My Mom is Going a Little Crazy

I just got home for the Christmas break and it seems like it was only yesterday I was applying for the New Zealand program, and now in 2 weeks to the day I am leaving from LA to head to Auckland! AHHHH!! I am way excited but it is going to be a huge change. Anyway, while I am home I am spending time with family and I am going to start uploading some videos from YouTube about New Zealand (cause my mom is crazy and told me I should). I better listen to her ;) So here is the movie: enjoy! Also, I wish you all a wonderful Merry Christmas and time with your whanau (Maori for 'family'). Something interesting is that 'wh' in Maori is pronounced like an 'f' so when I told Miss Saxon's 3rd graders how to say the word we pronounced it incorrectly. Oops.

Here is a video:

Less than a month to go!

So we had our last prep class this Tuesday and oh my goodness me I am so nervous, but so excited. To be honest, I was freaked out after the class because we got our flight tickets to Auckland and two girls came and told us what to pack for and expect, and I just got really scared. Almost to the point where I wanted to call the whole thing off. NO way though-this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am taking it! Also, there's no backing out now. Sure, it will be scary to live in a new area where I don't know many people, there are no dryers, the school system is different, and the culture isn't like here, but isn't that why I am going?! Dr. Jacobs, our director, is right, we are going to New Zealand to experience something new and expand our horizons. Just for kicks, here is my list of things to do before I depart from LA:

1. Take finals (pass them all)
2. Pack up all my belongings
3. Spend quality time with friends and family in Provo before I leave
4. Gorge out on American food so that I am so sick of it I will want to eat lots of New Zealand delicacies (actually, I'll want to do this anyway)
5. Run everyday so I won't feel guilty for gorging :)
6. Make a packing list for New Zealand!!! Take less than I ever plan!!!
7. Get traveler's bag
8. Make copies of passport and talk to bank about overseas purchases
9. Make contact with host family
10. Buy gift for host family

I am sure that is not all inclusive, but it's a start. At least I know that I have a few things to do...
I can't believe it is almost here!!

37 days!!!

Oh my goodness I cannot believe that there are only 37 more days until I depart from L.A. to travel to New Zealand! We have been learning a lot about what we are going to do in New Zealand with the schools, but there is going to be two weeks when we are just playing :) Some of the activities I just have to do, even though they are going to be sooo scary, but so worth it!

Skydiving
Bungy Jumping-look to the left!
Repelling by a waterfall

Other things are going to be so fun and not scary to visit, like walking through the botanical gardens of Christchurch, visiting Auckland, and eating all that amazing food!These are just a snapshot I found on Google of what the botanical gardens look like in Christchurch. I am sure they are going to be way prettier in real person. I am so excited to visit all the places we are going to:
Auckland (where we will be teaching in the schools)
1. Piha Beach-what could be better?!
2. Auckland Museum-I love history and museums show lots of history so I am sure I will love this
3. Sky Tower-one of the group of girls in our class told us that if you walk to very top of the tower and stand on the outer edge you will feel like you are going to be blown away!
4. Goat island-will we see goats there is my question?
5. Kelly Tarlton's-that will be interesting to see what is there
Queenstown (so much like England because many Dutch and English settled in New Zealand)
Hamilton and Rotorua
Northland

For every trip I take I will put up a post and show lots of pictures! I am so excited to begin this adventure!!

Prep Class Just Started

Hey Guys!! I am just starting this blog even though New Zealand doesn't start for another 2 months...I am just so excited I can't help it :) This week I am going to research about Christchurch, a beautiful city in New Zealand and I am interested to see what it is all about. While I am very scared about going to a new culture and leaving my comfort zone of the United States, I know that this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so why should I miss it?!
A little about me: I am an Elementary Education major with a TESOL K-12 minor and I am currently in my first cohort at Brigham Young University. My family is small but we are all really close and I appreciate them so much for supporting me in my decision to go to New Zealand. All my life my parents have supported me and they mean the world to me. For fun I love to run and read (not at the same time) and I love to laugh and tell stories. I promise I'll have many to share as I venture into the beauty and unknown land of New Zealand!