I've just got back from the Victoria International Quiz night which my team of French, Americans, a kiwi and I won (a vast improvement on last trimester), meaning we now each have $15 movie vouchers to spend.
The nights are drawing in down here in New Zealand and the temperature got down to 4C here in Wellington last night; I'm beginning to wish I'd brought a few more jumpers with me.
The benefit of the shorter days is the spectacular sun rises I've been experiencing on my morning runs; I don't have to get up until 7am to be able to watch the first light spill across the harbour. My runs became quite disjointed as I was constantly stopping to take more pictures on my ipod (hence the bad quality of the photos this week).
Another event put on by Victoria this week was a pizza and milkshake night on Friday in the university bar/cafe. Hundreds of internationals turned up for the free food; it was so nice to catch up with many people I hadn't seen in ages whilst munching on piping hot pizza.
This Sunday was exactly 6 months away from Thanks Giving in the US; given that I live surrounded by Americans this date had to be celebrated, so I experienced my very first thanks giving meal. Next door cooked the 'turkey' (chickens), sweet potatoes, mash, honey-mustard green beans and salad and our house made the stuffing and I made the pumpkin bread (pictured below) and apple crumbles. In keeping with the American traditions we each had to say something we were thankful for, the none americans were made to where 'Pilgrim hats' and the football was on the TV. It was a fantastic night with delectable, American sized portions of food.
I'm now heading into exam period so will have to spend less time cooking and drinking coffee and actually do some study. The scary thing is, once these exams are over I only have 3 days left in Wellington then it's Australia, Singapore and home! How time flies.
Today I finally handed in my macropaleontology (fossil) assignment so I'm now free...until tomorrow when I start again, looking at microfossils this time, using a microscope.
Since last week I've been rather cultured, with a trip to a French play and the restoration of Timor Leste independence celebrations.
The French play was on Wednesday evening; the French society, including Claire, were putting on 'The Marriage of Figaro' for free. Luckily they had subtitles as I don't think my year eight French would have coped. It was a lovely evening with good music and it was nice to meet up with all my French friends.
On Friday we moved on to an Italian theme as our flat hand made pizzas. It was great fun and gave my arms a good work out as the kneading took quite some time. I think the pumpkin and blue cheese was my favourite.
On Saturday it Maria, my international buddy, and her fellow Timor Leste friends had organised a large party to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the restoration of Timor Leste independence. There were around 150 people there, including the East Timor ambassador who made a speech and sprayed champagne everywhere before cutting the gigantic cake. As well as the cake we enjoyed Timor Leste dishes cooked by Maria and her friends, including huge, whole BBQed fish, spicy salsas, a sweet pumpkin and kumara soup and many other delicious dishes.
We were introduced to the Timor Leste culture as we both watched and took part in some traditional dances and heard and sung some Timorese songs. There was a lovely, joyful atmosphere and everyone was so welcoming; I had a great time learning about a country which is relatively unknown.
It was back to class this week as the trimester started again last Monday meaning lectures and practicals and more study. I've spent yet another week looking at fossils and creating extensive spread sheets of their Latin names and when they appear in the fossil record. I've also attended a few seminars on climate change, Chinese politics and chocolate as part of the VILP (Victoria's International Leadership Program); as you probably guesses the chocolate one was my favourite as we were given Fair Trade chocolate samples.
After munching my way through some chocolate delights I joined a group of around 20 to celebrate Mealiny's birthday at Strawberry Fare; this is the place with the enormous, but pretty, desserts. It was a great, fun evening and so nice to catch up with many people who I hadn't seen since they returned from the South Island.
Two months sounds like such a short time after having been here for 10 months already, I'm excited to come home now but also for the travelling I've got before then.
My flat mates and the rest of the internationals have finally returned from their travels on the south island. It's been very quiet around Wellington this past week as all the new internationals took the Easter break as an opportunity to visit the beautiful landscapes down south. Meanwhile, here in Wellington, it's been pretty cold and wet so I've spent most of my week getting ahead on work, meeting up with the few people that are still in Wellington and baking. Included in this baking was my first bread; I made a red onion and rosemary focaccia; I was so amazed that this worked that yesterday I decided to have a go again, this time with pita breads and, after Dad's suggestion, some home made hummus to go with them.
My study had me sat in the lab for hours, identifying and drawing fossils; not my favourite type of geology.
During the past week my exam timetable came out, meaning I now know when I'm free to travel. Turns out my exams are annoyingly spaced but I have got time to fit in a 5 day trip to Sydney at the end of June, just before flying home.
I'm so excited for my coming travels to both Sydney and Singapore and can't believe that in 2 months time all this travelling will be done and I'll be arriving back in England; hopefully to a lovely summer.
