news from the bottom of the world

“never say no to adventures. otherwise you will live a dull and boring life”

My last few days in New Zealand are completely action-packed.  Yesterday, we went to the Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve where we got to bathe in hot mud pools from the naturally warm geothermal activity!  Then, we went white water rafting down the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the WORLD.  Today, we went to the Kiwi Reserve to see live kiwi birds, then ZORBING (rolling down a hill in a giant plastic bubble).  Tomorrow, we’re off on a 5-hour black water rafting adventure, rafting inside the caves and exploring the glowworms!  I return home on Friday, and I’ll have tons more stories to tell when I return!

Volunteer Recap

I haven’t had the opportunity to post a full list of all the volunteerism we completed, so here goes:

-At Tutereinga Marae (Mauri meeting house): We learned 3 waiatas (songs) in the Mauri language and went through a powhiri (welcoming ceremony). We are now part of this marae and their family.

-Sanctuary Trust Bird Park: We planted 1200 seedlings, removed 2 invasive trees and dismantled 20m of fenceline

-Lynley Park: We spent 5 hours doing release work (basically weeding).  REALLY prickly, invasive plants like the blackberry vines.

-Upland Road: We created about 200m of track in the bush; which included removing some pretty crazy tree stumps.

-Tracking: We went to the shoreline and collected and measured blocks of cockels (like clams).  They are a really important indicator species of how the entire harbor is doing, so counting and measuring them is really helpful.

-Omokoroa School: We visited this primary school which has a grant from the government to be an “eco-school,” so they have a large focus on learning about the environment.  Each of us from ISV prepared a presentation about our hometowns for the students.  Then, we helped them plant 450 trees on the grounds of their school.  After the planting, we got to participate in some sports with the kids, including football (soccer), basketball, and net ball (like basketball).

-Avalon: We visited Avalon, a day center for adults with physical and developmental disabilities.  We interacted with the people there and exhanged knowledge.  We got a tour of their facilities and learned about the various contracting jobs they fulfill.  We also had the pleasure of being the audience to their circus performance, and then got to learn some circus tricks for them.  Unfortunately, our outdoor volunteering for the day got cancelled due to heavy rain, but it was still a rewarding experience.

-Tutereinga Marae:  We went back to the marae for our final night on Project, where we slept in the marae, which is meant to be the embodiment of their ancestors.  It was a great honor to be invited to sleep in the marae in that style, and we got to connect with our new family.

So that’s everything the Kuaka group accomplished during our two weeks, and now we’re halfway through the adventure tour!  More adventures to come: white water rafting, zorbing, and black water rafting!

Internet in New Zealand!

Just an update from NZ… We’ve been staying in a lodge with no heat in the bunk bed area, and hot water for showers heated by a fire we have to light ourselves.  Surprisingly, we don’t have cabin fever yet.  Though we’re all pretty excited to be out on the town for a weekend.  We’re in the beach town called Coromandel, and it’s pretty dead right now because it’s winter!  So we’re internet-ing it up before fish-and-chips dinner and then out to the pubs to watch rugby on the telly over a pint.  Yep.  Oh, and in the past few days, a group of 29 of us have succeeded at planting 1400 trees, “released” (weeded) a whole area of invasive plants so good plants could grow, and created a nice track though a forest by removing tree stumps, shoveling and raking.  Pretty sweet, huh?  Or should I say, “sweet as!”

I’m off!

Well, here I go!

First, a flight from LaGuardia to Houston, then 2 hour layover there, then another flight to LAX.  There, I’ll meet up with ISV staff and prepare for the flight to Auckland!

Next time, I’ll be reporting to you from 16 hours in the future, on the bottom of the world!

(updated!) Packing List!

Well, here goes…

I’ll be trying to acquire/gather all of these items in a little less than 2 weeks:

• warm sweatshirt
• thermals
• work clothes pants/shorts/t-shirts
• hiking boots/socks
• swimsuit
• underwear and socks
• waterproof jacket
• WARM Pajamas
• slippers
• hat and scarf
• warm gloves
• casual clothing
• “dress to impress” outfits
• sneakers
• sandals
• duffel bag
• backpack
• towel
• work gloves
• sleeping bag
• pillowcase
• sunglasses and sunblock
• camera
• reusable water bottle
• swiss army knife
• binoculars
• travel alarm clock
• watch
• plastic bags
• travel lock
• toiletries
• insect repellent
• hand sanitizer
• personal first aid kit
• converter/electric adapter
• tupperware lunch box
• travel guide: recommended Lonely Planet New Zealand

So I’ve made some progress! 

If anyone has any of these non-crossed off items they would like to lend me, or have any advice on how to acquire any of these inexpensively, that would be much appreciated!

“Procrastination is our substitute for immortality. We behave as if we have no shortage of time.”

So.. It’s officially May 10th, and I depart for New Zealand on June 10th.  I also have yet to book my flight to LA so I can catch the group flight with ISV.  I should probably get on that..

ISV says that I’ll receive my volunteer assignment 30 days before my departure, so I anxiously await!  Oh, and there’s still time to donate: http://www.isvonline.org/donate/participant/usa/
My ISV ID # is 102137!

Thanks! More frequent updates coming soon, the exciting stuff is just beginning!

Statue of Riff Raff Rocky Horror

nzwhereabouts:

Statue of Rickard O’Brien [WIKI] Victoria St., Hamilton (via rickygamboa)

This is now on my list of things I want to see in New Zealand. Perhaps I’ll have some time for exploring somewhere between 80 hours of volunteer work and zorbing.