Hi Everyone!

Just a quick update:

Kiara and I have been traveling the last two weeks and have gotten on the computer for the first time this evening!

We have lots to share, but no time to do so now. We will be trying to get caught up on the last few weeks' worth of activties when we can, so keep checking back.

We fly out of Auckland Airport tomorrow night, and will be back in the States late on the night of the 1st of July.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone!

Take care.

Caleb

3 down, 1 to go

Only one more final this Wednesday morning and both Kiara and I can relax! (I don't know if she really has been able to yet seeing as the whole room is strewn with my study materials!)

A very happy Father's Day to our respective Dads. (Though it is Sunday already here, New Zealand doesn't have father's day in June...they have it in September) We love you both lots and can't wait to see you in just a few weeks!

Caleb and Kiara

Done With Final Exams!

As of yesterday, 4:30pm I am officially done with my semester studying abroad! I only had exams in three of my four classes on the 7th, 9th, and 11th. Today I slept in, went to Unipol (the rec center), got groceries, went to the library and checked out some recreational reading, and made sponge cake! What a wonderful, relaxing day. I haven't read a non-course related book for months and I've definitely missed it.

Caleb has two exams left and will be done on Wednesday. We have rented a car and have plans to work our way up to Auckland after two weeks of travel, and finally fly home on July 1st.

Kiara

Politics in New Zealand

Tui Beer ads provide some good comic relief through the use of controversial political (and otherwise) statements followed by their tag line of "Yeah Right" (Some have been banned)


A recent poll showed that the majority of Kiwis did not know that 2008 was New Zealand election year...but most knew that this November the U.S. would be choosing a new president. Furthermore, Kiara and I have noticed that most people can discus the candidates and the issues (especially Iraq) with intensity.

After my third year genetics laboratory was done, the professor took everyone out to the Captain Cook Tavern for drinks. (I was told that it was the 37th year of this tradition...how Dr. Poulter has been able to afford the bar tab I have no idea...) Though I don't drink, it was a good opportunity to spend some time with friends that I had made during the course of the semester. Dr. Poulter, knowing that I am an American, made a point to sit next to me so he could talk about election year in the U.S....turns out he knows quite a bit more about American politics than I do! (Even after he had a jug in him...)

Much of the down time in my labs was spent similarly. Most of my lab mates knew the frontrunner's positions on issues, knew who the front runner for each party was, etc....one even knew the number of delegates each had!

As Dr. Poulter put it, with the amount of interest Kiwi's have in U.S. politics, most Kiwis would rather vote for the U.S. president than the N.Z. prime minister!

When we did our volunteer trip to the Catlins, we stayed with an older Kiwi couple. One night at dinner American politics came up and Mary (our hostess) said that the whole world should be allowed to vote for the U.S. president as it affects everyone.

Sleet/Snow?

Today we woke up to a light dusting/crust of snow in Dunedin! Us Minnesotans knew that the white stuff on the ground was assuredly NOT snow, but here in Dunedin the icy slush we saw this morning is called snow...

The high points on the peninsula, viewed across the harbor, were especially pretty. Both Kiara and I complained about not having our cameras!

Caleb

First Final Done!

Kiara and I finished our first University of Otago Final yesterday at 4:30. The format was quite different than what we are used to, so it was an interesting experiance. The finals were composed of a number of long essay questions and we had to choose the three we wanted to answer. It is somewhat frightening to realize that 50% (Kiara) or 70% (Caleb) of your grade is based on your knowledge of three concepts from the semester! I also worry a little about the subjectivity of grading the essays...it is not nearly so cut and dry as multiple choice ScanTron (fill in the bubble) tests that we are used to back home!

We have our next test, Maori Society, this Monday. We were both worried about it at first, but at the final review lecture our professor told us exactly what the questions were...

We will keep you updated as our time in New Zealand comes to an end.

Caleb

Finals....

Classes for both of us have been done for a week, but we are still in the school mode due to the long final exam period here at the University of Otago. Kiara and I are both used to having our finals immediately after classes are done, and being done with finals shortly thereafter. It is quite a bit different here. There is a week and a half "examination free" period for studying, followed by two weeks of finals! This two week examination period (three weeks counting study weeks) has both pros and cons; we get lots of time to study, but after over 20 days straight of studying I have the feeling we will both be burnt out.

Kiara has three finals, each one day apart. Her first final is this Saturday, so she will be done with the "study" portion of her study abroad experiance this Wednesday afternoon/early evening.

I have four finals, though mine are quite a bit more spread out than Kiara's. My first is this Saturday, followed by Monday, the next Saturday, and the next Wednesday (18th). Unfortunatly, my final schedule interferes with the next powerlifting meet I was planning on attending...Also, the 18th is the last possible day for finals...bad luck all around!

Caleb