Kia ora everyone!
Coming to you this time from an Otago Uni computer lab in the deep deep south while the rain patters outside in the near-freezing temperatures and I contemplate that not so long ago I was enjoying near 30 degree Italian heat!
I've been back here in Dunedin for a week now, and in NZ for a week and a half. The one day in Auckland and 3 days in Wellington on the way through gave me a bit fo time to readjust to NZ's gorgeous scenery and unique lifestyle before coming back down to studentville ready for the start of the new uni semester. Settling back into NZ life has been wonderful and challenging both at the same time, as I initially had quite a bit of 'reverse culture shock'; I found NZ life in general so familiar and so foreign at the same time that it was SERIOUSLY disorientating, and took a lot of getting used to! Now I think I'm pretty much adjusted, but things that were so normal are often still so novel. Like Vegemite and TV and the hills and the sea!
Class started on Monday, and thanks to WONDERFUL Otago admin it took me only AN HOUR (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) to get all my course approval done and registered - no 3hr lunch breaks to be seen here! My courses seem really interesting so far which is great, but not actually terribly challenging, so I could well be in for another easy semester!
The flat that I'm in here is really wonderful - the girls are all really lovely, and we have a great time. I've been running around like a bit of a headless chook trying to get furniture for my room but am now pretty well equipped and ready for whatever the semester may bring...essentially.
Europe seems SO far away now, and SO long ago! I'm currently uploading photos of Barcelona(yes, a wee bit behind in that dept!), and the idea of just being able to skip to a neighbouring European country seems almost as exotic and impossible as before I ever went to Europe! I'm having no desire to go travelling for at least another year now though, and am actually really enjoying the idea of being settled long-term (ie 2.5yrs minimum till I finish undergrad) in Dunedin. In fact, Dad has taken away my passport and locked it in the safe up in Wellington!
NZ is even more gorgeous than I remember - flying from Wgtn to Dunedin over the southern alps in the morning sun was something I don't think I'll ever forget! There really is no place like home!
I'm going to keep slowly updating photos on this site, but don't think I'll be writing too much more. I'm really touched to have heard since getting back just how many of you have bothered reading all this and following along with me overseas - thanks so much!
Hope you like the new photos.
Hugs and blessings always,
Lisa
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