Musical Insturments and Good Times

Week of May 17th

Tuesday was a wonderful day as I woke up to find rainy weather (again). I was going for a run when I noticed a violin-shaped package outside Anna’s door. I squeeled! My violin that I bid $45 NZ (30.27 American) for on Trademe had arrived. It came with a case, a decent bow, but was missing one string. I was thrilled and rushed it inside and then took my run. After class I rushed home to grab it and headed to town to try to find a new string. After being turned down in two different music stores I finally found one that had strings. But they only had ¾ length strings. The salesman said that it would fit though and put it on for $18 NZ…that’s right, each string is worth $12 American! Wow, shocker there, aye? I went up to Landcross to show Hannah. When I tried to tune it, as the new string has fallen out of tune, the new string broke! I couldn’t believe it. The next day after class found me charging back to the store through the rain. I confronted the salesman about the fact that perhaps ¾ length strings shouldn’t be used on 4/4 violins, though he still said it was fine but would call me when the new strings came in. That night I messaged two friends here who play the violin and they were horrified that someone would sell me a ¾ length string. Apparently it could’ve damaged the whole violin.

Wednesday night found me resting the violin out of my mind by baking an apple pie at a friend’s house. This time, (I baked one before with Armelle, and IFSA student) I had my mom’s recipe! Turned out well I think.

After class Thursday I headed to Shane’s house to chill and do work before our IFSA-Butler final event: farewell dinner. We headed down to the restaurant: the White House, a very nice restaurant. We had some choices for dinner and between courses awards were given out to everyone. I was given the award for “Kiwiana King.” Kiwiana refers to all things kiwi. Apparently Butler had noticed my changes in fashion, my mannerisms, and vocabulary. After dinner we dug into the apple pie and a few of us watched Toy Story!

Friday found me out running again before class. After class, I rushed back to our flat as Briar and Tan were going to host another Shut Up and Listen, but at our flat! We incensed Briar’s room and added a couch. Eventually it was full of Kiwis and Shane and I. The songs to share where 1.) the perfect musical hangover cure 2.) songs that ruined your childhood looking back and 3.) music to cook to. It was a very nice start to a night. Afterwards Tan, her friend Pete, Shane, and I walked to her house to build a FORT! We then proceeded to order pizza and chill in the fort. It was a wonderful decision and Shane and I both ended up crashing there.

In the morning I rushed back to my flat for it was Saturday and I had to go to Lower Hutt with Hazel to pick up my steel-strung guitar, which I won on trademe for $101. It’s dark blue and beautiful. Though it did not come with a case, so I need to sort that out before I try to get it home. (Yes Mom, I did buy two new instruments, and yes I am aware that it will be difficult to get them home. Thanks for your concern, I love you). I then did the flat shopping at Pack ‘N Save and headed back. It was the first sunny day that week so Hannah and I took to photography around Wellington in the afternoon. Afterwards I swapped music with Zach and after packing for a small trip the following day, I went to Tan’s for her pants party flat warming. I left early to get some sleep before my trip to Taranaki, another North Island volcano.