Robert (New Zealand) - Sweet As

"Sweet as": Kiwi expression meaning "cool", "good", or "excellent".
For example
Person 1: "I just decided that you need this $100 bill more than me."
Person 2: "Sweet as."

Oh, and Kiwi = New Zealander. Not to be confused with the kiwi bird or the kiwi fruit, which are to be refered to as such.

I spent the weekend at a wwoof site in Purau (wwoof = willing workers on organic farms), just south of Christchurch. It happened that Jon had booked the same farm stay as me. It was a really good time. We arrived during a big rain storm with wind so strong it threatened to knock you off your feet. The farm gets all its water from rain catchment, so they were very thankful after the drought they've been having. I weeded, built earth terraces, made steps, made stakes out of fencing wire, and made compost heaps. At night you could look out over the bay to the lights of Littleton. It was a very relaxing place. Jon and I rented kayaks and went out paddling in Purau Bay and explored an old island fort that was a POW camp during WWII. Michael and Wendy, the couple who ran the farm stay, are good folk. They really make me want to grow old like them, living on a farm in the hills by the ocean, spending days working the land and evenings enjoying the company of friends from all corners of the world.

On Sunday we head out for a five day hiking trip on the Routeburn and Greenstone tracks. I'm going to be one of the Leaders of the Week (part of the personal growth part of the program), which means I have lots of planning to do over the next few days on top of paper writing and reading. It's a bit stressful now, but I'm really looking forward to the hike. On friday I'm going to take surfing lessons, and probably make and ass of myself. It'll be grand.

So, I know I've been trying to be positive in these ending lists, but some things just need to be said.

Things I have not been appreciating:
-Spoons. New Zealand only has small teaspoons and huge soup spoons. There are no properly medium sized table spoons.
-Kiwis hating on sandals. Sandals are apparently somewhat looked down upon. They actually don't let you into a lot of bars if you are wearing sandals.
-Kiwis don't like 'thick' food. Milkshakes are just cool milk with some flavoring unless you special order with ice cream, and even then their still pretty weak. Also, sandwiches are thin. One slice of meat, one slice of cheese type deal.
-How many pretty New Zealand girls there are that I'll never be with. Self explanatory.
-Camera. My camera seems to have deleted all the pictures I've taken thus far.

Ok, back to the positive.

Things I have been appreciating:
-Manual labor
-That security at the University of Canterbury drives segues
-That it's customary to thank bus drivers as you get off the bus.
-Good food
-Trespassing