Hello from New Zealand! It's been awhile since I've updated, but that's what happens with you travel to the Southern Hemisphere without a computer. Currently I'm on Dr. Bob's netbook, which is currently holding all of my photographs that I've taken thus far and a bit of writing.

Currently I'm in Masterton, a town in the southern bit of the North Island of New Zealand. If I could pronounce or remember the names of the mountain ranges in the area I would talk about them more, but I can't so I won't say anything else besides driving through them with Dr. Bob is terrifying. We've been to Auckland too. Traveled to Wellington, the capital of NZ, and then drove here. We've visited Cape Palliser and the Palliser Pinnacles. We've seen the ocean and the black sand. Saw a huge seal colony playing in the water. Climbed 250 stairs to a red and white lighthouse. We've been to native bush, tramping through rocky and muddy trails. We've even walked a swinging rope bridge across a gorge. My clothes are extremely dirty. Everywhere is cold. No buildings have heating, so they use space heaters and heated comforters in their beds. The hot water doesn't last very long so you have to take very fast showers.

We've met some very awesome Kiwis. Barry and cattle and sheep farmer, showed us how they use their dogs to gather sheep. He let us driving his 4 wheeler. Colin and Jenny made us the BEST dinner thus far and were like grandparents, taking us to see their favorite parts of NZ.

Last night John and I made stir fry and it was amazing. And we didn't have class last night. Hurray!

Next we head to Castlepoint, which is far from everything so we have to buy enough food for the entire week we will spend there. Hopefully the southerly we're having will blow over and we'll get to see the sunshine and tuck away our rain jackets.

Okay, enough of this boring stuff for now. Don't know where I'll get to write again so until next time...