We got back from Abel Tasman on Saturday.  We were leaving for the road trip on Monday.  What to do on Sunday?
Why, go for a tramp with the Lambdas, of course!  I wasn't sure if I'd have the energy, but I did.  So I got up on Sunday and headed downtown to meet the others for the trip to Lyndon Saddle, right by Mt. Hamilton.

The long car ride to get ( Read more... )

Me: "Is that the... vegetables?"
Biaca: "Yes... or the meat. Or the potato. Or... something."
Conversation over Bianca and Gernut's freeze dried supper

Slowly but surely, I will get to the point where I can talk about things that didn't happen a month ago. :-P
So, Abel Tasman.  We got off to a bit of a late start-- Bianca and Gernut went to have ( Read more... )

On Monday the 9th, I hopped in the car with Bianca, Gernut, and Harry, all ready for a moderate day tramp at Arthur's Pass-- specifically, Avalanche Peak, which Harry wanted to do.  It was supposed to be moderate, 6-8 hours.  Talking in the car, we figured since we usually do tramps faster than the estimated time, we could make it to the summit and ( Read more... )

"All hail the cute rabbit, Snowball." --South Park Easter Episode

My weekend really began (or seemed to begin) on Thursday, because I had to turn in all four of my midterm essays on Wednesday. 
Though I still hadn't recovered from my usual essay-completion process (which involves much caffeine, occasionally nicotine, and usually emotional peril), I ( Read more... )

"Hey Sara, can you imagine Reggie Bush out there?" --Piers, appealing to my love of Trojan football during the rugby game, and prompting a major 'SC gush

Fast-forward to April 6. 
School was paling in comparison to... oh, everything else the Monday after Quail Island, but there I was.  But on Tuesday, I got a major academic enthusiasm burst.  I had ( Read more... )

"And the male spiders are like, 'here, have some sperm.'"
-Lisa, explaining the mating habits of spiders

I have SOOOOO many cool memories I'd like to note in my LJ.  And I've got to catch up somewhere.  So, I'm starting with March 23rd-- the beginning of my volunteer weekend at
Quail Island.  From some of my tramps at Lyttelton, I've been able to see ( Read more... )

Since I've been in New Zealand, I've had more opportunities than in the states to talk critically with other students about the United States.  Between my peers and my more politically-oriented communications classes, I've contemplated US policy and ideology more than ever.  And though it's a perplexing subject, the conversations I've had, even ( Read more... )

I'm back from the road trip, and somewhat back to reality.  I sifted through my email when I got back, and was reminded of all the responsibilities I've neglected during these first two weeks of my break.  But I still have a week left... do I do workish things, or try to hitch a ride to Kaikoura?  Oh dear ( Read more... )

I have so many thoughts I want to record.  The changes in mediation habits.  Lunches with UniQ.  Making myself at home at the HIT Lab.  The trip to Quail Island.  The paper-writing week that almost did me in.  Rugby.  Dying eggs.  The "Anything but Clothes" party.  Avalanche Peak.  Revamping my schedule for next year. :-P ( Read more... )

I'm finishing up essay 2 of four, all of which are due on Wednesday (yikes ( Read more... )