Sunday Morning Coming Down

(This is going to be quickly written and may not make sense)
It helps to know the song "Sunday Morning Coming Down"...
Last Sunday the All Black were playing France in the quarter finals. It was on at 8a.m. NZ time. I went to a pub in the city center called The Holy Grail, where it was packed...later to find out half of them were French fans. I ordered eggs and bacon, expensive but not bad. Yes, there were people drinking, and I thought of the song later that day and realized that I missed a prime opportunity to have a beer for breakfast and one more for dessert. It would have been even more appropriate because the All Blacks actually lost to France by two points! It made me sick and I'm not even from this country. It's as if the Razorbacks played rugby. You want them to win so bad and they have so much potential, but they lose, and it just kills you. (Except that the All Blacks really are the best team out there...really. Unlike the Razorbacks, who really aren't that great, you just really want them to win.) On the other hand, regarding the drinking at 8 a.m., I had to go to work at 10 a.m., so maybe it was best that I didn't have a few beers.
Now I know how Brazil felt in the 2002 Soccer World Cup...France, who'd a thought?

More Rugby

Erin, Richard (classmates) and I went to the Canterbury game against Aukland last night. Went to the pub before hand, as you do. Turned out to be a boring game, and Canterbury lost. The night wasn't lost, though, because, as you know, the Rugby World Cup is going on right now. You knew that, right? And you knew that the US has a team in it, right? This is this first time you've ever heard of rugby? Well, as crappy as the Razorbacks are playing right now, you might want to look into this World Cup. It's been smooth sailing, as expected, so far for The All Blacks. Last night after the local game, NZ stomped Romania 80-8 or so. The good games are to come though when Australia, South Africa, England, Wales and NZ start playing each other. Regarding Team USA, I haven't seen them play yet because the games are on so late (being played in France), but even though they haven't won any games they're still well respected, because they play hard. Not sure where you'd be able to watch the games, but try to catch an All Blacks Game, if you can.

Seriously, though, what's the deal with the Hogs? They're going to make McFadden lose the Heisman.


Other news...daylight savings has started! It's warming up, which means more outdoor Ultimate and more beach.

Cop Killed Suspect

There's an uproar down here, because the other day a cop shot and killed someone who was going around with a hammer smashing up an apartment and several cars. It seems that he was deranged, but it can't be said for sure yet. The big issue, though, is that someone was killed by a gun. I first heard it from people at work, and I thought yeah, ok a cop killed a guy, not much news there, but apparently it is in NZ. Whether the cop was right to shoot or not, the Kiwi reaction shows a much different level of acceptance. More drama because they tried to integrate tasers into the police arsenal not too long ago, but there was a big opposition to that. Now they'll be looking at more non-lethal weapons.

Fancy Loo

Came across the fanciest public toilets I've seen in some time, while we were in Queenstown. They have light up buttons and magnetic locks. Queenstown also has some of the most money in NZ too, so that might have something to do with it.
I also video taped this experience, but I think I accidentally recorded over it, sorry.
Just thought I'd show yall this.

Snow Park, NZ

Last weekend Grant (from school) and I went down to Snow Park for the Burton NZ Open Snowboarding Competition, which hosted the top boarders in the world (minus Shawn White, who usually comes, but didn't this year.) Snow Park is located between Queenstown and Wanika, which is about 6.5 hours from Christchurch. Grant used to live in Queenstown and has been to the comp before, and managed to score a press pass. I posted some pictures here that aren't my best ones, but show the surrounding area and show how close we were to the action.
It was great to do a big road trip again, I've been jonesing for one for a while.
In proper road trip fashion, we left after school drove there in the dark, slept in the dark, and woke up surrounded by huge mountains and a lake. Esmo made it up the mountain that day w/o a problem. We shot the slope style comp until early afternoon, and even though it was a beautiful day, they cancelled the slope finals and the quarter pipe comp for that evening due to high winds...it was so windy tripods were nearly being pushed over. Left there, went to Q'town and met up with Grant's brother. That night we went bowling with some of their friends. It was the only bowling alley in Q'town and it was a whopping 7 lanes wide. One of the guys knew the manager, so we played after hours on all of the lanes.

Next day (Sat.) it was raining, everything was cancelled. We went to a bakery where I had my first pie. Pies in NZ are a national staple, but they're not fruit pies, they're small meat pies. Beef is usually the main flavor, but I had a couple of chicken ones that were pretty good. Basically, they're like chicken pot pies.

On Sunday, the road to the top of the mtn. was questionable, so we hitched a ride up...left Esmo at the bottom with the lights on (had to jump it when we left.) They were running the half pipe comp and we got to shoot it from right at the edge. These are the photos posted.

Driving back that day in the light was incredible. Just huge mountains and glacial lakes, which makes for an awesome ending to a great trip.

All Blacks and Twisters

No, NZ's Rugby team isn't playing Arkansas's' Arena Football team, but last week the North Island was hit with several tornadoes that caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Apparently, they usually get one "tornado" a year, that's really just strong winds that damage some roofs, but not really funnel clouds.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks 33-6 last Saturday. South Africa, unfortunately, only brought team with their B players, because it is a World Cup year, they didn't want their good players to get injured.

The first half was pretty boring, no tries (what we call a touchdown) just field goals (no sure what they call those). We were sitting behind an end zone, luckily it was the one the AB's we scoring in during the second half. It was quite an experience to get to sit next to some fun Kiwi blokes who knew how to cheer and heckle. Surprisingly, the wave doesn't move in the opposite direction down here, like you may think...still flows clockwise.

Some half time and second half excitement was when Phillips TV was doing a promotion by picking someone out of the crowd holding a provided sign that said "Pick Me". They picked the person at half time, but that left the rest of the people with signs...signs that could be made into large paper airplanes. And this became a show in and of itself during the second half. People from the grand stand would launch them off, and some would float out and then dive bomb onto the people below...others seem to catch an air current a glide for ages. There were moments where this was more exciting than the game, and you would here half the stadium let out a huge cheer and see that it was a paper airplane gliding really far.

The All Blacks play Australia this Saturday. A few weeks ago they lost to the Wallabies in a second half come-back. Hopefully, they can keep it together this time.

My camera has been fixed, it's in NZ, but now I'm trying to get it out of customs. Long story short, I have to provide documents showing that I exported out of the country, and then register as an importer, since I'm bringing it back into the country.

I did take one of the school camera's into the AB's game, but the batter was dead, so I only got off a few shots. Below, it's my friends from school and their girl friends, and the back side of the Haka.

Derelict

I started playing Futsal with some kids from school. It's like indoor soccer except no walls and the ball is smaller and harder. We're in a social co-ed league, but our team is definitely more social than the other teams. We only have three guys on our team, and non of the girls have soccer experience. Our team name is DERELICT...you know from Zoolander. Our uniforms are garbage bags with masking tape for numbers. Guess who's idea that was. We've only score one goal in the past three games. We are not so hot right now. Like I said, we're one of the more social teams. My indoor frisbee team on the other hand is undefeated. We have a pretty stacked team, though. Between Ultimate and Futsal each week, I'm quickly losing the tread on my shoes.

I got tickets to see the All Blacks play South Africa here on July 14th. The AB's are the best rugby team in the world and SA is their biggest competition, so it's going to be a really good game. What I'm really looking forward to see, though, it the Haka performed live. It's the warrior dance they do in front of their opponent before each game. Here's a picture of it from their website...

What's going on in The South.

My digital camera broke and had to be sent back to the States to be fixed. That, and the fact that school has been really is busy, is why I haven't updated the blog in a while. It's been full on with school all day M-F and then work at a furniture store all day Sat-Sun. So, unfortunatley, I haven't been able to hit the road in ol' Esmerelda, yet. The first cold weather of the season just hit this week. The mountains haven't gotten much snow yet, so there's not any skiing going on yet. From what people have said, ChCh sounds like it gets as much snow as Little Rock; just a little bit over the winter with one big dump.

Sports is pretty big for New Zealanders. Cricket was going on when I first arrived, but that looked even more boring than baseball, so I tried not to learn too much about that. Yachting on the other hand is going on with the America's Cup, and the Kiwis are the major front runners this year. So far they have smoked everyone they've been up against in the other races. And in Rugby, the world famous All Blacks just started playing a few weeks ago, so far they've beaten France twice by a record score. The Rugby World Cup is being held this year in France, so everyone is pumped up for that. The All Blacks play one game here in ChCh, so I'm hoping to see them live then.

I have a three week school break coming up soon, so if assignments don't get in the way, I'm planning to go on a road trip then. I'll do my best to update more often with more photos. Camera should be fixed soon.

Here are some pictures I took before my camera broke, that show the Real South.

Escaping the City

It doesn't take too long to hit the country two-lane highway heading west outside of Christchurch. And country is a good way to describe it. It's all flat, and you first hit several small wine vineyards. After that it turns into a landscape similar to Scott, AR...wide open farm fields. Instead of cotton, though, you have sheep. Having spent so much time in the city, I thought they were making up the 15 sheep to one person ratio, but no, they do exist.
Less than 30 minutes after leaving the city and driving through eastern Arkansas, out of the flatness rises a mountain range that makes the Tetons look like foothills. It's a 150 degree view of the Southern Alps. It really does look like Lord of the Rings.
We had a weekday holiday last week, so some guys from class and I went to a place called Cave Stream and Castle Hill. I don't have pictures of Cave Stream, but basically we put on some we suits and walked through this cave that has a stream running through it. It was pretty amazing the way the stream carved the cave and rocks. I may go back and take some photos, so I won't go into it that much now. As you'll see below, Castle Hill is this area with lots of large boulders scattered around. It's a popular place for climbing...yes those boulders are large enough for climbing, hard to tell without a person standing there. You'll also see a pig that was roaming around that area. So, all-in-all with pigs and Scott, AR, it's pretty much like being back home...all that and a bag of chips (that was for Bill).

Her name is Esmerelda

At last I bought a van, and her name is Esmerelda (for now, at least). That was the name given to, and painted on, the van by the previous owners. I'm thinking I may have to give it an Arkansas touch. Suggestions are welcome.
I got it last Thursday evening and hit the road on Friday. I went to a place called Arthur's Pass, a couple of hours outside of Christchurch. I'll post more about that trip later. As you can see it is quite large and I was able to sleep in the back on Friday night. Saturday morning, only for a brief while, I was driving on the right side of the road, and a car in front of me started flashing their lights. So far that's been the only instance of driving on the wrong side of the road.
A few specs on it...it's '93 Mitsubishi L300, 2L Diesel, Manual (stick on the steering column), Driver's side on the right.
I'll post more details of the car later...

Botanical Gardens

We are on a two week break right now. I've been working on a project for a class, but I did make it back out to Sumner beach and the Botanical Gardens.
Here are some photos I took from the Gardens in Christchurch.
The fern is one of the icons of New Zealand. Below you'll see a few variety, including the silver fern.

Month and a Half in Christchurch

After a month and a half in Christchurch, I've fallen into a simple routine. Take the bus or walk to school in the morning to get there by 9:00. Morning class usually lasts until 1:00, then start the afternoon class at 2:00 until 5:00. Then go back home. On Monday and Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons is Ultimate. Free time is used winding down from being at school all day.
I'm quite anxious to get a car so I can get out of the city and see the rest of New Zealand. The time I've been here so far hasn't been without its sights, though. Christchurch is on the east coast of the south island, and there are buses that go to several of the beaches that overlook the giant Pacific Ocean. Places called Sumner, Lyttelton, and New Brighton. Going to these places in the middle of a summer's day you appreciate how great was to have an ozone layer back home, but down here it is so thin that it will punish you if you don't put on sunscreen and put it on often. As summer is winding down, there's talk of a cold winter ahead. Skiing is only an hour or so away in the mountains, though Christchurch gets very little snow.











This should give a little overview of things going on so far. Now that I've done this first blog, I hope to post more on a regular basis and fill in some of the gaps that I've left here.