KiaOra! I'm in New Zealand!

Hey everyone!
I'm finally in New Zealand woot woot! I've made it to Christchurch...my mom and I arrived late last night (January 31st...we're almost a full day ahead!) at the Hotel So, which is really modern and funky. It's cool though. Our room is very VERY small and pink, but it works. Every floor has it's own color, ours is the pink floor haha We got up this morning (February 1st) and ventured out to see Christchurch. It's really nice! It's like Sydney but on a lot smaller scale and a lot less people. There are a lot of stores and cafes. I really like the area. It's quieter than a big city, but still has a lot to do. It is quite a bit chillier here in Christchurch than in Sydney. It was a really pretty day but very windy making it a little cooler. It was probably 70 degrees but with wind it seemed colder at times. But, the sun was out and shining so no complaints!
We walked around town and into Cathedral Square which is the center of the city with little kiosks to buy ice cream and drinks, as well as entertainers (singers, instrumentalists, etc.) The Cathedral is right there too so we looked inside and ate at the cafe attached to the side. I got some french toast and it was very delicious :) I didn't really eat on the plane the night before (it was meat pie) so I was quite hungry. We then did some more exploring walking along the Avon River and saw this place for "punting", which is where you go on this little boat ride (a small gondola type boat) along the river and see Christchurch from that point of view. There are so many trees and plants along the river and a lot of gardens..it is called the "Garden City" after all. The boy who was actually rowing/pushing us along was named Josh and is a second year at the University of Canterbury where I will be studying! It was really cool to talk to him and to meet a student from there! It got me a little more excited for school haha
So after our "punting" ride we walked back and got our car to drive and see the University. It's about fifteen minutes away from the central downtown area so we had to drive there. Let's just say my mother was a little nervous to be driving on the other side of the road. The blinker is on the other side as well so she kept trying to hit the blinker but would end up turning on the windshield wiper. It was pretty funny but she was getting frustrated! We made it alive to the campus and drove around it for a little bit. It is quite pretty with lots and lots of trees covering the campus. We couldn't see my apartment complex because the road leading to it was under construction but it is right across the street...not far at all from where my classes will be. It is really strange to think I will be studying there and not at Hope. Since my mom is still here I feel like I'm going back with her in 9 days...but I'm here to stay for awhile. Weird.
We then drove to Heathcote, which is where a very famous attraction is... The Christchurch Gondola ride. I thought it was like a boat ride but it's kind of like a ski lift up and over the hills to a building at the top where you have a great view of Lyttleton, a town the lies right on a bay, surrounded by the hills. It is definitely hidden and you would've never thought water lied over the hills in a little bay. The rarest dolphins in the world actually live in this bay which I thought was really interesting! It was a gorgeous view from the top of this hill. You could see the ocean on one side, the city of Chrischurch from the other, and then the bay with the surrounding hills/mountains. It was my first taste of the beauty that New Zealand has to offer.
After the Gondola, we were off driving again, me as the direction giver, and made our way back to the downtown. We headed back to our hotel to rest for a little bit and then went to look for some dinner. We ended up going to a place called The Tap Room and it was AMAZING. They serve dishes that are "Stone Grilled" which is where they bring you plate out with a very very hot stone in the middle with whatever meat you choose cooking on it. You actually cook it yourself, and it cooks very fast so you eat and cook, eat and cook. I had lean beef, lamb romp and pork loin and I cooked them all! Apparently this way of cooking is the healthiest and takes all the fat off. It was so good! I was surprised. I was eating the meat really fast because I didn't want to overcook it but I was also starving so it worked out well. It was also served with gourmet potatoes and vegetables. My mom got steak and prawns (which are like big shrimp). It was a really cool way to eat.
Now I'm back in my room watching Two Weeks Notice (they have quite a bit of channels here surprisingly) and ready to go to bed... tomorrow we head out of Christchurch to travel around the South Island! I'm really excited!