My week in Rarotonga was beautiful. A bit hot and sticky for this Minnesota girl, but the water was unbelievably clear and the people welcomed us so graciously. We spent the week learning how to make headdresses and plates out of plants, dying sarongs, hiking across the island in the pouring rain, eating octopus and other interesting food items, getting tan on the beach, snorkeling in the coral reefs, planting taro, eating more tropical fruits than I've had in my entire life combined, listening to lectures about the Cook Islands, and getting to know the other members of the Auckland study abroad group.
Whew. It was busy, but it was the perfect change from the heaps of schoolwork I had been doing before the break. While I do not thoroughly enjoy being sweaty from just breathing, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience a new culture.
The road trip to the South Island of New Zealand followed right on the heels of Rarotonga. We flew in from the Cook Islands at 8pm on April 15th and out of Auckland to Christchurch at 6:30am on the 16th. Let's just say it was a night full of packing, laundry, rushed emails and little sleep.
The South Island experience was radically different from Rarotonga. I traveled around with two of my friends instead of in a group of 36 and the temperatures were about half that in the Cook Islands. It was nice to be back in Christchurch and strange to imagine how different my study abroad experience would have been if I had stayed there. We stopped to buy groceries at the grocery store near our old apartments and walking through the aisles we had cruised a few months earlier as students was a bit weird.
Our road trip took us first to see Mt. Cook. Well, technically we only saw Mt. Cook for about 20 minutes due to low cloud cover, but it was an awesome area. The mountains loom on all sides over a flat valley where the road winds its way towards Mt. Cook. After a rather chilly night tenting in my sleeping bag that is not meant for winter, I (along with Kristen and Stephen, of course) hiked around Mt. Cook and saw the glaciers there. The highlight came when the clouds parted for a brief moment and we got to see Mt. Cook. It towered over the skyline and was definitely worth the wait.
The next stop on our trip was Queenstown. The drive there was unbelievable. New Zealand continues to surprise me with the natural beauty that can be seen in every drive and vista. Rolling hills with mountains in the distant made the car ride to the adventure capital of New Zealand a pleasant experience. I loved Queenstown from the beginning. It is nestled right next to the Remarkables mountain range. Their peaks greet you every time you head outside. In Queenstown, I embarked on bit of an extreme sport rage and went bungee jumping off a platform 440 ft from the ground and skydived from 15,000 ft. Overall a successful trip. Both were awesome, but I was surprised to find I like bungee jumping more. I'm working on convincing Mom to go when they come, but I may be fighting a losing battle.
We spent the next few days after Queenstown tramping the Routeburn track. It's one of New Zealand's "Great Walks" and consists of a 32 km track passing from Mt. Aspiring National Park into Fjordland National Park. I hadn't hiked much before coming to New Zealand, but I have found it to be an awesome activity. While at times I found my hiking pack a bit heavy, the scenery more than justified the effort. I loved meeting the international range of people on the track and huts where we stayed. Certain lessons were learned for the future: bring a cup (it's helpful for drinking tea - water bottles are not effective), try to find alternatives to PB&J (I currently can't really look at peanut butter. Bleh.), and mint Tim Tams are the ultimate post-hike treat. Num.
Milford Sound was the next stop on our journey and while it rained the whole cruise, I found the fjord stunning. Around 1500 waterfalls appear when it pours there and while there were not quite that many when we were there, the sight was still impressive. We even spied a few seals and dolphins!
We continued up the West Coast to the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers. Unique in their close position to the sea, the glaciers are relatively easy to access. On Easter, we went on a half-day hike on the Fox glacier. I had seen glaciers from afar in Alaska last summer, but their vastness can't be understood until you actually hike on one. Easter was a bit difficult. I felt rather homesick for the traditional Easter experiences of church, Easter egg and envelope hunts, cheesy potatoes, and crazy family gatherings. I was able to Skype the family for a little bit, which was wonderful and difficult at the same time. I cannot wait to be back for all of the family things in a few months - I miss everyone!
A car ride through Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch wrapped up our journey. By the time we made it back, I was thoroughly smelly, wearing very dirty clothing, and ready to return to Auckland for a shower, real meal, and comfortable bed. We did spend an interesting 12 hours in the Christchurch airport waiting for our flight back at the ungodly hour of 5:40am. If anyone is wondering, the Antarctic Center next to the airport boasts live penguins, Hagglund rides, and fun exhibits. A few hours can be spent there...
I am now back. It has been a little difficult getting back into the routine of school, but it's getting better. Facing all of the work to be done in the next few weeks was a bit daunting at first, but when I consider that I only have 5 full weeks left, it seems so short. I can hardly believe it. The Lucht family arrives in 58 days! I am incredibly excited to show them the country I've been living in and have them meet Jan and Chris. It'll be a party.
It is also nice to be back in contact with everyone at home. Being away from reliable internet for 3 weeks was frustrating, but it made me appreciate how lucky I am to be in constant contact with those I love. Yay for Facebook, email, and Skype!
I believe this is the longest post I have ever written. Good for you if you make it through!
