These photos are from my flight from Dunedin to Auckland. Quite pretty!





The wonderful view from Jim and Janet's living room.



Here are some shots from the Australian Rules rugby game! A bit wet, but we had a great time.





And finally, kangaroos and koalas at the zoo!



After about 40 hours of travel, 4 flights, landing in 4 different time zones, 3 currency changes, about 130 lbs. of luggage, and one unforgettable semester, I am finally relaxing in the comfort of my own home.

I had a great time in Melbourne, Australia exploring the big city, which was quite a switch from the underpopulated South Island of New Zealand. We took advantage of the free "tourist bus", countless markets, animal "sanctuary", and an Australian Rules rugby game - all quite fun. It was also a treat to stay with the Davidsons in their swanky downtown apartment. I must say that waking up to a perfect view of the city each morning was not too shabby. We met up with Natalie's good friend, Chelsea, who spent the semester studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia. Natalie and Chelsea are staying a little longer to explore more of Australia and Natalie is then going to the Cook Islands with our friend JJ and arriving home in late July.

As for me, I must say that I am happy to be home. I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up with my parents and friends and getting back to the life that I left in February. The rest of my week will be spent getting reacquainted with the right-hand side of the road, meeting up with friends, and moving things back into my apartment in Harrisonburg. I will be leaving for an extended family get together in Pennsylvania this weekend (that I cannot WAIT for) and continuing my JMU internship next week. That is, if I can survive this absolutely disgusting heat! Let's just say I looked a bit rediculous wearing my winter jacket, scarf, wool socks, and hiking shoes when I got off the plane. But hey - when you're trying to fit five months into two suitcases, desperate times call for desperate measures. Nonetheless, the combination of being overdressed and spending two nights on planes left me looking less than attractive. In fact, calling me a "hot mess" when I arrived in Richmond would be generous.

While I am happy to be home, this is not to say that I am not missing the life that I left in New Zealand. For five months, I was engrossed in a completely different culture and life than the one I left in early February. In many ways, it was challenging, stressful, and uncomfortable. In others, it was incredibly enlightening, empowering, and more of a life experience than I had ever dreamed it would be. It was a part of my life that will be like no other and an experience that I will absolutely never forget. In fact, I'm a bit like a walking billboard for studying abroad these days - there is just so much to gain from being exposed to a different way of life.

In reflecting on the past five months, I have realized that choosing to go abroad was one of the most selfish decisions I have ever made. Such an experience seems to take precedence over the alternative of working or going to school in the States. Somehow my galavanting in a different country seems to be more important than your hard work to get that prestigious Health Science degree, the volunteer work you do on a weekly basis, or the new job that you are starting. I also relied on many people throughout the course of the semester to keep me up-to-date on the ongoings at JMU and other important updates from my life in the States. This is not even mentioning the constant support and listening ears that I received on numerous occasions. With that said, choosing to study abroad was also one of the best decisions I have ever made. I now have close friends all over the world and have learned lessons that couldn't be found in a textbook at JMU. I have too many stories to count and pictures by the thousands. I have a new perspective on life and far more knowledge of the world than I had when I left on February 9th.

Thank you all for giving me the spotlight these last five months - it was a greater gift than you will ever know. I am now happy to relinquish it and hopefully pass it on to someone else who may gain as much from it as I did.

Until my next adventure abroad,
Ginny

The ultimate tourist.



The beautiful train station just one more time.





Re-enacting our first picture together nearly five months ago.



I remember sitting around the kitchen table with my parents late last summer and making the decision that I wanted to go abroad for Spring semester. And now, nearly a year later, I am about to spend my last night in my flat and arrive home in less than a week.

I have happily completed my four finals and am a bit relieved that they are over. Exams are a much bigger deal here, with varying assigned rooms, strict times, bathroom escorts, and grouchy procters. Nonetheless, they all went well and I am (hopefully) an official JMU senior. Holy cow.

I am currently about to go to bed for the last time in my flat, as I am packed and ready to head to Australia in t-minus 7 hours. Kate even managed to help me SQUEEZE my giant sleeping bag in (no man left behind!), which was a pleasant surprise. Natalie and I are on separate flights, but meeting in Melbourne tomorrow and staying with my family friends, the Davidsons. I have to say that I am quite excited to be in a home. While my flat and hostel hopping have served their purpose, there's a comfort in knowing that I won't have to take my own shampoo or get the jumper cables out whenever we stop for gas.

I must admit that I am quite anxious about making it home. The combination of luggage weight, different currencies, four time zones, country codes, etc., has made me increasingly appreciate and respect avid travellers. Nonetheless, I will be relieved and thrilled to be home on the 28th of June. That is, if I'm still alive after 40+ hours of travelling. We shall see - prayers are welcome.

I took my turn as a tourist this past weekend, snapping pictures around Dunedin and buying last minute souvenirs. When I first got here in February, I felt like such an outcast as I couldn't get the hang of left-side driving or finding the most efficient way to get to Uni. Amazingly, I figured it out and have been able to call Dunedin home for the last five months. I am incredibly excited to see you all and be back home, but the reality of leaving New Zealand and the people that I have met here has made my leaving incredibly bittersweet. The friendships that I have made and the experiences that I have had have surpassed nearly all of my expectations. My study abroad experience has been exactly what I had hoped it would be and I feel incredibly fortunate for this.

Well, it is 3AM here (ahh!) and time for me to hit the hay. As always, thanks for reading! Here are some photos from this past weekend in Dunedin.

XOXO.

My flat's last night together!



All of the 2A flatmates decked out in our bright and tight gear.



Natalie and I in our colorful outfits at our neon party!



Matthias, Tara, Kate, Natalie, and I showed our skills (or lack thereof) at the local ice skating rink.



Our wonderful IFSA-Butler tour guide and bus driver, Gerald!



Natalie, Drew, and I at our IFSA-Butler farewell dinner. Fancy shmancy!



I'm afraid I have reached the beginning of the end here in New Zealand, as folks are starting to leave and the exam period is underway. We took my flatmate, Andrew, to the airport on Friday morning and he has since arrived at his home in Scotland, 30+ hours later. There were two carloads of us that took him to the airport for an even sadder good-bye than I had anticipated. All of my friends have been a bit dispersed recently, as many are using the long exam period as a chance to travel to Australia, the North Island, etc. As for me, I'm trying to take advantage of some quality time in Dunedin with some of my favorite people that I have met since I arrived.

I have a total of four exams and have completed one with three left to go. My first was last Wednesday, Media and Intercultural Communication. This was both my hardest and favorite "paper", as I loved both my lecturer and tutor and really felt that I learned a great deal. I have my Gender in New Zealand final on Tuesday, Sociology of New Zealand Society final on Friday, and another Communication final on Monday. Each of my finals ranges between 40% and 60% of my final grade, which is a bit nervewracking, but the fact that I am on a pass/fail system is reassuring. Nonetheless, I will be quite relieved when they are over. My computer also found it to be a good time to go a bit bonkers on me, so I have been out of a computer for the last several days. Fortunately, I have a computer whiz to walk me through all of the tests, hardware back-ups, and safe modes. Matthias has been invaluable in figuring out the problem and getting in touch with Dell - hopefully they will be coming to the flat sometime this week. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, Matthias has so graciously lent me his computer for extended periods of time and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the German keyboard. ߧEÜÄÖµ!

Winter temperatures have definitely hit Dunedin, making scarves, gloves, and a hat quite the necessities. That is, inside the flat. You might recall that New Zealand does not have central heating, and so we are averaging between 45 and 50 degrees fahrenheit inside my lovely abode. And surprisingly, we have one of the warmest University flats in Dunedin. I am happy to say that it hasn't been nearly as bad as I had expected it to be, simply an adjustment. My sleeping arrangements include the following: polypro pants, heavy sweatpants, polypro longsleeve shirt, another longsleeve shirt, heavy sweatshirt, and wool socks. Of course this does not include my stellar bedding combo of a fitted sheet, sleeping bag (with fleece liner), sheet, wool blanket, and comforter. With all of this said, I have been sleeping like an absolute baby.

These photos are an assortment of activities from the last couple of weeks. Our IFSA-Butler farewell dinner, ice skating, a neon party that my flat hosted, and my flat's last night all together.

I will be arriving back in Virginia exactly two weeks from tomorrow. I absolutely can't wait to see so many of your shining faces. Sending you all heaps and heaps of love from New Zealand!

We like our vehicles to have a bit of character.



The view along the way.



Right before reaching the top!



Natalie climbing the last part before reaching the lake. If you look closely, you can see the metal cable we had to use to get to the lake.



Here's the lake that we finally reached when we got to the "top".





These last two shots are from Queenstown. So pretty.





I have heard of several people making poor decisions while studying abroad, most often as a result of alcohol or some other form of drug that is unbeknownst to me. I, too, managed to make a poor decision this past weekend. Mine, however, was not due to some aforementioned drug, but a dose of a little too much confidence in my hiking abilities.

This past weekend, I went with four girlfriends to Milford Sound on Friday night and then to Queenstown for Saturday night. I must begin by saying that, as students studying abroad with minimal finances, we do our best to get as far as we can for as cheap as we can. For this trip, we were able to use my friend's boyfriend's car. What I didn't realize is that this 1980ish Toyota Corona (yes, Corona) has a bit of difficulty starting. As a result, it needed to be jumped every time we turned it off and wished to get it going again. You might be thinking that we had to fetch another car to help us every time to start the car. No need. BYOB - that stands for BRING YOUR OWN BATTERY. We got into quite a system, actually. I must say it was a bit of a scene in the grocery store parking lot. Nonetheless, rental car fee WAIVED.

Three of the girls that I went with (Sam, Nina, and Natalie) had planned to do a guided kayaking trip on Saturday. Since Natalie and I (yes, two Natalies) have done quite a bit of kayaking already, we opted for a nice day hike instead. We consulted with some of the workers at the hostel we were staying at and decided on Gertrude Saddle, supposedly the greatest hike on the South Island. We had been told that the hike was unmarked, with small piles of rocks along the way to help guide the hike. For this reason, Nat and I went in with the intention of turning back if we felt at all uncomfortable. At the start of the hike, we managed to meet up with two American guys and a girl from Germany (Chance, Adam, and Nadine), experienced hikers who seemed to be confident in their navigating abilities. We were happy to have company and hear about their fascinating lives and their current trip around the world, including Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Bali, Paris, Munich, etc. over a 3-year period. And so, the five of us began our journey.

The hike was fairly easy in the beginning before we started a steep ascent. It wasn't long before we realized that this hike wasn't for the faint-hearted. Eager to see the notorious view at the top, we plugged along. Mistake #1. Fortunately, Adam went quite a bit ahead of us to blaze the trail and guide the way. In between my huffs and puffs, I enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous view. The winter has officially arrived on the South Island, covering the already breathtaking mountains with a light snow covering. The panoramic view, however, was not enough to calm my nerves. We thought about turning around, but thought we were too close to the top to miss the supposedly gorgeous view. As we got closer, it got to be more like rock climbing than hiking. We used a metal cable to reach the "top", which turned out to be a lake, the source of all of the waterfalls that we had seen on the way up. A bit anti-climactic, shall we say. As it turns out, there was one last steep stretch to get to the view. Natalie and I had to pick up our friends and didn't think we had enough time to make it to the top, and so we decided to head back down, thus separating ourselves from Chance, Adam, and Nadine. Mistake #2. To make a long story short, we didn't nearly appreciate Adam's navigating skills as much as we should have. We repeatedly tried ways down, only to come to sharp cliffs, forcing us to climb our way back up and try a different way. Needless to say, our itch for adventure soon turned into frustration. In many parts, sliding down on our backsides was the only way to reach solid ground. I actually remember wondering how we could get in touch with the rescue squad if we were not able to find our way down by dark. Luckily, Chance, Adam, and Nadine found us on their way down and were able to guide us out. Saying that I was relieved to see them is an absolute understatement.

It was certainly an experience. When I got home, I googled Gertrude Saddle and came to find that guided day hikes are offered for NZ$250. In addition, the ascent is approximated at 800 meters, which converts to over 2,600 ft. On one hand, I got to know complete strangers, I saw a beautiful part of New Zealand, and was proud that I was able to make it as far as I did. With that said, don't bite off more than you can chew. Lesson learned.

We headed to Queenstown Saturday night for a comparatively mundane rest of our trip. We had a great time walking around the botannical gardens and town. I'd been to Queenstown earlier in the semester, but the snow has perfectly settled over the mountains now, making the views even more gorgeous than before.

I leave for Australia in just about 3 weeks and will arrive home in a little less than a month. Several people have asked me how I'm feeling about leaving. To answer succintly, I don't think I have ever wanted to be in two places at the same time so badly. I am so incredibly excited to come home, but also extremely sad to be leaving. I consider myself very fortunate for this - how lucky am I to be so happy in both places.

All my love. XOXO.

I decided to spend this weekend in Dunedin, in hopes of getting ahead in some schoolwork, saving a few dollars, and further getting to know my home that I will be leaving in just a few short weeks. As a result, I don't have any thrilling stories for you - no jumping off of boats, skydiving, or climbing glaciers this week. And so, I thought I would continue on my list of things that I have learned since arriving in New Zealand.

4. Kiwis don't stop for pedestrians. I learned early on that crossing the street is at your own risk. Late for class? Class can wait. Dropped your favorite pen in the middle of the street? Buy a new pen. Want to rescue a lost dog as he's crossing the street about to get hit by a car? Eh, not important. While many New Zealanders have shown me great generosity since I've been here, the streets of Dunedin are not where it has taken place.

5. I have realized just how much I take for granted the every-day appliances that I use at home. Perhaps even moreso, the considerably cheaper power bills that result. Because power is so expensive here, our flat has opted to use our dishwasher and dryer sparingly. In fact, I've only used the dryer twice since I've been in New Zealand. While my clothes used to dry fairly quickly outside, they are now taking 3-4 days to dry with the onset of the cooler temperatures and risky Dunedin weather. Looks like the dryer may be getting a little more use as we brace this highly anticipated winter.

6. I have learned that the Rob Roy convenience store has the best ice cream cones for the best price. Even more importantly, they give you the most ice cream for the best price. A "single" consists of two giant scoops that easily are the height of my hand when laid out flat. AND, they have a solid array of flavors to choose from, including cookies and cream (my personal favorite), boysenberry (a close second), and many of their signature flavors, such as hokie pokey and pinky winky. All for NZ$2.20? I'll take it.

I managed to take some pictures of the Otago campus this weekend. Enjoy!

XOXO.

This was my view on the ferry ride back to Te Anau. Rough life, I tell ya.



Yes, another beautiful sunset.



Here's a shot of the first group of kayakers on the Doubtful Sound. We were told that it rains every two out of three days, so we lucked out with the weather. The crew said it was the best night they've had all year!



Here's a photo of Doubtful Sound.



Dolphins!



The next two shots are of "The Navigator" - the dining area and sleeping quarters.




Here's a shot of some of my favorite girls in my program. From left: Myself, Emily, Sam, and Natalie.



There have been many times this semester where I have had to remind myself that I am studying abroad, as my semester here in New Zealand has been consumed with activities quite different than at good ole' J. Maddy. I am not meeting groups at the library for upcoming presentations or cramming late at night for multiple tests in a week. While I am averaging a couple assignments a week, the academics have not nearly compared to a junior semester at a U.S. college or university. However, I am instead comparing dialectics with Kate, questioning Matthias about the different provinces of Germany, or listening to Andrew rattle off the 195 countries of the world. You can also find me googlemapping my next destination or huddling around the living room television with all of my flatmates to stream in the the newest episode of Glee. Nonetheless, I can honestly say that I have learned more this semester than I have from any other - about myself, about people, about cultures around the world.

I had an unforgettable trip with my program this past weekend. We travelled to the southwestern part of the South Island to the Fiordlands, arguably the most beautiful part of New Zealand. We left Friday afternoon and spent the night at a hostel in Te Anau. We woke up early Saturday morning to head to a bird sanctuary before grabbing lunch and heading out on the Doubtful Sound for an overnight cruise. We first took a bus, then a ferry, then another bus before boarding our highly anticipated home for the night. It did not disappoint. We spent the afternoon cruising the open water and snapping pictures of the beautiful scenery while dolphins raced alongside of the boat. Just when I don't think New Zealand can get any prettier, it finds a way. Somehow, the water gets bluer, the mountains get more massive, and the sunsets get more vivid. Oh, and let's throw dolphins in there, too. I'm not complaining, just in awe.

We stopped for a couple hours to go kayaking and had the chance to go swimming in the 40-50 degree water. Yes, yours truly took the plunge. Twice, in fact. It was the type of cold where your body goes into panic mode as soon as you hit the water. Let's just say I didn't feel the need to swim laps or dilly dally. But hey, jumping off a boat into 45 degree water? Check that baby off the list.

We enjoyed a delicious buffet meal, complete with lamb, roast beef, chicken, and salmon. Not to mention cheesecake for dessert - my heart was content. We then grabbed some hot tea to brace the wind and watch the sun set before our eyes. Picture perfect.

We woke up Sunday morning to watch the sun rise, then enjoyed a nice quiet period, where everything is turned off on the boat - the motor, generators, and all of the other highly technical appliances it takes to run such a vessel that are unbeknownst to me. We were able to sit, all 50+ of us, and listen. Only when you sit in complete silence and observe do you realize where you are and what you're getting to do. Quite neat.

Sorry for the unusually long entry. Even though I know that I can't accurately depict what I'm experiencing, I like to think that I can try.

Love to all of you.

Drew, JJ, and Natalie standing in front of the Clay Cliffs.



Clay cliffs from the inside!



Welcome to Greta Lodge!




We had to stop twice on our drive for sheep herders, but I wasn't complaining. We watched them cross a narrow bridge, nearly on top of each other as they scurried across. As soon as they reached the end, they scattered! As you can tell, this picture was taken post-bridge.



From the side of the road right next to Mount Cook. Thank you, self timer.



Mount Cook!



The view from the lake we stopped at on our way home.



I think you guys can figure the last two out. So pretty.



This weekend proved to be another one of spontaneity and adventure. Four of us went to several different spots in the central South Island, none of which were our original destination. Natalie and I picked up JJ and Drew, two nice guys from our IFSA-Butler program, and headed out Friday morning for what turned out to be one of my favorite weekends in New Zealand. We drove for a while on Friday and made several stops along the way - a grocery run (top priority), Moeraki Boulders (round #3), and the Clay Cliffs, which were sweet. The stops, along with a few wrong turns, put us looking for a place to camp around 4:30 Friday afternoon. After checking out the atlas, we decided that Lake Ohau would be our final destination for the night - we chose well.

We drove around the lake looking for the optimum place to pitch our tent, cruising down dirt roads to see where they ended up. We drove down one only to find a small hut at the end, with a nice lawn and access to the water. Built after the Great Depression, this small hut, which we now know as Greta's Lodge, was built for travellers looking for a place to stay. What prime candidates we were. We moved our things in and had fun reading the guestbook and getting to know our home for the night, slightly in awe that this happens in real life. There were beds, a fireplace (complete with wood and newspaper), pots and pans, and several chairs. While to many it may have looked like an abandoned shack, to us it seemed quite idyllic. We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed wine and music by the fire, all still taking in what we were experiencing. We were even joined later on by fellow campers down the road, a Canadian and an Austrian who have spent the last seven months travelling in Asia, Australia, and now New Zealand. I was so glad I had Natalie, JJ, and Drew to experience it with.

We woke up the next morning and headed for Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. Again, idyllic. The sky was perfectly blue and the mountains were perfectly snow-covered and pristine. I feel like I sound a bit like a writer for Lonely Planet trying to sway your travel plans and convince you to do a stopover in Aotearoa/New Zealand. While I certainly wouldn't argue against it, you must know that this is not my intent. There are simply no other words to describe the views that I am seeing - even idyllic and pristine do not do them justice.

We stopped along the side of the road to take in the views and cook bacon that we had bought the day before (SO good). Full and satisfied, we decided to drive to Tasman Glacier, which is right next to Mount Cook. We did a short climb to the overlook and saw a gorgeous view of the glacier, the largest in New Zealand. Must I say it again? Idyllic.

We headed back in the early afternoon and made another stop at a lake on the ride home. We took a dirt road that led us straight to the water and enjoyed a nice two hours of relaxation. JJ even set up his hammock that he had packed! We had a great time soaking in the sun and looking off on trees that were reflected on the water. As if this wasn't enough, our final stop was on the side of the road to take in arguably the prettiest sunset I have ever seen. You are too good to me, New Zealand. Too good.