Answers: Rock, Paper, Scissors,... Southern Cross

 

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

The Southern Cross Constillation

Song we were thinking of here.

Low Ropes, Lectures, Rugby, and Swimming

Kia Ora: Today the students are acclimating to the weather and the new time zone. We started the morning with some group exercises and team building (Speedball and Hot Chocolate). Group did quite well and no injuries. Had morning lectures on New Zealand conservation and development. Its all about engaging with different audiences in and around cities to positively affect biodiversity.

Team Building!

After an introduction to New Zealand meat pies at lunch (the famous Hilyers Cafe), students explored the small town of Lincoln. Back at the University, a Lincoln Uni rugby game was being played and students got to see the rough and tumble world of rugby.

Pies!

Rugby

After which, several students went swimming at the Selwyn Aquatic Center (yes the pools were heated!) and took some time to experience a NZ playground. (Hamster wheel, slides, crows nest, to name a few)

Swimming!

Playground

Playground

Hamster Wheel

We ended the evening watching Flight of the Conchords and had Pavlova, a NZ dessert originally made for a Russian ballerina. But there is some controversy.

making cream for the Pavlova

Flight of the Conchords!

Pavlova

Nighty night! Dr. H

First Day Out - A Hike In The Hills On A Beaut Of A Day

After tucking in for a hot lunch at the Uni, we headed out for a hike in the Port Hills. We even saw lots of sheep in many farm fields as we rode in the Gatorwaka (our 12-seater van) and had to stop and see them a little closer. With clear, sunny skies, and reasonable temps in the low 50's, we enjoyed beautiful views of both Lyttelton Harbor, and of Christchurch City from the Sugarloaf Reserve track.

Of course we had to stop and have a little ice cream at the Sign of the Kiwi and taste what Hokey Pokey tastes like. : )

On the way back to Lincoln Uni, we stopped at the grocery store to explore and make sure we had some good basics for extra snacks. It was fun seeing things we recognized from the States and new brands and foods to try.

Everyone managed to stay awake to dinner time and we wish everyone a great night's sleep after a good first day.
Sweet Dreams, m&m

Safe And Sound!

Our kiwisforthesummer2018 class has arrived safe and sound to a beautiful (relatively warm 55 degree and sunny) day.  We are getting settled into the dorms, getting some lunch, and will be out hiking this afternoon.  More pictures to come later. m : )

Translate This! We Are Getting Excited About Seeing You Soon!

ice crystals on the windscreen in the morning with clouds - july 2017, nz

Kia Ora, You might consider us like oldies, but we are going to kick off our jandals, throw on our jumpers, grab our not-so-much-anymore anklebiters, and show you a really great time (as we would our cuz)through the wop-wops of Aotearoa.  We’ll even let you use our loo and serve you up some pav and a cuppa when you arrive.  Sweet As!  Study up on a wee bit of Kiwi slang, safe travels, and see ya soon mates! – m&m&j&t : )

Anklebiter - toddler, small child


Aotearoa - Maori name for New Zealand meaning land of the long white cloud


Chips - deep fried slices of potato but much thicker than a French fry


Cuppa - cup of tea, as in cuppa tea
(Tea Time!  Wa-hoo!)

Cuz - cousin, family


G'day - universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday


Good on ya, mate! - congratulations, well done, proud of someone


Good as gold - feeling good, not a problem, yes
 


Jandal - thongs, sandals,flip-flops

Jumper - sweater, jersey


Kia Ora – Maori general informal greeting of hello

L&P - Fizzy soda water


Lift - elevator


Lolly - candy


Loo - bathroom, toilet


Mate - friend

Oldies - parents


Pav - pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream


Rattle your dags - hurry up, get moving

Ring - to telephone somebody, as in "I'll give you a ring"


Rubbish - garbage, trash


Serviette - paper napkin


Sweet As – what you are saying is good by me


Ta - thanks


Take-aways - food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
 

Togs - swimsuit, bathing costume 


Wop-wops – situated off the beaten track, out of the way location

World Famous in Lincoln, Part Deux

Arrived early to get things all set for the course.  

Highly recommend some NZ movies on the long haul flight here:

 

 
Immediately were met with a local traffic jam:

The first frost of the winter and perhaps a record cold night occurred last night.  Low was -3.5C (25.7F), high 8C (46.4F). Culture shock coming from 38C (102F) in Florida. Always love how the local Metservice forecast lets you know how many layers you should have on and what type (Note: short sleeves are actually meant to be shirts - long or short, and long sleeve item(s) are jackets)  Today I had on a camisole, thermal, light weight sweatshirt, fleece vest, down vest, scarf, jeans, wool socks, hiking boots and was a little chilly when not in the sun. : )

And, the local weekly Selwyn times has an article about your arrival and participation in next Sunday's planting we will take part in at the Mahoe Reserve!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon! Bring good layers! 
-Meryl : )

World Famous in Lincoln, NZ

Hi All! We are busy getting ready for our adventures this summer and Lincoln Environmental Trust is one of the amazing groups we will work with our very first weekend.  This from their Newsletter for June (Note, It will NOT be warm enough for shorts!). m : )

Sheep Outlook and More

When we first lived in New Zealand in 2007-2008, the South Island boasted 14 million sheep and 1 million people.  Today that sheep to human ratio has changed with only 9 million sheep and 1,115,800 people (June 2017).  As a side note, roughly two-thirds of the entire population of New Zealand lives on the North Island. The decline in sheep is due to an increase in dairy cattle (you can check out the new season outlook for 2017-2018 here) and with that comes additional challenges, as we will learn in our adventures together, for water quality.  So, already, Ag and environmental research conducted in NZ has implications (and vice versa) for our own water quality here in our own agricultural (and lawn based) State of Florida. Lots to think about, m : )

Photo courtesy Te Ara