Raglan

Yes, I love New Zealand! I love the random pigs and sheep that were in my life today! I am in Raglan this weekend because it's the Queen's birthday and we have a long weekend, so I thought Road Trip!! I wish my buddies were with me. I seem to keep getting lost...













Is this not the most lovely place in the whole world?? This is right across from my hostel..























Sunday morning I went into town for breakfast and then I vigorous walk around the town and wharf..a good day..

Driving on the left...is Amazing!

So, this is my wee car. It's a purgeot, I think that is how you spell it. It's a good car. I have lots of names for it( I haven't decided if it's a girl or boy) like Freedom and Samoa. I know these are weird names, but being mobile has made life here One thousand times better and the only radio station that i seem to get in my car is a Samoan one. Hence, the weird names. Sorry this isn't the best of pictures, but I was in a hurry to take it because I was supposed to be doing art history! yes, I am still working on School, and I have nothing left to say except that I have started to run. Yes, me, running....for real. I signed up for 10K charity fun for my church, so if you want to send me some money, just tell my ma. Thanks...

A kiwi weekend..kinda

I wanted to give you an idea of what I might to on an average kiwi weekend, minus church and studying of course. So here goes. Friday night was Fish and Chips and the Pub, unfortunately I left my camera in the car and I do not have any pics of the large quantity of fish that I ate on Friday or the Tui pint...It was a good night. I was up bright and early on Saturday for the matakana Market where I buy most all of my weekly food. I love Vegetables. I have a picture of me below before the market and getting ready to walk down our huge hill/mountain. I had breakfast at the market( see yummy picture), and then bought a basket to put me produce in. My flat mate Sarah was with me, and she talked me into going to see a movie that I didn't really want to see, I was worried that my lettuce would wilt....it didn't. The Matakana theatre is just plane Magic,the movie theartres have names and themes, pretty sweet. I got my veggies home in time to spend an hour in the jewelry class where my tudor had a weekend class going on. Am I boring you yet? I still have more. Anyway, I sawed a slice out of my finger, nothing serious, it happens. I think I need to put something on it, it's kinda infected. After a busy day I climbed my hill to clean my tower and do the wash. Busy day. It's sunday now and I went to church and I am supposed to be doing home work, but instead I am telling you about my weekend....I hope you like this ma and take some of the responsability of me failing art history. Just joking. I am going to try to do better with up dates and pics. I forgot that I named this blog my New Zealand Adventure and I do have adventures, I just don't have time to write about them. Till next time.

Sculpture

I have sculpture class every Tuesday, and this is my first sculpture. My brother ben was my inspiration, I guess it kinda looks like him. We made the human head this term. After we had the clay models we made molds and then took the molds and filled them with a concrete mixture. Ben actually turned out very well. Out of all my classes I got the best marks( I think) in sculpture..go figure. Life drawing is first thing Monday morning, and let me tell you, I stink at life drawing. I would put some of my work on, but I don't think my ma would appreciate it. Oh well...

Ceramics

yes, well, once again I am truly sorry that I have not put any pictures on or told you of my " Adventures"...for real, I am sorry. Anyway, I am on Easter holiday, so I plan on posting pictures everyday this week. I hope you enjoy them, because my legs are falling asleep waiting for this freakishly slow internet to down load my pics. I made this rose my first day of class, it fired beautifully. I will show you a picture of it later.













This is in the ceramics studio. I have ceramics all day on Wednesdays, I love ceramics. We do tons of hand building in class, not so much on the wheel. I need to spend some time on the wheel this term, I think it's just a matter of practice though.

Art and School

Hi, I am so sorry that I have not been very diligent about putting pics on my blog here...very sorry. Anyway, have assessment week next week and after that I am going to put tons of things on and write all about my life in NZ...for real, I promise.















This is some jewelry that I made, not the best of my work but the whole idea is about the soldering exercise.

My new house is amazing. I love it. Andrew is the head of the school and it is his house that I and two other students live in. He is there half the time teaching and will be at his other house for long weekends. We really are a funny little family, we do so much together(make dinner and go swimming). They all came to pick me up from my hotel in Orewa ,and they immediately made me feel at home. I feel like I have known them my whole life. I don't have much time, I need to get back to my sculpting class, just wanted to show you some pics.

German Bread

These are some of my German friends, Julia is on the right and Britta is on the left. All my friends in New Zealand are from Germany, I am starting to think I went to the wrong country. Don't tell my Mom, but I think I will go there next( joking mom...maybe). Julia and Britta are pretty crazy, they have been hitchhiking thru nz for several months. They have tons of funny stories and they read me some of them in German. They also read to me a poem about sandflies...in German. While they were there, they baked a loaf of bread called"bort". I got the recipe in German first, then English. It was hilarious watching them try to translate the recipe into English. I am now very much inspired to learn German. Maybe one day soon I will make some kiwi friends, but until then, I have a lovely tme with all my German buddies. Let me know if you want the recipe for the bread, it was good.

I really like Orewa, It's easy to get around and fun. The hostel I am staying in is fun as well. Orewa is small, so I am sorry to say that I don't have any crazy stories or adventures to write about.

Winter Gardens

The Winter Gardens in Auckland are breath taking. I walked about three miles to get there, and it was worth it. The winter Gardens consist of one hot house, a cold house and a this amazing little garden path covered with ferns. I am most likely going to get married here,I don't see why not. I wish my buddy Alisha was with me, and we were about ten years old. I had a strong desire to play fairies or elves, or some sort of magical creature. Any hoo, my favorite place in Auckland has been the winter gardens. I have a ton of pictures on facebook, check them out.

Auckland

Auckland is known as the city of sails, and the city of sails it is. I have never seen so many sail boats in my whole life. Unfortunately, it cost a whole lot of money to tour the harbor on one of these gorgeous boats. Other than spending time at the harbor, I have been doing tons of walking. yesterday alone I walked between eight and nine miles, my legs hurt pretty bad last night. I do not plan on covering that amount of ground today. The parks here are also very nice, and the winter gardens lovely. Auckland is a nice place to visit, but after about three days I think you'll be ready to move on...I know I am.

Tahiti

Yeah, so I would be OK if I never ever went back to Tahiti. If I had to choose or recommend Hawaii over Tahiti, I would say Hawaii any day. It was not that bad, but boy it was hot. Their airport is crappy, but they did give me a little flower when I got off the plane at one in the morning, that was nice of them. I ended up staying in Tahiti for about fifteen hours, and catching a bus to the beach later that morning so I got to see some of country. It was pretty, but I never want to go back, I think I already said that...

Beach

Henry, Auggie and I went to the beach this after noon. I just want to make a note that the only reason that there is a random surfer dude on here is because it's for my sister. Sister, this is for you. Anyway, I fly to New Zealand tomorrow!! My real adventure is just starting. Coming to California and visiting the Scotts has been an absalute blessing with my transition to New Zealand. I reccomend a trip out to see the Scott family and check out this beautiful country side.

To market, to market

The Tuesday night farmers market in Monterey is outstanding. I didn't realize how excited I got over fresh produce, and now I know that if I want to have the time of my life I just have to go to the grocery store.
You could basically sample anything at this market, I have never seen so many olives in my life.


These ladies were very busy, they always had their hands full. I'm thinking this could be a potential job if school does not work out.

Sail boats

Fisherman's Wharf is lovely at sunset. It was rather cold later this afternoon, so the free sample of clam chowder helped. Jody and I walked around the wharf, checked out the shops, and took some pictures. The only thing lacking was the fish smell...I guess they don't fish anymore.