Queenstown

Queenstown

Friday, October 29, 2010

Camping with the Sheep.

There is so much updating to do. Sometimes it makes me sad to think that I am going to forget things, just because I haven't documented them all.

Well, I haven't been online for a little while just because I've been at a sheep shearing... place. It's called Mt. Nicholas and they farm sheep for wool. We left on Thursday morning to board a boat on lake Wakatipu. It was about a thirty minute boat ride and Savannah fell asleep on my shoulder.

When we got there half of us chose to sleep in the sheep shearer's cabins and the other half chose to pitch tents on the beach. Well... you better believe I was pitching a tent! Christy Parent and I set up our two person tent without help from the boys! And, it was much sturdier than theirs at that. It's funny that I take pride in silly little things like pitching tents.

After we set up camp, we had a packed lunch and then went to learn about sheep. It was interesting because we got to watch a herding dog jump fences and scare the crap out of some silly sheep.

Dinner was delicious! We ate lamb, Chicken, and Steak! ALL THREE! then for desert we were treated to a rhubarb cobbler. It was some of the best food I've had since leaving America. Plus, I got to have some really wonderful conversations with everyone in the group. I love sitting down and learning a bunch of unexpected things about people I thought I knew backwards and forwards already.

Amount of work left before freedom: 2000 words and 4 final exams... oh and one spiffy journal.

Eventually we all gathered around a roaring fire on the beach and had a singing devotional. I am always impressed by the harmonizing our group does, and really... everyone else is too. If we're having chapel or some sort of devo when strangers are around... they usually comment on how amazing we sound. I don't mean to sound like a snob... but I guess I didn't realize how good we must sound.

We're a bunch of random college age Americans. No Kiwi would expect us to sing such passionate songs together and know all of the parts so well. I think we just catch everyone off guard.

SOOOOO.... back to the camping.

We slept in tents. It was cold but I loved every minute of it. When I woke up, breakfast was ready. Nothing like hot coffee and hot food. I think the reason the food was so good was because the family who lived on the sheep farm made everything. Fresh eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Plus there was greek yogurt and pears. It's wonderful to find out that the "Tomato Relish" is homemade and grown in their yard. Figuratively, it takes me home to Indiana when we have our fresh tomatoes. Sigh, I love it.

After Breakie, we went on a hike to a "waterfall" aka... drippy water. Our guides had never taken that particular trail before, but kept assuring us that it would be "an adventure!" Ha ha, we ended up walking through a couple of streams, some how I ended up in water that was knee deep. Most of the people kept complaining about how much they didn't want to get wet and how they kept stepping in sheep poop (and let me tell you... the poop was EVERYWHERE, I started calling them land mines). I however, enjoyed the little journey through Middle Earth. I needed the exercise.

Finally when we got back we had some yummy lunch and packed up to go back to Queenstown. By then everyone was wet, muddy, greasy, and covered in sheep excrement. I kept thinking... "I can't wait until I'm back at the Glebe."

We floated back over the lake and sooner than we realized... we were warm and clean... and avoiding homework/studying.

Here are a couple of random bits of information I deemed it important for you to know:
1. I have been suffering from homesickness on and off. Really I'm just craving Christmas with my family... p.s. I've already compiled a Christmas list. I'll post it sometime before I leave.

2. If anyone wants souvenirs, speak now or forever hold your peace.

3. I am going bungee jumping at 10:15 in the morning tomorrow. If you want to know the details it is the "Nevis." you can look it up online.

4. JAPAN, I can't believe I am already planning for Tokyo. I am going to probably stay at a hostel with a really unique name: Tokyo Hostel... yep. It's located in between Uneo and Asakusa, whatever that means.

5. I still need to ship stuff home, and I don't know how much money that's going to be. But I need NEED to do that because otherwise I'm gonna have to throw a bunch of stuff away.

6. I am SO psyched for finals to be over with and papers to be written.

7. I've been working daily on trying to be an artist. New Zealand is the best place for inspiration.

8. I craved McAlisters today for the first time. sigh, American food... Sandwiches here are just so weird, I can't put a finger on it but they're just incredibly different.

9. I drank coffee without creamer yesterday and today... I like it.

10. I need people to talk with me and send me some love. I think about my friends and family constantly. Miss you guys.

11. Mom, I am still in the Glebe, in fact we have a much larger apartment with FOUR bedrooms and a fireplace. I believe we have the largest apartment out of anyone in our group. Meghan and I are still sharing a room but we don't mind.

Again, I am sorry for the lack of pictures but here's the deal. Pim-Pam pays for us to have internet, and photos eat up all of the internet she pays for... she has already spent 1,200 NZD on the internet in New Zealand alone! We have been told to only upload a couple of photos and not to watch ANY videos... etc. AND, since I uploaded a ton of photos from Milford Sound, I didn't feel like it was fair for me to upload anymore while I am here unless it's the last day and we have a bunch of leftover internet. Either that or I have to pay for it at an internet café. So... Here's to being frugal!

I will try to upload pictures whenever I get a chance, but I don't know if that is going to happen on the trip anymore at all. No promises.

Peace and Love

2 comments:

  1. Sounds like you are having so much fun! I miss you, DeCamp!

    Oh, would you mind picking me up a little something in Tokyo...? ;)

    Kandace Keetch

    ReplyDelete
  2. YES I WANT A SOUVENIR! :D

    ReplyDelete