This past week has been full of countless hours focused on Finance, or should I say “FUN-ance”. I had a project due on Friday, and I have a test this Friday from 6 to 9pm. Seriously?!? What am I doing on a Friday night before a 2 week semester break…. That would be taking a midterm. Cruel, so so cruel. However, I refuse to let finance stand in my way of having an awesome week. On Thursday I experienced everyone’s dream [although most people refuse to admit it]- a light-up dance floor. That’s right, we had a good- old American girls’ night at “Boogie Wonderland”. We all got spiffied up together- and my outfit was classified as “International Only” because let's face it, I haven’t worn patterned tights since I was 6. No one was there, but the mass amounts of disco balls, furry walls, and Jackson 5 turned the night from funky to fresh, and we danced with ourselves- having a great time.
Saturday brought a whole new kind of fun. The IFSA Butler group went to “Wonder” in the Waitakeres, but by wonder they meant hike, swim, jump off waterfalls, play in the sand, and oh wait- rock climb. It was an absolutely amazing trip; I still can’t believe how blessed I am to see God’s work half way around the world from my normal world. And looking back, it was hilarious. The first time someone fell, it was kind of embarrassing- but then it just became the norm. In fact, one time no one even touched me and I wiped out on the rocks. That was classy.
We all were unsure of what exactly we were doing at the start of the day, and before we knew it we were told to take off all cotton, since it strips you of body heat when it is wet. That should have been the first clue. Soon, we are approaching a stream that I naively think we are crossing. Sebastian [yes, the 100% man guide] said “No, we’re going down there.” There?!? There is a river. Okay- this is sweet, cold but sweet. At that point in time I turned to Brad and said, “You go first.”
We proceeded down/in the stream of sparkling clear water, over rocks, and down 3 waterfalls. We repelled down the first waterfall, jumped off the second, and climbed down the third. And no, these were not puny streams slightly slanting down the side of a hill. These were full on, water crashing, kick your butt, white-watered waterfalls. We all survived each endeavour, but at several times during the trip, I did notify our guides that they were crazy. We were a slow group, mostly since someone bit the dust every 5 seconds, and the thought of being completely wet had not fully set in for all of us. My friends pointed and experimented with the fact that every time I laughed, I fell over. And yes- every time.
At one point I could see a very painful fall coming ahead when watching everyone attempt to shimmy/slide across some rocks after the 1st waterfall. I already couldn’t feel my feet…so… I opted for option hard core: swim that bad boy. After getting the go ahead, I was in the water and I said to myself [in Ash’s words] “Self, you are in a very cold, beautiful river- it is time to doggy paddle.” Swimming in tramping gear is a whole new kind of wet. We all slowly made it down the stream, but not before climbing trees and sharp rocks, and exploring some New Zealand Mud. So this is the definition of tramping...
Looking up, the scenery took my breath away. It was a rainy, cloudy day, but there was no denying the awe of the massive cliffs. I had to remind myself to take a mental picture, because a) my camera was packed away on the dry bus and b) I never, ever want to forget how amazing God is- He made that landscape, He made me, and He planned for me to be there in that moment. And that is freaking awesome.
At the end of the “Bush” we hit the black sand- it is a fine, black sand from volcanic rock that is magnetic. So, we jumped off the dunes, and then climbed on a bus to enjoy the hot springs. “Very” cold cannot even describe feeling at that time- the feeling of the “Polar Bear Plunge” cold is actually exactly a better description, only instead of being cold for 15 minutes, it was for an extended period of time (About 3 hours). But, the hot springs warmed us up, and we had an awesome dinner, and now I am currently comfortably writing this at a cozy café inside FoodTown.
This next week will be a challenge, but the weekend will bring a trip to the Bay of Island,s Christchurch, Wellington, and Tonga!!!
Miss and love you all!
Saturday brought a whole new kind of fun. The IFSA Butler group went to “Wonder” in the Waitakeres, but by wonder they meant hike, swim, jump off waterfalls, play in the sand, and oh wait- rock climb. It was an absolutely amazing trip; I still can’t believe how blessed I am to see God’s work half way around the world from my normal world. And looking back, it was hilarious. The first time someone fell, it was kind of embarrassing- but then it just became the norm. In fact, one time no one even touched me and I wiped out on the rocks. That was classy.
We all were unsure of what exactly we were doing at the start of the day, and before we knew it we were told to take off all cotton, since it strips you of body heat when it is wet. That should have been the first clue. Soon, we are approaching a stream that I naively think we are crossing. Sebastian [yes, the 100% man guide] said “No, we’re going down there.” There?!? There is a river. Okay- this is sweet, cold but sweet. At that point in time I turned to Brad and said, “You go first.”
We proceeded down/in the stream of sparkling clear water, over rocks, and down 3 waterfalls. We repelled down the first waterfall, jumped off the second, and climbed down the third. And no, these were not puny streams slightly slanting down the side of a hill. These were full on, water crashing, kick your butt, white-watered waterfalls. We all survived each endeavour, but at several times during the trip, I did notify our guides that they were crazy. We were a slow group, mostly since someone bit the dust every 5 seconds, and the thought of being completely wet had not fully set in for all of us. My friends pointed and experimented with the fact that every time I laughed, I fell over. And yes- every time.
At one point I could see a very painful fall coming ahead when watching everyone attempt to shimmy/slide across some rocks after the 1st waterfall. I already couldn’t feel my feet…so… I opted for option hard core: swim that bad boy. After getting the go ahead, I was in the water and I said to myself [in Ash’s words] “Self, you are in a very cold, beautiful river- it is time to doggy paddle.” Swimming in tramping gear is a whole new kind of wet. We all slowly made it down the stream, but not before climbing trees and sharp rocks, and exploring some New Zealand Mud. So this is the definition of tramping...
Looking up, the scenery took my breath away. It was a rainy, cloudy day, but there was no denying the awe of the massive cliffs. I had to remind myself to take a mental picture, because a) my camera was packed away on the dry bus and b) I never, ever want to forget how amazing God is- He made that landscape, He made me, and He planned for me to be there in that moment. And that is freaking awesome.
At the end of the “Bush” we hit the black sand- it is a fine, black sand from volcanic rock that is magnetic. So, we jumped off the dunes, and then climbed on a bus to enjoy the hot springs. “Very” cold cannot even describe feeling at that time- the feeling of the “Polar Bear Plunge” cold is actually exactly a better description, only instead of being cold for 15 minutes, it was for an extended period of time (About 3 hours). But, the hot springs warmed us up, and we had an awesome dinner, and now I am currently comfortably writing this at a cozy café inside FoodTown.
This next week will be a challenge, but the weekend will bring a trip to the Bay of Island,s Christchurch, Wellington, and Tonga!!!
Miss and love you all!
No comments:
Post a Comment