What did I just eat?

Hello there!
I know I haven't updated in forever and I'm sorry! Things are just so busy around here but I promise I will get better! This weekend has been such a blast. Last weekend I went tramping, or intense hiking, with the Tramping club to Mt. Somers and it was really really cool. saw some awesome views and we camped out! It was absolutely freezing at night but I was pretty proud of myself for hiking uphill for 2 hours straight haha We did the easy track but oh my goodness, either I'm out of shape (which is quite possible) or New Zealand has no "easy" routes to take. I'd say the latter obviously.
THIS weekend was so much fun. We went to the Wild Foods Festival in Hokitika, which is on the west side of the island...so the opposite side of where I'm going to school. My flat mates and I had heard a lot about it and how fun it was so decided to check it out! We hitched a ride with some kiwi's that we've become friends with while we've been here who had two huge vans and we headed out at about noon on Friday. We tried to pack light but with nine of us in a van and all of our gear it was definitely a tight squeeze. The van was also quite old...and with New Zealand mountains it got a little scary at some points. We survived so I'd say it turned out well. It was storming in Christchurch when we left so we were nervous about the weather for the weekend, but in true NZ fashion, the weather was sunny and great on the other side of the island. We set up our tent at a campsite we had previously paid for which was right next to the beach! It was beautiful! The ocean was on one side of us with the mountains on the other...couldn't have been better! Someone stole my sleeping bag which was not a fun time...I took it out of the van, set up our tent and then when I came back it was gone! So, we had to improvise and share blankets and sleeping bags which turned out fine but I was definitely a little angry at the beginning of this trip. But hey, stuff happens. After we got there we just hung out at the camp site and built a bonfire on the beach. We walked around and talked with people at other fires and eventually went to check out a place where glow worms are. It was really neat. We went into this area that is protected and you can just look at this wall full of brush that looks like the night sky because of all the little lights shining from it. It was really beautiful.
The next morning we got up and went to the actual festival at around noon. I didn't know what exactly to expect but it was a blast! Basically, there were tons of tents set up with the craziest food ever...if it can even be called food. We were there for a reason so we wanted to try some of the crazier stuff...including sheep testicles. They are actually called "Mountain Oysters" here, but it was GROSS. My flat mates and I shared one...each of us having one bite was ENOUGH. Eww. I can't even describe the taste but it was just pure nastiness. But hey, we did it and we can say that we did it haha The next challenge was almost not completed. So, we walk up to this place next to the tent where they are chopping a ton of wood and we wondered what they were doing. Turns out they are looking inside the wood for these huge worm-like bugs called "Hu hu Grubs". Basically when they find one, people bid on it to see who gets to eat it. It'd be one thing if it was dead...but no, it was squirming in my hand! I almost didn't do it but I was pushed into at least eating half of it! Ahhhh I still can't believe I did it! It was apparently supposed to taste like peanut butter...uhhh not so much :)
There was live music playing there as well which I wasn't expecting so that was great. They played swing music, 80's classics, pretty much anything. It was a lot of fun dancing and having fun with people. Oh, I forgot to mention that EVERYONE wears costumes and goes all out for this festival. We went as 80's girls/ aerobic instructors. Comfortable yet a lot of fun! We were quite proud of our ensemble! night we just chilled on the beach again, singing songs by the campfires and talking with people. Honestly, that is one of my favorite parts about New Zealand. It is so easy to meet people and strike up a conversation with them. I've met so many great people who are so open and friendly. It's such a laid back kind of mentality and I'm loving it!
Our trip back today was a little chaotic...we had to sit and wait around for our driver to come back from visiting his family and so we stayed 6 hours later than everyone else trying to find things to do haha Our morale was pretty low at this point. We were tired, hungry and disgusting haha He eventually got there and we headed back more packed than ever. The roads here are super windy and all of us were feeling car sick as we were crammed in this van. It was an experience for sure. The scenery is beautiful though so one can only complain so much. This country is honestly amazing and I'm so happy I've been able to experience the people as well as the physical beauty. I'm having a great experience thus far :) Hope all is well back home! Miss you all!