hello again!

so...i havent forgotten i have a blog, i just havent been writing. its been crazy around this part of the world. i am finishing up my student teaching (i have ONE week left!), writing my portfolio (im almost done), and doing last bits of traveling and shopping (gifts!!). these last few weeks have been really incredible. im almost sad that i dont have more time here (almost). i really do love it. i love the people and all of their rediculous words, i love the scenery and all of its glory, i love the kids i teach even when they make me crazy, i love being less than an hour away from the beach whereever you are. this really is one of the most special places in the world.

speaking of teaching...i have actually done some! its amazing i know - ive found time in between all of my adventures to fit a little work in there : )

i will (hopefully - i just found out i need a visa...) be travelling to australia for a few days to round out my trip and finish up my time here. i will be in melbourne doing all that there is to do! i was actually hoping to go to the great barrier reef or the outback, but it is really expensive to get there!! no worries though. so expect me to come home with some pretty cool boomerangs : )

i am so thankful for this trip but i am ready to come home. i have learned so much and done so many things here, it really is incredible. i have loved every minute of it, and now it is coming to a close. cant wait to show you pictures of melbourne and finish telling you all the rest of my crazy stories. love you all and see you in just a few more days : )

adventures in wonderland!

hey guys!
sorry it has been a little while since i last posted here; life has been a bit fast paced. as you know this is my 2 week break from school and i am traveling around the south island. i am loving every minute of this trip! it is truly amazing.

to recap the past week or so i will fill you in on the highlights and then you can check out facebook for some more photos.

- christchurch = beautiful city. small and centrally located. hard first day b/c i arrived on my own and didnt know anyone yet. spent most of the day wandering around trying to find food (much to your surprise, i know!). rode the trolley cars, went to a few museums (saw some davinci stuff), walked through some gardens, ate some food, and caught a movie. good day. bus came early so i hit the sack fairly early.

- kaikora = lovely city. the seas (all 7, robin) were really rough so the dolphin swim was cancelled. real bummer. but i went horseback riding through some beautful countryside and loved it. ate some fish and chips. had a room to my self in the hostel (a rare find, indeed!). small downtown and some fun shops.

- nelson = found the center or NZ! straight up the steepest hill ever! fernanda (my friend i met on the trip, from brazil) and i and our friend richard (from england) took a day trip to abel tazman national park. beauitful!!! nice day hike and then spent the rest of the day laying on the beach. what a day : ) on the water taxi to the beach we saw a seal eat an octopus!!! for real - it was amazing. the ink bled out and everything!!! so cool

- greymouth = lived up to its name. awful weather kept us inside most of the day. pouring down rain. dinner and a movie night in the hostel!

- franz josef = amazing. rained all day on the first day we were there. i went indoor ice climbing. so cool. the next day, much to our surprise, the rains cleared and it was a lovely morning. i took a helihike (rode in a helicopter aroudn the glacier, then landed on the glacier, then hiked the glacier!!!) on farnz josef. mangaged to find an ice cave to climb (only momentarily) into. loved it. coolest thing i have ever done in my life. spent the afternoon in a hammock reading.

- queenstown = adventure capital of the world!!!!! I LOVE THIS TOWN. so much to do and see. i went bungy jumping (the only one on the magic bus brave enough to try) on the bridge where bungy jumping began! screamed bloody murder the entire way down and managed to keep my eyes open too! i have a tshirt and sweat shirt to prove this as well as a DVD you all must see at some point. complete worth it and amazing. fernanda jumped today and i was so proud (she was too scared to do it yesterday but toughed it out today adn was really glad she did). it was awesome. we took the gondola to the top of queenstown to see the rest of the city. our magic bus friends from scotland out did our jumps though - they all 3 jumped in KILTS. no lie. it was not pretty!

im on to dunedin and then tekapo then back home to auckland within the next few days. i have 40 days til i return home. i am ready. hope you are well. i love you all! see you soon : )