Clubbing, Bush Ball, and other fun things!

Hey all! 

It is my third week in New Zealand and I am finally beginning to feel like this is more than a vacation. I feel more settled. Though not much has changed, I think I have made more realistic goals and expectations of my time here. Because of this new outlook, I am more content with where I am in my relationships and in my studies. I have made a group of friends that I can be myself around, which is really encouraging. We all went out on Thursday because it is Student Night aka cheap drinks. There is a very different vibe in the bars and clubs in New Zealand compared to the US. There are a lot of guys and girls at the clubs, but they dance primarily separately. The guys go to the clubs to hang out with their guy friends. They fist pump and dance crazy, but just with each other. I am used to having to “throw ‘bows” all over the place to keep the guys away in America. When the guys do dance with girls, there is a respectful 6-inch distance. There was no grinding going on in the whole club! The strangest!! We also have to use our passports as IDs here, which is unfortunate, so Mama ‘Lyssa to the rescue. I wore my flesh-colored tourist “uterus pouch” (aka my money belt) and held our passports, so we did not need to bring coats. This meant that I had an attractive block on my stomach all night that we affectionately named “the cheese block”. The night was really fun and we are going to make it a weekly tradition.

We also went to the Bush Ball this weekend. The Alpine club, or outdoor rec club, put on the event. It entailed us driving two hours away from school and going on a three-hour tramp (hike) through the New Zealand forest to our hut. We hung out for a few hours and then dawned our formal attire and had a ball. There was dancing, drinking, and overall merriment. 

The only downside was that there was a 60-year-old couple and another older gentleman also staying at the hut. The three went away for a “quiet weekend alone”. They did not expect to be staying with 24 university students having a party. They seemed gracious about the whole event, but there were a few awkward moments where girls were trying to change and the old man was in the bunks. I mostly felt bad for the three having to put with us. After the festivities, we were all squished into the bunks, so no one got a lot of sleep. Unfortunately, this caused a few others and I to get sick. I am still under the weather, but hopefully will feel better soon. I am hoping to go to Wellington this weekend with a few friends, so I want to be in peak condition. My new philosophy is to do something great every weekend, because I am really not here for very long. Don’t worry Mom and Dad, this is all depending on if I get my school work done :) 

Lots of free time and a teensy bit of class

Hello all!
Classes are in full swing this week and I am still trying to learn my way around.
I am taking Nga Tirohanga Rue o te Taha Hinengaro: Bicultural Perspectives in Psychology;
He Tirohanga o Mua: Maori Customs, Lore, and Economics;
and (no fancy Maori name) Organisational Psychology.
The class system is very different here. I only go to each class once for 2 hours of lecture a week. Two of my three classes also have tutorials, so I go to a discussion for the class for another hour or so once a week. I am in the classroom only 9 hours a week, compared to 18 hours at Whitworth. This system has thus far given me a lot of free time that I am not sure what to do with. I have caught up on all my readings and still find time to twiddle my thumbs. The few friends I have made are mostly science majors, so they have labs and are much busier than I am. It also costs money to use the internet, so I try to use it sparingly in my room. Kiwis are also generally standoffish, so attempts to make friends in my classes has been unsuccessful. I make all of my meals in my own flat kitchen, so I do not have opportunity to meet people in the dining hall either. It has been lonely the last few days and I am beginning to be discouraged about making Kiwi or other friends to spend all of my free time with. I know this feeling will change as the semester picks up, so I am trying to stay positive and put myself out there.
On a lighter note, my classes have been really interesting. I think I am going to enjoy this semester academically very much and I think I will learn a lot. I have been given such a great opportunity to study here and I am excited to make the most of it. I also went to a campus ministry BBQ last night and had a great time! I was the only American there, so it was a change from Orientation last week. I met some people and am going to church with them on Sunday. I hope this will be a venue for new friendships and intentional relationships. The Christian culture is different here as well and I am excited to explore what it looks like and learn from it.
I am trying to remember that this experience has a purpose, regardless of if I am "having fun" the whole time. I will be a better and wiser person because of all this and I have to have faith it will all be for good.

Arrival and first 24 hours

I should have known when I sat by a middle-aged juicehead in a tight pink shirt singing "I Believe I Can Fly" under his breathe on my first flight, this was going to be a great adventure. Also, John Travolta introducing the in-flight safety video and sitting by a few members of the band "Rise Against" on my Auckland flight should have given it away.
I, thankfully, have arrived safely in Palmerston North and am fully moved into my flat. I will be living with 3 other girls. One of the girls, Sage, is also an international student and from Colorado. I actually met her at the Auckland airport while we were waiting for our next flight, so she was my first Massey friend and I am sure it is meant to be :). The other two are Kiwis who have not arrived yet. I am excited to meet them and for all of us to get to know each other.
Our flat in on Keiller Place in Atawhai (pronounced At-a-fi) at the top of the hill. We have to go up 169 steep stairs to get to our flat from campus. Basically, I am going to have to greatest tush when I get back. Haling groceries up has been the greatest challenge, so I will probably have great arms too.
I have also been spending a lot of time with two other American students, Josh and Magge. We met on the shuttle back to campus and have since been inseparable. We live on complete opposite sides of campus from each other, but this has helped us get to know campus a little bit better. The night we arrived we went downtown to get groceries and necessities for our rooms. We only had a bus schedule in cryptic numbers and letters and our student IDs (except for me because my photo got damaged in the mail, so I won't get one for 2 weeks). We just picked a stop and got off. It was a teensy bit far from where we wanted to go, but really it is all about the learning process. When we finished, we went back to the closest bus stop and waited... no bus. We ended up eating at Burger King and getting a taxi back to campus.
Yesterday we went back downtown with two students who know the "lay of the land". We got phones, more groceries, and rain boots (which are a must because it is always pouring and always windy). We also got our Harry Potter tickets! I was so nervous that I was not going to meet anyone with the same love for the formerly awkward preteen who lived under the stairs, but Sage, Josh, Magge, and the two other students are all equally excited.
Later that night, we went to the International student dessert awkwardly mingly time. We met a lot of students and many of which are also excited about Harry Potter, so hopefully we can get a bigger group together to go. I chuckle when I think of how nervous I was to meet people. Everyone is in the same boat as I am and we all want to make friends and be accepted.
Today is the first day of orientation and it will be fun to meet more students, play awkward get-to-know-you games, and learn all about the Kiwi customs. Life is good and I am so glad I am here (and see Harry Potter before everyone)!

The Journey Begins

I leave tomorrow for New Zealand! Hurray! I am still in the midst of packing and my room is in shambles, so, naturally, it seemed productive to blog :).
It is unreal that I will begin my greatest adventure in less than 24 hours. I have in no way begun to process what it will mean for me and my life. I am still trying to make sure I did not forget anything! I will be a different person in 6 months and, hopefully, I will be wiser, more worldly, and more adaptable. I am excited about this journey, but I know it will be difficult at times, so prayer is greatly appreciated.
Talk to you on the other side!