True to my word, this post is coming at you from the Otago University Central Library. It's very new, fancy, high tech, and spacious. The only thing missing is that familiar musk of book glue and dust that I'm so fond of in Iowa State's library. Since the second to last post (the last one doesn't really count) the first week of classes have come and gone, I climbed a mountain, and the second week of classes (called "papers" here) have started. For those curious I'm taking an introductory Ecology class, Physical Geography, Transformations in Developing Countries, and God and Ethics in the Modern World. I was signed up for a Fundamentals of Dance class but decided to drop it because the work load was more than I was felt up to at the moment and the class was a little too...shall we say "abstract" for what I want to do right now. However, the session of moving to express my inner animal in the first practical was quite insightful and enjoyable. I just don't think I'd like to do it for a semester. Anyway, I'm looking forward to all my classes that I have left, particularly Transformations in Developing Countries and God and Ethics.
After a pretty low workload last week, I headed out with the tramping (hiking) club to a place near Fjordland National Park called Paradise, NZ. A couple tips of advice I would lend to anyone looking at traveling to New Zealand would be to buy clothes in the states and bring warmer clothing than you think you'll need. I was taken off guard by the outrageous price of hiking pants I had to buy and the average temperature of the weekend that hovered around in the 40's or maybe 50. When we arrived at the camp, we were met by a persistent downpour and so we tried to squeeze all 70 of us in a shelter. There's no better way to meet new people than spooning with them on the floor of a shelter. Waking up, I saw the scenery that had been hidden by the nighttime when we arrived and it was incredible. Huge, jagged, snow capped mountains surrounded us with waterfalls halfway down the mountain and moss covered trees at the base. I was able to see all of the above at a closer view throughout my hike. The hike had been pretty mild until we turned off the trail and up the boulder covered side of the mountain we intended to summit. At times the terrain was vertical and the only way up was to use to the thick, prickly vegetation that clung to the rocks to pull yourself up. We had to use similar techniques on the rocks toward the peak which went on for about an hour and a half: an exhausting task for sure but also very worth it. Only a picture will describe the view closest to its true awesomeness. We ate a light lunch and headed down after pictures. It reached about 60 for a time and started to snow, which still has me baffled. The trip was 10 hours total. Hopefully, more similar and greater trips ensue. I'll just bring a little bit warmer clothing next time. For now, I should put this library to good use and get to reading. For those of you reading this who don't see any pictures, I will put a couple up later this afternoon. Love to you all.
True to my word, this post is coming at you from the Otago University Central Library. It's very new, fancy, high tech, and spacious. The only thing missing is that familiar musk of book glue and dust that I'm so fond of in Iowa State's library. Since the second to last post (the last one doesn't really count) the first week of classes have come and gone, I climbed a mountain, and the second week of classes (called "papers" here) have started. For those curious I'm taking an introductory Ecology class, Physical Geography, Transformations in Developing Countries, and God and Ethics in the Modern World. I was signed up for a Fundamentals of Dance class but decided to drop it because the work load was more than I was felt up to at the moment and the class was a little too...shall we say "abstract" for what I want to do right now. However, the session of moving to express my inner animal in the first practical was quite insightful and enjoyable. I just don't think I'd like to do it for a semester. Anyway, I'm looking forward to all my classes that I have left, particularly Transformations in Developing Countries and God and Ethics. 
After a pretty low workload last week, I headed out with the tramping (hiking) club to a place near Fjordland National Park called Paradise, NZ. A couple tips of advice I would lend to anyone looking at traveling to New Zealand would be to buy clothes in the states and bring warmer clothing than you think you'll need. I was taken off guard by the outrageous price of hiking pants I had to buy and the average temperature of the weekend that hovered around in the 40's or maybe 50. When we arrived at the camp, we were met by a persistent downpour and so we tried to squeeze all 70 of us in a shelter. There's no better way to meet new people than spooning with them on the floor of a shelter. Waking up, I saw the scenery that had been hidden by the nighttime when we arrived and it was incredible. Huge, jagged, snow capped mountains surrounded us with waterfalls halfway down the mountain and moss covered trees at the base. I was able to see all of the above at a closer view throughout my hike. The hike had been pretty mild until we turned off the trail and up the boulder covered side of the mountain we intended to summit. At times the terrain was vertical and the only way up was to use to the thick, prickly vegetation that clung to the rocks to pull yourself up. We had to use similar techniques on the rocks toward the peak which went on for about an hour and a half: an exhausting task for sure but also very worth it. Only a picture will describe the view closest to its true awesomeness. We ate a light lunch and headed down after pictures. It reached about 60 for a time and started to snow, which still has me baffled. The trip was 10 hours total. Hopefully, more similar and greater trips ensue. I'll just bring a little bit warmer clothing next time. For now, I should put this library to good use and get to reading. For those of you reading this who don't see any pictures, I will put a couple up later this afternoon. Love to you all.
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