How exciting is it to be in the first time zone to celebrate new years.... I'll tell you EXTREMELY!!!! I had a blast at the new years celebration. We went out to bars in Christchurch for the first time. We went to an Irish restaurant and pub for dinner. I had a burger and chips, it was the American in me :). It was AMAZING! I also had a slice of one of the girls pizza, meatlovers, it was great! The service here is so much different than the states. You order, whenever they feel like coming around to take you order, and after they bring you your food that completes the service. You find someone to pay, but they don't check back on you like the states. I thought that was weird since I worked in a restaurant but I could get use to it. The people were interesting.... Before midnight we walked downtown for the fireworks and the countdown... That was one of the first times I realized... I'm really in New Zealand. I've always thought that a special New Years was to have someone to kiss at midnight, but actually having all of my friends around me made is special, including that I was in NZ makes it one that I will never forget. Not to mention that I actually drank something. (shocking I know to people who know I hate drinking) Rum and Coke is my new favorite things, not American coke, I love the sweet NZ coke.
After bringing in the New Years in one of the best ways possible... I spent the first day of the New Year (2010) at the beach.... That would never happen in the states..lol. On the way to the beach on the public transit this guy started to talk to us. He was interested in where we were from. Us Americans obviously stand out. I told him I was from Chicago. The next thing that came out of his mouth was you voted for OBAMA!! He seemed so excited. Of course I replied yes! It was interesting to me how excited he was for my president when he was from Ireland. It just showed me once more that even though there are so many people in the United States who are against Obama, people all over the world support him. And obviously there have to be enough people supporting him if he was able to become MY president. Well away for the political conversation. After he asked were we were staying we had to end that conversation quickly. In the states I would have told him to mind his own business, but in NZ I just smiled and looked the other way lol.
We took tons of pictures. It was so beautiful. The tide was low when we got there so we were able to walk really far out. Surprisingly the water was not cool at all. I think the thing that a lot of people learned was to reapply sunscreen! I'm glad my skin doesn't burn because it looked very painful. I had ice cream TWO TIMES! Did I mention that's my favorite food ever. Creamy Cookie was the best. At one point I was sitting on the beach and looking out.... I never want to leave!!!!!!!!! But I would miss my family way to much and it would be to expensive to call home everyday.
After the beach I called my mom... My dad isn't doing well. I wish I was there, but he strong and I have to remember the man upstairs is taking way better care of him than I possibly could. I called my granny too. I love talking to her! She just she writes down in her book every time I call. Not to mention she has our schedule and all the numbers possible to those who are down here so she can contact someone at any given time. My granny don't play.
Well overall if you can't tell by now I am having an amazing time in New Zealand. I'm getting ready to go white water rafting so I'm sure I will have more to write when I return. It's always so much I want to share with my friends but would hate to write it all and surely don't remember it. Since I won't have computer access for the next two days I will be sure to take my journal so that I can write things down. Upon my return I will be back. But until then ~Cheerio~
