Today was Day 2 of orientation. We started the day with a session on culture shock and adjusting to life living in New Zealand. Then came morning tea, what is starting to become my favorite part of the day. After tea we had a session on alcohol consumption in NZ, followed by a talk about requirements as an EAP student.
After lunch all 48 of us headed over to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, where we toured around for a while looking at the beautiful artifacts. At 1:30 we all assembled into a hall where we had the privilege of experiencing a traditional Maori cultural dance and song presentation. Yes, the did demonstrate the famous Haka (enacted before every Rugby game played by the All Blacks New Zealand team), and yes they did pull me and some friends on stage to demonstrate how to twirl these plastic balls they have tied to the end of ropes. They are used in dances, and for the first time I got up and agreed to participate without much hesitation at all! :)
After the performance I took a picture with a (cute) Maori warrior, and then we headed off to the botanical gardens in Auckland Domain. Here I saw some of the most beautiful flowers, ferns, lily pads, etc. You name it, the beauty was there.
Once we got back to Grafton Hall, my friend Anni and I headed back to my apartment so that she could use the internet. After a quick nap I headed back to Grafton for dinner and a session on the political and social scene in NZ. This was extremely interesting because I was finally able to understand the history of the country and the way its government is structured.
Afterwards, a big group of us all headed out to the cricket field in the Domain for a few games of flag football at sunset. It definitely got a little interesting trying to play in the dark.
Tomorrow we are spending a good part of the day out on a local island hiking and exploring :)
I'm bringing my snorkeling gear in case the opportunity presents itself! Also, Anni and I are working on gathering a group to travel to the South Island before school starts...it's time for the real adventures to begin! :)
A couple side notes...I feel like they feed us here ALL the time...one meal ends and about an hour later they are already serving you the next. I think it's a very good thing that I am in an apartment where I have to fend for myself as far as cooking goes :)
The other day when I bought my phone, the salesman thought I asked if they had "sales sex" when I really asked if they had "sales tax"...apparently they don't have either ;) haha and apparently I need to work on my pronunciation.
2 weeks until Erin gets here!! I CAN'T wait!!!
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