Getting Down to Business

Before I tell you all about the first few days of classes, let me first tell you about my weekend!

Friday night as I said before was the rugby game. Rugby is amazing, I like it so much more than Football because it is a lot more fast paced.  In football they stop every time someone is tackled and "reset" so to speak. In rugby they just keep going tackle after tackle until there is a foul played.  I somewhat understand the game, but I have a lot more learning to do. Unfortunately the Highlanders lost on Friday, but it was still such a fun game and an interesting atmosphere to experience.  There were so many people dressed up in costumes! I saw chickens, Mario and Luigi, and a unicorn.  And in place of cheerleaders they had people dressed in full-body blue spandex, which is about 100X better!  After the Rugby game Janessa, Juan, Kelley and I went over to Theresa's flat to hang out and dance like fools! Janessa, Juan and I were really tired so we called it a night fairly early. Plus, I had to be ready for my surfing lesson in the morning!

So yes Saturday was Surfing day!! For the 11am lesson we (Arcadianz) had to be at the bus stop at 10:15am, but the bus didn't come until 10:50. So we were a little late for the lesson at St. Clair.  To start off, the wet suits are great for keeping out the cold water, but not so much for comfort.  We had to walk a ways down the beach before the lesson, so my arms got a little sore from carrying the board.  But aside from that surfing was amazing! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Of course my balance isn't the best so I never stood up, but I got fairly good at catching the waves, and even got up onto my knees a few times.  I did take out a few people once, oops! Surfing is exhausting, however, and I needed a little help carrying my board back after the lesson :). When we got back from St. Clair I bought a small pillow that I had my eye on for a couple weeks and then we went to try and get lunch from the international food festival, but that was over by the time we got there. So I went back to my flat to get a late lunch and a well deserved shower and short nap.  Then in the afternoon, we decided to hike up to the top of signal hill.  Signal Hill was an amazing view once we got to the top, which after surfing, was a little harder than I would have liked.  But it was so worth it! Here are some pictures from the hike.

We all then started to watch the last Lord of the Rings movie, but we only got about 1/3 of the way through because we all were so tired!

Sunday was a slow start, but once I finally got up the flatmates and I did a little cleaning.  In the morning I got a text message saying that a spot opened up for the beginner archery class! So I went over to the Link (in the main Library building) and signed up for classes costing $30, which are Friday nights.  Then I went over to K-mart for last minute school supplies such as folders and notebooks! Janessa and I then walked around campus for a little to find the lecture halls our classes would be in. It was a little difficult because a lot of the buildings are closed on Sundays (apart from the Libraries).  After dinner that night we finished watching Return of the King and I got ready for classes the next morning.

Monday classes started out with Neurophysiology.  This lecture class is enormous! I think there is about 200 or more in this class! So much different than Denison and it is something that I am going to have to try and get used to. The girl I sat next to in Neurophys. was so intrigued that I was from America, it was interesting discussing with her some of the main differences between universities.  My Environmental History class was smaller than Neurophys, but still fairly large, but my Music in Western Culture class was more to what I am used to. I will not have my forth (aka 'fourth') paper, sensation and perception until Thursday. Aside from classes today the university had a sort of yard sale where many things that students have left behind were being sold. So I bought a full length mirror for $10. Then Monday night my friends and I went out to the bog, the Irish pup, for trivia night! Because who wants to do homework after the first day? The trivia was a lot of fun, but I didn't know a lot of the answers. Our team- It's Quizness Time- was tied for 10th out of 19 teams.

Tuesday also started with neurophysiology at 9am, so far the lectures have been review of the past classes students are required to take and I feel good knowing it already too (since they almost didn't let me into the class). I then had an hour break to spare before my music class, where I went to the Link and tried to get onto the internet, which failed. I had to go to IT later in the day.  Apparently you have to set up a new location in order to connect to the internet with the wi-fi.  Music class was a wee bit boring, as I am expecting it to be for the rest of the semester (dang art requirements!). I would usually then have the music tutorial for that class, but they don't start until next week.  So I went to the Library for a little and started to read an article for class.  That night my flat planned a complex BBQ in out backyard, because we haven't met everyone in the surrounding complexes. Everyone is so nice and we all talked for a while and then some of us went for a cheap, but absolutely delicious ice cream at Rob Roy Dairy.  

Only one lecture on Wednesday and it doesn't start until noon! Therefore, I slept until 9 and had a bit of a lazy morning.  The lecture I had was Environmental History of New Zealand, and the lecturer we currently have is a little confusing in the way he speaks and delivers the information.  My friend Alexis and I are in the same boat in thinking that, and had to ask him about how to find course material since it was not stated clearly in the first class.  After lecture I went to the Library again to purchase the course reader- a compilation of 'important' articles for the semester, which thankfully isn't too expensive.  In the afternoon my flatmate, Kelsey, Janessa and I went to the gym.  It felt good to be working out again. Then I went back to the flat for a shower and some work.  Then my kiwi host Pre and I watched the latest episodes of PLL, I'm so happy she is just as obsessed with the show as I am.  Oh and by the way my flatmate Ellie has mono....which is called glandular fever here. So here is to hoping that I didn't share a drink with her in the past few weeks!

Thursday: Pretty much the same as the other days of class. However in neurophysiology today for a 1min break during lecture, the professor played a clip from Chicken Run, it was pretty sweet.  I had my first Sensation and Perception class today which went really well! I think I am going to like that class! I went to the Library for a few hours before going back to the flat for dinner. But now it is time for a little more work and for my weekend adventure. 

Tomorrow is Friday and in the morning the Arcadianz are leaving for QUEENSTOWN!! I do have to miss the two lectures I have that day, but I feel like Queenstown is worth it.  On the trip itinerary we have a jet boat ride to some mines, a full day on the Routeburn Track (one of the Great Walks), a gondola ride up to overlook queens town and a luge ride back down.  Many people are then buggy jumping, but I will just be cheering them on! 

This is the latest safety video from Air New Zealand which was filmed on the Routeburn Track where we will be hiking!

Sorry this post is so long! 

Oh O-Week!

This week is Orientation Week or O-Week.  O-week is an interesting experience to say the least.  There are some fun events every night, but they cost money to attend so I have not gone to many.  However to the students the main point of o-week is to go out and drink, EVERY night.  To my mother who checks this blog constantly and other concerned family members, don't worry I have not been drunk.

First, let's recap the highlights of my last few days. Monday, I got up early to get my Otago Student ID, the line was super long and it took about 35 minutes. They really need to get a better registration system going for such a large university. The rest of Monday was pretty chill, and I went over to Janessa, Juan, and Kelley's flat to play some card games that night.

On Tuesday, the O-week event was sports day where the different colleges (aka dorms) and the uni-flats competed.  The sports present were soccer, touch rugby, netball, and volleyball.  Even though I didn't sign up for a sport ahead of time I was still able to grab a Uni-flats t-shirt and play a few games of volleyball, which we dominated!  Then tuesday night we met up with some of Kelley's friends from her school back in the USA and drove over to a place in Dunedin where we could see some glow worms.  Glow worms are awesome, though to some they may just be green glow-in-the-dark dots.

Wednesday was another early start.  We had an international information session with the university.  It was kind of boring for we learned a lot of what they said on the Arcadia orientation and everything else was common sense. After sitting in the lecture hall (which was massive) for 2 hours we went out to check the clubs day, which is like the involvement fair at Denison.  Unfortunately the archery club's beginner sessions were already full, but I am on a waiting list if anyone drops out.  I am going to sign up for the tramping club (hiking), however, and there is also a Relay or Life here so I hope to get a team together. After getting to see all the clubs there, Janessa, Kelley, a new friend Theresa, and I went shopping at thrift stores and K-mart.  I bought 2 cheap shirts, which will hopefully fit in my suitcase coming home for I am sure to accumulate many more things. I must be careful! Wednesday night Janessa, Juan, and I went for a walk around Dunedin so see what the night life was like without actually participating. There was talk, however, about possibly doing some karaoke.

Now on to Thursday.  There was a scenic train ride for the international students. It was very pretty, but I was a bit tired and dosed a little bit. They didn't let us off train at stops until we got to the end to turn around. I got some good pictures though! Later on Thurday, Juan, Janessa, and I went over to a BBQ at Sarah's (friend from arcadia) flat complex, which turned out to be a lot of fun.  After we were there for a while, Juan, Janessa, Sarah, Rory (my plane buddy from LA, Rotorua, and Wellington!), and I went to get a little ice cream from a delicious and cheap place nearby.

I pretended I was on the Hogwarts Express just a little bit. 

The Conductor said something about a Lord of the Rings Scene or was it from the Hobbit?

Today is Friday, and there are preliminary lectures for some papers at the university. I have one a 3pm today for my music paper.  So instead of syllabus day, some papers just start a day early. Later this afternoon there is a Rugby game for O-Week! I am super excited to attend my first rugby game as it is a huge part of New Zealand culture, I just hope I can follow along and understand the rules. The game is not the national team (so not the All Blacks) so it is the Highlanders (Dunedin's team!) vs. the Chiefs (from Hamilton on the North Island). It should be a fun night!

Tomorrow is my surfing lesson, so wish me luck!

Beaches Galore!!

Friday started early for it was time for course registration! The system they have in place here is so much more stressful than at Denison.  You need to wait in ridiculously long lines for each department you're taking a class in, even if you don't know if you get into the course (called papers here).  There was one small mishap while registering. I am taking an Environmental History paper and therefore went to wait in the Environmental Studies line (as the code is ENVI211) but after waiting 20min in that line I was informed that this paper was being approved by the History department. But on the bright side I was able to convince the Physiology department advisor to let me into Neurophysiology!!  The rest of friday was very relaxing.  My kiwi host Pre and I watched some Pretty Little Liars.

Saturday was flatmate bonding day.  We explored Tunnel Beach and Sandfly Bay and then had lunch at St. Clair and saw a surfing competition.  Tunnel beach was amazing, but I liked Sandfly bay a lot better because there were seals! The seals were just lounging on the beach, not caring we were there, and one was trying to cover itself in sand! We had to climb up a huge sand dune to get back to the car, but it was an adventure. Later at night we started to watch the extended versions of Lord of the Rings! We got through one and 1/2.  We did a LOTR drinking game, but half of us (including myself) used water or tea. I had to drink every time Gandalf was being the awesome wizard he is.

Sunday was a slow day, it took me a while to get out of bed. Once I did have breakfast and shower, Juan, Janessa, Kelley, and I caught a bus to the Otago Peninsula and spent a little time in Portobello.  Currently I am over in their flat, and we may continue the LOTR movies. We shall see!