I live in paradise... life is tough.

School: The grading system is rough here! They trick you into thinking it's really easy, then grade your essays super hard, but then bad numerical grades are actually good alphabetical grades and you're just left scratching your head wondering what the hell just happened. A few of my friends have gotten 50s on essays they thought deserved at least Bs, so I'm a little nervous to get my grades back!

Life: Is amazing.

Whats new: I go to Sydney on Wednesday! We will be there for five days, just enough time to do some exploring with Danni, Pree, Alyssa, and Eliza. We hope to soak up some sun (its nice and toasty warm there), catch a show at the Opera House, and spend time around the Rocks and Bondi Beach. Again, life is rough ain't it?

What else is new...

I missed ANZAC Day (boo!!!) becuase I went on a volunteer trip to plant trees and collect seeds and help out at a restoration project in the Haruki Gulf. Although it rained (of course! it is winter in Auckland after all), I met some hilarious and fascinating people and had a really rewarding experience helping to restore Motiuhue Island to its natural (pre-Maori) ecological condition.

Pree and I took a trip out to the Coromandel, the beautiful coastal area east of Auckland. We rented (and slept in) a car and got to explore the peninsula, including Hot Water Beach (huge waves!! we just sat and watched the surfers for a while) and Cathedral Cove, which was made famous by the Chronicles of Narnia film (that's right, we found Narnia!).

I spent last weekend doing school stuff- two field trips actually. All day Saturday I spent with my NZ Geology class visiting the remnants of a giant coastal volcano on the West Coast. It worked out in my favor- I got to visit a place I had wanted to go all semester, for free, with some great friends, and have a guide (my professor) and see some sweet columnar jointing and pillow lava (just to satisfy the nerd in me). Sunday wasn't quite as much fun, as I spent the day ankle deep in an estuary, in the rain, counting dead clam shells- then had an hour and a half bus ride back to Auckland smelling like estuary.

This past weekend we celebrated my flatmate Laura's 21st birthday with a Halloween themed party- I represented New Zealand as an Olympic speedwalker. Last night I went to the Blues Rugby game to see them lose to the Crusaders.. they haven't exactly had a good season, but it was still a lot of fun.

Anyways, I can't believe I have a little over a month left in this country. Between my trip to Sydney, a trip to Wellington to see the AllBlacks play, and a week spent in Fiji, by the time I blink I will be home. I'm totally excited, but it's going to be a sad parting for me.

Love you all!