07.12.10 last evening, family dinner and busy night

As I came home from the exam, Sheina (or Sheila??? ok, the grandma^^) was at home, backing something. I started to pack and played one last time together with the kids.

Michaela came home, at about 6, and started to cook something with chicken and pasta and I thought, hey, we wanted to do a German dinner, together, but I didn´t say something and thought, ok, let them surprise you!

Jeremy & the German bubble

It got 7 p.m. and Michaela explained me, that this meald is just for the kids, in case they didn´t like the other stuff (they didn´t^^). Than she said, that she and her mother went into the supermarket and bought everything German, they could find, but there is some meat, what she don´t know, what to do with. She thought at first, you have to eat it cold, but now she thinks, you need to cook it, maybe I can do it??? Hehe, gues, what se put out of the fridge??? Bratwurst!!! I laughed so much!!! No, you don´t cook it, you friy it, like a BBQ sausage ;P I fried the sausages and Jeremy opened German bubble to drink and cut bread from the German backery. We also had Bavarian salami, hungaria aspic (Sülze???) and some chees, it was great!!! 

they did a cold dinner, because I always told them, that we don´t eat warm for dinner, normaly for lunch and that this toast "bread" (It is called bread, before you toast it, but for me it is always toast^^) is no bread ;P

thank you so much for this time!

We had a nice last evening and at the end I carried Meyner down into her bed. We talked a lot and she was very sad, that I´ll leave.... I always told her, that we´ll meet again, in March (they wanted to be in Wanganui over christmas) and she really wants to come to Germany, we´ll see.....

Afterwards started my very busy, sleepless night. I washed my last things, packed everything & made a calender for them. I already had printed out some pictures and had bought some cooured paper and got creative. With me, 3 hours long, my parents via Skype, thank you so much for your support!!!! Also sometimes my brother and my cousin, and guess what they both said, as they saw me??? "you should be in your bed, go!!!" ;P I slept 2 hours this night, got up at 5 and put the laundry into the dryer. I had no time for breakfast, I forgot my coffe in the kitchen and was too late for the picking up from Marieke and her hostdasd, but in the end everything went fine. 

Michaela gave me a big hug for goodbye, Meyner repeated always, that she´ll miss me so much and Isambard was the cool guy, who doesn´t want to show, that he is sad, as well, we said goobye with handshake^^

The goodbye of Wellington was wind & rain, typically!

Last weeks, trips

Last Weekend trip, Napier

We decided, that we need a last weekend together, therefore Marieke, Jule, Wanda, Vera & I rented a car and drove to Napier (or at least Marieke was driving^^)

It was a nice trip, but not that great, as the one to Rotorua.

Ok, but, everything in the right order, the drive to Napier was quite relaxed and we stoped at a nice Café, with a funny cat.

The hostel was ok (the house), but the atmosphere and the people were great. I just got a little bit scared of my backpacker time. there were people since 1 month, without work, I don´t want that..... But, ok, let´s see, it´ll work, I´m quite sure about that!

Wanda, Jule, I & Vera

We also did some nice walks around one lake (unfortunately the smaller one, but the otheres were so tired from "making party".

We are flying!!!!!

who can see the man?

Oh, and the beach, we´ve found, was great, at least for taking pictures^^

Greeetings to Germany!!!!

I´m sorry, I´ve forgotten the name of the place, where we stopped on our way back for a walk, but that is, how it looked like:

But when we were walking on him, the whole scenery looked like home, really, it was incredible, I couldn´t believe it! On the one side I was quite happy about it, but on the other hand it made me homesick.....

The next "trip" I made was to Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand, it´s great!!! Unfortunately I didn´t visit it a second time, but I went to the lens on the world exhibiton. There were pictures, taken by Brian Brake, a New Zealand photographer and it was very impressive! I spent over 1 hour just in the three rooms and couldn´t get everything into my head.

http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/BrianBrake/Pages/default.aspx?redirectedurl=true

I also discovered another exhibiton about New Zealand immigrants from all over the world. There were many young guys, who´ve done clips, pictures, poems or just an audiobook, about their background, why they had to leave their country, how they leave here...... It was very interesting as well and gave me some stuff to think about.

Merry Christmas!

A big hug form NZ, I miss you all!!!

Abel Tasman, Anchorage Bay

last Demipair weeks, school

School was very stressful, it got closer and closer to the exam and we did a lot of exercice. Everyday example tests, reading, writing, listening & speaking.
But I decided for myself, that I won't learn too much. Ok, the last weekend was busy, I had to learn and to pack everything, but during the last weeks I thought: "Hey, what was good enough for the Abi has to be good enough for Camebridge" That's why I still had a little bit of time to do other things.

Rachael tried to break through the boredom of theorie with small trips, like the one to the Parliament, to the court or just to a cafe.
She was very helpful!

We had 4 new students during the last week, 2 boys & 2 girls from Germany, 16 or 17 years old. They used to go to a college and lived in a homestay family.
They opened our eyes. Now we new, how rude we must have been during the first weeks. The way they acted and the way they talked, typical German sometimes, and everything signalised: Hery, look how self confident I am, noone can see how unsure I am.....
They were sometimes 50 min. tto late and even didn't say sorry for that and stuff....

group picture in New World

Aliscja & Rawin organised a Demipair night for all of us and it was a lot of fun. We got a map of Wellington and small pieces of pictures. We needed to find the things on the picture and than to take a picture of our self infornt of that thing. You could get extra marks, when you managed to take pictures of your group with full drinks, with empty drinks, in the sea, standing on your hands and stuff like that. 

My group didn't drink, but we had pictures with full and empty glasses. We just went to some guys and said, hey, we have a contest, could we please take a picture with your full/empty glasses.
Oh, and by the way, do you know where we can find these things?
The other groups bought drinks and in one group there were
three non drinker, so one girl had to drink the four glasses,
she was quite funny afterwards^^

Jule & I

We also had the picture with the most people on it. We went into New World and made people to look into our camera. In the end we won, juhu^^ We got a New Zealand calender, really cool!

The last day at school was strange, it just felt strange. It is strange to say goodbye, strange to take last pictures and strange to stay infront of the whole school, when you get your certificate.

But the Demipair Farewell evening was nice, we were sitting at school, looking at pictures and had much time to talk to each other. thanks guys for the great evening!

Than there was the exam, two days, Monday and Tuesday, Monday the speaking exam and Tuesday the rest. I wasn't that excited, only just a little bit, but the white wine, before the speaking exam, helped a lot, thanks Hannah^^
I think, everything was alright, I should have past it, but I won't know it before the 25th of January, so please be patient and don't ask me about it, all the time ;p

last Demipair Weeks, family stuff

The last Demipair weeks got more & more stressful. I was often annoyed, Meyner finally tried her boundaries (that sounds very German, but, never mind....) and tried to tell me, what to do, I hated that!
Example: We listened all the time to Taylor Swift. I mean, I like her, but not the hole day! Therefore I tried to get her into other country musicians, some of them are bands, I really like. And what was her comment? "Do we have to listen to this terrible music?" Hello?!?!?!?!? Yes, we do!

But there were also great moments, like our trips to the Botanical Gardens, they're really great!

 I wanted to do something different with the kids, than playing UNO or Skip Bo, so we went to Karori and walked through the gardens, I loved it! And the kids enjoyed it, as well. Isambard is quite talented in taking pictures and we all had much fun at the playground.

Michaela was very kind. She agreed to accomany me to have a look at the Taekwondo training of the Victorai University, it was sooooo cool^^
I grew up, with Taekwondo around me, and I guess, that's the reason why I felt comfortable, as soon as I saw these guys in their Dobocs (Is that the right spelling?!?!?!^^)
They were all really nice and I went there a few times to train. Juhuuuuu^^
There were another German girl, Sophia, (yes, Germans are here everywhere, I can't believe, that there are still some in Germany...) and she took me also to a dinner, together with other students.
Ha, I need to tell you something, even if it doesn't fit to the headline:
As I came "home" from our Southisland trip, Michaela told me, that the Taekwondo World Championships 2011will take place here, in Wellington, yeeehaaa!!!^^

Sooooo great!!!

Thank you so much!!!!!
Many, many, maaaanyyyy Greetings to the whole "Berggasse"!!!!1

http://rabenloch.de/main.html?src=%2F

11. - 24.10. Freeeeezing!!!!

Ok, the last weeks in short:
I was f... cold, nearly like winter and it rained..... aehhhh!!!
Marieke had blisters from their Kayaktour at the weekend and one of them were infected, so she had to go to the doctor, it was nearly a blood infection (??).

What else?

Pudding!!!!!!

I bought raintrousers (very useful!) and I still waited for the package, which finally arrived on Saturday!
Oh, it was so great, Mum and Dad, I love you!!!!
The kids still can't believe, that Haribo has so much more flavor than the local gummibears ;p


On Sunday (17.10.) we had lunch with Alan, Jeremys mate. He's originally from a village near Weilheim (sorry, I always forget the name ;p) and lives here now since three years. It was very nice. We played Settlers and talked a lot about Bavarian traditions and meals and stuff like that...


We (Marieke, Sophia, Jule, Vera & I) wanted to do the Tongariro crossing, next weekend, but, unfortunately, I twisted my ancle, so I couldn't go with them... I will do it in January or March with Vera together^^
This Monday, I wanted to go climbing. Sophia was ill, but Kira & Jule told me, that they both will be there.... As I reached the hall, I couldn't find them.... Jule txt me, that she's already gone and Kira wrote me back, that she decided not to come, great! I was in such a bad mood, as  I came home, it was terrible.... I mean, it is always so much fun and I was dead looking forward to it (can I say it like that??).
Fortunately, I met Marieke, who was out for a walk with two of "her" kids and I went with her. It made me feel so much better! I really don't know, what I would do without her!

This week was a bit different at school, we went to the Parliament (guided tour for 2 $, normally you can go there for free, but we're a school..... Rachel was so cross with them ;p) and Fede didn't show up on Thursday, Rachel couldn't believe it! (He went on holidays ;p) The Parliament guide was nice and the tour was interesting.... I now know, how the building is prepared for earthquakes;p And, funny: they have this stone there, with flags or scarfs from each of the different nations here in NZ. Gues who where the only ones with the right sice of that "flag" ? The Germans ;p The other nations had bigger things hanging there, only the Germans had a small one ;p

Oh, and I tried to make Brezen. They looked like they should, but they didn't taste good, I couldn't figure out why....




Ha, on Sunday (24.10) I finally managed to go to Red Rocks! My ankle was alright again.

Red Rock

The weather didn't look good, here in Wadestown, but it was beautiful as soon as i reached the coast!
I've really seen seals, amazing!!!!
The Rocks are quite fascinating, you go around one corner and the colur of the Rocks has changed from grey to red and afterwards a little bit green, than grey again, really strange, but beautiful!

Seal!!!!^^

Walking scenery

Story

Once upon a time a little girl flew together with a nice hat and a big rucksack to a place, far, far from home....

On her flight she heard most of the time a beautiful song. She will always remember the feelings she had, the people she thought about and missed and the things, that happened afterwards...

What happened?
She met there many nice people, most of them she'll never forget, but most of all, she met there many, many, many (Markus, guess what??) SHEEP ;p

at first far far away....

(Otari Wiltons Bush)

... on a hill.
She longed for being closer, so she went to a farm.....

Farm in Wanganui

......but it didn't satisfy her enough.

She wanted to go closer!

Stable next to the Red Woods

and closest ;p

The talking sheep on the way to Rotorua

Now she is looking for a opportunity to walk on a sheep farm to touch them ;p

04.-10.10 tired start with happy ending

Ok, guys, I decided to write in English, or at least to try it.
I beg you pardon mistakes, I'm still practising ;p
And I really want to say sorry to those, who won't understand it, (especially to Oma & Opa, please, could someone help them?)
It's just so difficult to change the language and I really need to stay in English.....

Ok let's start:
Monday was alright, we brought the car back and got a lift into town from the garage guy.
That was quite funny, actually, because he was talking with Marieke, the whole way. Ok, that's not funny, but he had an strong London accent and Marieke was like: "again, please..... could you repeat it..... I didn't get it, sorry...." He repeated everything, just not slower or clearer ;p
Despite this I was really glad to sit in that car, otherwise we would have had to hitchhike.
At school was everything the same, afterwards as well, I ironed.
Oh, something special, I started singing. Yes, you got it right! I haven't done it the whole time since I'm here. Strange, huh?  That was when I realized that I didn't felt as comfortable as I thought...... Jeremy was really surprised hearing me singing ;p
Another story: Meyner watched Wise guys music videos with me together and after the second (!!) song she said:"aeehmmm, can't we listen to an English song???? ;p"
Climbing wasn't good this day, I was so tired and had no power, not at all....

I was soooooo damn tired on Tuesday, I even couldn't think about an example sentence for some grammar stuff at school... That's why I slept as soon as I reached home.

Third day of the week, Wednesday:
We had our first writing workshop at school, where we can talk alone with Rachel about our writing, that's pretty good! You don't have to bore someone with your specific questions.
And I was still waiting for the package from home.

Ha, today, I bought my new rucksack at the Kadmanduh outlet, really cool!^^ The only annoying thing is, that everybody knows after three words, that we're from Germany ;p
The evening was the highlight of the day. I had to babysit (no, that's NOT the thing I want to talk about ;p). Guess waht? I called..... ANDREA!!!! YEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHH!!!!! No Skype ;( but talking, i miss it so much!!

Friday happened nothing really interesting, therefore I'm not going to speak about it ;p
Instead of it, Sutterday.
The Sutterday started like a normal weekend day, relaxing, eating, changing weather.
I met Sophia in town, around Lunchtime (the other's went to.... oh no, I forgot about it... ok, it's not important, Sophia and I did a biketour along the coast.

It's dead beautiful there, and it wouldn't be exhausting, if there wouldn't be the wind... It's like cycling up a steep hill, ALL the time!
We wanted to go to the Red Rocks, however, we decided to go back, after we reached the Island Bay.
It was better like that!

Sunday was nice, I went together with my hostfamily to the Eastbourn Beach and we collected shells and even a shark egg!

Meyner & the Shark egg

                            

Michaela & I

'We' (without Isambard)

Meyner, trying to feed the seagulls

03.10.10 Way back home....

Ok, alles fertig packen, fruehstuecken und abmarsch!
Oh, wir wollten noch die Kirche besuchen (Maori art mixed with Christian), aber die ist am andern Ende der Stadt..... Ok, ne, lassen wirs...

Bubbles!!! Finally ;P

Hey, habt ihr auf der Karte gesehn, dass der Park, in dem wir waren, gar nicht der, mit den tollen Bubbles ist? Echt?!?!?! Marieke, umdrehn!
Und, wiedermal ein wunderbares Wenden auf den Strassen von Rotorua, auf gehts zum Park und danch doch noch zur Kirche!

Schwefel.....

Der Park ist halt angelegt, d.h., ueberall sind Zaeune drum rum, aber man sieht, dass die Erde hier shcon arbeitet, teilweise kommt kein Dampf mehr aus manchen Erdloechern, oder andre Sachen sind nur provisorisch abgezaeunt, weil sie noch ganz neu sind..... Hier ham wir dann aber echte, gescheid grosse Blubber-Schlamm-Blasen und schoene dampfende Erdloecher und kochend heisses Pfuetzenwasser gesehn!

Und die Kirche war auch definitiv ihren Beusch wert! Oder, vielmehr der Fleck, an dem sie liegt, am Ufer von nem See, wunderschoen! Rein konnten wir leider nicht, weil wir nicht bedacht hatten, dass Sonntag morgens ja Gottesdienst gefeiert wird.... Naja, ok, dann nicht, auf gehts, noch ein Kaffee und auf zum Vulkan.
Ich hatte super Kopfschmerzen und hab ausserdem gemerkt, dass ich langsam nicht mehr faehig bin, was neues aufzunehmen. Dementsprechend bin ich dann auch an unserm naechsten Zwischenstopp den Pfad mehr langeschlichen und hab mir gedacht:"aha, ok, der Fels da drueben dampft, ja, schoen, und weiter? Gitbs hier nichts beeindruckenderes?" Irgendwann kann man einfach nicht mehr mehr aufnehmen...

Dafuer war ich dann nach ner Zeit schlafen am Ruecksitz wieder einigermassen fit um unsern naechsten Pausentrip zu geniessen: Der Wasserfall bei Taupo.

Walk Ausblick

Wieder super schoene Landschaft, nur leider ne richtige Touristenattraktion, Parkplatz daneben und viele Busse mit Fotogierigen Menschen. Fanden wir bloed. Wollten mehr Ruhe haben. Sind ja auch ca. ne Stunde hingewandert. Man. Ok, typisch Touris: Die Herrschaften waren wirklich nur am Wasserfallaussichtspunkt, wir sind einfach 10 Minuten weiter den Berg rauf, ham uns da unsern eigenen (viel shcoeneren) Aussichtspunkt gesucht, unsern Lunch gegessen und den Ausblick genossen, super!
Und nach dem Rueckweg gabs auch noch eine Runde heisse Quellen baden (fuer Marieke und Sophia, mir hat Fuesse reinhalten gereicht) und, wenn ich schreibe heiss, dann mein ich wirklich heiss^^

Tongariro National Park

Das war aber genau dass, was wir als Pause auf der Fahrt gebraucht haben, erfrischt und wiedermal mit nem Kaffe gings weiter, diesmal ohne langen Stop, auf nach Wellington.
Unsern Dinnersalat gabs auf nem Autorastplatz-Aussichtspunkt und wir habens auch geschafft, auf der Heimfahrt wieder Englisch zu reden, damit die Umstellung nicht allzu schwer faellt.
Und auch auf der Heimfahrt wieder: Man peilt gar nicht, wie schnell die Landschaft hier von gruenen Huegeln mit Schafen und Seen dazwischen zu Wald und dann zu kargen Buescheln wechselt und dann von einer Minute auf die andere ist man wieder zwischen gruenen Huegeln, das ist echt krass!!
Nachm Dinner bin ich dann wieder gefahren und ich habs end genossen, irgendwie haben so 100, 110 km/h doch auch was gemuetliches, man hat Zeit auch mal in den Sonnenuntergang zu schaun und wenn man keinen Stress hat, dann ists echt super....

Jaja, ich merk schon, wie ich mich bisschen der Lebenseinstellung hier anpass.... : )

--> Bestes Wochenende!!!

02.10.10 "Water"- day

Nachdem ich heut morgen es endlich auf die Reihe gebracht hab diesen dummen Brief fertig zu schreiben gings dann auch los, Rafting!!!!
Uns ham drei nette Typen abgeholt (insgesamt 4 deutsch Maedls und ein spanisches Paar, das nicht wirklich Englisch verstanden hat) und los gings.
Und, wen treffen wir da (ausser dem andern deutschen Maedl namens Christin)? wieder nen Deutschen, der aber diesmal da arbeitet. Wir hatten aber Glueck (auch wenns gemein klingt) und sind nicht in seinem Boot gelandet, das ist naemlich umgekippt, als sie den Wasserfall runter sind, wir nicht! ^^

Und es macht einfach super Spass! Man sieht die Natur aus nem ganz andern Blickwinkel, man wuerde das meiste ueberhaupt nicht bemerken, wenn man den Weg daneben geht.. Da sind unendlich viele Stromschnellen und Farne und kleine Hoehlen, die man total uebersehen wuerde.... Neben der "Action" von Wasserfaellen und Stromschnellen runterrasen (ich bin auch mal geschwommen und ne Stromschnelle am Kayak hintendranhaengend runter^^) gibts auch ruhige Momente, in denen man einfach den Wald und die Stimmung geniessen kann!
Aber, so einfach ist es nicht, man muss schon immer erst kurz ueberlegen, in welche Richtung jetzt "backwards" paddeln ist... Aber unser "Fuehrer" war super zufrieden mit seinen vier Maedls^^ Am Besten fand er unsern "Schlachtruf", den wir dann gebruellt haben, bevor wir den Wasserfall runter sind: "Sweet ass - VERDAMMTE SCHEISSE!"
Wir ham uns dann auch mal gleich die Bilder Cd gekauft (Nein, nicht total ueberteuert und man kriegt alle Bilder, anstatt nur ein Souvenier Bild fuer was weiss ich wieviel...) und Christin hat sie sich dann von uns gebrannt, so hat jeder nur 8 $ oder so dafuer gezahlt, echt super!

Die Stimmung von diesem Erlebnis hat dann auch den ganzen Tag angehalten, und konnte durch nichts versaut werden. Nicht, durch den Stromausfall im Hostel ueber die Mittagszeit, nicht durch den Schwefel"duft" im Park und der Stadt und auch nicht durch unsre staendige Verfahrerei!
Das war aber auch schon wieder total komisch, wir ham erstmal nicht den See gefunden, zu dem wir hinwollten, sondern waren auf ner andern (aber schon recht grossen) Strasse, zumindest in die richtige Richtung... Ja, bloed nur, dass diese dumme Strasse aber irgendwann einfach aufhoert, Sackstrasse (fuer ne Gasse wars einfach zu gross). Und, um alles wieder zurueckzufahren war uns unsere Zeit zu schade, also ham wir uns einfach an einem der andern Seen (da sind super viele in der Ecke) nen Walk gesucht und gehofft, dass er schoen ist. War er auch! Und besonders unser Fotoshooting am Wasser mit einer super tollen Wurzel!

Vor der Autofahrerei waren wir aber noch kurz in nem Park, mit bisschen blubber Mud und so Zeug, super schoen, eigentlich, nur leider bisschen vermuellt (an manchen Stellen) und wir hatten uns bisschen mehr blubber Blasen erhofft, aber mei, man kann ja nicht alles umsonst haben, fuer irgendwas muss man ja auch sein Geld in den gefuehrten Touren bezahlen....

Bevor wir Abends dann ins Hostel zurueck sind, ham wir nochmal kurz bei "unserm" Wasserfall vorbeigeschaut, wirklich, nicht halb so shcoen, wies vom Wasser aus ist, ehrlich!^^

Und abends, oh, nach einem wudnerbaren Salat mit viel Spass in der Hostelkueche zubereitet, gings dann ab in den Whirlpool, den wir drei fuer uns ganz allein hatten!
Da liegt man dann nach einem schoenen, aber super anstrengenden Tag im warmen Wasser, mit der Abendluft um einen rum, sooo toll!!! Wir waern ja am liebsten gleich dageblieben!

Ok, aber irgendwann mussten wir ja dann doch ins Bett, am naechsten Tag hatten wir ja nen langen Rueckweg vor uns. Aber: vorher gibts noch eine Runde echten Rotorua Mud fuers Gesicht, wenn schon, denn schon!^^