By The Way, New Zealand Has No Ozone Layer

So right now it's super early Wednesday morning and I am sitting on my bed, eating breakfast (pretzels) because I couldn't sleep. I don't really know why. Oh well.

Okay, so I've realized that when I posted something last Friday, it showed up as Thursday. I guess because it was still Thursday in most places. Go figure.

So about the last couple days...

On Friday, I successfully bought some power at the post office! Score. Also, since the Highlanders (Otago's rugby team) were playing in at Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin, everyone went to go watch the game. Even though the Highlanders lost in the second half, it was all a good time and Pat from Rhode Island (this guy from our AustraLearn program) ended up winning a free television (Super Awesome).

So we walked an hour to get to the game and an hour to get back... kinda long, but I like walking and I thought it was nice just hanging out with everyone... but basically, I was really hungry on the way back because I didn't have time to make dinner before the game. And since it was late and mostly everything was closed, I got a Big Mac from McDonalds. So Random, but I had never had one before. Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad but I probably will never do that again just because it's McDonalds...

Saturday was pretty relaxed. Just went running in the morning for a bit, found a farmers' market (definitely going back next Saturday), and then...

WE WENT TO THE BEACH!! In case you were wondering, the Pacific Ocean is just as lovely in Dunedin as it is in California. And I Am So Incredibly Glad I chose to do studyabroad in a city with a coastline :) :) :) Swam in the ocean, went on a walk, lounged around, played some frisbee, and got yummy ice cream (NZ has this special ice cream flavor called "Hokey Pokey." All I know is that it involves toffee and it is delicious!!).

On Sunday, Liz, Mackenzie, Tim, Jenny, and I hiked for five hours. Seriously though, we left the flats at 1pm and got back at 6pm. I was So Tired, but it was SO GOOD. We went up this trail/track that is called the Pineapple Track... because back-in-the-day this guide would lead hiking groups up the trail, and when they reached the top, they would stop and rest and the guide would provide canned pineapples for them... and as a result, there used to be loads of pineapple cans just lying around and so this track/trail is forever known as "the Pineapple Track." A lot of uphill, great view of the city/peninsula/inland areas (we were at the highest point in Dunedin, SWEETNESS), found a nice dude to give us a ride a little ways into town... The whole day was seriously a lot of fun. However, because there's a "sweet as" hole in the ozone layer above NZ, last Sunday was the first time I've ever been sunburnt in February. WHOA. But it's all good because I was only a little burned in the collarbone/upper chest area; plus I woke up the next morning and it had turned into a nice tan. cool beans.

Monday!!

Monday was super exciting because Tim and Paul bought a van. YEAH, A VAN. So we drove around and went to St. Kilda Beach for sunsets, celebrations, and a picnic... which basically was a feast of random goodness... chips and salsa; bread, deli meat, and cheese; juice, chocolate and fruit; and cookies and apple pie!!! The beach/ocean was beautiful, the sky was amazing, Good Times With Good People.

Yesterday/Tuesday was also a very wonderful day. Paul, Liz, Jenny, Tim, Mackenzie, Mike, Ashlyn, Ashlyn's flatmate, and I basically just drove around in the van, listened to good music, and went to really cool places in Dunedin and on the Otago peninsula and enjoyed the day and took lots of pictures. We first went to the very tip of the Otago peninsula and wandered around Pilots Beach and the cliffs by Taiaroa Head Lighthouse. Next, we went to Allans Beach on the south side of the peninsula... it was the best time ever!!! Okay, you remember those HUGE HUGE swells that you see in Zuma around July/August?? Yeah, that was Allans Beach today... SO MUCH FUN/SO HAPPY :) :) :) :) After that, we left the peninsula and drove almost to the edge of Dunedin to this place called Tunnel Beach. Tunnel Beach = cliffs, arches, headlands, and a hand-carved tunnel that lead to a secluded/sheltered beach at the base of the cliffs (took loads of pictures). AHH-MAZING PLACE.

Yup, that's pretty much it. Haven't slept. I've got a three hour meeting with all the international students today and then a train ride to someplace cool... Cheers.