George St. in downtown Dunedin -- lots of cute shops and restaurants.


A helicopter landing on the rugby field for halftime!


Andrew, myself, Matthias, and Jeremy walking to the rugby game -- my wonderful three male flatmates. Below is another shot of the more historical part of Dunedin.



I started to make a list yesterday of everything I've learned since I stepped foot off the plane and onto New Zealand ground just a little over a month ago. I won't bore you with details, but just to name a few...

1. I have learned that I don't come close to fitting in as a Kiwi. As much people-watching and stalking that I do, I haven't been able to figure out the style here just yet; however, there is one thing that I do know -- I am NOT it. Saying that I stick out like a sore thumb would be generous. As far as their style goes, the girls tend to wear baggy shirts, high-waist blue jean shorts or skinny jeans, black tights, keds, lots of faded denim, and the hair is typically thrown up in a messy bun. Many of the outfits are actually a flashback to the 80s. Somehow, however, it works. The boys mainly wear capri pants, skinny jeans, and "stubbies" -- Rugby shorts that fall quite above the knee, shall we say. Nonetheless, I've accepted the fact that I have "American" permanently stamped on my forehead.

2. I have learned that I am completely ignorant of the world around me. If this trip has motivated me to do anything, it is to brush up on my world knowledge. My German flatmate, Matthias, informed me yesterday that the U.S. was voting on the Healthcare reform bill, while my other flatmate, Andrew (whom, might I add, was accepted into Oxford at the age of 16), puts me to absolute shape in world geography. Let's just say I have my work cut out for me.

3. I have learned that Kraft peanut butter is just something I have to splurge on. As of now, I have tried every peanut butter at New World (our local supermarket) and have yet to find one as satisfying as the NZ$4.89 small, plastic container of deliciousness that is Kraft crunchy peanut butter. I cringe every time the expensive little sucker gets swiped, but it has proven to be a necessity here in Dunedin.

There are numerous others, but that is all I will bore you with for the time being. In other news, we have finally decided on tentative plans for our mid-semester break that is week after next -- eight of us will be doing a South Island sweep. We will be driving up the east coast making several stops along the way, spending some time in the north hiking in Abel Tasman National Park, then heading back down the west coast. I've heard the views from the northern coast are breathtaking, so hopefully the weather will behave!

Here are some photos from this past weekend in Dunedin -- around town and rugby!

XOXO.