AFS Camp

Between Castlepoint and Riversdale. 13.03.

I’m having the best weekend so far, being taken out to a beach house by my lovely support family. Yesterday we were riding bikes on the beach and I cannot put it into words how much fun it was. I met a wild seal that, I must admit, didn’t seem interested in making friends. This weekend I’m spoiling myself with roasted lamb, banana muffins, brandy snaps (delitious little dessert snack) and jaffas (delitious little lolly thing) and it seems like such a kiwi thing to do. It’s a nice, very much relaxed life out here, when all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show that nature presents. I’m talking about the sunrise, the spectacular view early in the morning when the sun rises above the Pacific Ocean. And the blanket of stars you see when you’re staying up late. I was amazed by the clear milky way and could almost see why people like to make up stories about what’s happening out there. Yeah, I find that science fiction is a big deal in New Zealand.

This morning I was planting some spring onions in the garden then trying to catch a lobster in the sea, then I was playing with a tiny little angry crab and I just got back to the house from jet-skiing in the river (not the puddle in the picture). You never know what you’ll end up doing in a moment. As I get to experience all these things, I like to think that one day I’ll come back and do it again. But there is no way I can fool myself - this is a one time only life experience - and there is just so much to do. I’ve recently watched Into The Wild and highly recommend it, especially if you don’t really get what I’m going on about here.

I’ll draw a little picture of my life in Masterton. It’s one of the small towns where everyone seems to everything about everyone else. I’ve made some good friends at school who always have the funniest thing to say to make my day. Studying doesn’t seem too difficult nor does it seem easy, that depends on what kind of angle you’ve chosen to look at it. I love Mondays (ha ha ha) because I get to play tennis after school. I’ve taken up pilates and don’t think I’ll ever give it up. I enjoy the half an hour, or so, walk to the lessons and especially the way back when I can see the sun setting behind the Tararua mountains painting the clouds golden yellow. Sometimes I get too excited about all these little arty things and say it aloud. What I often hear then is ‘‘You’re weird’’. Well, I know, but come on, how can people take this for granted?

Right, I’ve got a little job myself at the Wairarapa College library. I had to get one because of the 40-hour-community-service-thing-I-have-to-do, and this one turned out not so bad. My job is to put away all the books that have been returned, so I have a good image of what people like to read here. My plan to get the hours done is to give some presentations about travelling in Europe to those who study tourism and transition. The dean suggested that I would talk about French and Italian kitchen during the hospitality lessons, but I’ve still got a lot to learn about it myself. And it’s a major topic for me now, since I’ve found a piece-of-art travel book about Italian food and wine. I’ll tell you more about it when I finish it.

I’m looking forward to the South Island tour in April, but I’ll write another message or two before I go.

I hope you enjoy the winter in Latvia, it must very beautiful with all the snow.

I wish all the best for those who have just gone to their exchange programmes.

Greetings to the skiers, I hope you have a sunny holiday!

Take care.