Playing Hooky and an Afternoon Tea

           Wow these last two days have been a whirlwind!  I have been hiking on Takapuna beach, wining and dining with some old and new friends in Milford, and learning the ropes in Brown’s Bay.  After all of this excitement I am really quite ready for a relaxing-ish weekend!!

            Yesterday I was blessed enough to go on a “tramp” or hike with my host teacher, Ruth.  She invited me to this GORGEOUS beach called Takapuna which holds some of the most gorgeous views with crystal clear turquoise water and cliffs of black lava rock! The hike was incredible and I was so blessed to have been able to play a little bit of hooky and get to know my new teacher under much more relaxed circumstances!

            Tonight was even more wonderful because I was invited to share “afternoon tea” with the director of my program, Fay Mason, and the rest of the girls who are here in New Zealand with me! I got to catch up with Cassie and Jordan (which was AWESOME) as well as meet some new faces who are teaching nearby.  Fay invited us into her home, which sits on a lovely volcanic crater that is now a “bottomless” lake.  As we shared wine and conversation about our experiences and all the travels we want to do together we were able to look out onto a pristine view! God, do I have the life or what?!

            After the tea, Jordan, Cassie and three of the other girls I can now call new friends, all went to grab pizza at a local Italian restaurant.  This was so fun! It was nice to have girls that are going through similar experiences as me to talk to and relate to!  It was like having a little piece of home.  I am so lucky to have them so close! We are all hoping to plan some traveling here soon!!  We ended the night at the Thirsty Frog Wine Bar, having one more glass of the FABULOUSLY DELICIOUS Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand is famous for, before Tanya (again I must say BEST HOST MOM EVERRRR) picked Jordan and me up from Milford and drove us home to Brown’s Bay.

            I ended the night with a cup of tea and TV with my host family, and couldn’t have asked for better.  After talking to the girls, I know I am truly blessed to have my host family.  They have supported me through doctor’s appointments, fun gatherings, invited me to family friends for house parties, and given me truly the experience I never dreamed of having.  I am so blessed and end this day thanking God for each of them in this incredible adventure. I know tomorrow holds so much more, and yet I am so thankful for what this trip has already given me. And now I must rush to bed because 27 six year olds tend to take advantage of a tired teacher…Sweetest Dreams from New Zealand.