week
Dear Team
So much has happened over the last few days!
On Sunday I had an exciting game of soccer (which lasted for two hours!) with some amazingly good European students. The pitch was terrible because the Americans don’t play soccer in a big way, but we pressed on and it was a lot of fun. Next week I have to jump through several flaming hoops to join a team (they don’t make it easy at all!) and start playing the rest of the campus. It’s going to be sweet – how can my team lose when it has been stacked with crazily good German and Italian footballers?
Monday was the first day of class and it is... interesting. For one it’s a vast amount of work – homework every day and miniature essays every week. I own about fifty textbooks for about five classes and I have literally thousands of pages of readings every week. It’s like being back at school with a vengeance. It’s also very hard to listen to the American lecturers – not because they’re not fantastically good at what they do, but because their accent is so soothing. I literally have time to think ‘wow – this guy is gre... zzz’ before I fall into a kind of trance-like state of relaxation. It’s a real problem which I am working on.
I have gone to the US Military classes and it is shaping up to be very funny. They have done even less field-time than me, but that us fine. What is even more funny is that in America the only ones with Green Berets are speical forces, so when they first saw me they started to freak out, and now every time I come near they all ask to be allowed a photo with my hat on. Their drill is also cissy (even more cissy than ours.)
Another problem I had was that one of the classes I picked I couldn’t take because they had timetable clashes with more important classes on my schedual. I had to change courses on the fly! Cheers to Massey University - you guys are great! The first class I picked to replace this no-go class I also couldn’t take, because the exam was on the same time as another of my exams. In America (as in New Zealand) they don’t allow you to enroll in classes with that kind of clash. The second course I tried to take sounded like great fun – Early Modern Germany. I was all set to go to the lecturers, but I decided to get my textbooks first - and it was a good thing I did! They’d have cost me $200 USD! So I couldn’t take that course – rent and food has left me flat broke and I simply can't afford $200USD . (I AM STILL ALIVE AND HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY ENOUGH TO LIVE! DO NOT SEND CARE PARCLES (UNLESS THEY CONTAIN CHOCOLATE). THANK YOU.) I swapped to a course on Early Britain instead, meaning I could get my books second hand and save myself a heck of a lot of money.
I was also invited to a dinner party, and went. Unfortunately there was this weird anarchist there who high-jacked the entire evening thing and made it a vehicle for his weird ideas. I was bored silly by this guy who went on for THREE HOURS, constantly contradicting himself and roundly patronising everyone. Luckily everyone else was drunk. He also claimed he didn’t want to be president, but you know he’s lying. I was pretty exhausted by not saying anything scathing – I wanted to poke fun at him but he was frankly scary. He kept talking about his ‘humanitarian work’ in Palestine, which seemed to involve a little less peace and joy and more violence than normal.
So that wasn’t a success. But I am in Berkeley, the home of radicalism, and now I have been to a subversive group meeting, which I suppose you have to experience at least once.
Seriously, this place is wicked, but sometimes I wish I could come home and listen to a crisp and inflected voice on the news telling me about some sheep problems in the high country or something. I am getting more and more exhausted from the constant mental translations. But hey – I’m going to be great at University when I get home! Think of the work ethic!
Cheers everybody – this weekend is a public holiday (yes!) so I’ll try and do something exciting, so I can take photos and show you. (Yes that’s right – I do these things all for you!)
Wish you were here

Labour Weekend
Hey Team – it’s been a couple more days and a long weekend, so I guess I’m about ready to give an update.
I managed to get hold of tickets to a California vs. Tennessee football game, which was slightly spoiled by the people in front of me. I had a lovely old lady behind me who couldn’t stand up very much, so I sat down the entire time so she could have a clear view. This could have only worked if the people to my front had sat down as well, but they didn’t, and so a lot of the more interesting bits of the game were obscured by frantically waving hands. Since the game lasted four (yes FOUR) hours, this really wasn’t that much of a problem, because even these dedicated fans were getting exhausted by the length of the show. I still had a great time – the atmosphere was electric and the crowd was amazing.
After the game we (some other Kiwi’s and myself: funny to note that every Kiwi here bar two were born and educated in Singapore. God bless immigration) went to a Chinese restaurant, where calamity and comedy resulted in me eating someone else’s rice, the wrong food, and then two hours later the right food. It’s a long and deeply boring story, so I’ll quickly change the topic.
On Sunday morning I again played soccer with my excellent German-Italian football team. These ultimate Frisbee people kicked us off the only good field on campus, so we shifted to the Memorial glade, which is kind-of shaped like a downhill ski run. Luckily I was on the team who were going down the hill, but the people who were going up this field had a bit of a rough time.
I also went sailing for free in the San Francisco Bay, which was very fun. When they asked if anyone had sailed, I put up my hand and was slightly embarrassed because they thought since I sailed dinghies then I must know a lot about sailing. They were so enthusiastic I didn’t have the heart to tell them I was a very average sailor, so I racked my brains and managed to hold a fairly decent conversation about how unsafe booms are – yes dad, I know that the story about me, the Hobbiecat and Club Med is funny, but we promised never to speak of it again. It’s funny how much random stuff I’ve done, and how most of it I’ve done really badly!
Homework here is pretty intense – I did two hours yesterday, just did another hour and have achieved practically nothing. I’ll get it done, but it’s still pretty demoralising!
Anyway, I have slept for 10 hours and it is now lunch-time, so I will sign off and when something interesting happens, will post again.
Thanks to anyone reading this blog – it means a lot to me that I know friends and family are thinking of me over here. You should all come and visit!
written by  Crosswood on September 3, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Posting Again! Late - Sorry!
Gidday Team
Yes, yes, I know it’s been a week since I’ve last posted – but to be honest nothing much has happened! I know – saying that is like some sort of blasphemy against the sheer awesomeness that is America, but mostly I’ve been really busy with homework and other things like that.
I bought more textbooks, which cost me another arm and another leg (I’m lucky that I have several more arms and legs to loose) and this has been the major expense this week. I can still eat however – American people from throughout my house have been feeding me randomly. I had these fantastic Russian Potatoe dumpling things yesterday (after a girl named Arielle showed me possilby the funnest video in the entire world - Romanian pop singers dancing.) Previously we went out to a jewish eating place (can't spell resteruant very well - sorry) and again, it was very nice. I liked the chocolate pudding - it's like chocolate custard, or runny cake mix that hasn't been cooked yet. I have also had something like Chocolate Yogo but it's called 'Jell-o' and it comes in lots of flavours (yes - including jelly types.)
Burretio's are also very nice - apparently they could be better, but I wouldn't know, because the Burretio's here are very different from anything I've eaten before.
I feel really bad about the random generousity that all my house-mates have shown – I would import some good Kiwi recipes so that I could pay them back in the same way, but Kiwi’s don’t HAVE any good recipes and feeding them what we normally eat would be unkind.
I am still struggling with the amount of homework you get here. I have a huge assignment due in on Monday and could only source the textbooks today! ARGG! I have lots of work to do tomorrow. Today was a bit of a write-off day because firstly my friend was ill, so I strolled idly down to the store with her to make sure she didn’t do anything stupid like die or something. Then we had this MASSIVE party for a girl named Jenny (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) where everyone had a great time, people started singing on the roof, lit a BBQ with logs to prove they could, and it all eventually ended up with me trying to explain the basics of rugby to a hyper and increasingly energetic crowd of teenagers. It ended well which was a huge relief for me.
I can’t remember posting the story about the rapper to you, so I will tell you it now in lieu of real news. I was at the pedestrian crossing, when this random guy came up to me and started to rap at me. He was pretty good, but I was a little uncomfortable. Luckily the little ‘walk’ man went white (! Who makes their little ‘walk’ man white??) and I started to cross the road. He screamed ‘THAT’S HOW WE ROLL!’ and ran off. I thought this was such a great expression that I have started to use it and people always laugh, because it’s something only black gangsters say.
I have also exhausted my supply of tee-shirts. Admittedly I only took over two (one good and one gym) so this wasn’t exactly unexpected. I was gifted a nice one from the EAP office, however it is annoying that the weather hasn’t turned cold enough to wear anything nice. It is boiling over here. It gets to about 18c and they all wear jumpers.
The Army classes continue to be different from what I expected. In New Zealand, of course, my degree means that I major in Tactics and Command by default. I am up to 300 level tactics, which is ’Grand Strategy.’ Here I am learning how to read a map. It will be really useful, but it is still ridiculously easy and a bit of a letdown.
I managed to lock myself out of my basement the other day, as my key bent in a very funny shape. It was bent when I got it, but it got REALLY bent when someone gave me a jolt. I slept on the couch. I didn’t think I slept but I must have, because I woke up under the coffee table wrapped like a mummy in this blanket and wedged tightly under this leg. Honestly, I was completely stuck.
How did I get under there while asleep?
I still have not talked to Mysterious Graham after the infamous 30 second conversation. He lied to me when he said that we would.
Tomorrow I play ultimate Frisbee! BRING IT ON!
Cheers everyone
written by  Crosswood on September 8, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Week 3
Right team – its update time!
You know the drill – disjointed stories written down in no particular order, and with no particular malice intended. Thank you everyone who has sent me emails! I have gotten so many that it is hard for me to keep up, but I will slog on and hopefully will have replied to everyone by the end of this weekend.
This week has been lots of work, but also lots of fun at the same time.
Sunday was another Soccer day, and I was like Renaldo in my fabulous skills. Ahem.
I know that everyone who reads this will be trying to remember the last time that I was good at sport, but I am not kidding this time! I scored heaps of goals against my Italian and German teammates – pity it was just a practice. I need to do now is the exact same thing in the game. I can even do this, because I am officially relived of goalkeeping duty and am on the actual team which runs around and does stuff!
I know! I'm not a goalkeeper for once!! How weird is that???
Anyway, all this was before I realised I had a huge assignment due the next day (Monday), so I pulled an all-nighter to finish it off. (I misread the syllabus so I thought I had already finished the entire thing, when I had only finished half! It gave me quite a fright.) Luckily It turned out it was due in on Tuesday, and not Monday, but by then I had already finished it, (I really should have read that syllabus) so I had a sweet day of fixing it up so that it made more sense before I gave it to my lecturer. Truthfully the essay was pretty bad... but it could have been worse.
On Monday I hung out with a friend for lunch (this same friend who organised the communist tea party) and was determined to sleep well that evening. I was pretty tired after the random sleeplessness caused by the whole 'assignments due the next day' thing. Un/fortunately for me I got sidetracked by one of my wonderful housemates, who started teaching me basic Hebrew phrases and thus I spent my sleep-time talking about very little long into the night. Shana Tova everyone! (Happy Jewish New Year!)
I also went to a military lab offered at Berkeley. They’re not very organised, but they’ve got big heart. They told me we were going to do a swim-test, but it turned out we were actually going to do a commemoration service for 9/11 and also a swearing in ceremony.
I felt a little out of place wearing my togs underneath my uniform. Luckily no one noticed.
All the parents kept taking photos of me though, because I was wearing bright green in the midst of all this urban grey, and had a green beret on. They must have thought I was awesome, or possibly just confused.
The drill commands are also very different, and I made a lot more noise with my boot stomping than the Americans, whose marching-style reminds me forcibly of power-walking. The weather was also very hot!
Today I did the weirdest test of my entire life. I did a reading of about a million pages, decisibing the ‘Life of Saint Bernard’ – this holy monk in France. He was a pretty intense mystic! Anyway, the assignment was a page about if you were a hollywood director, who would you cast to play Bernard in a movie about his life? This writing assignment was worth marks overall, so I fought down the urge to crack up, and just did it.
I love my lecturer for this class. She’s gold. This is the same lecturer that, on my second day at Berkeley, randomly started to laugh in the first lecture. She then told us what she found funny. No one else laughed, (it was pretty lame) so she has since stopped telling us why she laughs. Now she just stops in the middle of a sentence, cracks up, and then keeps going on like nothing happened. She rocks.
Anyway, I chose Sean Connary, because Bernard was both great at PR/had stage presence, and was apparently really emaciated. I can imagine SC being good at being a random mystic!
My sweet burglar skills have finally come in useful. I know that Mum, you especially, always worried about how good I was at breaking into peoples’ houses, but I finally have used these awesome skills for good and not simply to pop up behind people to give them a random fright. A friend of mine locked herself out, and I, with the sneakiness worthy of a sneaky thing, snuck around the edge of the outside of the house using a second story balcony and window ledges (the gaps between these things gave me a bit of a turn - nothing below but air and the hard ground). Finally I reached the outside window of this girls room. From there it was child’s play to get inside – not because I can pick locks or anything, but because this window was open and it's also the size of an average door. I was pleased that the young lady got inside, but I was slightly concerned by how easy it all was!
My friends at Westminster House are lovely. I hung out with two in particular today, and since I don’t have anything else to talk about, I’ll talk about them. (Creepy, aren’t I?)
Serena is dark-haired (kinda Portuguese looking, but she isn’t) who hails from northern California, and can speak Spanish. She occasionally does speak Spanish to me when she forgets that I can’t, so I have started a phrasebook which I hope will help me later. Several people in the house can speak Spanish, and they all laugh at my Kiwi accent because it severely interferes with the pronunciation of words, and which they say makes me sound like I am Italian. Apprently this isn't good.
The other girl I hung out with today, Bronwen, looks like a typical American LA actress, with long blonde hair and a habit of randomly singing on rooftops. She sings really well however, so life could be worse. Bronwen can’t speak Spanish, but compensates by saying inappropriate things in English entirely by accident. I won’t tell you some of the things she says, but think of Mum’s ‘Can you screw and talk at the same time?’ for an example of the type. It’s so funny!
Today I also had food from the ‘South’ which I have to say was much better than food from California, which apparently is ‘North.’ Mr. Whippy style ice-cream they call ‘Frozen Yoghurt’ over here, and so I also had some of that. It was delicious. The food is so rich over here though, and my poor body isn't used to it. I'm sure I am ruining my palate for things that aren't covered in litres of sauce!
I’m sorry for the randomness of the last part of the detail. I have had one of the best weeks of my life, and I will be sorry to leave Berkeley when my time is up.
Cheers everyone, again
Yours truly
written by  Crosswood on September 14, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Half a week has gone by,,,
Dear Team
Well, it has been an interesting couple of days. I’ll start with the good stuff.
I stayed up late on Saturday watching Lord of the Rings, and marvelling at how beautiful New Zealand is. I think the others could have done with less of the “And that’s Wellington’s Quarry!” but they were nice about the whole thing, and the movie is great.
On Sunday I went to Church, which is a little different from Church in New Zealand. I’ve never seen a crucifix and a large icon of Mary and Jesus in an Anglican church before. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Good sermon though, and the people there seemed pleased to see a young person show up so early (8am).
I also did my sweet soccer skills again, but I was much less like Renaldo this week. Possibly the fact I was running off no sleep was a factor, and possibly it was just reality asserting itself. We shall have to see, as the first game is quite soon.
On Monday evening I had a pillow-fight, which I lost. I also did heaps of homework, which made me feel good. I have discovered that to get any work done I need to be at the library, because otherwise I am distracted by my friends.
On Tuesday however, I did an Army Swim Test. I tell a lie (sorry – I’m writing this early in the morning and my brain is a bit scattered), on Tuesday firstly I did a job interview for a one-off EAP fair job, worth about $40 for the day. I was thinking about what to do with the unexpected money (buy new jandels, because mine have holes in them, or use it to top up my meal points plan?) but now I know exactly what it is I’m doing with it. The army swim test was great, and I crushed – but my DPM’s (army camo) got very wet (obviously), my plastic bag had a hole in it, and the upshot was leaked water all through my backpack. It destroyed nothing except my cellphone, and that is destroyed completely. So the money I will be earning will be going towards that.
The Army swim test was fun though – a 30m DPM swim (easy as pie), a 15 rifle swim (in New Zealand to pass one has to keep the rifle out of the water, and so I did, but apparently this isn’t true in the states and everyone was surprised by my sweet skills/amused at my ignorance.) A entry into the water whilst taking off gear, and an entry into the water whilst blindfolded. Then we made improvised floatation devices. The best line? “Take off your pants! I’ve always wanted to give that order.” (We filled the legs with air and floated on them.) A close second has to be “This is the way I always wanted to die. Floating on my pants.”
So that's life. Classes and stuff. I wonder if I really need to replace that cellphone - the whole thing is really expensive.
Anyway, cheers

Berkeley Rocks. Again.
Hey Team
This’ll be a really short post, and the next couple of posts will be as well, because my computer cord has broken and won’t charge my machine. Every time I want to use the computer now I have to ship myself and my gear to the library. This is not good team! I am in the middle of mid-terms!
Briefly updating:
1) I felt a bit sick over the weekend, and figure it’s just that America has different nasty buggies than NZ. I’ll bring some home for you to all try later.
2) My cellphone stopped working (ref previous post) because I got it very wet. It randomly buzzed, spent three days looking pathetic, and then started to work again. I thought it wouldn’t receive or phone other people and was quite disappointed, but it turns out that the phone bill hadn’t been paid and they’d simply disconnected it. Easily fixed!
3) I got my first couple of assignments back from Berkeley. I was terrified I’d be out of my league here, and I kinda am, but at I’m getting OK grades. Not fantastic, but OK.
4) Robert Jordan, the man who wrote books about a million pages long and who was half-way through the final book of the longest series in history, died. Now I will never know what happens to the two thousand characters I have read about for the last eight years. I feel sad and pathetic.
5) I acted as private security for a football game on Saturday. It was very boring – they told us ‘come with a white shirt and black pants.’ Then they gave us a clip-on tie, dressed us up in this suit jacket that was about nine sizes to big, and told me to guard the press-box. I looked like Charlie Chaplin, and I was about as scary as him as well, because I got randomly abused by people who weren’t allowed into the press box, but had tried to come in anyway. It made money for the ROTC program, so I figured I’d do them a favor and show up.
6) I am getting itchy feet and want to go somewhere else. Not that Berkeley and San Francisco aren’t the best places on planet earth, because they kind of are, but I want to go and see other places now. Utah – Salt Lake City is apparently worth visiting. New Mexico – my friend’s dad works at Los Alamos. South Dakota – Mt Rushmore. Washington - Seattle.
7) I’m going to get to Seattle if it kills me.
8) Tonight I have a soccer practice. Last one before the big game!
9) I also have Military Lab tonight. Land navigation – blurg. The most boring thing ever created. Our protractors are a riot though – they’re made really badly. If you put two of them together, the degree bars are out of sync with each other by as much as five degrees. I’ll tell you how finding our way around with them goes.
10) I got a job working as the student assistant at the EAP fair all day on Friday. I’m going to either buy new jandels (I have exciting holes right through the soles of mine) or buy snacks for a week. I’m leaning more towards the jandels, but something might come up so that I can use it better.
And that’s all’s I can think of. I did a map quiz today, and I didn’t study, but found all the places on the map no problem. Normally I hate people like me.
Cheers team, and keep warm over there (I'm thinking of you in the glorious warm sunshine.)

I'm really bad with titles.
Dear Team
Evil and mean.
Yeah.
My computer still isn’t fixed, so I am writing this on a friends’ computer. That is why some things are disjointed. Yes… they’re not disjointed because I’m not that great at typing. It’s all to do with the lack of the computer…
This week has been interesting, as has every week since I have been here. You know what I was up to before Wednesday, but that day was boring and you don’t want to hear about that, so I’ll start with Thursday.
On Thursday I played my first game of soccer for real. I can’t quite remember the score now – it wasn’t important – but lets just say my team played much better in the second half than the first. I was also quite embarrassed – a cry went up before the game ‘They have too many guys on their team!’
Nope, sorry other team. We had three guys and three girls. One of the girls just happened to have short hair. Moving right along.
Friday was the day of the EAP fair, and I had a paying job to do! So I skipped out on a class, showed up very early and started to help out. I was cheerful, I spoke to people about New Zealand, and I did all sorts of random work to do with checking people in and out of the hall in which it was being held. I was there nine hours. Myself and another New Zealander even gave a short rendition of ‘God Defend New Zealand’ for a crowd of students who wanted to go to Australia. After the nine hours I and another bloke (an Italian named Tom) went back to the office to collect our pay. It turns out that since we don’t have a social security number we might not be. This is silly – they advertised among the international students for the fair. If they can’t pay us, then why ask us?
The saga of the computer is this – it has stopped charging. I rang up a call centre in India who were quite keen for me to be someone else’s problem. After several frustrations, I managed to get a name and an address for a repair company in Emeryville, which isn’t that far away from Berkeley. It’s a mission to get around by public transport here.
Yesterday (Saturday) I went to find this place. Firstly I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, and then my friend asked me if I wanted to go with her to San Francisco. How can I refuse that type of thing? SF is great – it’s a fantastic place.
I went to an American restaurant, which can be quite stressful. I had no idea what I should be ordering (neither did the Americans I was with however, so I felt better.) so in the end I got Turkey. It tastes nothing like chicken! It makes you really sleepy.
I got ranch dressing on my salad. Ranch dressing on a salad defeats the point of a salad. It’s very nice, but it’s really heavy, so go easy on the stuff if you’re offered it in the States. The food they serve is in massive quantities as well, so if you can don’t finish and get a little plastic doggie bag. It’s not considered bad or rude at all (although I still have problems with it – cultural programming is hard to break). I also went to Union Square to a “Candy Shop” that sold mostly chocolate. I had ‘peanut brittle’ which was absolutely fantastic (don’t eat too much of it though because you’ll be huge) and some chocolate in a bar. The chocolate wasn’t very good, but they tried very hard.
New Zealand chocolate is a hard act to follow I suppose.
Time for more of Margaret’s Random Friends:
One guy in my house is a computer genius, (Austin is his namo) who kinda looks a little Australian around the edges. His father is a rocket scientist for NASA and his mother is a consultant for Nuclear Power Plants. This probably gives you a wee hint as to where his interests lie, yes? He has short brown hair, which you hardly ever see because he’s always wearing a floppy hat with the two sides done up, and you won’t see him without his IBM workstation because apparently it kinda attaches to his arms. The tie-dry shirt, the tramping shorts and the hiking boots complete the picture of what he wears every day. Building robots since you were three does that to a person I’m told.
There is also this girl who is very patriotically Mexican and American at the same time, and she lives downstairs in the Library Suite. (Dyana.) She is short (ish), speaks Mexican Spanish (which is ruddy cool) and wants Obama (the African-American running for the democratic vote) to win the presidential campaign. Being in the library suite must be tough sometimes – everyone hangs out in the common area till really late, but I’ve never heard her complain, which is either very self-sacrificing, or she can sleep through a hurricane. She comes from Merced (which looks very nice in the photos, but most everything does) and I have no idea where that is, so I normally just guess on a map.
Cheers team
Ps. Flowing tresses.

Another day, another post.
This bloggy trip thingy must be sick of me typing Berkeley into the "What City Are You Visiting?!!?" box.
It’s Friday morning in the basement library, and I’m typing on a computer here instead of my own machine. My own machine is fixed and healthy (barring accidents)! Here is the extended version of my labours in that regard. Skip past it if you don't won't a tale of woe.
I rose extremely early (5am. On my sleep-in day!!) on Tuesday morning to get on a bus that went to Emeryville (the place where the call centre said I could fix my computer.) After a seriously heart-stopping trip (if I stayed on too long I’d end up on the motorway and in San Francisco) I reached the place I needed to go - BDI computers. Unfortunately the call centre was a year out of date and the company didn’t exist anymore (the lady inside the office seemed exceptionally surprised to see a New Zealander with a computer stroll into her lounge.) Hmmmm.
Going back to the call centre, they then told me to head for the nearest radioshack. This I duly did (after my classes). This was a mistake because I was supposed to be a speaker on a discussion panel talking about comparative higher education. I missed that while I was arguing with the radioshack guy. (The machine was under warranty and he still wanted to charge me heaps of money.)
So I rang up the call centre again, and they hung up. After wailing and gnashing my teeth, I tried again. And again. And again. Never buy a HP product, their service is rubbish. Finally I got someone who could speak English, and by this time I was pretty hacked off, so I basically told them to give me a new power-cord or else. Again they tried to fob me off onto the non-existant BDI computers, but I was adiment.
The conversation went something like this.
"You should..."
“Let’s not do that. Give me a new power cord. You will send me one.”
“Ok Ma’am. I’ll send that out to you right away.”
“How long will it take to get here?”
“About 1 to 2 weeks.”
“No, that isn’t going to happen. How about tomorrow?”
“………… Thursday?”
“Ok. Thursday then.”
So finally by being rude/decisive I got what I needed and now my computer is working like a charm.
On Thursday I played another game of soccer, (again at 11pm) and it was much better. I really need to figure out how to score – my team-mates describe me as a ‘moving wall’. I head in one direction until I run out of space. The Australians keep laughing and saying that the only reason you’d have a New Zealander on a soccer team would be to rugby-tackle the opposition. hey - I was pretty good. I'm a ruddy goalkeeper for goodness sake! My entire life is spent getting cracked on the noggin with the ball! I can't change the habit of a lifetime just because I'm now doing way more running than normal.
A guy on our team was very funny though – he showed up as the game was ending, but he thought he was on time. It turns out his watch started to go backwards instead of forwards, which is a little unusual. Poor guy - he cycled for an hour to get there.
Moving on.
Another large essay was due today, so I scrambled to make something up that sounded right. The topic was Slavic Folklore and its effects on the individual perception of Heroism. Good fun!
Today I also have a coffee thingy with a few friends, was invited out for drinks AGAIN by my soccer team (but you can’t drink here unless you’re 21! I don’t even want to drink, just to hang out, but they won’t even let you in) and also have a couple of admin things to do (like figure out how to apply for a California Drivers Licence.) I mentioned that I was invited to the Brizilian dance party, yes? It sounded like fun, but only for over 21's. Those Brizilains were very lucky.
Yesterday on the administration side I applied for a social security number, so I can get paid from the job fair. It’s pretty gold – whenever I come back to the states that number will always be the same. I also looked into getting a part-time job somewhere so I can start to save money and go on a bit of a travel adventure. A Social Security Number is also useful for those types of things.
I’ve got a couple more friends to describe, and then I’ll let you rest from the blog. You know how in every dorm there is one person whose got more ‘go’ than the Energizer Bunny? Stephen is that man in our house. He doesn’t walk – he bounces. When I’m in my basement I can hear exactly where he is in the house because the noise is quite distinctive. He’s about 5’7”, but works out a lot, so he is almost shaped like a triangle. When he doesn’t smile the mood of the entire house plummets – I know because he had is mid-terms, got tired, and then everyone got cranky. Weird how these people infect others eh?
Speaking of short (well, not really) we’ve got a 4’10” girl in our house. She studies way too hard, and gets a little stressed about the whole thing sometimes, but if she wasn’t like that she wouldn’t be Arielle now would she? She is the friend who introduced me to the ‘Numa Numa’ song which is possibly the most disturbing song in the entire world. It’s sung by Romanians. She also knows the entire score of every Disney song ever produced, and will sing them at the drop of a hat, forcing you to join in. I would never have got to Emeryville without her – I was so confused! Public transport here isn’t the greatest.
I have also been invivited to speak at an EAP lunch thingy for a small group of people, about EAP and golbalisation. That's cool - I'll just talk about how America was nothing like I expected it to be from the media. It makes everyone happy, because then I can throw in a few good jokes about what I thought America would be like.
Again guys, cheers for reading. If there is anything you particulary want me to talk about or describe for you, post it on the comments thingys (which I do read!) and I'll do my best to get it up here for you.
Wish you were here
written by  Crosswood on October 5, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

The Weekend
I’m going to be one weird New Zealander when I get home.
It’s time for some social studies team! After all, that’s what I’m here for isn’t it? To learn about the mysterious American Culture! Gold.
Right first thing’s first. In New Zealand we have HEAPS of personal space – Americans don’t have quite so much. Admittedly some of the people I apparently hang out with have no personal space whatsoever (creeped me out big-time when I first arrived, but you get used to it really quickly). They hug a lot. A lot. That’s fine, but I’m getting used to it, and who am I supposed to hug when I get home? No one, that’s right. Everyone will just look at me funny and edge sideways out of my reach.
Americans don’t mind people being randomly happy. I’m happy all the time – in New Zealand someone would have gotten grumpy by now and told me to shove it. I love the American accent – it just makes me happy. It’s so light and smooth. My vowel sounds are heavy and dropped in comparison. I like the way they say Margaret – with three syllables. I’ve realised that NZ’ders put ‘ie’ on the end of every name (eg Margie, Bexie, Annie) because it makes the primary vowel sounds longer and nicer to listen to. Try it out – or maybe you need a living breathing American to appreciate the difference.
Americans understand your cultural stupidity. I went to the waterfront in San Francisco today, but was freaked out by the number of people. No, really, I was really uncomfortable. Stupid isn’t it? And we were watching the Blue Angels Jet fighter team who were AMAZING but every time they buzzed the crowd I wanted to dig a hole to hide in and then fire something into the air. And I was paranoid about where they were going to come from next. Gah.
Americans are really nice. I haven’t met one I didn’t like yet. And they seem to like me, or at least they don’t tell you when they hate you. It’s gold.
They do have opinions. Often I’ll be uncomfortable about how strongly they voice opinions. And they’ll argue with you because they want you to have their opinion. I suppose we figure in NZ that the other person just isn’t worth that?
Americans are polite with actions, not words. They’ll stand aside for you in the door, but they won’t make a big deal out of it. NZ’ders are polite, but they’ll draw attention to it with ‘excuse me’ or ‘I beg your pardon’ or something like that.
Anyway, back to my life. Homework is intense – I have about four very large essays due in a very short space of time. Church over here is a bit unusual as well – it’s very Catholic feeling, which is fine, except I go to an Anglican church because it’s different from Catholic churches, not because it’s similar. And they don’t sing. Perhaps there is another Anglican church around here somewhere...
I went to another Mexican restaurant today and had more Mexican food. It is lovely. Someone should start a wee business up and see what happens. I love ordering things that I don’t know – but only if someone that does know what it is knows if its good or not. If that makes any sense. Possibly I’m just like that because I can’t pronounce what I want to order. And the company was good as well – two lovely people from my house came along and we talked about everything and nothing.
A great recipe my friend made me eat today – get plain yoghurt, dump walnuts on top of it and drizzle it with honey. I know it sounds kind of yurgh but it’s really good! Apparently it’s a Greek thing. Those Greeks really know what they’re doing then. I also had chicken that wasn’t covered in sauce. I loved it, but the Americans thought it was a little bland. Obviously I haven’t lost my taste for the simpler things then – this is probably good. If I got a ‘rich palate’ then NZ food would be hard to swallow when I get back! It’s going to be hard to swallow enough as it is after all the yummy stuff over here.
You guys already know that I went to SF and saw the blue angels, but before that I had another soccer practice. We lost our game again the other day – I think I might have already posted that. The upright on the goal is now first-equal in my teams’ goal scoring ranking! And this random bush is the best goalkeeper we have on our team – it didn’t let a single thing through. I have a problem with hand-balls. I leap into the air to try and catch it, but of course I’m on the field now so it is a bit of a sticky habit.
I also got lost on the way to SF and ended up in Oakland. Hmmmm.
Nothing much else happened. I don't want to know about the Rugby.
Cheers
written by  Crosswood on October 7, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Berkeley Week 7
Hey Team!
This week has been another one of those exciting Berkeley weeks that just make me really happy.
Firstly I had another massive assignment due which I put off due to other things – but I got it done again. I did a lot of hanging out with my friends, which may not be really exciting to read about, and it may not help me do my assignments, but I do it anyway.
I watched a very boring movie for ‘Russia to the 1700s’ called ‘Aundri Rublov’. It was really depressing, but it was banned by Stalin for years and years so it was worth watching just to spite ‘em. It was about a famous Russian painter, and his angst over the violence and bleakness of the country in which he lives.
Tuesday was interesting – I did another Army Training day thingy, but without all the water this time. It was land-nav, and I think they’ve finally figured out that I don’t need to do it, because they stuck me with the Cadet (who used to be a Sergeant in Iraq) who didn’t need to do the land Nav test. We taught another guy (who had joined that morning) how to read a map. It was mildly entertaining. Another thing that was mildly entertaining was an American Officer Cadet who was trying to show off his skills by claiming that he had perfectly calculated his position with only two resection angles. This wasn’t just on the map you understand – he was trying to tell me that he did this feat in the field. For those of you who don’t know, this is obviously ridiculous. It’s like claiming that you’ve shot down a helicopter using a rock.
Wednesday I was supposed to have a supply appointment with a Mr Perry. Mr Perry was sick that day, but it was cool because I got out of Army class early. This army class was being taken by another officer cadet who had, as they say, gone mad with power. He said things like ‘You listen to me when I take this class!!’ and ‘Popdoski – give me twenty for insolence!’ I just sat there and smiled at him. Yes, ok, I basically dared him to do it – I hate bullies. He didn’t though – he obviously has some small sense of self-preservation left. Maybe next time...
I tried to have the supply appointment today, but it didn’t happen. Mr Perry was confused as to what he should give me (obviously they don’t want to give me the new expensive equipment) and so it was decided that they were going to bring out some old stuff so I still look very different from the rest of the Officer Cadets. The Lt Col is also going to introduce me to a Brig, and I will be perfect and salute a lot and put on a good show. That’s what I’m here for. Maybe I can weasel an invitation to visit Westpoint out of it, which is the next goal. The entire plan is to not disgrace my uniform in front of the brass though – so that’s the focus. I’ll use up the last of my boot-polish on Monday just before I go in. I want to go to Westpoint and Annapolis eventually though, and take some notes for when I write a paper on comparative training institutions.
Also yesterday I had a study group. I got invited to join these girls randomly as I was walking around campus. It turns out my accent is very distinctive and so these girls realised I was in their class right away, even though they had never met me and I had never seen them before. It’s pretty gold – I’m not that great at this particular class, and so I am pleased that they asked. A burned shared is a burden halved, as they say.
Today was another class, that supply appointment with Mr Perry, and this house dinner. I ate WAY to much, cleaned up a lot and had a great time. The people here is this house are amazing.
More random friends then: Sitting next to me right now is Noa, a girl is who is just so nice that it is hard to credit it. She has brown hair so dark and shiny that it is almost black, is about 5’7” and has really great taste in clothes. Noa can suggest things to do so successfully you generally end up thinking it was your own idea in the first place, and if you do realise that is wasn’t your idea, it’s generally such a great idea (and she’s such a nice person) that you don’t mind doing it for her. And she’s really funny. She also has a sweet last name, which I’m not going to tell you, because then you’d be able to find her, which isn’t cool. Just trust me that it’s wicked, and spelt in a really funky way.
Anita is the youngster in our house – only 17. She’s Indian, is quite tall and is just a really calm person to be around. She has dark blue/black hair as well, and when she smiles you really can’t help but smile back, even if you’ve had a rubbish day. You know those people who are just really nice to sit and talk too? Trust me, sometimes after the weirdness that is our house, calm is so nice! She’s really proud to be at Berkeley, which I think is the best way to be. Some people here don’t realise how lucky they are. It’s the Promised Land, I’m sure of it.
Tonight I have a sweet game of soccer at 10pm (early tonight!) but I am not looking forward to it because I ate way to much, and running may be a problem. On the other hand I am looking forward to another chance to get a goal. I’m going to get a goal if it kills me!
Edited Note: We drew our football game! YAY! I didn't get a goal though, I did get close a couple of times.
I know tonight’s post wasn’t very funny, but I’m not in a funny mood. I’m full, calm and pretty much content. I’ve been invited to about six things tonight, so I feel very included, and I’m just typing away surrounded by people who I admire. It’s gold.
Tomorrow I shall finish off my EAP lunch speech (I am talking to a group about EAP and how important it is. I shall tell you how that goes.) and on Sunday I have that sweet study group thing. I shall tell you how that goes as well.
Again, sorry for how boringly unfunny this post was. I shall try harder next time. Until then I still,
Wish you were here
written by  Crosswood on October 11, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Another day, another BRILLIANT American week!
Friday was one of the best days of my life. It’s one of those days which, if you could, you’d take out of your life and press it into a gigantic book so you could take it out and look at it every so often. God probably puts a quota of these days in people’s life, it was that good.
OK – I’m going to describe it. Firstly, I was still awake at midnight, and then had a sweet conversation with Sarenna and Stephen in the Kitchen. There are very few people in the world who are as nice, or cool as Sarenna and Stephen, and pretty much all of these rare people also live in North House. I went to bed at two and got up at six. This may not sound that great, until you realise that I felt amazing when I got up (you know that feeling when you’ve hit on just the right combination of food and sleep?) and then I sat down and cranked out a speech which had been bothering me all week.
I presented it to some millionaires on Saturday! Nope, I’m not joking. I went to an EAP fundraising function, and gave this speech. American audiances are very involved with the speaker; I had people clapping and cheering while I was giving it! I think it went well.
Anyway, then Sarenna, who had asked to be woken at 7am, come into the picture. Goodness gracious me, she’s hilarious in the mornings! Firstly I crept into her room trying not to wake Noa (which was a high priority for me, but I needn’t have worried, because Noa apparently can take care of herself) and gave S. a shake. She let out this random high pitched whine, rolled over and tucked up the coverlet. Her cellphone alarm then went off, and without a pause, S rolled over and gave it a practiced smack. I was a bit surprised by all of this kurfufle, and was a bit bemused, when finally her alarm clock went off. Say what you want about S, she knows herself really well, and wasn’t going to let herself stand in the way of... herself I suppose. I mumbled to her ‘It looks like you’re going to get up if you want to or not.’ To which she replied ‘MumblemumbleI’llbedownstairsintenmintuesmumblemumble’ and I left. 20 minutes later a very tired and grumpy looking S wandered into the kitchen and demanded we eat Tuna. Yep – this was pretty random to me also. And then when she got going with the can opener, she couldn’t seem to stop, and she opened two Tuna cans and a can of soup. She mucked around with the soup on auto-pilot for about ten minutes, pouring it into a bowl and adding water and doing all sorts of things before she looked at her hands, got really confused and said to me ‘Why am I holding soup?’ It was so funny, but I didn’t laugh because I would have suffered swift death.
We got going eventually however, and S looked so tired that I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
Next I went to an Army class, which was pretty boring, but I got to get out early because I was supposed to have a supply meeting. In this class it turned out I knew what I was talking about, and the other guys didn’t, which always makes me happy. Enemy intent is not ‘resist strongly’ like the other cadets suggested – that’s what their morale PRIOR to battle is going to make them want to do. When they realise I’ve attacked their four men with an entire 30 man platoon plus mortars they’re going to want to get the hell away from there. Duh!
I was very good – I didn’t say a thing as the Sergeant explained I was very, very right. Dad, you’d be proud of me.
And the supply appointment? I’d mixed up the dates and it is next Tuesday. This is so gold – I didn’t have to waste an hour and a half of my life and I STILL got out of boring class.
I then applied for a scholarship, for which I have just enough time to apply before the deadline. I’m so pleased I got onto it yesterday because that means I can still apply today! And I wrote a cover letter in an hour and so it’s done, and I’ve sent it off. Wish me luck team!
I got a mid-term back and got another A. I thought I was going to be a bit slow in comparison to all the smart people here, but the serious amount of extra work they make us do really drags up your average. Possibly doing no work in New Zealand was a mistake?
I love medieval history full stop. That’s an awesome class. I’m going to see what else that lecturer teaches because she is awesome. It’s not that she’s a great teacher (except she is) it’s just that she loves her topic so much that you can’t help but love it as well. It’s like positive illness – it’s infectious, and makes you happy.
I also got a public library card, which was so easy as to be silly. I just had to give them my passport and proof of my address, and I walked out of there with four books. I love books.
On Saturday after that speech I also walked from the Bay bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge. For those of you that don’t know, that’s a seriously long walk. It was gold – 7 hours of walking made me feel a little less cooped up. And spending time with some of my favourite American people? Priceless. The pictures of us on the Golden Gate are magic (well not of me obviously – I don’t photo well) and I had lots of interesting experiences. Like cheap and wonderful bread! Like Reeces Cups (peanut butter covered with chocolate... Nope, I’m not kidding – it’s incredibly rich and probably so bad for you as to be stupid. Tastes GREAT!) and ‘In-and-Out’ which is a burger place which sells amazing food. The highlight was the walk though – I travelled the whole length of the San Fran waterfront. Next stop, the interior!
Today I again played soccer with my team. I like them – they’re all really cool. And we’re getting HEAPS better – we’re definitely going to win this time, I can feel it! After that I bought soap, which was interesting. I decided I was going to get something American, and bought soap called ‘Ivory’. Apparently this floats in the bath. Since I don’t have a bath, I’m probably not going to be able to test this theory, but it smells really nice. American soap is a lot more crumbly than New Zealand soap, as an aside.
I also went to a study group thingy, and met some really great people there as well. We studied for ages (I was useful because I had actually studied British history at school, and they were helpful for me because they knew the history of America like the back of their hands. The best type of study.) and got quite a bit done, which was unusual for me. And then we went for dinner, and I had some Mexican do-it-yourself food. The food here is SO good, but I think you got that picture four or five posts ago.
Cheers team, wish you were here

Week 8
Gidday team.
This week was pretty blank really – I have an awful lot of work to do and very little time to do it in. Nethertheless I had a mid-term on Wednesday that went quite badly, scored a goal in soccer on Thursday, and hardly slept at all over my weekend.
The mid-term was on British Social History, which I did study for. The things he wanted us to study were quite broad, so I had to read my entire note-book to get everything, but in nothing like the depth I wanted, so when I got in there and started to write my exam I was little disappointed with how little I could actually write about. Such is life I suppose
My soccer game on Thursday we lost again, mostly because our best player wrenched his knee really badly while we were playing. I scored a goal after that, and was so happy! It was a little cross in front of the goal, which I tapped in, and all the work was done by this blonde German guy called Matti, but still. I got a goal!
It’s the weekends that I live for – on Saturday I was supposed to go to Alcatraz, but I was silly and made a mistake with the dates. I showed up all fat and happy wondering where the heck everyone was, but it turns out that it’s next Saturday. I can’t go that means, because I am going to Palo Alto to carve pumpkins. You know my life is just awesome when I get randomly invited to carve pumpkins! Anyway, because that fell through I went to San Francisco and wandered around again. I ended up in the hippy district, and an anarchist bookstore. I really wanted to buy some of the stuff there – I’ll take you, Mum and Dad, if you get here. It was classic.
I also love donuts.
Friday night I was up very late – Noa suggested we make cookies, but we had no ingredients. By the time we’d walked to the all night supermarket, got a movie and done various things like that, it was 0130. By the time the cookies were one it was 0330. I thought of you Kippies, with someone stuck out in the field this late at night on sentry. Obviously I was having a better time than you though. HA! Suckers.
Saturday night I was up very late as well, because I watched the movies that we chose the night before. Freda (about this Mexican painter) and the Boondock Saints. Both were good in different ways – Auntie Donna, maybe you’ve seen Freda? It was both wonderful and horrible, which is a little like her paintings really.
I can’t really remember much about Sunday, except I watched a good football match which one of my friends was playing in, and then went to Catholic church because the protestant churches are useless and don’t have services at night. It was nice. We sang Slane, which is one of my all-time favourite hymns. And then we had donuts.
Don’t be surprised if I don’t update this for a wee while – I have so much work to do it is not even funny anymore. Cheers team,

Week 9
Palo Alto, United States
Gidday team
As you might have heard, I can’t stay for an extra semester here, although I spun the army an excellent yarn. If anything was going to convince them it would have been that, so obviously it was not meant to be.
I’ve had a brilliant week though – after being stressed out about the vast amounts of homework due in this two week period, I got two out of the most pressing ones out of the way, just in time to be handed two more. Yay! At least the deadlines are far away now.
Really the week at university was very average – I sat in class, I did a couple of exams (‘mid-terms’) and generally worked my brain a little harder than it would have liked. Life is like that however, and the result will be worth it.
The weekend was the awesome bit. On Friday Westminster House North had a Karaoke party, which was surprisingly fun. Me and my friends ripped out ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ which is a great Karaoke song because it’s so easy, you can get everyone singing along with you. I also had a pre-made costume with my beret and a few other items of uniform. Yes I know it’s not strictly allowed, but I’m on a very tight budget, so I’m sure the Army has bigger issues to worry about.
After this we went out for dinner and I had a great time talking about nothing. I love talking with these Westminster House guys – the people that were with me at dinner are amazing people (you seem to have to be randomly talented to actually get into Berkeley, as opposed to just visiting) and dinner with them is a real treat. Dinner anywhere is a real treat – American food (even if it’s disguised as another cultures food) has really grown on me. I have a terrible sweet tooth though (you all know that) so this place is paradise.
On Saturday I got to go to Palo Alto. This was very exciting – we took a great train right the way down the bay, and I finally got out of the city of ‘Frisco (as much as you can.) Palo Alto is a suburb of ‘Frisco which felt a lot like Lower Hutt, except it was MASSIVE, and it never ended. I was relying on people telling me ‘and now we’re in Freemont’ to figure out where we were, because it was all one massive development. Americans don’t just build stuff – they engineer it. Noa’s father (who kindly picked us up from the BART station) drove us past this slightly disgusting mud-flat (which had nice Ibis though) across this beautiful bridge to the other side of the estuary. The Americans didn’t even notice, but I was mesmerised. Why don’t we get things so wonderful in New Zealand? Money I suppose – it’s easier to build something blocky and horrible than curving and with flawless lines.
After messing around town for a little bit (the best English Breakfast tea I’ve had in America was in Palo Alto) we went to watch a friend play rugby at Stanford University. Unfortunately we missed most of her games, but we caught the tail end of one and I got admiring glances from the coach of the Cal Rugby team for actually knowing all the rules, even the obscure one about travelling (lots of the players don’t, yet alone Americans.) The one time hanging out with all those boys is useful.
While at Stanford we also saw this statue garden with lots of famous cast-iron sculptures in it. Some people have problems – I admire his art, but couldn’t he have made it less angsty?
We then went to this super Halloween store, which was just strange. I know this is a little vulgar, but you could get everything there up to and including a giant penis suit. I’m not joking. It was the strangest place I’ve been in a long time, and I’d post the pictures of us in the big blonde wigs, except I know you’d laugh and then I’d have trouble living it down. So I won’t. But you can imagine.
After decorating the yard (I knew I was tall for a reason! For hanging Halloween lights.) and going to a random supermarket (kids push a button and the puppets do a song and dance routine about how you should just say no to drugs.), we went out for tea.
Dinner – Oliver Garden. The waiter I thought was nice – when he heard I was foreign and didn’t know what the soups tasted like, he bought me them all in little sampler bowls. The others were slightly snippy because he should have kept them liberally doused in bread-sticks. I wasn’t adverse to this plan either to tell you the truth – the bread-sticks were pretty good.
We also made Halloween cookies, which were huge because the cutters were massive. Some of them were undercooked, but that was OK because the stuff was so sweet you couldn’t tell the difference. We iced them all pretty, and I drew a really excellent lobster on a pumpkin shaped one. Hey – a lobster is scary.
We carved pumpkins with what seemed at one point like the entire street plus friends and family, and I did OK. Not bad, but OK. I carved a dragon, and have it in my basement right now. I know I’m not artistic or anything, but pumpkin seems to be my medium (so long as I have a stencil!)
We came back, and today I also had a great day. I had a (for want of a better word) jam session with a girl in my house (who is lovely) and who taught me a new song about how that person (ie myself) isn’t the one you want/need. Then we tried to film it, and succeed a couple of times. She sounds amazing – I tried to sing quietly so she’d be more in the recording, but my voice is annoyingly loud. Why did no one mention this before? Actually, I think you might all have mentioned it a few times... I forget. And so do you.
Cheers Team, and have a good day
written by  Crosswood on October 29, 2007 from Palo Alto, United States

Just a quick post...
Just a quick post to let you guys know I'm staying until the 25JAN08, which is great! But as soon as I get back to New Zealand I'm depolying on a very hard exericse, so perhaps I should work a little harder on my fitness, yes?
I have lots of work, and am struggling a little bit with it, but I'm pushing through. Yesterday was Halloween, which was fun. It's a very big holiday here in the states, and some of my friend's costumes were amazing! I'm pleased it's over though - it's not really my cup of tea. I don't like horror films.
I got heaps of chocolate though, which was gold.
Not much happening, except for me helping innocent firstyears become less studious.
Cheating is always wrong team, and that's why I don't participate in it.
No, I'm serious.
written by  Crosswood on November 1, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Well – again this week has all been about school. I’m having a great time here at Berkeley – every week here has something new.
This week when I was at military science class we were taught pepper-potting, which I've done before. Everyone who was in the army knows what pepper-potting is, but if you haven’t had that privilege then just remember that it’s the most basic training any army can provide. It’s one foot on the ground while the other is moving.
Anyway, it’s all about speed and aggression and throwing your body onto the ground to avoid getting shot. It’s very fun, but the Americans weren’t very good. Traditionally I haven’t been very good at this either, but since I’d done it before I was good by default. It was cool! I did the mean potting – everyone thought I either was hard-core or crazy.
Everything else has been pretty boring. Work, work and more work. I’ll talk to you guys when I’ve got something to talk about.
written by  Crosswood on November 6, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

LA Road Trip
Los Angeles, United States
It all started Friday night. I was looking forward to the long weekend – the normal round of homework, sleep and friends, punctuated with the occasional drama by one of my houses’ many teenagers. It looked boring, but nice. Until I opened my email inbox.
A couple of international students from my soccer team looked like they were flying down to LA for the weekend – they were asking if anyone else wanted to come. I was vaguely interested – I’ve been to LA before, but not on this trip. I sent an email reply saying that it would be cool to go. Those friends said there weren’t any seats, but some people might want to organise a car to drive down there. About three minutes later, I got a call on my cell phone and I was going to LA for two days, spontaneously.
Two magic words – Road Trip. It was great – I woke up at six am, walked down to Telegraph Ave and was picked up by this German guy named Adrian and a Canadian called Joanna. Us three were the only ones going down by car, and I couldn’t drive because I was under the age for insurance, so those two were the only drivers, and they quickly showed their worth. In two days they ran four red lights (none of them on purpose, but one in front of three lanes of oncoming traffic), went the wrong way down two one way streets, got a speeding ticket for going 92 miles an hour in Merced (60 mile per hour zone) and generally swerved back and forth over as many lanes of the freeway as possible to take up. Never let anyone tell you that New Zealander’s are inconsiderate drivers again!
Needless to say I was the fun-Nazi voice of reason in all of this – but what in New Zealand would be broad hints aren’t at all hints in the more direct American culture. For example, five minutes before the speeding ticket I spotted how fast we were going and said to Jo ‘If we get a speeding ticket, who is going to pay it?’ Pretty obvious right? Apparently not.
‘Margaret! Why didn’t you say anything about me going too fast?’
The crossing in front of the three lanes of traffic thing was done by the German guy, Adrian. He saw the green light for going ahead, but not the red light for turning, and so just turned. It was pretty frightening for me, and I still can’t help but laugh as I talk about it now, because Adrian didn’t even notice until after we were safely through the intersection. He was then so horrified that he lost concentration and almost took out two pedestrians on a zebra crossing. All in all, not one of the more successful driving experiences of my life.
We drive 350 miles down the central valley from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which was a nice drive but quite boring. The landscape is very flat, devoid of all vegetation aside from a very short brown scrub, and occasionally farms. Every 30 or 40 miles, so regular you could set your clock to it, there was a ‘town’ that consisted of three or four fast-food joints and a motel. I suspect they cater for the truck-drivers that come up and down this route, but it was amazing how none of these ‘towns’ had a supermarket or anything. It was literally just some fast-food places and a place to stay.
Our first stop on this road trip was at one of these places, called Wasco, where we had Denny’s. Denny’s is an American fast food chain which is somewhere between Cobb and Co and McDonalds – very unhealthy, huge portions. It was very crowded when we went in, and every single person there was overweight – it was like the America you see in those bad movies about the ’hollowness of life’. We quickly worked out the reason for everyone being overweight – I took one look at the menu and ordered a side-order of toast for my meal. (A side note: everything in America is about choice. When I ordered my toast is wasn’t just ‘white or brown’ it was ‘do you want rye, sour dough, white wheat flour, corn flour, ect. And this was at a fast food place!) I scraped a lot of the butter off and it was quite nice. The other two picked the mega-breakfast and it was massive and covered with grease. They enjoyed it!
Then it was back on the road, and I had to work very hard to prevent us stopping within the hour at the International House of Pancakes, better known as iHop. This decision to not go to IHop right then and there was a mistake which later came back to haunt me – but that’s a story for later.
After about 4 hours a line of hills appeared up from the horizon. These hills are pretty random, because there is nothing but plains before them, and nothing but hills after. Through these hills more and more green began to appear, until we entered into LA county and from there to LA proper.
Driving along the freeways is a hassle – and although I kept telling the driver which exit we were to take we missed it anyway. Honestly – this is the last time I take a trip with fully spontaneous people! No... it wasn’t that bad – they’re brilliant people. They’re just a little flighty. Anyway, we ended up in Venice Beach, which isn’t very nice. We got all the way down there to go and stay with these other two people from our soccer team, but they’re a couple, and they weren’t that keen to have us around. They ‘suggested’ we’d find more accommodation in Hollywood than in Venice Beach. They’re funny people. Anyway, we drove for another hour to get to Sunset blvd, which was very dodgy. My car-mates told me ‘the first place we find to stop and stay the night we’ll take’ and so I delighted in pointing out all the tumble-down, paint-flecked ‘hotels’ with hookers standing out the front. Eventually to my disappointment we found a motel 6, which was pretty much fully booked except for a double room in a smoking section, and a single room in a non-smoking section. We went for the double first, but it stunk so badly we moved into the single room. I slept on the floor in my army sleeping-bag while Jo and Adrian slept in the bed. Perhaps this sounds a little odd – why would one girl sleep on the floor while another girl and a guy who don’t date or anything sleep in the bed? By this stage I had come a-cropper of the dreaded lurgy, and was sick with the flu. I didn’t want to give them it, so I stayed away from them. We met up with our friends and strolled down Hollywood Blvd, which was nice. The stars on the walk were fun to watch, the stores were all very cool (if a little touristy) and the Chinese Theatre especially was worth a visit. All those hand-prints were excellent! My favourite was the harry potter actors’ handprints. The whole courtyard with all the handprints was smaller than I expected though - What happens when they run out of space?
We had hamburgers for dinner, and then I went home to bed (because I felt like rubbish) whilst my friends wandered off and visited famous nightspots, and Sushi restaurants. My University American Football team also lost (which was a big disappointment), but the floor was surprisingly comfy. The next morning, well rested, we went to see the Hollywood sign. We followed the directions given to us by Adrian’s iPhone (which is amazing by the way), but the directions that it imported had a large flaw. It didn’t realise that some of the routes were ‘authorized’ vehicles only, so in the end we had a great tikki-tour of the Hollywood hills, but saw no Hollywood sign. We did see it in the end, but only from a great distance away. Such is life.
We then swung by Muscle beach and the Santa Monica pier. It was Veteran’s Day in the USA and they’d placed thousands of crosses out on the beach to commemorate Iraqi war soldiers who’ve died, and they were holding a ceremony on the beach. We watched them until a protest group showed up with ‘9/11 was a fake made up by the govt!!!’ signs. There were quite a few of them, and the memorial service didn’t acknowledge that they were there, but I still thought it was in poor taste. We didn’t go on any of the rides on Santa Monica pier, but it was interesting to watch other people do it.
After this we went to see UCLA, which was very nice (but it looked like someone had designed it using a huge ruler) It was conveniently right next to the Bel Air gates, so I got a photo of that as well. Jo was trying to find the UCLA store so she could buy stuff, and I pointed to some blue parasols in the distance and said ‘that looks like food, and so the commercial area. It’ll be over there in the commercial area, surely.’ Jo and Ad decided to check the map and settled on the Student Activates Centre as being the most likely place, even though I said it was likely to be the gym. So we walked over the campus to the gym, discovered it was a gym, and then walked down to the memorial fountain. Jo went and asked someone where the store was, but she didn’t speak English. I pointed out to Jo that the lady had a UCLA store bag, so we just had to walk in the direction from which the lady came to find it. Jo’s response? – ‘This is why we keep you around Margaret.’ So we followed the trail of people carrying UCLA bags to the courtyard with the blue parasols in it. It turns out the blue parasols was the student store. There Jo spent money and I wandered around looking for something that I could give to Annabel. Eventually the money ran out on the parking metre, so we went back and headed out of town.
We didn’t go back the same way we drive in – we went up the coast towards Santa Barbara and stopped there. The scenery was much nicer on this leg, but I wasn’t impressed by SB. It was like I thought America was going to be like all over the place when I arrived – very two dimensional. American flags lined the recently brick-laid streets, pseudo-Spanish architecture dominated the area, and the main street was like an outdoor mall for chain stores. The food we had was very good though, and it was interesting to visit three University of California towns in a couple of days.
From here we drove to Santa Monica. Remember how I said I regretted not going to iHop on the first day? Well, the other two got obsessed with the idea of going there, so I pulled up Adrian’s iPhone and we went on a mighty hunt for them. We probably went an hour out of our way, and 100 miles further, to find one, and only then by heroic efforts on the part of the iPhone. We did find one however, and the food was good – massive MASSIVE portions of pancakes which made me VERY full.
I was pleased to get home to Berkeley but I had a great time. I hope everyone else had a great weekend, and I’ll talk to you guys about everything going on later.
Again, if you’ve got questions it’d be good, because then I’d have something to write about.
written by  Crosswood on November 10, 2007 from Los Angeles, United States

Come on people!
Come on people! I write stuff for you, you write stuff for me! Does anyone read this blog? If so, then comment, or I'll become depressed and give up...
written by  Crosswood on November 18, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Thanksgiving
Chico, United States
Dear All
Thanksgiving was amazing – on Wednesday last week (although it wasn’t a public holiday) we all got time off university to travel up. Well – time off might be stretching the point a little – it was more like we held the lecturers to ransom and they didn’t hold classes because no one was going to arrive.
The mother of my friend Sarenna, whom I stayed with, travelled down an awful long way to pick us up (our hat’s are off to you, Mrs S!). While we waited a wee while for Sarenna to pack (Sarenna is famous for taking a long time to get ready), myself and another friend went out for coffee. After this we were off!
Traffic is absolutely APPALLING on and around Thanksgiving, with everyone trying to get back to their family for the holiday, so Mrs S. Drove off to the other side of Berkeley first to get Mexican food. I love Mexican food, but I wasn’t so thrilled with the rice drink that is traditionally drunk with it, because it tickled the back of my throat and made me want to sputter. Still – it was a really nice evening, and after a small diversion to a cheese store we hit the road again and (after a frankly amusing couple of tries at getting back onto the ‘freeway’) we were on our way to Chico!
The coastal route is beautiful at night, so as my friend dozed off in the front seat I chatted away to Mrs S, who is a lovely person and who knew a lot about the area we were driving through. This was useful; I knew nothing about what or where we were driving through, and was only mildly interested in how flat it was before Mrs S started to elaborate on the history of it. Petrol is really cheap over here, but it’s all ’87, ’89, and ‘91! No ’98 at all, and diesel is more expensive than Petrol.
After about 2 hours we reached Chico, which is an agricultural/university town that specialises in crops like nuts and fruits. The friend I stayed with lived outside of Chico in the middle of an area of cropland, which was gorgeous by night (the first night we took the dogs out for a walk around the place) and was simply stunning by day. Rank upon rank of almond trees! I’m actually sitting in my basement now eating almonds from that area (they’ve been roasted with orange peel and honey and taste amazing). It was all a little overwhelming at first, but the place is fantastic.
The second day was Thursday – Thanksgiving day. We had dinner at about 1 o clock because if we ate earlier then we’d pop when we tried to go for a traditional walk afterwards. Turkey was abundant (those birds must be massive!) and doesn’t taste anything at all like chicken – but the real treat was the vegetables. Yes – I know. This is me, talking about liking veggies more than meat, but if you ate at the dining commons every day you’d realise why I desperately desired those peas and yams. I ate so many veggies I didn’t even want to THINK about dessert – lots of pie. Americans love pie – Pumpkin Pie, Coconut Pie, Pecan Pie (that’s REALLY good), Marionberry Pie (kindof like Blackberry – my friend sitting next to me tells me it IS a blackberry that’s a weird mutant and that comes from a state in America called ‘Oregon’) and, of course, Apple pie. Why so much pie? The family is WAY too nice for their own good, knew I hadn’t eaten most of these pies before and got them for me. Americans are THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. The walk was really nice as well – we went to a different area that we wandered around in the night before. My friends’ sister disturbed me mightily – we went in a car to the general area and I didn’t realise that she didn’t drive very well until she exclaimed ‘Oh – A corner! Lets see how this goes!’ I was more than slightly concerned after that. She also couldn’t get the keys out of the car because she put it in neutral instead of park (snigger). After our walk (we saw hawks, lots of trees and had a great time) I drove back. I laughed at that girl too soon. I actually thought – ‘gosh. Putting the steering wheel on this side of the car makes it a lot easier to align yourself to the left hand side of the... uh oh.’ Luckily the road was a farm road and there were no other cars!
Chico proper, which we visited the next day, is really great. It is a ‘small’ town – 100 000 people is small in the states – and has literally everything. The Farmers Market is very much like the Lower Hutt market, except the stuff was heaps more professional – there was a nut stand with all sorts of types of almonds – honey roasted, orange roasted, chocolate covered, ect - and various fruit stalls. I love mandarins!!
We also went to the gym, not once but TWICE. Dad – you’d be proud. The second time was very fun – a man named Mika taught me how to use Kettle Bells and we violently swung them around, and also attacked random tractor tires. My friend is very strong and fit, so I had to work hard to keep up for the honour of the New Zealand army. It wasn’t pretty.
We came back, and then I went off to ANOTHER thanksgiving dinner, this time in Los Altos. The family is a family of engineers, who proudly showed off their awesome robot like other families show off a prize dog. It was a fricken’ awesome robot. We also did Tie Dye, ate lots of good food, and headed home tired and full. I slept through my alarm the next day.
Today I also did a Military Lab in preparation for the formal Military Ball next week. I showed up in my Patrol Reds, which are very red, and tried to learn how to dance. I was mildly successful at this! The boys were less successful, but they tried very hard.
Tomorrow I have a formal house dinner, which should be fun as well.
That’s pretty much everything that happened over the last week – I had a great time in Chico - wish me luck for getting a friend to go with me to the ball!
Cheers everyone, sorry for how unfunny this post was
written by  Crosswood on November 27, 2007 from Chico, United States

Dad's Trip
Sacramento, United States
Dad came over this week!
I know it seems a little odd, but it was so nice of him to do it and I appreciated it a lot. On Friday I was told he was coming Monday, so I didn't have much time to stress about what to do. It all worked out well in the end.
I rode BART all the way to San Fran airport, which is quite a trip. Then Dad drove us back to Berkeley in this huge American car with the greatest Sat Nav system I've ever seen. Even a child could use it, it was so simple. Dad was staying in San Fran, in a hotel on one of the main streets, so he and I wandered through town a couple of times having a look around. He saw a lot more without me, as obviously I had class in the build-up for exams, which start very soon. I had to quickly re-schedule a final exam from the Wednesday morning (when Dad and I went up to Sacramento) to the Tuesday before (luckily the SSgt who controls that class wasn't to fussed.) I got an A, which is a shame because I took it pass/not-pass. Oh well, such is life. He gave me American rat packs, which is nice, but I'm a little afraid of eating them. We'll see...
Sacramento was misty, and I had a doctor’s appointment there. I also got up really, really early after going to bed late. The combination of these factors meant I didn't really look around much while I was there, but I did enjoy a home-made sandwich with Dad before a breakfast Parfait and a cup of tea in McDonalds.
I also had a military ball on Wednesday because it was a pretty full-on day. Dad and I went up to Macy’s to get a Bow-Tie, because Dad had left his black one at home, and it was interesting seeing the psychology of selling. The man at the first store we went to had no intention of helping us – I looked like a Uni student and dad was wearing a serviceable, but hardly Christine Dior, jumper. This is obviously stupid – Dad was going to spend money, and since he doesn’t like to shop if they give him a good pitch he’ll probably buy it. They lost out – their customer service didn’t compare to my little sisters’ – so we went down the street and got one from a place where the person was marginally more interested in us.
The military ball was fun. I was on a tight timetable already – I got back from class at 1730 and the ball started at 1800 – but there was an accident on a bridge in San Fran and Dad was a few minutes late. I was wearing my full Patrol-Reds, the formal uniform of the Corps of Officer Cadets, and looked pretty good. I also had a New Zealand flag to present. Dad always looks good in his dinner jacket, but he has an unfair advantage in that he goes to more of these things than me and knows how to make small talk. Luckily I didn’t need small-talk past ‘I’m from New Zealand! Look how red my uniform is!’ and other similar comments. They thought I was pretty flaky I think, but that’s cool. Dinner was nice – beef and stuff like that, and the company was good. We saw a sword arch (it wasn’t very good, but it’s hard to hold a sabre out above your head for a long time like they were forced to, so hats off to them), heard a good speech from a Brigadier (he saw I was in the audience and changed his speech to include Phil Goff’s nephew who was killed in Iraqi a few months ago.) and then it was my turn. I was supposed to go up onto the podium and make a speech about something and then give the flag to the Lt. Col, but she didn’t stand up to get the flag, she stayed at the table. So I simply walked up to the top table and started to ramble at her. I said something about New Zealander’s and Americans fighting together, how we were friends and how I had no doubt they’d look after our flag. They liked it – I am so lucky. It was pretty simple and was big on the nervous babbling, but the Americans seemed to appreciate that it was sincere. Dad (in his cynicism) was surprised. I had a really good night anyway – the Golden Bears gave me a Commander’s Coin, which I have to carry with me, and if I don’t have it when they check I have to buy everyone a round of beer. Fair enough!
Today was great, until I left my backpack in Dad’s rental car and he drove off to the airport with it. Hmmm. I’ll get it tomorrow, but I was stressed there for a while until I went to the gym with my friend, who is also stressed. I feel tired now.
Tomorrow:
Get Backpack with all my notes and my cellphone in it
Talk to Marine Guy about Marine Corps in America
Talk to SSgt Smith about SSgt Smith’y stuff (he’s a great guy)
I think I was supposed to talk to either the Navy guy or the Air force guy as well... I’ll find out. Cheers for reading guys
See you in six weeks
written by  Crosswood on December 7, 2007 from Sacramento, United States

Go Bears!
Tonight was a great.
Everyone has been trickling away from the house. Person by person they’ve said their farewells and left – gone after four and a half months of friendship and living together. Every night was like a sleepover at a friends’ place. We had parties for Halloween, parties for peoples’ birthdays, parties for kicks, parties for footballs games.
Tonight we had a party for leaving. My leaving.
In another three days I will cancel my meal-plan, I will pack up my room and I will sign a termination letter. Then I will leave. It is a very real possibility that I will never be back to Berkeley, or see the people that made Berkeley such a great place, again. I contrast this to my experience of leaving for America that day – I can still remember everything. It was a sunny Tuesday - I practically skipped out of the barracks door and haven’t thought of it fondly since.
They gave me a gift, my house-mates. A blanket with the Golden Bear on it. It’s magnificent, and it’s without question the best thing I have ever been given by friends. I can’t imagine being half as pleased with something from the Massey Student store – Cal is something special, even for a temporary visitor.
Here in Berkeley is Westminster House, and here the others will be back, most of them. I won’t be, but I wish them every success. This was a sappy post, but hey – I won’t get another chance. Later I might be in New York, or San Diageo, or various places in between, but I’ll remember that I’m a Golden Bear, and that Golden Bears from Cal are the sweetest creatures on the planet.
Go Bears.
written by  Crosswood on December 15, 2007 from Berkeley, United States

Christmas at Andy’s
Orange, United States
Well, I made it down to Orange County, but not right away – first I headed out after my exams to a friends’ house and hung out with her and her friends. They (both Noa and her friends) were really nice and I hope I see them again sometime, although this seems unlikely. For four days I did very little and relaxed. I also celebrated with my friends over their exam results – some of them were a little frightened by what they would get, but they turned out great. I don’t have my exam results back yet, although everyone else does. It is slightly annoying!
While in Palo Alto with my friend I basically did nothing, but at the end we went to a New Zealand pub in the middle of nowhere so I could feed her pavlova. I’m seriously not a good enough cook to even THINK about making one of those little monsters, so I figured I should leave it to the experts. (Yes – a New Zealand pub. Random yes?) Then I went back to the house. I am still having problems with the landlord (who made a mistake on my contract) but I’m sure it will be solved by move-in day of next semester. The house was very empty – I didn’t like it like that.
I also managed to work myself into a fine state as because I didn’t have a social security number I couldn’t buy a train ticket online. Also, the holidays changed all the bus timetables. Of course I checked online, but I was still worried about getting to the station on time, because the buses are ALWAYS late. So I didn’t get much sleep, but I got down to the bus stop in enough time to recognize that the bus wasn’t going to arrive, and so I got a taxi to the station and all was well. I jumped on this very flash double-decker train with big comfy seats and lots of leg room – but the guy next to me wasn’t impressed. This man was very large and took up all of his set and some of mine as well. He was also, at various points, bored, angry at things, restlessly fidgeting and rambling about how much he hated America.
I enjoyed my train ride – I know the man above seems a little strange, and he was, but there were some other real characters as well. Like the man who kept walking up and down the aisle until someone gave me a beer. Or the man who was standing at the front of the coach ‘reading peoples’ auras’. I’d definitely do it again. It’s an experience. And the train ride itself was wonderful – no vibration, really VERY fast (we were going at 79 miles per hour in places) and lots of space – plus you own food. We stopped for freight in a couple of spots, but one of those spots was in the middle of the big restricted air force base, so I got heaps of time to watch the fighters practicing overhead. It was gold.
I got to LA at 9 and was very pleased that Andy and Lisa were waiting for me. My phone had died because I had gone out of my calling zone, so I was again unable to call anyone. Luckily they were outside. Union station is very nice – they’ve taken good care of it.
Andy’s house is bigger and cooler than I remember – he has two computers, an Xbox 360, and Xbox and a playstation 1 & 2. He also has a TV with 700 channels. Actually I’ve been spending a lot of my time sleeping (I am very tired for no reason) and reading books I bought for the train ride. I also had some wonderful pizza (garlic chicken – one of my parents doesn’t like garlic so I never get it at home). Then we went to Andy’s parents house for dinner. I had a wonderful time (LOTS of food) and this morning (Christmas day) I have eating with Lisa’s folks. Andy gave me some very excellent DVD’s, and I gave him a bowl that looks like a shell (thanks Mum and Dad for sending that!) so I am as happy as the cat with all the cream. Tomorrow we will go to the pistol range so that I can fire a .45 – I’m in America! How could I conform to the stereotypes without firing a gun?! I will write again when I reach San Diego – that is the next step.
written by  Crosswood on December 25, 2007 from Orange, United States

Exam Results
Orange, United States
Exam results:
Department Course Units Grade
HISTORY 155B MEDIEVAL EUROPE 4.0 A-
HISTORY 171A Russia 4.0 A
MIL SCI 141 LEADERSHIP & MNGMNT 3.0 A
SLAVIC 147A EAST SLAVIC FOLKLORE 3.0 A
So I had a pretty good semester. The only reason I am posting them here is because I am vain and my folks weren't going to give in to my ego. Fair enough?
written by  Crosswood on December 28, 2007 from Orange, United States

Tardy
San Diego, United States
So I've been a little tardy in writing. Sue me! I've been having a great time.
I jumped on that train that morning (after Andy and Lisa rushed me to the train station as the train was coming in) not knowing what to expect of San Diego. I sat there in the train, and as is my wont, thought about all the things that could go wrong. Was leaving the safety of Andy and Lisa, and the comfort of familiar family friends, really a good idea? I have looked into my travelling habits and I have
My friend met me at the station, and when I saw her smile I knew it was going to be a good trip. American’s seem to be incapable of being unkind, and in the week I have been here I have had one of the best times of my life. AGAIN.
The first day we drove around San Diego, and went on board the Star of India tall-ship in the harbour. We also went on-board a Russian Submarine, which was really fascinating. I felt bad however, because my friend had injured herself playing rugby, and she wasn't able to walk very well.
The second day we went to the museum of man (it was amazing how much the Neanderthal looked like Uncle Paul) and then to a New Years' party. You'll be proud of me - I mingled, conversed and had a great time. I also got to drive on the wrong side of the road - ie the Right-Hand Side - which was very exciting.
Yesterday I went to a kind of Hippy Beach colony, which was also very fun. San Diego is gorgeous while the sun sets. That morning we went to Mexico just for a look, but it was pretty dodgy, so we came back quickly (after some trouble from the border guards).
I went to the zoo today as well. It was fun. I leave tomorrow for DC. I’ll talk more later.
written by  Crosswood on January 3, 2008 from San Diego, United States

Phoenix Airport
Phoenix, United States
Here I am in Phoenix, Arizona! Well, really just the airport. The flight I am on to DC has a stop-over here of about an hour and so I am quickly typing to update on the plan of attack that I (briefly) outlined yesterday. I am sorry for the curtness of the post – I was in a hurry to get it out of the way so I could spend time with my friend before I left.
Again, I got up very early (after talking all night) and hung around waiting for the flight that morning. My friend was a little dopey, but wished me luck before falling (exhausted) back to sleep. I was thrilled she woke up! After being dropped off at the airport, the security men threw away every bottle I owned (despite them being clear and almost completely empty) which was a hassle, but there we go. The flight on US airways to Phoenix was very nice – not as nice as a big new Airbus like Air New Zealand has going to San Francisco, but almost empty and therefore we got good service. The captain was making jokes over the intercom as well, so it was kinda cool. Right now I am sitting looking out the airport window at the flat desert, and the huge town. They had plenty of space, so everyone has an acre it feels like. The roads a big, straight and stretch on to the horizon.
The plan is that I will get to DC and go by train to the hostel. I have directions! Hopefully it will work out OK. The time zones are different there, but I am worried about my phone. I destroyed it by dipping it in water, and it only turns on if I leave it on. But I had to turn it off for the flight! So we will see. I will write when I reach DC!
written by  Crosswood on January 4, 2008 from Phoenix, United States

DC
Washington, United States
I am at my mothers’ friends’ House in DC and I am not sure how I got here. The plane to DC from Phoenix was PACKED because a previous flight was cancelled, so there was no room on the plane for my bag. I had packed so it could all be cabin luggage, but that wasn’t going to happen. People were getting quite grumpy at each other for taking up ‘more than their fair share’ of the space, but everything was sorted out and we only left about 30 mins late. I was sitting next to a lady who seemed to be very grumpy to begin with (when I tried to put my backpack beside her bag in the overhead locker she snapped ‘Don’t touch my bag!’) , but was very nice and who had travelled all over Africa. This made the plane flight quite pleasant, and by the end she was keen to introduce me to her sons. Hmmmm. I was quite pleased when the plane landed in DC, after flying over all these famous monuments! I can’t wait to visit them.
I was instructed by Gigi, my mothers’ friend, to ring once I reached DC. This is duely did. I fully intended to stay at the hostel and I had all the instructions ready to ride the metro – but when I looked out into the night I confess I was a little daunted. The hostel isn’t in the best area of town. Somehow once I had rung Gigi I was staying at her House, for which I am pathetically grateful. I was trying so hard to avoid it coming to that as well, because they are trying to sell their House and thus have it beautifully neat. Luckily, after the army, I can do neat.
I am still a bit confused as to how this came about. I suspect Mum. Mum is a bit like the puppet-master sometimes in that she can see/shape the future, no matter how hard I try and avoid it. Possibly I should just give in and do whatever she says, but H’s have inconvenient pride, and so we make Mum’s job as difficult as we can. We still lose, but that’s beside the point.
Cheers everyone. I’ll tell you how DC is later.
written by  Crosswood on January 4, 2008 from Washington, United States

Monument Day
Fairfax, United States
Yesterday was a HUGE day. To start with I woke up at what my body considered to be 3am, but which locally was 7:30am. In fact here I am here looking tired and scruffy. And also sideways. Whatever. I am experimenting with embedding photos – tell me if they take to long to load, or they’re boring, and I’ll stop.
Myself at Gigi's place
Anyway, you agree with me I look terrible. I looked better after Bagels and some tea, before embarking on my great adventure around the United States Capital!
I left on the metro due to the kind help of Gigi and Steve, and headed in to the centre of town (‘the Mall’) for all those things to look at! I didn't realise it would be so hard to AVOID tripping over a famous monument. They made it awfully convenient for visitors, but you do begin to get jaded with fantasmic things after a while.
Anyway, I left with some sort of plan to see the Air and Space Museum, but walked the wrong way from the stop and ended up outside this grim looking building with a huge line outside. That looked promising, so I tacked myself on the end of it.
Holocusat Museam
It turned out it was the Holocaust museum, and is incredibly famous. A funny story about the Holocaust museum, or as close to funny as you can get after actually seeing the stuff in there, was that I rocked up to the building not realising there is always a massive line, not just to get inside through security, but also to get inside the exhibits full stop. So I went up to the reception to get a ticket (there were hundreds of people), and this sign said to present your military or federal ID if you had it. I figured you had to pay to get in (which you don't), and that being a military person gave you some sort of discount, so I pulled out my New Zealand Army ID in the hope that would work. The lady at the front desk looked at it, blinked, looked at it again and gave me a ticket to go up straight away, jumping over the people in the wait-list, the people who had tickets that said they could go in at that time, and even jumping to the head of the line to take the elevator. It turns out that New Zealand liberated a concentration camp and the people at the desk give priority to members of forces that did that. I looked like a student though, so I got some amazingly dirty looks from the people who had been there for ages but hadn't been able to get tickets. It was an interesting museum, in a horrible way. I was pleased and not pleased at the same time to be in that building, which was a strange feeling at the time, but even more so now that I'm trying to remember what it was like. Anyway.
After I got out, I was a little lost, so I strolled down the street and around the corner. The Washington Memorial basically demanded my attention after that.
Washinon Memorial
The thing is MASSIVE and the line outside to go up was just silly. I figured that my magic New Zealand Army ID wasn't going to cut it this time, so I wandered up the left-hand pathway that leads around the area.
Rodent, Washington
It’s just a tall building anyway – when I get to New York there will be plenty of those.
The next thing I saw was the new World War Two memorial. It's cool. What more can you say? It’s a little overdone, any it feels almost self-conscious in its attempts to tie-in to the neo-classical feel of all the other monuments. As I walked past it and the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Monument, I was beginning to get used to it, but it took me a little while.
Wahington Monument and Pond
The Lincoln memorial was awesome. It is apparently really good at night, but it was pretty nippy there during the day, so I didn't hang round to admire Abe much. If you look at my photos, you'll notice all the water is frozen. Yes. Hmmm.
Next I visited the Vietnam memorial, which is overhyped. I’m not saying it wasn’t a little moving, but it wasn't great like they say it is.
Brothers in Armys Statue
Veitnam
Perhaps what was missing was the people who were genuinely there to grieve, because while I was there all there was were a bunch of war protesters. Felt just like Berkeley, only less appropriate.
The Korea memorial was much, much, MUCH better. It has files and files of statues, each kitted out in a different allied countries’ battle gear, also marching in the same direction and with their names engraved into the granite. It is very cool, and I hung around there longer than I meant too
Korea Memorial
.
Roosevelt Memorial
Ice on the Roosevelt Memorial
After that was the Roosevelt memorial, which I ran into on the way to the Jefferson memorial. Both were awesome, and the Roosevelt one, which made copious use of flowing water, was totally frozen. It was also totally at odds with reality, portraying the man as honest, caring and kind. He lied about having polio for 10 years, to the entire country!! Moving along.
Jefferson's words, engraved around the edge of the building's dome, seemed to me to be admitting grand theft, but it might be impolitic of me to point that out. I certainly wasn't going to point it out there with all those patriotic Americans around! I did laugh a little though. It all turned out well in the end.
Jefferson
Jefferson Memorial and Pond
Jefferson Memorial
Then I ran into the John Paul Jones memorial. Long story, but a cool monument. Dad might fil you in if you ask nicely.
John Paul Jones
I know it seems like I went everywhere, and yes. Yes I did. Here is the White House from the back
White House
, here is the Sherman monument,
Shermon
and here is me being nice and warm with Washington’s Memorial in the background
Myself in Washington DC
AEROSPACE MUSEUM! Oh yeah baby! They had the American history Smithsonian closed for renovation, so all that stuff was in the Aerospace as well. Gold. Here is Sherman’s Hat.
Shermon's hat, Aerospace
Americans are so funny - they had Edison's light bulb, then the original telegraph, Bell's telephone, and then... Kermit the Frog. I laughed, but no one else did. Eee.
They had the REAL Columbia Command Module from Apollo 11, they had the Enola Gay hanging from the roof, they had everything and ANYTHING they could lay their hands on displayed in its glory. I was thrilled. I spent three hours there. I could go back, but won't, because I'd never leave. Here is a real FE-8 pusher biplane from the First World War, with a Spoilt Camel in the background.
FE-8 Pusher Biplane with Camel in background
I also went to the White House information centre, and then went home to spend productive time on a Wii.
Please think of my friends the West Coast this week - they got wacked by a huge storm. One was without power or communication when a tree toppled over the power-line onto the cell phone tower. They live in an orcharding area and apparently some have lost 50% of their trees. One has had a neighbour lose her house when a tree fell through it. A couple haven't responded to my emails or call, so I'm a little worried about that. I might cut this trip short if they need some help with the clean-up.
Cheers Team
written by  Crosswood on January 6, 2008 from Fairfax, United States

DC take 2
Fairfax, United States
Dear All
Today Gigi and Steve had their open home, and so I slept in. We couldn’t leave until the Real Estate Agent arrived, but his church ran over, so he was late. We went out for lunch and had a really good Chinese meal, before heading over to Arlington National Cemetery
to see all those famous monuments over there. My camera has been truly excellent – I am so glad I paid the extra fifty bucks to get the rechargeable batteries, because I would have paid twice that in AAA’s by now.
I saw the changing of the guard (which I saw with new eyes since being in the army), the
Kennedy memorial, the USS Maine memorial, the Columbia memorial, an
d the Lee House. Also the Air Force memorial, and the side of the Pentagon that the terrorist plane crashed into. It is actually a slightly different colour
than the rest of the building, so you can clearly see where it hit. Then we drove home
I’m heading up to Philly and New York Tuesday and Wednesday and hope to stay in New York for maybe three days? I know it’s not enough to see everything, but it’s better than nothing. Then a bus ride to Boston (a day or two there) and then either Chicago or home, sweet Home, to Berkeley. This doesn’t sound very adventurous does it? Well, it’s probably enough for me.
For more pics check out the pic page.
written by  Crosswood on January 6, 2008 from Fairfax, United States

Last day in Washington DC
Quantico, United States
And so I come to the end of the epic visit to DC. I had a good time. I saw a lot of stuff.
I went down to Quantico for the Marine Museam (very interesting - lots of yelling. It was quite big and very well made.) and the library of Congress (WOW that is an AMAZING building. AMAZING.) I saw a REAL Guttenberg Bible. I also walked down Pensilvannia Ave and took photos of EVERYTHING, finishing with seeing the Declaration of Independance at the Archives.
Tomorrow at roughly 9:15am I'll go by train to Philly, which should be fun. I will tell you about it when I get there.
I will post some piccy's later - right now I am packing. Cheers team.
written by  Crosswood on January 7, 2008 from Quantico, United States

Just passing through
Wilmington, United States
It is very nice out here in the East. The train ride today from DC has been grand, and winter is well and truly settled here.Wilmington is a very nice town, if a little small and puny. I like it though - the trees and gray ocean make it seem very bleak. Life is good though - not much to see here. On to Philly!
written by  Crosswood on January 8, 2008 from Wilmington, United States

Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States
So after a slightly rocky start, Philadelphia has turned out to be great!
I jumped off the train in Philly station (I loved that train ride. It’s the best bit of travelling I have ever done. I recommend that line to anyone who wants peace for a little bit.) and then was in a pickle. Should I follow instructions and take the bus to where I wanted to go, or should I simply walk? I chose the latter option, remembering that Dad’s advice has always been to walk around a city to get its feel. So I walked about 20 blocks up from the train station, looking at suburban streets, the University of Pennsylvania, and large brick buildings everywhere. It was pretty neat, but my unintended stop in Delaware had pushed back the time and I was running dangerously out of sunlight. To compound my problems, the hostel didn’t have a sign out being right next to the ghetto area of town. This being the case, I walked right past it and into the less safe area of the city. After somehow managing to extricate my very silly self from a sticky dilemma, I wound up finding my hostel just as the sun set, for which I was impossibly pleased.
Today I went downtown and saw the Liberty bell (I always imagine these things to be bigger) and Independence Hall (where I was taunted by an 8-year-old about how little I knew about any of the important things that happened there. What can you say to an 8-year-old when she’s right?) My magic New Zealand army ID is great. I got free into all the museums, including unlimited access aboard another Submarine (they’re everywhere!) and throughout all the library’s. I don’t lie to these people – I never claim to be anything other than a New Zealand army officer cadet. By somehow I fail to mention I’m not here with the American army...
I took a few more photos of important things which I’m not quite sure the meaning of, and went back to the hostel before dark. I have learnt my lesson before NYC. I’m going to be bloody safe or I’m not going at all! But I am going, tomorrow, and hopefully I can get a lift with a guy who’s going up to check on his hostel up there. I am not staying at his hostel (I checked with a friend who used to live in NY before I made any bookings, and she basically guided me to a nicer area) but it would be good to save a bit of money.
Actually the whole trip has been remarkably inexpensive (relatively). I suspect that if I was a bit more experienced, or had been to some of these places before, then it would be even cheaper, but so far I haven’t had any trouble. The hostels and the train/flights are easily the most expensive (I have been living off left-over’s that people come and give me to get rid of. I trade them for a Muesli bar. And instant noodles! Yummy.)
So tomorrow NYC. I will tell you how it goes. I am nervous – people spin so many yarns about how intimidating this place is that now I am going I am worried. Will post soon.
written by  Crosswood on January 9, 2008 from Philadelphia, United States

To New York
New York, United States
Well I made it. After stress, another long train ride and wierd people looking at funny, I have made it to New York.
I actually like it, although I have only been here a few hours. It is choclablock with people who are all hurrying somewhere. I haven’t been pushed about like I thought I would be, but I think this is a situation where the general lack of anything approaching height is to be appreciated in the American. They part before my determined stomp, which apparently shouldn’t happen. Admittedly my habitual scowl, which is almost de rigur when I am slightly frightened, possibly also had something to do with the general parting of the footpath.
I have seen central park. I can see why they need it. This place is massive and filled with random tall buildings. And so many people! It feels alive, although I have to be honest, the subway wasn’t fun for me at all. I can stand it, though the first time I got on we were all packed in like Sardines and I simply refused to move away from the door. There was no space anyway, but I needed to be able to see the way out. It also meant I could get off the damn thing, when other people were trapped and frantically pushing for their station. That was actually one of the best bits of advice that a friend gave me!
Tomorrow I will try and do all the touresty things, but to be perfectly honest I have to get to my plane early Saturday, and don't really know how. So it might be an overnight stay at the airport for Margie, unless I can assuage my fears enough that I will stay at the hostel. Home to San Francisco! Mum, you would love it here in New York. I like it too, but I wish you guys were here to bail me out with your greater experience. I guess this is how you get the experience though.
I will post again tomorrow. Cheers
written by  Crosswood on January 10, 2008 from New York, United States

Back in SF
San Francisco, United States
Back in San Francisco
I woke up very early on Friday. I, because I wanted a cheaper flight, had booked the plane to San Francisco a mere day and a half after I arrived in New York, so I had to get round everything before I left.
The Hostel I was in was in the Upper West Side of New York, very close to central park and within walking distance of the upper city shops. New York is interesting in that it isn’t centralised – there are about four different nodes of tall buildings, each of which would qualify as ‘downtown’ in another, lesser city, but which are simply concentrations of businesses. Downtown proper is quite a wee way downtown, and the place is so big that you must take the subway.
I didn’t like the subway the first day, but it got better as I had more experience with it. New Yorkers are inherently selfish – I stood up to give my seat to an elderly lady (I guess my parents didn’t send me to that expensive school for nothing!) but she wouldn’t take it. She thought that if I wanted to give it to her there must be something wrong with it! And before I could overcome my surprise a young blonde women sat down in it nonchalantly instead. It was all a bit strange.
Anyway, the first and only day I got up at 5:15am. It was pouring with rain, and the snores of my ten roommates filled the room. I trotted softly to my locker, not putting on the lights or anything in order to not disturb them, and started to undo my lock. Suddenly there was a dazzling light and an outraged Chinese girl was demanding to know why I was going through her stuff. I was puzzled and not a little angry – not only was it 5am, but I was being accused of being a thief and I had stumbled around in the dark only to have this girl turn on the light and wake everyone up! It took me waving my backpack and my lock in her face to convince her that the stuff was mine, and even then she refused to talk to me again.
So at 5:45am I was out the door and swinging down Broadway to find a bagel store.
Broadway at 5:30am
I needed a bagel store because I had been ordered by a friend of mine to eat one while I was there. Stumbling into the nearest small bagel-shop I could find, I had the generic trouble of trying to order something in my New Zealand English before giving up and resorting to pointing and making hand gestures. The bagel was excellent though – it was so early in the morning the bread had just come out of the oven, so it was crispy and delicious quite apart from it being great anyway.
Bagel
By 6am I had reached the Rockefeller centre, certain that I would be the first person there and would get a great shot from my camera. Unfortunately I picked the day with some sort of high fashion show on, and the queue stretched all down the street. I just took a photo of the building I presumed was the famous one and moved on.
Rockefeller Centre
By 6:15am I had reached Times Square, as I intended, with just enough darkness left to make it impressive but no crowds. It was amazing – I loved it. It was like a fireworks display except more entertaining because the pictures moved and bubbled and shifted. It would have be tough to stick it out with crowds though.
Times Sqaure
At 6:30am I reached the Empire State Building. I didn’t go in, because it would have cost me a lot of money, but I did get this wicked shot of it covered with mist. It is an impressive building.
Empire State Building
By this stage I had already walked about 20 to 25 blocks, and my feet were a little sore. I had walked a very goodly amount the day before, but still would have preferred to walk on the pavement as opposed to the subway. Unfortunately I needed to get about 60 blocks in
New York
less than an hour, so the subway was the only practical option. Today though the subway was better, perhaps because I had fortified my mind against what I knew was coming, or more probably because after one go on it I was as shocked as I was going to get. After a fairly pleasant ride to South Ferry, I jumped on the free Staton Island Ferry to Staton
Staton Island Ferry
Island. This took me straight past the Statue of Liberty for free, which was a darn slight better than paying $40 for the same thing. It was a lovely hour ride, dropping me back off at the bottom of Manhattan Island.
Statue of Liberty
I again braved the subway, but this time my sense of direction failed me. I got off at the right station to look for the WTC (I had carefully mapped out my route prior to the day) but walked the wrong way up the street (to my eternal shame.) This took me through Greenwich Village, and Soho, both of which were amazingly interesting. Another subway
WTC
ride later and I was at Ground Zero, which was not much to look at. Waking
The WTC
under it to get to the subway station was amazing though, because the station is the only thing that survives from the original structures. The people in that
Basement of the WTC
station were totally silent. Not a whisper, not a sound, and all out of respect for the signs telling people that they stood in the WTC. It was strange after the huge noise of the outside.
Subway Station
The WTC brought me to the end of my ‘tourist’ stops, so I jumped bravely onto the subway again for the journey to the Metropolitan museum of Art, travelling though Central Park again.
Myself in Central Park
The Met is amazing.
The Met
It has a real Egyptian shrine in it! It was Washington Crossing the Delaware! It has Salvador Dali, Picasso, David’s ‘The Death of Socrates’, it has a wing the size of an ordinary museum dedicated to arms and armour, another to classical statues, yet another to modern art. I was in there five hours and I
Egyptian Shrine, The Met
didn’t look at anything in detail – I actually just walked through and occasionally read a brief sign when interested. If I was to stay there for a week I wouldn’t get round – a month maybe more realistic. After my feet began to swell in my boots, I wandered down the road looking for the Guggenheim building, which is very famous. I took a photo of the building which is just cool, but the exhibits, no matter how famously amazing, didn’t really interest me at all - so I didn’t bother going through the hassle of turning off the flash every time I wanted a shot (this is why so many of my photos are overexposed. Sorry.)
After wandering around strawberry fields (the part of central park dedicated to john
Stawberry Fields
Lennon) I bought a hot-dog (again by the order of my friend. This friend lived in New York while growing up, and was invaluable in her advice on where to go and
Hot Dog
what not to do. It was so good, so relevant (I stumbled from crisis to crisis in pretty much the order that she wrote down instructions of how to get OUT of the situations) that I was printing it off for other people in the hostel). I then went to the hostel and sorted out my life to get through JFK airport security – throwing away everything that even resembled a bottle or something like that.
By dinner time I was again feeling adventurous, so I moved out onto Broadway to look for pizza (which was apparently amazing.) After having such luck with the ‘hole in the wall’ bagel place, I walked into a really dodgy looking pizza shop and ordered a pepperoni (you only get one topping for some reason.) It was the best pizza of my life. I ha#
I've a shot of it here to remember it forever. And it was HUGE!
Getting up at four this morning was tough – since I was in a dorm on a Friday night, it didn’t matter I got to bed at 9 because I couldn’t exactly turn off the light, or asked them to shut up. Also people were walking in an out every hour until about 3am (it was a Friday after all.) So I got no sleep. And then, after busting a gut to get to JFK by 6am, it turned out my flight was booked for tomorrow instead! I simply couldn’t deal with going back and doing the whole thing again, so I changed my flight while I was at the gate, and left as I thought I was scheduled for San Francisco. If you have to fly an airline in the states, fly JetBlue, because it was nice. Delta and American Airways are pretty average, but JetBlue was actually NICE, which lots of legroom and free eats and everything that used to be nice about plane travel (including good looking male flight attendants). We were a bit delayed, because as we were sitting on the tarmac during boarding a tire punctured, so they had to change that, but nothing to serious.
After that we were in San Francisco airport, and through a remarkable piece of misdirection I ended up in the international baggage terminal. I got out in the end, but not without having to go through customs, who held me up because ‘I didn’t have the proper paperwork to enter the US.’ I managed to convince them to show me to the domestic terminal eventually, and the manager thought it was pretty funny!
So I am back in San Fran, living in my basement, and I am pleased I didn’t give back my keys. I’ll have to give them back eventually, but not yet. The plumbing seems even worse, if that’s possible, from when I was here over the fall, which is impressive, but the place is simply too good a base to refuse. I am going to bed now, because I am so tired. Good night!
written by  Crosswood on January 12, 2008 from San Francisco, United States

Berkeley
Right. Quick run down of my activities since New York!
Day 1) Got back into San Fransico around lunch time, I went home and went to sleep.
Day 2) Woke up at 5pm, had a hamburger, and went back to sleep. Must have been REALLY tired!
Day 3) Went into San Fran with friends and walked around Union Sqaure. It was fun!
Day 4) Went by train to Sacremento, where I stayed with a good friend. Walked her dog, ate at a Texas BBQ and it was really nice.
Day 5) Left Sacremento (after Ice Cream) and headed up Chico by train to stay with Sarenna (the person I stayed with over Thanksgiving!) I had a great time. It was pretty chill.
Day 6) Chilled more.
Day 7) Woke up at some unholy hour and tagged along on a ride back to Berkeley. Basically just hanged with some friends today - Frozen Yoghurt, Pizza, buying Textbooks - typical geek good time!
Still thinking about going somewhere else, like Texas. I only have until next Thursday though, so it had better be quick.
Cheers, love
written by  Crosswood on January 18, 2008 from Berkeley, United States

Last Week in Berkeley
Well this is it chaps and chappesses. I am coming home on Thursday local time, and will arrive in Auckland airport Saturday.
You worked out I had a great time. This last week I watched two chick flicks, and hung out with friends while they did things like get textbooks. It's remarkably depressing watching people do things that you'd like to be doing... but that's all moot. On Saturday I'm home, and that's that.
The army hasn't said anything about me being enrolled in University, so I figure I'll ask them about it once I get home. I also need a haircut, which will mean most of you won't get to see my wild untamed locks before I army-style them again.
I'm getting ready to leave. I will post once more once I get home, and then you can ask me things yourselves!
written by  Crosswood on January 22, 2008 from Berkeley, United States

Final Post, Final Thoughts
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Final post, final thoughts
I am back in New Zealand.
I was met, tired and bewildered, at Auckland Airport by my father. Mercifully he used his frequent flyer privileges to get my entire 40kg luggage home. He then took me to the FF lounge where I had a New Zealand breakfast of unsweetened Muesli and some potato fritters, before falling asleep on one of the chairs. I was tired. I am tired still.
New Zealand is nice. It isn’t raining, which it had been for days in Berkeley before I left. My body seems confused about if it is cold or not, because for a year I have lived in constant autumn and winter. I love the food – never let someone tell you New Zealand food is bad again. It is so fresh! Mum cooked a lamb roast and it was easily one of the best things I have ever tasted. My grandparents and sisters were there as well.
My presents that I brought home went down a treat – electronics are very cheap over there in the States, so I got a couple of things that would have been hugely expensive – and sleeping in my own soft bed instead of an airline seat was simply amazing.
Friends have been ringing me left and right to invite me to things. Thanks guys – you made my weekend. Sorry I was so tired.
I feel very loved, and very valued.
I am also really homesick.
Don’t get me wrong – I love New Zealand. It’s just after six months of living with the most amazing people, you get kinda attached to them. Think living in the world’s biggest slumber party, then going back to boarding school.
I got back to the Army yesterday. To be perfectly honest, only one or two people were genuinely interested that I was back (not glad because that’s a bit much to ask for) and the rest looked at me like I was something they’d found on the sole of their shoe. It’ll get better as I get used to it again, but I forgot how happy a simple ‘Hello’ can make you, no matter how exasperated it may sound sometimes!
So this is the end of this blog. For four months I have posted weekly updates on my trip. The trip is over now, and my life is back to how it was. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed posting about my wonderful experiences. Hopefully one of you guys will get to go to somewhere amazing soon, and then I’ll get to read about YOU having fantastic adventures.
Signing off, from Palmerston North, New Zealand
Margaret Harris
Berkeley Student (Golden Bear)
17AUG07 to 25JAN08
written by  Crosswood on January 27, 2008 from Palmerston North, New Zealand

1st Division Memorial plus famous office block

Wahington Monument and Pond

Brothers in Armys Statue

Jefferson Memorial and Pond

Holocusat Museam

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson

John Paul Jones

Korea Memorial

Lincoln

Myself in Washington DC

Myself at Gigi's place

Roosevelt Memorial

FE-8 Pusher Biplane with Camel in background

Shermon's hat, Aerospace

Shermon

White House

Veitnam

Ice on the Roosevelt Memorial

Lincoln Statue

Washinon Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Central Park

Broadway at 5:30am

Bagel

Rockefeller Centre

Times Sqaure

Empire State Building

New York

Staton Island Ferry

Statue of Liberty

WTC

The WTC

Subway Station

Myself in Central Park

Basement of the WTC

The Met

Egyptian Shrine, The Met

Hot Dog

Stawberry Fields

That's me on the right. In the van between Queenstown and Christchurch

Resections - navagating through Waiouru

Staying out - Snow Cave day (/night)

Can you spot us? Waiouru backcountry.

Ration-pack food - tasty

Myself.

Dinner Party before I leave. Mum, Me and Nana ('Hon')

The main gate to Berkeley Campus, UC

My room in the basement. Cozy.

Andy with his Wi-Fi gizmo

Berkeley Clock Tower

The First Glimse of the Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Andy and I - Golden Gate Bridge

Coming up the Sub Hatch - Myself

The Warning in my Basement - I live here, so I wasn't thrilled

The Windy Street in San Fran

Andy, Lisa and I onboard the submarine

Free Dinner, Good Brass band

The Reading Room - Library Annex

Washington Rallies the Troops at Monmouth

The Great Reading Room, Doe Library

Calipalooza!!

Ten or so Flatmates

Steve and Arab guy - in the basement

Golden Bear

Ougouga on the swings. Yes, that's his real name.

Volleyball - Great crowd

The Golden Bear Mascot - Ossie

More Cheerleaders. They were apprecaited more by the guys.

Cheerleaders. They weren't that great.

Friends at the football stadium

Another Shot of the Psychology Building, Berkeley.

The Rural Sci Building - It's a Little Bit Funny...

Me and a Tree.

The Golden Gate Bridge from the Crillion

The Main Drag - Berkeley Campus' little highway.

The View from the Crillion - Great View and Music too

The Coolest Building in the Entire World - the Decoration is GREAT. Psychology Building, Berkeley.

A Local Celebrity - The Protester famous for his iconic (and repetitive) 'HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY' slogan

Fran, a name that esacpes me, and Marcus. International Students!

Myself in the communist bookstore. Won't my friends laugh? Hope the army doesn't realise I've become a secret radical while I've been gone...

Teaching Americans Rugby - Cafe 3

Bronwen, not in North House but Cafe 3

Carrie and Noa, in North House

Serenna, on the phone. North house!

Denice, getting her bling on for party. North House!

Serenna and I - In frount of a street

Union Square