Update

Well, as usual, its been a while since an update.  Everything is going good here, and the winter months are coming around.  It has been really raining here the heaters have been turned on.
School is already 1/3 of the way through for me and every thing is going quite fast.  I have my music evaluation coming up and I've been working on that lately.  I need to do a piano, bass guitar, and drum solo for a grade in music theory.
Some of us older guys from youth group have been busy planning our missions trip to Thailand that is coming up in November,  We are going in to dig wells and do other maintenance, so that will be a lot of fun.
There isn't a whole lot of other things new here, and i guess i should probably get started on my homework.

WOMAD

a fun weekend at WOMAD. we picked up garbage from 8 to 12 at night in exchange for a free ticket to the festival. there were some really cool bands playing and art displayed.

Update

there's been a lot going on lately.  its about 1 in the morning now on Monday, I just got back from a friends house and i thought a blog update was needed.  I've been here for close to 2 months now and everything is settling well. I've met A LOT of new people and have made tones of friends.  my weeks are busy with handbell choir on Monday, small group on Wednesday, church band practice on Thursday, and youth group on Friday.  I've also joined the school orchestra playing double bass (upright bass) and percussion.  we have the day off tomorrow because of our providence's anniversary.  School is fairly easy with almost no homework.  I'm taking year 12 History, English, Painting, Music Theory, Business, and year 13 Economics.

Just a typical weekend in New Zealand

Lake Rotokare

Arrival

Well i've finally unpacked, settled in, and have found time to get my computer out of my bag.
"At the moment i'm out swimming in the thick soup that is life" This is a quote from one of my mum's daughter, Miriam, and can pretty much sum up exactly what i'm doing right now.  The weather here is beautiful. its about 18 degrees Celsius (65 for you back in the states) and sunny.  we are seated right below a mountain and only a few kilometers away from the sea.  We made a short trip up to another property, of many, owned by my family more south and in the hills.  The view was incredible and just as NZ is pictured in movies. I start school on Tuesday and i'm excited to see how things progress this week.

Only 8 days now!!

It's getting so close! I just got back from an awesome surprise going away party. I love all my friends, I'll miss them! But I'll make new ones. I'm also getting very excited about meeting my fellow New Zealanders and also my host family and host sisters from Iceland and Malaysia! I just can't wait!