Dunedin (that's duh-NEED-in)

I just wandered around town, trying to find where my Arcadia people are living. I located plenty of flats, but no one was home in any of them. It was actually quite pleasant out, I was dressed warmer than I needed to be. I stopped in the Dundas Street Dairy for a Telecom top-up, only to discover there were already 500 texts on the phone! Well, now I have 2500. No worries. I couldn't figure out how to get to the actual flats at Toroa, and besides, I don't know where Amber and Kate live exactly, anyway. As I was walking, I was thinking how Dunedin really is a lovely little city. I know it's much bigger than anything I'm used to, but at least right now it has more of a little city feel. The campus is beautiful. I live about a second away from the clocktower and the river. I was feeling a little pessimistic earlier about living so independently, but after talking to Jeff, feeding myself, and making plans for tonight, I am much more confident. There's that feeling of 'oh, it's cold and the days are short and I'm so alone' but it's just a feeling. I'm not alone. I have friends in Dunedin, and I have so much love back home. I must say that I'm fully becoming a scarfie - I've worn scarves often and even bought -gasp- more today! I need to get another sweatshirt or two. I'm currently attempting to decide on what classes to take. Two of them are certain: Maori Society and Anthro of Health. I can't decide on my third. There's Maori Language, NZ Politics, a gender studies class (bodies, sexualities, and selves), Music in Popular Culture, Love and Heroism: Religions of South India, Religion and the Internet, and Concepts of the Self. I think most of them would fit into my schedule. It's just up to me to decide. I promise I will actually update on my time in New Zealand up to now at some point, I am just not extremely motivated to since I need to wait for library internet to actually upload photos.

2 Days to Go - It's getting close!

So, here I sit, amazed to say that I really only have 2 days left before I depart for New Zealand. It's so unreal... I've been so excited about it for so long and now it's nearly here! I can almost not believe it. But there are certain things that make it so clear it's happening: I've got my housing assignment: 363 Leith Street. I got a list of other people in my Arcadia orientation group, and their addresses for the semester. We received an orientation itinerary. I've talked to my Kiwi hosts, Sarah and Jess. Probably the most clear indication that I'm about to go is that I'm pretty much all packed. I didn't have any trouble fitting what I needed into 2 suitcases: one is about 30 pounds, the other 20, so they're well below the limit. I'm surprised: I'm usually terrible at packing light. But I knew I had to, so I did. And I visited Jeff this weekend, and said goodbye. It was sad, but we'll be able to talk on Skype, which is really nice. Tomorrow is my last real day in the States for about 4.5 months (Wednesday doesn't count, I'll be in airports or traveling the whole time). It's weird to think that. Despite loving the Rufus Wainwright song "Going to a Town," I'm not "so tired of you, America." I mean, sure, America has its problems, but I love it all the same. Mostly I'll miss the people I am leaving behind. I am really excited to embrace new people, and a new culture, and learn and experience so many new things.