finally reappearing

Well after a very long time off here, I'm finally back. My computer has been the main cause for such an elongated absence - a faulty battery forces frequent restarts of the internet and thus makes blogging difficult...that being said the last few days that particular computer has been one of the farthest things from my mind.

That of course is due to the biggest trip of my life. It was all finalised on the Thusday. Might explain what went on behind this at some stage, but for now its enough to say that it went from nothing planned, to everything planned in the space of 24 hours...and just 3 days before leaving

The trip began with a 1 hour flight from Wangas to Auckland - the same locations as the first flight I've ever been on - and therefore not too far out of the ordinary...or at least as much as that applies when you've only ever been on 4 flights before and all are 1 hour or less. Shortly after I arrived in Auckland my uncle came and picked me up at the domestic airport - much more pleasant than waiting for 8 hours at the international terminal, I finally arrived there after dinner at my uncles', and equipped with new sunglasses, borrowed digital camera and a whole pile of other extras (and no I had NOT been shopping during that time) at about 7.30 pm.

Once we reached the international airport I went through customs (one of many firsts for me) and then headed down to the gate to wait for boarding. This particular flight was probably my favourite of them all so far. It may have been 12 hours long, but looking back it really doesn't seem like it. Was served chicken for dinner #2 a few hours in, with NZ white Chocolate icecream for dessert. Got a few hours sleep (not a huge amount...but oh well) then a few hours before landing breakfast was served. Was a bit of turbulance on landing, but on the whole was still a good flight. Of course I also went across the international dateline on this trip meaning I had a second 22nd of June...and on my way back I will be missing a day entirely

Next came luggage claim, followed by customs again - and following Dad's wisdom of 'declare everything even if you think it may not need to be declared' meant that this was luckily a very quick and painless process - my passport now officially shows that I have been overseas! Thankfully my suitcase had been tagged right through to my final destination so rather than having to take it with me for the 8 hour stop, it was simply a matter of handing it on to the different airline.

This break was also made more enjoyable due once again to not being stuck at the airport for the entire duration. Dad's cousin met me at the airport and took me to Venice Beach to look around, followed by yet another dinner - this time mexican food. Arriving back at the airport 2 hours before the next flight was due to leave was both smart and crazy... cause I'd been directed to the wrong terminal. Luckily this was easily sorted and I arrived with pleanty of time to make the next flight.

After going through the 3rd set of security barriers/xray machines/metal detectors on this trip I was waiting by the gate for the 3rd flight - the most turbulant of the full trip. 4 and a half hours later I was finally in the state I was headed to, only a 1 hour wait followed by a 55 minute flight away from my final destination.

Walking down to the gate to wait for the call to board, one of the security guys called me over...now since this was my first time out of the country this was kinda crazy cause I had no idea why he'd singled me out... and his first question of 'where did you just arrive from' made me wonder even more what was coming... - It couldn't have been more unexpected as after my reply of 'LA' he asked if it was 'good to be home' and mentioned that it was cool that I was wearing a state T-shirt???? (ok so now the NZ christian magazine - soul purpose - T-shirts are officially a state shirt of NC?????? - and do I really sound American???? - he was the 4th person to think I was headed home!) still it was good to know that I hadn't done anything wrong - simply a case of mistaken identity

Anyway, I got on the final plane and, 1 hour later arrived - with Bluey, her mother and sister there at the airport to meet me :D. After hugs all round we headed back to Bluey's place where I have been for the past few days, and am currently. Still sometimes hasn't completely sunk in that I'm actually here - but I'm definitely enjoying it! :D. Am here for about another week yet before heading back to winter. One thing is certain - This is definitely my favourite holiday so far and I will certainly never forget it!

And the answers...

Well these were relatively hard but everyone did well on them  

1) Turn by PC3 - Bluey got the band correct and Netsirk and Guitargirl got the song - well do to you all

2) Take Me For a Ride - Moped - Skittles and Netsirk got that one (that one still reminds me of that picture of yours Bluey :))

3) I am the Way - Mark Schultz - this was one of the ones no-one got 

4) One Day - Mumsdollar - this is one that I think most of you would like - they're a kiwi band (tho thats not the only reason I think you'd like them)

5) Mighty to Save - the one I used is by Hillsong - very good Bluey - well done for getting the correct version too! :D - also correct are Guitargirl and Netsirk cause it could have been one of the other versions

6) Let it Rain - Newsboys - Guitargirl and Bluey got that one - the first Newsboys song I learnt on the keyboard.

7) I Believe - Rapture Ruckus - Bluey was the only person to get that one :)  

8) Inside Outside - Delirious? - Another one no-one managed to get

9) - Excellent guess Bluey :) - it was D-I-E 4 Y-O-U by FF5 - Netsirk also got that correct - well done to you both :)

10) Sometimes by Step - Rich Mullins - that was a hard one

11) Kutless - The Feeling - Bluey and Skittles got that one

12) In Wonder - Magnify - Another Kiwi band thus it was really kinda a hard one - they were one of the last bands on mainstage at Parachute this year - was really cool cause they're good friends with Brad from RR so, when they played this song, he came out and did a rapping part in the middle of it - sounded really cool :)

13) Sunset Sunrise - Moped - Netsirk got that one correct :) 

14) Always and Forever - Planetshakers - An Aussie band that  I think you might all like

15) Needful Hands - Jars of Clay - Guitargirl got that one right

so all in all very well done to everyone :)

Time is Flying... and the Tag

The second half of this semester has just raced by! only one more week til I'm finished classes til after winter break.  In some ways I'm glad it is that time cause I'm looking forward to having a break, but in other ways I wish that time would go slowly cause I'd still like to find a way to get some more money before the holidays.  

Had my parents phone last night to ask a whole pile of questions bout who is able to come for my 21st.  Managed to get a few things I wanted so thats positive.  Like I didn't really want 3 events for it.  Finally Dad's agreed that he'll come to the one with the people I know, as long as I keep the numbers at that one down - so at least it means I can cut it back to 2.  I'd rather it were 1 but 2 is better than 3.

Well the extreme NZ weather appears to be continuing.  Theres an actual snow warning for all the locations that normally get it during winter (tho this is early for it still)  but there are also snow warnings for Taupo, Rotorua and WANGANUI.  It's crazy!  None of those 3 places gets snow!  Wanganui's had it like 2 times in over 50 years! I'll believe it if it eventuates, but it would be typical if it did - cause of course I'm not in Wangas currently meaning I'd just miss it again.  

Anyway continuing the pattern - joining in on the game (albeit briefly) - sorry some of these may be slightly hard - I'm getting most of these off the radio cause I can't get into itunes right now

1) You can change a heart, change a motivation,

Take it right back to the start

2) I'm looking for a pulse, and a sign that I live.

But with unclean hands, and unclean lips

3) Look to me, and you see, 

I will be, there to guide you

4) Next day I'll see you, 

you ran the race, 

you finally made it through

5) Everyone needs forgiveness, 

the kindness of a Saviour,

the hope of nations

6) Once I spoke of power and high position, 

You took a  towel and washed my feet instead

7) I can't contain the thought, you took away my shame

And walked ball and chain, through the wind and rain,

8) Never ending love, I don't know where it begins.

I don't know where it ends, I don't know how high

9) Do the hard times for you,

On the front lines for you

10) And on this road to righteousness

Sometimes the climb can be so steep

11) Turn it up, feel the beat 

and scream the lyrics you know

12) In the trials, in the storms of life

You're the reason, I open up

13) I step up to the mic, with just two things to say

Firstly you rule the night, and second you rule the day

14) And when my world is falling down, in you I will be found

15) You are my eyes when I cannot see

You are my voice, see, sing through me

You are my strength in weakness be

Have fun!

40 hour famine...and a crazy story

2 posts in 2 days.  that must be a record (at least for me this month) and this appears to be a rather long one sorry - so please bear with me - there is a crazy story at the end for those of you I haven't told already.  Anyway this weekend is a slightly different one.  Its the weekend where something I've been involved in for 14 years (only just realised that its been that long!) is taking place.  That event is the 40 hour famine, organised through World vision.  I know I've told a number of you about it before, but for those who don't know or haven't heard of it basically its a time where people (mostly students of all ages) go without something (traditionally food) for either 20 or 40 hours (usually primary age kids do 20 hours and everyone older does 40) and for doing that people sponsor them money, which, when collected, goes towards World Vision's projects overseas.

I guess this is quite a big thing for me to a certain extent, particularly since I did the 20 hour famine 4 times, the 40 hour famine 8 times and was the student organiser for 3 years...plus helped 2 of my schools to get the respective scholarships for their age levels and got selected to go on both scholarship camps.  This year however I'm not playing such a big role. I may go back to it one year in the future but will have to see about that.

Those doing the traditional food famine are allowed just barley sugars and juice/water for the time of their famine, however due to people wanting to participate who were unable to give up food, alternative famines have also been added in that see people giving up technology, living in cardboard boxes or even giving up talking for 40 hours.  The years I was a student organiser, the whole school got behind it with a mufti day, student vs teacher sport, bouncy castle (yes even highschoolers like them) sausage sizzle, spot prizes etc.  We had local businesses donating the prizes and even managed to arrange a pizza lunch for the class who raised the highest total.  other years organised things like pancake breakfasts at the conclusion of the famine and many other different events.

The scholarships are given out at intermediate (middle school) and high school level.  The schools (from those who have been involved for at least 1 year previous) are selected based on a number of criteria such as most money raised total, most money on average per pupil, largest percentage increase in amount raised etc.  The scholarships are funded by sanitarium and are provided to about 20 schools at each of the 2 levels who get to select one senior student representative fly to a location to attend the scholarship camp week.  Its a really fun week of activities that ends with an awards dinner where plaques are presented to the students both for their schools and for themselves. 

my plaque from the high school camp

Personally I found I was more surprised at my selection for the High School camp than the intermediate one, partially because for the intermediate one, it was relatively likely that the school would receive a scholarship (we would have the previous year however that year had been the first time the school had been a part of it and so wasn't eligible) and that was the year I managed to exceed my aim in raising sponsorship (I always aimed to raise $100 more than the previous year - starting from $50 - I'd always just reached those targets right til that year, where the goal was $550 which somehow I managed to exceed by $200.) That I did sorta find funny cause there was a bar graph of what each class had raised displayed in the school...but they'd learned from the previous year (where I'd raised $450) so I sorta had my own colomn for it.  

With the High School camp however,  it was not so clear cut.  During the 3 years that I'd helped organise, the total raised had gone from what I think was a shockingly low figure of about $4000 (for a school of over 1500) to $8000 the following year to $16000 in my final year.  We still weren't sure that that would be good enough for a scholarsip tho - and when we did find out that we got one selection was looking at all of us who organised the event.  In fact we hadn't thought that we'd got a scholarship at all cause it wasn't til the day before nominations of representatives closed that us organisers got called into the principals office and were told that we'd succeeded.  I was thinking the position should go to one of the other organisers since I'd already had the opportunity to go to one camp, however, one by one, they pulled out saying they were busy at the camp time or they were going overseas for the holidays and thought someone else should...and in the end I was the one who got chosen again. I can imagine Mum's surprise when I phoned her from school (since it was the final day I had to get permission right then and there).  I think the thing I found most surprising bout that camp tho was when one of the adults who was helping out mentioned that they had thought my high school would never reach a scholarship.  I guess that just made me realise again the true story behind charities like World Vision - people can make a difference - even those who you think can't do much at all can, with a little effort, play a big role in helping in some way shape or form.

To all those involved in the famine this year - well done on your involvement and good luck with this weekend.

Finally that crazy story I mentioned at the beginning - a bank over here is trying to track down a couple after they took out an overdraft for their business that was struggling financially.  That $100,000 overdraft limit was accidentally incorrectly entered as $10 million.  The couple withdrew about 6 and a half million of that and are on the run.  The bank has since tracked down bout 2.8 million of what the couple had with them and have seized properties belonging to one of them worth approximately 1.9 million, however this still means the bank has currently got about $2 million unaccounted for.  An international manhunt was launched for the couple who are now believed to be somewhere in Hong Kong

Weather warnings

Well I will get the remainder of the NZ pics online soon - probably when I get back down to Wangas (yup not long til winter break now) Speaking of which winter definitely seems to have arrived early and with force this year.  Yesterday almost all the roads through the North Island were blocked off due to either slips and repair work or ice and snow.  That didn't happen til July last year (of course the place where I am doesn't usually get snow so I still haven't seen it...that being said Tauranga doesn't usually have extreme weather either but it sure did just over a week ago as you can see here and here. I guess its always a possibility... just not very likely)   

We haven't escaped the low temperatures here tho - was about negative 4 Celsius last night and has been 2 Celsius for much of today (finally up to 8C) but here only gets bad frost (like we had this morning) and the occasional hailstorm (though not like in those pics from Tauranga).  Snow has never yet been recorded here that I know of (and it has only snowed twice ever in Wangas - and only once during my lifetime...but on the other side of town - for some reason I just seem to keep missing it.)  

Should be interesting seeing what the next few days are like.  The Desert Road still has a road snowfall warning over it for the next few days as well as the other main North Island State Highway, due to the fact heavy snow is again forecast for the next few days for the Central Plateau area (which you can see minus snow in the pics from the drive back north)  If that does happen it's likely the routes through the North Island will be blocked off again cause the other routes currently have construction and road repair going on...all but the Forgotten Highway...and that road is partially unsealed.  Will definitely be interesting seeing how long this weather lasts

Tag

Ok so this was a tag I received on email but decided to do on here.

Favourite snack food?

• Pizza...if you call that a snack...else maybe cheezles?
  

Current location?

• Hamilton
  

Most missed memory?

• depends on which way you look at it - if you mean memory that you would like to repeat then probably conversations with friends - if you mean the memory you keep missing (not remembering) then how would I know cause you've missed it so it wouldn't be a memory
  

First thought when waking up?

• what's on today?
  

Fav movie/book quote?

• now thats a tough one...probably for movie 'We need people of intelligence on this mission....quest....thing' (LoTR)
  
• For book its even harder...I would put my favourite Left Behind quote here but it's 1 and a half pages long so that won't work...(its from apolyon if you were wondering)...and its just too hard to choose between any of the others 
  

Role model?

• one of the youth leaders from my last year in youth group
  

When I grow up I want?

• so I'm not considered to have grown up yet?  Well in that case it depends on what age is 'grown up', tho I'd say most likely travel.
  

Shoes you wore today?

• sandals
  

Fav drink?

• L&P, Mountain Dew, or Orange and Barley and lemonade for cold drinks, hot chocolate or milo for hot.
  

Generally, in life, what makes you happy?

• talking with/chatting with/hearing from friends 
  

How well do you handle critiscm?

• I'd hope reasonably well
  

What would your friends be suprised to know about you?

• well I don't think this'll really surprise you but I tend to wear sandals 99% of the year regardless of weather
  

What can you smell?

• Tea cooking
  

Worried about anything?

• not much currently
  

Last thing you bought?

• I think it was a CD for a friend
  

Name three things you are truly thankful for?

• all my awesome friends 
  
• life
  
• music
  

Three things you are looking forward to?

• Getting the money I need for a few things
  
• Our winter break (which is during June/July)...and also our summer break tho that isn't til November
  
• Being able to travel more
  

Are you reading anything at the moment?

• rereading Brink of Death...and of course the readings I have to do for class
  

Last song you listened to?

• Run (PC3)
  

Pics of NZ - Wangas to Hamilton

Well these are some more NZ pics from that trip - all of these were taken from the car on the road between Wangas and Hamilton.  Auckland ones still to come. (note - these are not in location order)

Looking down at Te Kuiti

Between Taumaranui and Te Kuiti

Mount Ngauruhoe in the distance and the Rangipo Desert (an area also known as the Central Plateau - where 3 of the mountains are - Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe)

The Rangipo Desert

Looking up at one of the viaducts (which was in one of the previous pictures, looking down from the train)

Mount Ruapehu (where a lot of the mountain scenes from LoTR were filmed)

Mount Ruapehu again

Farmland just outside Wangas

slightly further out of wangas

Just after the farmland ends

And again.  This is part of the Whanganui National Park

First signs of Autumn (keeping in mind this was 3 weeks ago)

Whanganui National Park again

and again

The Whanganui River nearing Upokongaro

The Whanganui River from Anzac Pde

The Huka Falls 

The Huka falls again

Will put the pics of the trip between Hamilton and Auckland and Auckland itself up soon