Livin' like a kiwi!

Hey everybody!
Sorry for the lack of updates lately…I’ve been so busy! Which I guess is a good thing but I know you all have just been DYING to hear about what I’ve been doing ☺
This past weekend was a kiwi-style adventure. On Friday, my friend and I went to Sumner beach, a really pretty beach near our university and chilled there for a few hours and got something to eat. I have been so proud of myself here…I’ve been cooking all my own meals and barely going out to eat! I’m amazed haha All day I was pretty psyched because that night we were going to the Canterbury Crusaders game, the official rugby team of the region that Christchurch lies in. The Crusaders are actually one of the best teams in the world and has the number 1 player, Dan Carter playing for them. He is even called the “prince of rugby”. He is also extremely popular because of his attractiveness, which was visible by all the teenage girls surrounding us at the game haha I was really excited because rugby is like football back in the states…it is extremely popular. We were third row up in the “end zone” type area and it was a blast! The game is very fast paced and really intense! They wear no pads or helmets, yet they can tackle people to the ground like there’s no tomorrow. It is a brutal game. It was very fun to watch though. They won like 35-6 so they dominated! Next time we go I’m going all out with black and red face paint. It has been decided by my flatmates haha
On Saturday we woke up and headed to “Amp It Up 2” and concert series that the school was putting on for Orientation week. Basically, it was in an outdoor amphitheater on campus and 4 different bands played from 12-7 pm. It was BEAUTIFUL out…it was a perfect day for a concert. The bands that were playing were kind of reggae/hip-hop which was really fun to listen to. A band called The Black Seeds performed who are apparently very big here in New Zealand, so everyone was really pumped about that. Kiwis are crazy and they like to have fun, so it was a great way to see the kiwi student life. It’s weird that I’m actually enrolled here and I am a student. I feel like I’m watching them do things at their school but it’s my school too! It’s a weird feeling.
Saturday night we went over to a flat and hung out with a bunch of kiwi’s haha It was a really great time. I’m really trying to just soak in everything they say and how they live here. I love to ask them about how they view America and Americans, just to see what they say ☺ Many say they like Americans, but American politics is a different story. I welcome their honesty. I know I’ve said this before but they really are so friendly here. They have a really laid back mentality and you do not feel judged when you are talking to them which is really nice when you’re the new kid in town.
Sunday we hung out all day waiting around to go to yet another sports event…a cricket game! The game was the Blackcaps (NZ) vs. Australia, who apparently dominates at this sport. It was a 20/20 version of the game, which is the one to go to because a normal game can take up to 5 days to complete! I wasn’t sure what to expect and to be honest I was thinking I would be bored because I had heard it was a little slower paced but it was a blast! First off, Cricket is so random with its rules. It took me pretty much the whole game to figure it out, and to be honest I’m still not 100% sure on the rules. It is not common sense by any means and it is barely anything like baseball except for that they hit a ball. But, it was kind of fun trying to figure it out and we had some nice kiwi’s behind us trying to teach us haha The game went into overtime which was really exciting and I guess doesn’t happen that often and New Zealand ended up winning! People were freaking out. They go crazy wild after every hit. They love the game. Australia was expected to win so it was a great atmosphere when the blackcaps took it home.
I had a great weekend and even though I didn’t leave Christchurch, I did something that is definitely an integral part of New Zealand culture, and that is attending their sport games. I’m going tramping this weekend, which is like intense hiking so I’ll have to write about that when I get back! Oh, my camera broke while I’ve been here…sand must have gotten in it so sorry for the lack of photos but I’m buying a new one so no worries. I know you were all freaking out. I understand, my pictures are very important ☺ I’ll write again soon!