update, week 1
it's friday, and i've just finished my first week. today was a big day for me as i both climbed up the double dangling duo element, which was pretty freaky but accomplished with much help from the three other people who were climbing with me. i also climbed up a few posts with claws -- these carabiners connected to some webbing that let you climb on your own without a belayer. these were big steps for me to overcome my fear of heights and my accustomed-ness to the belay line and my insecurities that other people won't be able to hold me or support me. anyhow.

it was also a big day because my instructor gave me some very encouraging words that helped a lot as this week has been a bit tough in trying to fit into a group of native kiwis. the group dynamics are really interesting, and i have a hard time, and they're all very aggressive in wanting to be leaders, and when i'm in a situation like that, i clam up and take a back seat. but my instructor was able to see through that, and understand the difficulty in fitting into the group dynamics, and see my potential as a leader/facilitator. well, it also helps that i'm 25 and have nearly a decade of experience working with kids and leading, but whatever. as he put it, i'm paying good money and i should get the most out of the course as i can. umm, given the amount of time i've spent dangling in trees, i'm doing pretty well. the mere thought of heights makes my knees tickly.

in other news, i've met a very nice girl at the hostel. her name is elizabeth and she's canadian, 19 years old, and very energetic and outgoing. we were thinking of getting an apartment together but have decided to get a double room at the hostel for privacy and just some of our OWN space. this way, we can still take advantage of the social setting of the hostel (there's a rugby team coming in tomorrow!) and not have to buy dishes and stuff if we get our own place. we are also thinking of buying a car (there's one that someone in the hostel is selling for NZ$1500 that i plan on driving into the ground before i leave and then donating to on of my classmates who's already asked for it). we are going to travel on weekends and just live it up. elizabeth will probably be leaving in a month or two, but we'll have a pretty great time until then.

we went to see a flat last night, and this really nice guy (robin or robert?) came to pick us up and show us the place. before that, though, he took us to check out the village for the around alone yacht race. ignorant me didn't know that it started in nyc, but who the fuck, besides rich people, keep up with the yachting/sailing scene, for crying out loud?! he knew some maori people who had a very large canoe type thing (like the type used by the first maori settlers to arrive here from polynesia) that is on display. it was just really cool in ways that i can't describe right now because i'm overwhelmed by fatigue and hunger. but this guy, (robin or robert?) was so friendly it was a bit sketch. he kind of compelled us to not leave the hostel, in all honesty. do we really need to know how he got his four kids by accidentally getting someone pregnant, at the first meeting? sheesh.

met some nice blokes from manchester (england) last night. stayed up until 2am (kind of regretted that but it was a short day today) and had my first alcoholic beverage in this country. and since some english blokes gave it to me, needless to say, it was quite warm. i think it would have been better cold.

that's all for now. have been here a while, and the rain has let up, so i'm going to go and take care of this fatigue/hunger situation.

love you guys.