Mini is awesome

HI! My name is Mini. I am sitting next to Allie, she is crazy!! Today I went to a baptism and church. I played games with my friends.

Orewa Beach and Barbeque

Some of us girls getting ready for a jump on the beach

Monique (our fun host mom) and Kara at the barbecue with her family and this was the day that we went to a birthday part and there was lots of family and it was loud and so fun! It reminded me of the good old Parker get-togethers :)

Mini!!

Mini, Me, Mosiah

Hannah and I on a rock (which you can't see)

Here is the beach, and I took this while stopping by a couple that let Natalie Snow and Linda Jacobs (Dr. Jacob's wife) borrow a cell phone so we could get in contact with the rest of the group. By the time I took this picture we had walked both lengths of the beach searching for Dr. Jacobs and 14 girls (not very hard to find, especially since we are all American). The reason we weren't with them was because Natalie had picked me and Kara up and then got Linda and went straight to the beach. Little did we know that the rest of the group was waiting all along for us at the church building in Henderson! Obviously we all felt really bad that they waited for us for 45 minutes while they could have been enjoying the beach, but as Natalie told me as we continued on our walk, that you have to make the best of every situation and be happy. I confided in her how stressed out I can be, and she told me New Zealand is a perfect place for me to be so I can learn from the people how to let loose and go with the flow. We talked about making decisions and choosing to be happy and get the most out of every situation. She is right, I am not going to be here very long, and I need to play hard, study hard, and I'll add this, be happy! Sure, frustrations will come and they already have, but it's about enjoying the scenery, and learning from the experiences, keeping faith in the Lord, and not fearing when others disappoint us, or times get trying. I realized how fearful I am in this new country and the lack of humility I have to ask for the Savior's comfort (I got this realization while reading a devotional address entitled "Some Lessons on Fear and Faith," by Gregory Clark in May 2008) I highly recommend it to anyone who has times of doubt because it opens up a person's mind to how we can better put our trust in the Lord and how to recognize the symptoms of fear, and a lack of faith. One of my goals is to increase in faith while I am here.

Me in front of the beach at high tide-hardly had to walk at all to the beginning of the water.

Orewa beach!! So beautiful! And warm

Here I am with my roomie Kara in front of our school-the Henderson Stake Center.
Funny story about this is that this was the first time we walked home on our own, and it should have only taken us 35 minutes, but we got lost on a trail close to the Douglass Track, and we kept on backtracking until we finally came to a street we knew and that eventually lead back to our home on Sylvan Cres. It was a hot day and I was really irritated by the end of it all. We asked for directions twice and we still got so lost, one of the women we asked directions from was walking with Mini, the youngest girl in our host family, our little sister. As I look back now I was realized I didn't get the most out of the walk because I was so worried about getting home and gathering my bearings. I never stopped to notice the beautiful creek by the trail, or the many trees and bushes we passed. I just could think of how upset I was and hot and tired, in an earlier picture I described a lesson I learned about learning how to live the Kiwi way. By Friday I hadn't learned it still, and I doubt I am anywhere close to learning, since I have much to learn, but Saturday also taught me a lesson as we were at the beach (above).

Well, those are some pictures of our adventures so far, it was a very fun-filled, exciting weekend and week. Let's see what next week will bring...I think, more homework...ha ha. Love you all!

What I have experienced so far

This is our classroom in the Henderson Church building

Our dryer for the next 3 months :)

Kara unpacking-she is a wonderful roommate and so willing to listen

My bed and area for clothes; the bathroom is just right behind. Our little apartment is so quaint

1st Day in New Zealand

Hello Everyone!
I am here in the beautiful land of New Zealand and I survived the 13 hour flight from LA to Auckland. Not much sleep but that's okay, because I am safe and sound and Kara (my roommate) and I are getting settled in. I'll have to post pictures of our little bungalow (very cute) and start to unpack. It is beautiful weather here-warm with a light breeze and the scenery is gorgeous!! I love it! Just a quick post to say that I am well and excited to start my adventure here. It's funny, but once I skyped my parents that was the first sign of homesickness, but it's not bad. My host family, the Fitsumansu family are really nice and we get to meet the whole family tonight (Only Farran, the dad was at the airport because his wife and kids are getting back from Australia tonight). It will be exciting to meet the whole family tonight! But for now, I better unpack :)

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!!