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| Lake Tarawera ViewPoint |
Yes I know, it has been a month since posting but I have been busy! I have had a lot of fun in the past month, Im starting to get to know the kids and other au pairs better, I had several day trips and a weekend trip, but most of all I have done a lot of relaxing, which has been awesome! I still really miss the active lifestyle that I had in Germany, everything there was very rushed and I was always on the go, I have an hour minimum to myself everyday to just think and be by myself which in the beginning I hated but I am slowly starting to enjoy it more and more.
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| Raglan :) |
This month I made several day trips to Raglan, which is the west coast beach just 35 minutes away, it is absolutely beautiful there, the water is starting to get cold which is annoying and starting to make me wonder why I came to New Zealand for the end of summer and winter!! One of the day trips that I made out to Raglan was with Rosie and a few of her friends. Raglan has a bridge that goes across a bay where people jump off, I stood there for 30 minutes and then chickened out-not my finest moment :)
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| Katherina, myself, Marieke and Paige in front of a thermal pool |
One of the awesome day trips that I did was that I went to Rotorua, which is a city about two hours away surrounded by thermal pools. I went with two German girls Marieke and Katherina and a Canadian named Paige. We had an awesome day, we walked around Rotorua city and investigated the thermal pools which were really amazing but very stinky, the smell of sulfur was at times to much. Our walk ended at a piece of the lake and then we had subway for lunch.
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| Lake Tarawera |
After lunch we drove out to Lake Tarawera which was breathtaking. It was such a beautiful day the water was perfectly still and clear. We sat on a small hidden beach with other locals swimming around us and all we could think was why dont we have out togs?!?!
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| Running into Blue Lake |
After about an hour of wading in the lake we decided to start headed back in Hamilton's direction but planned to stop at blue lake. We got out of the car set up a picnic blanket and we were instantly over come by jealously there were about 20-30 local people swimming away.
Without much talk about it or thought I grabbed Marieke's hand and we ran into the water. It was awesome the water was the perfect temperature and it was the perfect way to end the day! Eventually we convinced Paige and Katherina to join us. I do have to say that after swimming in salt water for so long it was quite the work out treading water in a fresh water lake! Or maybe it was because I was wearing denim shorts??
March was also filled with a few birthdays of other aupairs, a going away party for Claudia, a trip to the Hamilton gardens, a few dinner nights and a St Paddys day celebration all were a lot of fun and a great way to really start getting to know the other girls.
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| Scotty Sky Tower |
and now for what I have a feeling will be the highlight of my time here and is definitely on the top 20 in my life AUCKLAND!! On Friday the 18th the day after St. Paddys day I hopped on a bus to Auckland to meet Sam for a weekend of fun, we immediately headed to Danny Doolans an Irish pub in Auckland, Irish pubs have been a big part of our friendship (as we practically lived at fiddlers Green in Oldenburg) it was cool to be back in one together after 6 months! We spent the after noon catching up and then we met with Eric and Ray (Sams host dads brother and wife) they were gracious enough to offer their loft to us for the weekend. We had a good but early night on Friday and then we were ready to go Saturday morning.
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On the boat
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We started with breakfast at the waterfront cafe and we were evacuated from the restaurant because the fire alarms went off. After that indecent we were ready for a morning of sailing (Sam and Ray are both sailors who work for Explore NZ and we were lucky enough to join them for a mock Americas cup race). We had a blast!
and we were probably the best two sailors explore NZ has ever seen....maybe not but we still had fun!
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| Clock tower at the University |
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Saturday afternoon we went up the sky tower which was really cool, walked around the city, we also went to the University of Auckland campus and sat in the park for an awesome conversation. Being in that environment kind of freaked me out for September but I was so happy to be there with Sam, we ended up having an awesome chat and I had the opportunity to figure out how I actually feel about going back to school.
then of course we ended up at Danny Doolans, we actually bumped in to our sailing crew and joined them just as Eric and Ray arrived. Saturday was a great night! Filled with lots of fun and great memories.
On Sunday Sam and I said our goodbyes to Eric and Ray (and Skip their awkward but hilarious roommate) and then we went out for brunch, we ended up sitting beside some amazing people.
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| Sam and I @ Bridal Veil Falls |
Its weekends like this where I know that what I am doing is the right thing, I have met so many amazing people and experienced complete kindness. My experiences traveling have taught me so much more then anything I could have learnt back home in a classroom. I am so happy to be doing what I am doing.
Sam actually ended up getting on my bus and joining me in Hamilton which was really cool. She was here from the Sunday evening until Monday. Sunday we went to Bridal veil falls and of course I had to show off Raglan! Her time here was very relaxed except for the fact that I was in a car accident on Monday and am now officially broke due to car repairs!! (luckily everyone was okay). It was a good couple of days, she had the chance to meet a few of my friends see the city, the Hamilton gardens, and of course get to know my host family. Sam and I have a cool friendship as it is but to add to it she is the only person in the world who actually knows and has seen with her own eyes what my life was like in both Oldenburg and here in Hamilton!
Now I am busy doing nothing saving up for Easter, I am going back up to Russell to visit Sam, Ill be doing a Cape Reinga tour and going Sand boarding. I will then fly from Auckland to Queenstown with Paige for 5 days of touring around!
My New Zealand Rant:
No one here wears shoes, they are very laid back people and it is perfectly normal for people to be fine dining, grocery shopping, going to the mall/doctor/hair dresser barefoot! The kids even go barefoot to school and to track and feild. Kind of gross, But I would be lying if I said that I haven't taken advantage of the fact that no one cares. I definitely forgot my gandals before going into the atm the other day- Oh well!!
Until next time :)
More photos from my Rotorua Daytrip:
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| Thermal Pools, very neat! |
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| wading in Lake Tarawera |
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In lake Blue.
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More photos from Our Auckland weekend:
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| I can highly recommend the Fish and Chips at Danny Doolans! |
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| Our competition in the race. |
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| Looking rough after a windy morning on a boat, up in the skytower |
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| Bridal Veil Falls |
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| The Italian Garden @ the Hamilton Gardens |
