Oh the HUMANITY!

The rain is coming down at a 45 degree angle with enough power and might to blow the house down, the big bad wolf should take notes.  I am officially done with school and exams and oh by golly was that a tough two weeks.  People have started leaving and its strange saying goodbye to people you may never see again.  Declan and I are renting a car and leaving at 3:30 Tuesday morning for the Auckland airport, as long as the ash cloud doesn't get any worse and I don't get arrested during the weekend I have ahead of me.  I was able to sell my Chemistry book back and I plan on going for one final hurrah in New Zealand. I'm going to let them send me off kicking and screaming if that's how it must happen.  I have met the greatest people in the world over the last four months.  Declan, Renee, Louise and Sabrina have been the greatest flatmates.  I know they aren't my original flatmates, but I consider this house home and am probably here more often than in Orchard Park.  They say once you buy toilet paper and dish soap, then you are pretty much living here so I'll go with it :)
   My weekend up in Paihia at the Bay of Islands was very relaxing and the sun even stopped in for a visit!  Elizabeth and I went for a killer hike and out in the bay we got to see dolphins and the elusive penguins.  The winds were so bad beyond the bay that we couldn't make it out to the hole in the rock, but with 2-3 meter swells, I wouldn't want to risk it.  Plus that just gave us more time to watch the dolphins hijack our current and goof off in the wake.  I probably should have spent more time studying for Chemistry, but by that point I think I had decided it was a lost cause.  Enjoy the photos!  I will be home in less than a week and up at the lake surrounded by a loving family quicker than I can believe, and I've never been more excited!  I love you all very much, enjoy :)

Joe, the giant mutt from next door that likes to come stink up the front porch :)

Our first morning in Pahia, the sun was still rising at 9 in the morning

The view from our boat, "The dolphin Seeker," a boat that sticks by its name!

We found them at feeding time, and there must have been about 20 in total swimming around the bay looking for fish.

This is on the island of Russell, where we had a small hike and fancy Thai for lunch :)

As you might have noticed, I've gotten pretty good at climbing things :)

This is at the top of the mountain we hiked!  My legs were sore for two or three days from this.

The sun came out to play, we couldn't have been luckier!

Declan cooked me dinner when I got back :)  Banana pancakes and melted chocolate with toffee on top!  That''s a heart attack I would accept with open arms. YUMMMMM

getting in touch with my country roots

I was watching 30 Rock the other day, and they were in the south looking for a new comedian.  Well well well, during the show they were watching the news from their "backcountry hotel" and the guy referenced Gaffney!  How funny?  Well it only gets better.  Tonight I was watching the Simpsons and Homer kept challenging people to duels.  So being me, I mentioned that in Charleston they used to duel out in the alleys.  Funny I mention that, because the southern gentleman that finally accepted the duel happened to have a bumper sticker that read (and I kid you not): "Charleston dueling society."  hahahaha  Anyways, I'm now warming my hands over the stove and listening to good old country.  I mean....studying?  One test down, one test in the morning and then I have a week break! WHOOHOOOO!!!  wish me luck people :) I get to go to Bay of Islands on Friday! Finallllllly! well, procrastination at its best, back to study time.

Re-cooperation

ahhhhhh. life is back in place, still trying to keep up with it, but at least I've caught hold of the coat tails. With exams starting in less than a week I have started to manage my time accordingly.  But not without a little exploration.  It's about time I became aware of the beautiful city in which I currently reside.  It's actually not a bad place at all :)  Also, I bought a book at a lovely second hand store and have been reading that occasionally which can always put me in a good place.  It feels good to have some reading to do because I enjoy it and not because I'm trying to memorize all the information for a test.  R.I.P. Missy my kitty :(  I wouldn't have survived without amazing people by my side, and in a tribute to them here are some candid shots which never should have been released :)  Enjoy, hide any small children, or run away now while you still can.
xoxo

first week of school at orientation.
trying to stuff five marshmallows in your mouth and say "fluff bunnies"

that would be a "Guinness mustache" :)

oh the things you find behind closed doors!

enjoying the summer weather :)

and trying on things which don;t belong to you :)

and learning to fly :)

and the flatmates which adopted me :) and cooked dinner!

and that face is just priceless ;)

ahhhhhh, school :)

doesn't this just pull at your heart strings? or some might say atrioventricular chordae tendenae ;)

Now, onto some great sights of Hamilton :)

this is the old water tower at the top of the hill over the lake :)

ahhhh, Autumn is turning into Winter

still a tree-climber at heart :)

the ducks in the lake :)

yay, Palm trees!

well well well

These last two weeks have been a train wreck.  My room is a mess, I haven't been running and even after all the work I put into preparing for my tests, I still didn't feel prepared enough!  But such is life, and now I have a nice two week break before it all starts again, and after that I will be on a plane flight home.  It's hard to believe that it's almost over!  On Friday, I had lost all hope in studying so Declan dragged me out to Mount Maunganui for the night to drink starbucks on the harbor and relax on the beach.  It was exactly what I needed, and it felt great to forget about homework and exams for a day :)

absolutely gorgeous at sunset!

having some fun with sun :)

The view from the end of the island we walked out on :)

hey everybody

Sorry I've been non existent this week.  I had a math assignment and a chemistry test and then three more tests next week.  I get done Wednesday night and I promise to try and call this weekend.  I love you and thank you for all the love and support.  I promise to try harder and I promise to send these postcards, because it's starting to get a bit ridiculous.

Hello from the capital of RAIN.

The weather outlook is bleak without a hint of sun in the near future.   I have taken this to my advantage and gotten some work done, but I really miss my sunshine.  I think it might actually be an addiction.  But that means good news for you lucky Americans.  A postcard from me is in your near future, hopefully.  If you happen to get an Australian postcard postmarked from New Zealand, just go with it, ok?  :)  Anywhoooo I spent Sunday in Taupo with Elizabeth, but the cold and rain actually won in the end because I failed when it came to bungee jumping.  But it's still on my to-do list, no worries!  I have some great pictures of waterfalls, etc.  I also have some great pics that Liz took while we were in Mount Maunganui the week before we left. So, enjoy, and look forward to a phone call :) xoxo oh and pics from our random trip to Raglan beach to top it all off! WHOOHOOO

good ole' Jess and chocolate :)

the great drive through the mountains :)

This is the beginning of the self titled album: Megan tried to surf

Our friend steph (also the chauffeur) 

almost riding a wave! That counts right?

This picture reminds me of a movie poster, so epic!

The trip to Taupo begins!

Huka falls, the start of the Waikato river :)

This is at Aratiatia rapids, which begins the many hydro stations along the Waikato river and supplies 16% of New Zealands energy in conjunction with the other power stations along the river.

This is from the natural steam that rises out of the Taupo region and is then harnessed by giant geothermal power stations.

More Huka falls pics :)

MacDonalds here is fancy :)  and they have a different section purely for "McCafe" 

Yes, people thought I was weird, stalking McDonalds.

Back to the subject of geothermal activity.  Natural hot springs run right along the very cold water at the shore of lake Taupo (the largest lake in the southern hemisphere)

just bury your feet into the dirt, and it starts to get warmer.

IF the weather was nicer, you would see me here upside down, possibly bungee-ing :)

but instead, you can just enjoy the view with me :)

The water is much MUCH bluer at the mouth of the Waikato river, but by the time it gets to Hamilton, its a brown color from all the farm run off :(

andddd let's take a trip back in time to Mount Maunganui!

Now, of course we didn't plan on hiking another mountain in our flip flops, but that seems to happen quite often at this point :)

Paragliders must hike all the way up with their giant packs in order to jump off the top and fly down to the beautiful city on the beach.

At the top of Mount Maunganui with the city in the background :)

I like to think I'm funny and creative :p

Well, this about sums it all up.  Enjoy your day folks! xoxo <3