Friday August 31

Yesterday I landed! It was so nice, getting off a plane for the last time for three months. I love planes, but I’ve definitely had my fill to last a little while.

I had the best present waiting for me in customs. Rather tired was I, standing in line at customs, staring at my feet. Then I looked up at two very tall boys in front of me, they turned around and BAM, I formally met Matt and Brent. My first YWAM brothers. We claimed our baggage and met Johanna in the lobby! We also briefly met Rebekah and Kyle before we were shuttled to King’s Kids – a hostel that hosts us while we wait for the rest of the students to arrive in Auckland.

 

I unloaded my suitcase a bit and settled in. and sat in the completely empty girls’ room.

For a full 2 minutes.

I was bored. To say the least.

So I knocked on the boys’ door and we took a walk. Through the ghetto of Auckland. It was interesting, to say the least. we played on playgrounds, played football with pinecones (a painful experience), and discussed the difference of our origins. (They are both from Canada – Manatoba to be exact)

Then, we walked back, met new arrivees Jacob and Jacob, (Yes, there are two) and went to the local Pac n’ Sav – our Walmart – to get food! We stocked up on the New Zealand version of Ramen Noodles and L&P – the official drink of New Zealand. And on the way back, the entire van spontaneously broke out in “Carol of the Bells” – and I knew exactly that this is where I belong. Nobody else tolerates me breaking out in Christmas music, much less join me! I was so happy!

I slept that night in a huge sweater with undershirts, a scarf, a hat, my wool socks, and heavy pants. It gets really warm during the day, but since the country is in transition between winter and summer, the nights get really cold and most buildings lack central heating.

 

I woke up the next morning to two new girls joining us – Tasia and Miranda – and the entire group decided to take a bus to One Tree Hill – a historic mountain on the other side of the city.

So we went to the bus stop. But we never got on the bus. We couldn’t decide which bus to take, so we never took a bus. Instead, we walked across the entire city of Auckland to climb a mountain; something that ended up being a 7 hour trek. We were very proud of ourselves.

 

On the way down the mountain, some guys offered us a ride in their car. We fit eleven people in a four seater. Granted, the boys were literally hanging out of the trunk, but we still did it. oh, and they took us down the wrong side of the mountain. Which added another hour, maybe two to our journey.

 

Yeah.

We rewarded ourselves with lamb burgers at McDonald’s.

And yes, that is a real thing in New Zealand.

Lamb burgers.

I don’t know why exactly, but I chose to wear my converse on this undertaking. My feet hurt at the victorious end, to say the least.

Anywho, the mountain was beautiful! I the grass was so green and the landscape was absolutely breathtaking, which makes me SO EXCITED for living out in the middle of nowhere!

And sheep.

There were so many sheep.

But I wasn’t allowed to touch them.

Because then the mommies wouldn’t want their little lambies anymore.

And that would be sad.

So I cried.

But I didn’t touch them.

Go me.

And now it’s bedtime.

Nighty night.