Tuesday, March 3, 2009

So long Lionel Richie...

What I can say about paradise is, when it rains, even though it is quite beautiful, it is boring! The thing about natural beauty is it's only fun when a person can explore it. When it is doing something the locals call "soaking rain", there is just no exploring to be done. It rained so much last weekend that a Lionel Richie concert set for Saturday night was cancelled, sending 28,000 fans home disappointed and soaking wet (and probably slightly intoxicated being as though the concert was meant to be held at a winery). I spent the weekend, or at least part of it, at Lake Taupo. I was going to post a picture, but decided it was just not exciting enough. I will describe it though...picture me in my rain jacket, squinting because I'm being sprayed in the face by rain, standing in front of a waterfall. Sadly enough, that was the only "picture worthy" thing I did over the weekend.

My readers who are teachers will appreciate this...Last Friday, the school held their annual swimming sports. Imagine 600-800 high school students separated into their four houses, decked out in their house colors and togs (swimming suits), standing around the public pool, participating in races and relays from 8:45am until 2:30pm. It was madness! We had another competition today called Athletics, which is essentially track and field day, but this one went on until 3:30! I will post pictures of these events so you can fully appreciate the madness of it all. Oh, and no big deal but my house, Rata, one both competitions. (I love having houses...it feels so harry potterish...)

I'm off to Wellington this weekend to see a Monet exhibit, visit a natural history museum, soak up some local artsy stuff and learn to Kayak in Cook Strait...I'm staying in a hostel for the very first time and will be sharing a room with six people! If you know me, you know what a huge step it is for me to actually share space with that many people. :) I'm looking forward to it. And for you Lord of the Rings fans, next weekend (I hope) I will be tramping along an 8-hour trek where some filming for the second? movie was done!