The Pinnacles and much much more

I am going to try and update this as much as I can before we start getting really busy and began to galvant across the land. This week is our 'lecture' time, so we are spending a lot of time on campus. Mind you our campus is a commune style like community so we spend our times gardening and our lectures take place in the same place we eat all of our meals.

I am spending around 10 hours a day with the same 22 people, and suprisingly I am only growing to love them more. This past weekend we took a 'tramp' up to the pinnacles hut in the coromandel peninsula. It was the first 'assignment' of the semester. We had to observe the patterns in the vegetation and take intensive field notes... working on those science skills that are pretty rusty. It was so beautiful; and we ended up hiking for about seven hours the first day. Most of the trail was made up of stairs, and we were all amazed about how someone took the time to create a stairway the literally went up a face of a steep mountain side. The steps were really tall, so those ladies with the small legs had a rough time climbing. When it got dark the stars were so bright and the southern cross was right above our heads. I have never seen stars that clear, and we all sat outside and snuggled (it was about 40 degrees).

We got up at 5:15 the next morning to do a 'sunrise' hike... turns out it wasn't sunny in the slightest, and I survived an epic wind and rain storm. Of course, forgetting that rain=soaked clothing, I left my rain gear behind and all the warm clothing I had for the hike down was completely soaked. But even though the weather was miserable, the climb was worth it. When else can I say that I climbed a pinnacle in New Zealand at 5:15 in the morning during a storm?? My friend Hanna and I snuggled at the top while the other crazy kids climbed around and almost got knocked over by the wind. The climb up involved ladders and scrambling up rocks like mountain goats, so the wet and slippery terrain down was a bit sketchy, but I made it down alive. I didn't get warm until we got back to home base, but it was all so amazing I just didn't care.

When we got back we were informed we got the night off, which meant alcohol... a few of us hadn't picked up any booze in town, so we walked an hour or so to the nearest pub to purchase some beverages. I felt slightly pathetic, but it was well worth it. We all just chilled in the whareki (the kitchen) and listened to tunes and bonded. I am getting to know these people better and we are all getting along beautifully, and already I feel at home. These people will be another family when the fifteen weeks are over. The rugby world cup started last week so we are planning to attend a rugby game and watch the world cup at the pub. I also think that I am going to splurge and go skydiving into Hobbiton with some people, and we are spending a long weekend in Auckland to celebrate Laura's birthday. HURRAH!!

I guess I could keep writing and give more and more details, but that would take forever and there is just too much about this place that I love. The teaching style is fantastic and completely unconventional, and we spend a large majority of the time building our community, we play soccer and volleyball and we cook and eat all of our meals together. Now I know why living in a commune would be so fabulous. ALSO, Rhia, the educational director has a dog, Scamper, so I really do feel at home here. Well, I am off to bed! Gotta get up at 6 to watch the sunrise and go on my morning run!! More later!!