New Zealand "Rocks"

This last weekend (March 31ish) I stayed in Hamilton for the most part. On Friday I went to the twon during the day and got some neccisties like wool socks and a USB flash drive. While I was there I ended up seeing some lots of international students so we all had coffee. It was pretty fun. Just to let you know everything in NZ is way more expensive. Rainjackets were 200 dollars!!!!! on SALE! So if you ever go to another country just expect to spend more money on stuff. I was so amazed.

Saturday is what the pictures are from. On saturday I went rock climbing on real rocks! That is what majority of the pictures are from. I with a girl Sarah and her fiance that I met at church. SHe is a PE teacher around Hamilton. THe pictures without people in them are the pictures of what we climbed from a distance. If I was an amazing climber then I would have grabbed my camera and took a picture at the top. The top you can see all these beautiful streams and mountains. Oh it is amazing. With rock climbing there are certain levels of climbing. Each climb is between level 10 and 30 I believe. I started on a 16. Then I did a 14 and half of a 17. My arms were really tired by the 17 so I could not make it all the way up. Saturday night Tara, Ashley and I made dinner and watched Mean Girls on TV. Then we went dancing in town.

Then the following week I have been doing my first assignments! There are only three assignments due in one class and two in another and one huge exam. The schooling here is a lot easier than home. Knock on wood. I find it a lot less work. It could be a mixture of the less assignments and no work or young life to do. Waiting to the last minute to do my assignment I met lots of people in my classes. They ask the funniest questions about Americans, here are some:

If you are not a cheerleader or football player in HS do people just hate you then?

Oh you are from Arizona, my flatmate lives in New Jersey. Do you go there a lot?

Is everybody really obese? Is it a rare thing to be skinny? (I responded with we just roll on our stomachs instead of walk because we are so obese.)

Your name is Lauren, oh like Lauren from the hills?

Do you listen to Indie bands like Say Anything? (I am pretty sure Say Anything is not indie, right chuckie?)

When I told them that it is only 6 hours to the beach and we go for the weekend sometimes, they respond with You drive 6 hours to go to the beach! You could drive the whole North island in 14 hours.

Are you scared to go to school since everyone shoots each other and there are all those bombings in Colleges? I respnd with I wear a helmet to class everyday.

Who are you voting for president, the girl or the blackguy? (they did not realize that there are other options.)

I hope you all get a laugh about the things that Americans are known for. I know I do. So be safe in school, stay obese, and listen to indie artsy fartsy bands like Say Anything.