Written on February 26th, 2004

Well, it’s been about a month, and I’m still breathing (how could I not? It’s the clean NZ air!! ;o) This month has vacillated between trying and more-than-delightful moments. Let me explain:

The Thursday of the week I wrote you (February 12th) I traveled on over to Albany Toyota (on the ‘north-shore’ of Auckland) and bought a ’91 four-door Toyota Corolla hatchback that I believe shall suit me nicely for the year! Friday I picked up 3rd-party automobile insurance on the recommendation of my father. Saturday Angela and I headed up to the Bay of Islands, in the northern reaches of New Zealand. Many tourists say that you should never miss this part of New Zealand for its beauty! Well, that was our first time being out of the city and yes!... the NZ rolling hills were stunning, though I think we saw more cows than sheep. Upon reaching the Bay of Islands, we checked into a hostel (my first!) very near to the beach. We then went to the info center and bought tickets for a dolphin/hole-in-the-rock cruise for the next day. Interestingly enough, we then ran into a couple from our UC program. We grabbed an ice cream (I tried feijoa and passionfruit- very interesting!) and then had dinner together and walked around a bit. At night I took a run on my own to explore and enjoy the beach and smile at the passing couples (mind you, it was Valentines Day!) while Angela got to chatting with another traveler at the hostel.

The next day we hopped on the morning cruise and it was sunny and beautiful. We saw many islands of historic prominence and many dolphins. I had a very good spot on the boat, so the dolphins were like five feet from me and people were hanging all over my back to see! I felt loved. Then our boat went through the big, enchanting arch called the hole-in-the-rock. On the way back to the harbor it started pouring!!! That is what is meant by unpredictable weather. :o) Angela and I had lunch at a fish & chips shop (which are very popular in NZ- they have tonz of seafood available and make good use of it). Then I took off. Angela went northward and I went to a city called Whangerei (Fong-uh-ray) a bit more south. Here I dropped my stuff off at a motel (my first in NZ- let me tell you, they are like high class hotel rooms… a regular single comes with a kitchen and three couches and a queen size bed!) and found a church for an evening service. I loved being amongst and praising alongside believers again. It was neat to hear all their accents too. The couple sitting next to me had lived in NZ all their lives and told me a bit about how they had been raised on farming and whatnot. Sweet as! (Okay, so I have to pick up a lil NZ slang!). The next day I spent lolling around Whangerei- shopping at the little stores, and taking a run through the bush of mangrove forest. It was nice to talk to some of the shop owners and not be in a rush, but rather take in a bit of the culture. This was my first time traveling on my own, and though it was a bit odd not having someone there to share the new experiences with, I saw what I wanted to see in my time. That afternoon I drove further toward Auckland and stayed in Orewa on the way back to Auckland (check out my pictures!) I explored that city and its beautiful beach and stayed at another hostel that night. Tuesday I spent in Auckland- I ran some errands and saw The Return of the King for my second time at the IMAX theatre downtown- yeah baby!. In the late afternoon I took off for the Coromondal Peninsula. At night I stayed in Thames in a really neat hostel. Hungry for conversation, I talked to two girls from Australia and the Netherlands. The next morning I walked around Thames, where there a bird sanctuary and some neat shops, and then headed up the west coast of the peninsula toward Coromondal Town where I had an oyster and mussel at a fish & chips shop just like was recommended by people in Thames. Along the way I took stops at leisure to enjoy the beauty and take some photos (check em out!). In the afternoon I took a hike in the northern part of the peninsula to a nearly deserted beach and dug my feet into the fine, fine sand and watched a couple of older NZ couples have some fun splashing in the water. My next stop was my last hostel on my travels- it was on a farm!! Interestingly enough, the same two girls I met from the night before stayed there too! I have a picture with them. As the Sun was setting, I took the greatest hike in the bush- the trail was barely visible due to all the brush and dangling trees and climbed up a large hill side. I felt like I was in the Lord of the Rings, literally!! Yay!!

In the morning I had some organic, farm-made bread and butter and then headed off for Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. After parking I took a bit of a rigorous run along a well-populated-with-tourist trails to the beach containing cathedral cove- only unattainable at low tide with a huge arch that you can walk under. Gorgeous! I ran back, drank lots (a warm day!) and went to Hot Water Beach. You may know that NZ is built on volcanoes, and this particular beach has boiling water coming up under it. You can dig yourself a hole to sit in with the hot water from underneath as the cool water from the ocean washes onto you. Of course, it’s only in one section of the beach and only available at low tide so it was WELL populated. I didn’t dig a hole for myself, but let my feet sink into the sand and ‘ouch!’ I practically burned the bottoms of my feet! What a weird and novel experience. Next I drove back to Auckland, stopping at a cheese factory for lunch- dude! NZ makes GOOD cheese. I thought of you Mom and Carmen!

At last it was Thursday evening and I could move into my flat!!! I was met at the flat by Craig- the thirty some odd year old Kiwi, and we had a fine chat about NZ and the US and then Dianne arrived (the lady I had met with before) and I began to unpack. The next night the three of us went out to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant. It was such a neat way to get to know my flatmates a bit more. I have yet to meet Cliff who will come back from Taiwan tomorrow (Friday). Dianne is an accountant. I love her because she looks out for me, is very helpful in educating me about Auckland, and provides great fellowship. Periodically her sister and friend Raymond come over to make meals and chat. Hence, I have had the opportunity to taste some fine Chinese meals!! I love Craig because is so stinkin’ positive! He works at a recording studio and is quite the musician. Anyway, after dinner that night, Craig dropped me off at the Civic Auditorium downtown where I saw Cirque Dreams. Little did I know I had bought front row seats!! Whoa! What an experience! The theatre was big and beautiful and I chatted a bit with two nice Kiwi girls, a little younger than me and sitting next to me.

The past week hasn’t been quite so eventful. I’ve been food, clothes, and furniture shopping and exercising at the Uni gym. Sunday I tried out Calvary Chapel and the International Baptist Church that Dianne goes to. Orientation for the University of Auckland started Tuesday (can you believe there are over 450 international students at my ‘uni’?), so I’ve been going to various workshops. It was nice to see my UC buddies again and catch up on our travels and whatnot. School starts Monday.

Overall, this month’s challenges have been in being alone so often, and the stress of getting the things I need (car, appliances, etc.) and getting settled. I am thankful though, because throughout, the Lord resounds to me that I am not really every alone now that I have Him… and it’s so true! All the time traveling and driving alone I have spent meditating, praying, observing, and talking with Him. Though I may not know why, once I realize that He has me right where He wants me, I have comfort that it’s all for my good! Thinking through, I’ve realized that He brings many comforts along the way, like being able to make a little girl sitting across the table giggle to high heavens while waiting for my coffee at a cafe, meeting other travelers at hostels from everywhere in the world with their own stories, getting to explore explore explore!, giving me eyes to see signs I need to see or ears to hear things I need to hear at the right time and place to aid traveling, having a flat that really feels like home, and all the time to enjoy His beauty… it’s helped me in transitioning.

Written on February 28, 2004

Cliff moved in yesterday. He’s a nice old chap, too! He’s completing a software engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Looks like it will be a very comfortable living situation this year, indeed. Last night I went to the Auckland Astronomical Society’s meeting. They meet three Fridays out of the month and go to lectures at the Uni and whatnot. But their next star party isn’t until May, I believe. Anyway, the club (600 members) meets at the Auckland Observatory on One Tree Hill. After the presentation on Cassini, I introduced myself to the president and he showed me to the main telescope, a 50 cm Cassegrian I believe. The club gets to use it on occasion. They also rent telescopes to members a have smaller groups within the club according to interest. It looks to me like I will have ample opportunity to continue with my love for astronomy. Praise God! Unfortunately, since I’ve been here, there have only been a couple of clear nights (it’s an unusually stormy summer for NZ), and Auckland’s light pollution doesn’t help. However, I always get a kick at how Orion is upside-down, so to speak.