Can't I just sleep?

After making my way through customs in Auckland (I "declared" a pack of Orbit gum and the fact that I'd been around horses in the past six months), I met up with the rest of my AustraLearn group and our two coordinators Ella, a 22-year-old graduate student, and Cappy, a 39-year-old father of 7. Each of us received a phone card to call home. At this point, I was extremely tired, both emotionally and physically from dragging my two suitcase through the airport (Thank you Cappy for taking them to the bus for me!) and traveling for over 24 hours, so it wasn't surprising that I had trouble keeping myself together when I heard my parents' voices for the first time since leaving the United States.

Soon after I hung up the phone, we boarded a bus that took us to several sites around Auckland, including Mt. Eden, a dormant volcano overlooking the city. It goes without saying that I probably would have enjoyed them more after a change of clothes and a good night's sleep- not to mention a shower. Unfortunately, this was not on the morning's agenda. Next, we dropped our bags off at a hotel and walked a significant distance (uphill) to the place we would be eating lunch. Before we ate, we sat through a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on New Zealand history and culture. Here are two entertaining videos we watched during the presentation:




Later that afternoon, I finally moved into my hotel room, which I would be sharing with 3 other girls. Thinking I would be able to take as long as I wanted in the bathroom once everyone else was done, I offered to take the last shower. It turns out in New Zealand, Best Western hotels only give you 15 minutes of hot water per day. My shower was ice cold and therefore quite short.

That night, our group ate dinner in the city. Although I was even more exhausted by this point, it was difficult not to be fascinated by how clean the streets of Auckland were compared to American cities like New York. I can't remember seeing one piece of paper, plastic bottle or cigarette butt on the ground as I was walking. I since have learned that "going green" is a big part of New Zealand culture. In fact, 80% of the country's energy comes from renewable resources. Although it would be nice if this attitude caught on in the United States, I hope we draw the line at rationing hot water in our hotels. The food at dinner was very good- and apart from the fact than my chicken sandwich and French fries were labeled as a chicken burger and chips- very American. After walking back to our hotel room, my roommates were all in bed by 9:00 pm- and me by 9:30, because, even in New Zealand, I have to be the night owl. It was one of the most welcomed sleeps of my life.