Hey guys,
So this weekend was a lot of fun. My friends and I all went out on Thursday night to this club in Auckland, took a lot of fun pictures, and came back and made a 'midnight snack.' I didn't have any classes on friday so I was able to sleep in and just hang out for most of the day. A few girls and I went shoe shopping around 5 because we found this cheap place that was buy 2 get one free! So we all got shoes, and then came back and ordered Dominoes and watched a movie.
Today 7 of my friends and I went on this Fine Wine Tour thing. The van picked us up at 930 in the morning and we traveled all around til around 5 at night. We went to a fish market place, where they had A LOT of big dead fish! It was so gross for me, but everyone else that likes to eat fish really wanted to buy things. Then we went to an Italian place called Sabato, where they make all their own sauces and oils and stuff. They had free samples of candy, chocolate, coffees, sauces, dips.. everything! That was really cool and a lot more fun for me than the fish place. After that we went to a winery where we got to sample like 6 or 7 types of wine. It was a nice small winery and the guy that was showing us around was really friendly so that was a lot of fun. After that, we had lunch at this cute little cafe. It was all paid for so we all go to get desserts too. The Italian Crumble Cheesecake was sooo good! After that we went to two or three other places, including a chocolate place that Pres. Clinton orders from! The whole day was a lot of fun and definately worth the money.
Tomorrow is Sunday, and I have nothing to do! I am very excited to just hang out and relax.. maybe catch up on some emails! There isn't a lot going on, next weekend all 20 of us are going skiing, so I can't wait for that. Most of my frineds have never been so I am excited to watch them fall down the mountain the whole day haha.
My classes are going pretty well, most of them are boring but they are pretty easy as of right now so I am not complaining. The only thing is that I realized it is a common theme in most of my classes to discuss how much almost everyone here hates George Bush! In my US history class, my social psych class, and my Literature class, some sort of politics or something that the US or the president did comes and EVERYONE says how much they do not like our country's decisons, or just how much they dislike Pres. Bush! There is even a sign on Parnell street, which is down the road from my dorm, thats an add for a TV station. There are 5 different pictures, one of them being George Bush, and on the top of his picture, it says COMEDY. Its so weird to listen to so many people's opinion on our country's decisions.. .
Besides that though, nothing else going on. Miss you all!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
GO ALL BLACKS
I havent written in awhile, but nothing too excited has happened til today. Classes this week weren't that bad, but next week is when the tutorials and all the reading and work actually starts so it might be more tiring. I switched into another english class, from sonnets to comics. we had to read a dr seuss book for wednesday!! it was so funny talking about the book in class and what it meant and everything.
Last night was my friend Jayne's birthday, so we walked to the sky tower in Auckland to go out, and on the way we saw one of those slingshot bungee things where they strap you in and pull you down and then you fly into the air in this ball thing and flip and go up and down. so, 3 of my friends, inculding the birthday girl, went!! It wasnt that expensive, and it was so much fun! we took some pictures, but my camera died so I don't have a lot.
Today, we had the rugby game!! Everyone had on All Blacks tee shirts or jerseys or sweatshirts, and we went to this place called the Globe Bar where they had face painting and 'sausage sizzles' So we got to eat and get our faces painted, and then a big coach bus took us to the game. As soon as we got there it started to downpour, but we stayed anyway. I recorded the tribal dance that the All Blacks do before every game on my camera, so I am excited to watch that! It was so fun. It eventually stopped raining but was so cold. They won though, so are still offically the best rugby team in the world! This game was the last home game for them before the world cup, and it was also against australia, their rivals, so it was amazing to see them win!
Nothing else is really going on though, we might get a group together soon and go skiing, so that would be a lot of fun. Other than that, just classes and hanging out. I miss you all and I will talk to you soon.
Oh, and if you get bored and feel like writing me a card, it only takes like 5 days for me to get mail! here is my address -
Erin Upton
The Railway Campus
26-48 Te Taou Crescent
Auckland Central
New Zealand
also, you can callme on this number..516-874-5457 and if i am at my computer i will be able to pick up and talk to you like a regular phone call. and it will be liek you are calling massapequa!
okay, talk to you soon!
Last night was my friend Jayne's birthday, so we walked to the sky tower in Auckland to go out, and on the way we saw one of those slingshot bungee things where they strap you in and pull you down and then you fly into the air in this ball thing and flip and go up and down. so, 3 of my friends, inculding the birthday girl, went!! It wasnt that expensive, and it was so much fun! we took some pictures, but my camera died so I don't have a lot.
Today, we had the rugby game!! Everyone had on All Blacks tee shirts or jerseys or sweatshirts, and we went to this place called the Globe Bar where they had face painting and 'sausage sizzles' So we got to eat and get our faces painted, and then a big coach bus took us to the game. As soon as we got there it started to downpour, but we stayed anyway. I recorded the tribal dance that the All Blacks do before every game on my camera, so I am excited to watch that! It was so fun. It eventually stopped raining but was so cold. They won though, so are still offically the best rugby team in the world! This game was the last home game for them before the world cup, and it was also against australia, their rivals, so it was amazing to see them win!
Nothing else is really going on though, we might get a group together soon and go skiing, so that would be a lot of fun. Other than that, just classes and hanging out. I miss you all and I will talk to you soon.
Oh, and if you get bored and feel like writing me a card, it only takes like 5 days for me to get mail! here is my address -
Erin Upton
The Railway Campus
26-48 Te Taou Crescent
Auckland Central
New Zealand
also, you can callme on this number..516-874-5457 and if i am at my computer i will be able to pick up and talk to you like a regular phone call. and it will be liek you are calling massapequa!
okay, talk to you soon!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
first day of school
hey everyone,
I had my first day of classes today, in the pouring rain! It wasn't that great to be walking the 15 mins to and from my classes in the rain and puddles and everything, but besdies that it was fine! I had reading aotearoa.. which is new zealand literature. there are only around 70 people in the class, and the teacher has been teaching there for 42 years! He is retiring, and it is also the last semester this class will be offered at this level. The class seems fine though, two essays and a final exam. It might be kinda boring, but nothing I can't handle!
My other class today was US History. I wanted to take it because someone from Loyola took it last semester and said it was cool to get the perspective from another country. The class has around 200 kids in it, so its definately NOT loyola, but it was pretty cool. The professor seems really cool, he is American, but has been in NZ long enough to be concidered a kiwi, according to him. He seems like he is very into what he does, and has a lot of fun doing it. I don't think this class will be hard either, we have 2 essays and a final exam as well. He gave us the questions for the 2 essays, and one was bascially 'why did the north and south fight in the civil war?' so, I don't think I will have a problem with that class, seems easy enough.
These two classes I have at leats one other person from Loyola in it with me. My other 2 classes I'm pretty sure I don't know anyone in, so I am not looking foward to the lonely walk to and from class. Besides that though, there is not too much going on. Just catching up on some emails and relaxing, gonna go make dinner soon. I have 2 classes tomorrow, social psych and my theology class. Psych is from 11-12 which shouldnt be too bad, but I checked online and the professor seems like she likes to give out a lot of work. I'll see how it goes though. My theology class is from 6-9 at night, and its Exploring the Sacraments. I didn't want to be put into that class, but because of my schedule, that was the only theology open. Hopefully the professor will give us a lot of breaks and make it fun! I will let you know how it goes! Miss you all
I had my first day of classes today, in the pouring rain! It wasn't that great to be walking the 15 mins to and from my classes in the rain and puddles and everything, but besdies that it was fine! I had reading aotearoa.. which is new zealand literature. there are only around 70 people in the class, and the teacher has been teaching there for 42 years! He is retiring, and it is also the last semester this class will be offered at this level. The class seems fine though, two essays and a final exam. It might be kinda boring, but nothing I can't handle!
My other class today was US History. I wanted to take it because someone from Loyola took it last semester and said it was cool to get the perspective from another country. The class has around 200 kids in it, so its definately NOT loyola, but it was pretty cool. The professor seems really cool, he is American, but has been in NZ long enough to be concidered a kiwi, according to him. He seems like he is very into what he does, and has a lot of fun doing it. I don't think this class will be hard either, we have 2 essays and a final exam as well. He gave us the questions for the 2 essays, and one was bascially 'why did the north and south fight in the civil war?' so, I don't think I will have a problem with that class, seems easy enough.
These two classes I have at leats one other person from Loyola in it with me. My other 2 classes I'm pretty sure I don't know anyone in, so I am not looking foward to the lonely walk to and from class. Besides that though, there is not too much going on. Just catching up on some emails and relaxing, gonna go make dinner soon. I have 2 classes tomorrow, social psych and my theology class. Psych is from 11-12 which shouldnt be too bad, but I checked online and the professor seems like she likes to give out a lot of work. I'll see how it goes though. My theology class is from 6-9 at night, and its Exploring the Sacraments. I didn't want to be put into that class, but because of my schedule, that was the only theology open. Hopefully the professor will give us a lot of breaks and make it fun! I will let you know how it goes! Miss you all
Saturday, July 14, 2007
classes tomorrow!
Hi everyone
I start classes tomorrow! I was really confused about my psych class for awhile, but I understand it all now. It meets 4 times a week which was a little weird, but hopefully it will be a good class so I wont mind being there all the time! My old roommate moved out, and Silja, the other roommate said someone told her the new roommate wont be here til Aug. I'm not sure where she heard that or anything, but i wouldnt mind not having to share the fridge til then!
Aunt Nancy emailed me and had a bunch of questions so I figured I would respond to them all here so everyone else would know!
The weather here, I think, should be getting warmer starting in Aug. or Sept. As of right now, it hasn't really rained in a few days so thats good, and I am fine in a long sleeve shirt and a fleece. Not bad for middle of the winter.
Mom and everyone is coming mid Aug, and after that we have our spring break, where normally everyone always travels to the south island. Its like 10 days long or something like that, and everyone says it is so much fun. Im really excited about that.
The food here in the resturants is really good. They have mexican, italian, fish, as well as burger king and wendys! It is a little expensive but nothing horrible. The food in the supermarkets though is not as good. It isnt bad or anything, but a lot is just different. They have different name brands for everything, and somethings like chicken nuggets, ketsup, rice, soup all taste a little different. They don't have jelly here, so I had mom send me some! The food isnt terrible though, I think I just need to get used to it a little more.
My classes start tomorrow and I think I am the most nervous about getting lost. The campus is beautiful, but HUGE. 40,000 students.. 10 times more than Loyola has! So there are buildings everywhere it seems like, but once I find my way around I think it should be fun.
The accents here arent that hard to understand, but they are fun! They say things like 'cheers' instead of thankyou, takeaway instead of 'to go' and a sprite here is called a lemonade. The fries are called chips too. There are a few little things that are different but nothing major so its not hard to understand people.
I have dont have classes on friday, so that will be nice to be able to go on trips or something, maybe catch up on the readings! Besides that, nothing else major to say. I will let you know how my classes go once I go to them, hopefully they wont be too big.
I start classes tomorrow! I was really confused about my psych class for awhile, but I understand it all now. It meets 4 times a week which was a little weird, but hopefully it will be a good class so I wont mind being there all the time! My old roommate moved out, and Silja, the other roommate said someone told her the new roommate wont be here til Aug. I'm not sure where she heard that or anything, but i wouldnt mind not having to share the fridge til then!
Aunt Nancy emailed me and had a bunch of questions so I figured I would respond to them all here so everyone else would know!
The weather here, I think, should be getting warmer starting in Aug. or Sept. As of right now, it hasn't really rained in a few days so thats good, and I am fine in a long sleeve shirt and a fleece. Not bad for middle of the winter.
Mom and everyone is coming mid Aug, and after that we have our spring break, where normally everyone always travels to the south island. Its like 10 days long or something like that, and everyone says it is so much fun. Im really excited about that.
The food here in the resturants is really good. They have mexican, italian, fish, as well as burger king and wendys! It is a little expensive but nothing horrible. The food in the supermarkets though is not as good. It isnt bad or anything, but a lot is just different. They have different name brands for everything, and somethings like chicken nuggets, ketsup, rice, soup all taste a little different. They don't have jelly here, so I had mom send me some! The food isnt terrible though, I think I just need to get used to it a little more.
My classes start tomorrow and I think I am the most nervous about getting lost. The campus is beautiful, but HUGE. 40,000 students.. 10 times more than Loyola has! So there are buildings everywhere it seems like, but once I find my way around I think it should be fun.
The accents here arent that hard to understand, but they are fun! They say things like 'cheers' instead of thankyou, takeaway instead of 'to go' and a sprite here is called a lemonade. The fries are called chips too. There are a few little things that are different but nothing major so its not hard to understand people.
I have dont have classes on friday, so that will be nice to be able to go on trips or something, maybe catch up on the readings! Besides that, nothing else major to say. I will let you know how my classes go once I go to them, hopefully they wont be too big.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
roommates!
Hi everyone,
Not too much to say, this week has been relaxing finally. The only thing to talk about really are my roommates! I finally got them yesterday. One girl's name is Silja, she is from Germany. She is a post grad student and will be here for a year! She speaks English pretty well though so its not bad at all. And she is talking about sharing the cost of things like toilet paper and soap and things like that so she seems easy enough.
The other girls name is Hiromi. She is from Japan but went to college at Oklahoma and Buffalo, so her English is also good. She will only be here for another day or two though, then she is moving to a single suite thing. She said the room she is supossed to be in isnt ready yet or something so they had to put her here. I am excited to see who will come in once she leaves.
Besides that, not too much is going on. I've just been food shopping and things like that, getting to know the city and things like that. My schedule is not that great, but i can deal with it. I have one 8am class, and also a class from 6-9 at night. But besides them, everything else is okay.
Not too much else is going on, I will write more when something exciting happens! Miss and love you all
Not too much to say, this week has been relaxing finally. The only thing to talk about really are my roommates! I finally got them yesterday. One girl's name is Silja, she is from Germany. She is a post grad student and will be here for a year! She speaks English pretty well though so its not bad at all. And she is talking about sharing the cost of things like toilet paper and soap and things like that so she seems easy enough.
The other girls name is Hiromi. She is from Japan but went to college at Oklahoma and Buffalo, so her English is also good. She will only be here for another day or two though, then she is moving to a single suite thing. She said the room she is supossed to be in isnt ready yet or something so they had to put her here. I am excited to see who will come in once she leaves.
Besides that, not too much is going on. I've just been food shopping and things like that, getting to know the city and things like that. My schedule is not that great, but i can deal with it. I have one 8am class, and also a class from 6-9 at night. But besides them, everything else is okay.
Not too much else is going on, I will write more when something exciting happens! Miss and love you all
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Hi everyone,
sorry it took me so long to get this working, I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and actually upload the pictures and all that.
Its monday, the 9th of July here, and just got back from orentation. I think I have the rest of the day free so that should be nice. There really hasn't been a day so far that I have been able to just sit and relax, always out shopping for food or towels and sheets or something, or on a trip, but I guess thats good.
I still don't have either of my roommates, I thought they would be here by now. Everyone else has at least one of theirs, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. My room is small compared to the ones at Loyola, but its not bad for a single! The kitchens are huge, but the refridgerator is kind of small for 3 roommates to share, but I guess it will work out fine.
The bay of islands trip was so much fun. We went on this speed boat thing called the mack attack, and saw all the islands, and got soaking wet! For dinner that night we went to this hot stone place where they give you your chicken raw on a volcanic stone and you cook it yourself! It was so fun and really really good!
The next day we were up early and took this 4by4 bus dune rider thing all around. We went to this forest with 45,000 year old trees as big as red woods, went to the 90 mile beach which was so so pretty, cape regina, which over looks the 90 mile beach, and also sand surfing! That was the funnest part of that day. You have to climb this HUGE sand dune with a boogie board and then lay on it on your stomach and you fly down the hill. You go so fast and its a lot of fun.
The next day we went to where the treaty of Wanatangi was signed. We learned a lot about the histroy and the culture of the Maoris, and they had a lot of cool things too. One was this huge war canoe that holds up to 160 men at one time!
There isn't much more to say, classes don't start til next monday. I am still trying to switch around my sch. because i have an 8am and also a class from 6-9 at night which i would rather not have. We'll see though. I'm getting pretty close with 3 or 4 girls, so thats good. There are 20 of us all together, and only 4 of them are boys! I know all of them though and they are a lot of fun. I have been pretty good with talking to mom and ang, and i am able to talk to my frineds a little, so its not so bad.
I think I am goign to find someone to hang out with now though, so I will write more soon!
sorry it took me so long to get this working, I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and actually upload the pictures and all that.
Its monday, the 9th of July here, and just got back from orentation. I think I have the rest of the day free so that should be nice. There really hasn't been a day so far that I have been able to just sit and relax, always out shopping for food or towels and sheets or something, or on a trip, but I guess thats good.
I still don't have either of my roommates, I thought they would be here by now. Everyone else has at least one of theirs, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. My room is small compared to the ones at Loyola, but its not bad for a single! The kitchens are huge, but the refridgerator is kind of small for 3 roommates to share, but I guess it will work out fine.
The bay of islands trip was so much fun. We went on this speed boat thing called the mack attack, and saw all the islands, and got soaking wet! For dinner that night we went to this hot stone place where they give you your chicken raw on a volcanic stone and you cook it yourself! It was so fun and really really good!
The next day we were up early and took this 4by4 bus dune rider thing all around. We went to this forest with 45,000 year old trees as big as red woods, went to the 90 mile beach which was so so pretty, cape regina, which over looks the 90 mile beach, and also sand surfing! That was the funnest part of that day. You have to climb this HUGE sand dune with a boogie board and then lay on it on your stomach and you fly down the hill. You go so fast and its a lot of fun.
The next day we went to where the treaty of Wanatangi was signed. We learned a lot about the histroy and the culture of the Maoris, and they had a lot of cool things too. One was this huge war canoe that holds up to 160 men at one time!
There isn't much more to say, classes don't start til next monday. I am still trying to switch around my sch. because i have an 8am and also a class from 6-9 at night which i would rather not have. We'll see though. I'm getting pretty close with 3 or 4 girls, so thats good. There are 20 of us all together, and only 4 of them are boys! I know all of them though and they are a lot of fun. I have been pretty good with talking to mom and ang, and i am able to talk to my frineds a little, so its not so bad.
I think I am goign to find someone to hang out with now though, so I will write more soon!
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