Week in Welly

So again, trying to catch up!
The following occurs between Tuesday, Feb 16th and Friday, Feb 19th

This week, (which is how I’d like the posts to eventually become, weekly! It’s a good goal we’ll see…) was great! I mean, I felt a bit under the weather, but I stopped sleeping for the whole day! Amazing how much more you can accomplish! I spent most of the week trying to make our flat home. And boy, what a flat it is! I still can’t get over the view, Tuesday morning I made French toast and ate it on our picnic table that faces the view. It was a very epic breakfast! I also managed to get a phone on Telecom. New Zealand has two (now three) choice of cell phone service, Telecom or Vodafone. The newest competitor is 2 degrees. The reason I really bring this up is to illustrate a crazy thing about new Zealand: There is NOT enough competition. Prices are high for a lot of goods because only a couple companies compete, especially for groceries. There’s New World and Pack ‘N Save. New World is all over NZ as is Pack ‘N Save (which is cheaper). But New World really holds the spot as NZ’s local grocery store, and they charge like they know it!
Our flat comes with nothing, so we all, well, my flatmates have brought some things to fill it. And speaking of my flatmates I have four kiwis! I’m very excited and lucky to be living here. Aside from me, it’s Briar, Alan, Sophie, and Anna. There all second-years here and are 18-19, which makes me feel old! Though they do all seem to have birthdays coming up. I don’t really know them very well, but they’re very friendly and welcoming.

Orientation happened for us international students. It was pretty awful; long lectures on Kiwi differences that were geared to people from other countries than just the US and some stories from people who had trouble adjusting. One girl told some very horrific stories. But you know what? I’m not going to have an experience like hers! She talked about the struggle of meeting people, especially not living in a dorm. After the talks we finally got to register for classes and I did! I registered for Maori Music, Intro to Maori, and Criminology: Introduction to Criminological Thought. That equates to 60 points, so I think I’m good though I e-mailed Vassar to double check.

And Friday, found me on my first night out on the town. So strange with all the 18-20 yr olds out there! Very young crowd and a whole lot of American top 40. The city does have a great night life and many fun places to bust a move or two. And the whole downtown is walkable and relatively safe. One really feels at ease out! Sadly, at the end of the night, when the feet are tired from all the dancing, you have to climb up the hill to the housing. Three feet of the hill is at a 80 degree angle (naturally there’s a way around, and naturally I always climb that part…makes me feel cool!)

So that concludes that week and this post. Expect another one soon!!!!