Welcome

John and I had a wonderful time in New Zealand in preparation for his study abroad experience in Dunedin at the University of Otago.  We experienced many different activities, cultures, and situations that one only gets through travel.  On this website, I took the blog I put together during the trip and created pages so they are easier to navigate.  I also added LOTS more pictures than had on the blog (if you followed it while we were gone.)

New Zealand is an amazing place!  I hope you can feel the joy and awe we experienced as we traveled this stunning country!

I'd just like to also say that the New Zealanders are a very welcoming people!  I thoroughly enjoyed this trip - mainly because EVERYONE was so helpful and friendly.  In the whole month that I was there, I ran into 2 people who were a little cross with us.  The first was a gentleman who was a little perturbed because we ended up in the middle of his sheep ranch while looking for a LOTR site.  He didn't yell or anything, but he was less than friendly - understandable.  The 2nd was a store clerk who was a little perturbed because John tasted a seasoned almond to see if he should buy more and she didn't like that!  That was it!  Everyone else suffered unending questions from me and was kind and generous and helpful!

My favorite story is of a man we met at Punakaiki Rocks.  He was there taking pictures because the surf was coming in at such a great angle to make the rocks spectacular.  We got to talking and he shared with me that he lived just up the road.  We could see his house from where we were.  He said he was sorry to have built the house there because he feels that he "ruined the view" for many other people.  Who in the United States would ever apologize for "ruining the view" of others?  Also, his house wasn't an eyesore by any means.  It was fairly low, and the colors blended into the hillside so you really didn't notice the house all that much.  

Sometimes we forget that there are a lot of us out there.  The people of New Zealand seem to embrace the "us" not the "I".  I feel that this experience helped me become a better "world citizen"!

Thanks again Clay, Greg and Sheila, and Jo and Pax!!  We had a WONDERFUL time!!