today we have a flash flood warning because there is a big storm overhead
it's like waterfalls everywhere off the eaves of all the buildings, and the mountains behind school are almost totally covered.
very cool.
thats all
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
chip hoo
life is so good right now.
i think it's coz we just had 4 days off for thanksgiving, and now we only have a week and then 3 days of school left, and then i'm going home after that for xmas and i don't have polo training camps over xmas and new years, so i can hang out with people.
had to make a really hard decision though that is resulting in a lot of drama - choosing polo or a friend, my logical choice is a friend beyond a doubt, coach disagrees and can't understand. so thats tough, feel like i'm burning bridges. trying to be very respectful and not get mad, and i'm not mad at all i totally understand where he's coming from, it's just kind of a no win situation. anyways, today it won't get me down coz i'm in the best mood i've been in for a really really long time.
thursday was thanksgiving and i got to spend it with a girl that i work with who i adore, she's so cool, we (she) cooked the turkey all by ourselves, i bought a pumpkin pie and we had all the traditional stuff. oh so good. and great company, not peeps i usually hang out with but i really enjoyed myself. so fat at the end of the day. so good : )
and then friday i hung out with my dear frien mikaela for the day, we just hung out and ate some yum food and went to the football - my first ever college football game (figured i should get at least one in) and we won! the WAC! which means everyone will be on a big high till the end of the semester coz our football team won their conference. stoked. was def a really awesome experience : ) wish i had photos. we have one more game now, next weekend, which i'm going to so hopefully will get some then.
and yesterday i did a bunch of homework, and also went for a swim that was actually really hard, and then went and had dinner w em and lisa, and then went to longs. i really like that place. so fun, and then went back to robins place to wait for her arrival back to hawaii from her trip home. so good to have her back.
and that's me, very good.
i think it's coz we just had 4 days off for thanksgiving, and now we only have a week and then 3 days of school left, and then i'm going home after that for xmas and i don't have polo training camps over xmas and new years, so i can hang out with people.
had to make a really hard decision though that is resulting in a lot of drama - choosing polo or a friend, my logical choice is a friend beyond a doubt, coach disagrees and can't understand. so thats tough, feel like i'm burning bridges. trying to be very respectful and not get mad, and i'm not mad at all i totally understand where he's coming from, it's just kind of a no win situation. anyways, today it won't get me down coz i'm in the best mood i've been in for a really really long time.
thursday was thanksgiving and i got to spend it with a girl that i work with who i adore, she's so cool, we (she) cooked the turkey all by ourselves, i bought a pumpkin pie and we had all the traditional stuff. oh so good. and great company, not peeps i usually hang out with but i really enjoyed myself. so fat at the end of the day. so good : )
and then friday i hung out with my dear frien mikaela for the day, we just hung out and ate some yum food and went to the football - my first ever college football game (figured i should get at least one in) and we won! the WAC! which means everyone will be on a big high till the end of the semester coz our football team won their conference. stoked. was def a really awesome experience : ) wish i had photos. we have one more game now, next weekend, which i'm going to so hopefully will get some then.
and yesterday i did a bunch of homework, and also went for a swim that was actually really hard, and then went and had dinner w em and lisa, and then went to longs. i really like that place. so fun, and then went back to robins place to wait for her arrival back to hawaii from her trip home. so good to have her back.
and that's me, very good.
Friday, October 19, 2007
it's been a while...
well what do you know, you blink and you're already half way through your second to last semester of your university career. there has been so much life going on between this and the last post, but i'll give you some highlights anyway...
we got a flat, we're in america so it's actually an apartment, but its really a flat. i have my own room, and was given a double bed for free so it's pretty flippin sweet. realised though, doing nothing is a funny thing. last year i had no idea how much i just did nothing, because i was always doing nothing with meike, i was never alone (and by nothing i mean something of course, but not planned or anything like that). when you're by yourself it's not nearly as much fun.
this is me and claudia on the couch we made, you can push down the back and voila it's a bed, it's this amazing japanese invention that is very popular in hawaii, it's called a futon : ) i'm sure my educated readers know all this, it's just even though i'm very accustomed to it, i still think they're amazing.
tali and kim and kathryn visited, not much else to say other than they totally rocked my world! first visiters over here other than the parentals and it def gave me a whole new appreciation for hawaii. they're so fun, and were so incredibly patient with me, even when i led us all past some keep out signs on the way to a hike and we walked like half an hour in the wrong direction : )
coralee visited, i don't know if i could ever explain you ya'll how much i love that girl, she truly lights up my life. seemed so normal to have her here, was weird to say bye. feel like i didn't really play the host very well, i didn't take her to many touristy places coz i was like, there's other places to go...sorry reef!!!
school is going well, taking 4 french classes, so that is flippin sweet coz i get so much it, it actualy makes it so much easier. 3 are around my level, one is WAY over my head, but it's probably my favourite ever. my teacher is this amazing mind, beautiful black zimbabwean man about whom i like to make up stories r
egarding his life before he got to hawaii in my head. we've read a collection of stories from the middle ages, some rennaissance poetry, and now we're up to late 16th century theatre. it's fun, i can understand the readings for the most part, and i can even analyse them to a certain extent, and sometimes talk about them, but it's pretty fair to say that my french academic writing - actually not even academic writing, my french writing is atrocious. so the class has been a source of much entertainment in the least! : )
water polo has been pretty alright so far! we all get along really well which is incredible considering there are 25 of us, all university aged identity crisis know everything girls, we go to full time training the week after next though so we'll see how things go then! haha, no it'll be good, we have some fast girls (can't say much else coz i've only seen everyone swim, have no idea bout anything else) which is really good, gutted i'm not the fastest anymore but i suppose my pride will recover one day : )
summary of life lessons so far this year - life is a roller coaster, and thats ok. it's actually probably good.
love loveA xxox
Sunday, August 12, 2007
new beginnings?
i got in the pool for the first time in 6 weeks today, and i'm still smiling. i even did a few lengths : ) turns out i like the water - who would have thought! i really hope i'm not done with it...
got back to hawaii a.ok, spending thursday with brenda before she went to mississippi or something like that for 5 months or something. just layed out on the beach all day and of course being the cautious responsible girl that i am, applied plenty of sunscreen, but i guess i didn't get everywhere because that night i had the sorest patches just above my armpits...so now i look like i've had a bad reaction to deoderant : ! typical : ) there is a lesson in this people, always sunscreen your pits!
it's been a bit of a stress readjusting, i left home with so much peace like you couldn't even imagine about life and the future and this year and friends and water polo just like, have no idea what's going on but i know it's going to be good. thats a lot harder to walk out once you get to the place where nothing is for certain for real! so we applied for a place that's really cool and the guy was really nice about it all and was like, you're the only ones we're considering and bla bla bla and then friday afternoon he calls saying that someone else has applied and they'll probably go for them so we should look for somewhere else. the same day one of the girls we're supposed to be living with was like, if we don't get this place i'm going back on campus. so that leaves us as yet to find out if we are 4 peeps, 3, or 2. and gutting, love the girl but a bit rude to be like yea yea yea na but that's life i spose. everything will work out it always does though - just have to keep reminding yourself of these things! and then have been really sad - i keep getting excited that school is about to start so everyone will be coming back soon but then remember that so many people aren't coming back and get sad. but then yesterday i got to talk to kezia and alyssa - totally cried : ) and hung out with barry and liz and mark last night so that was really good too. and juliana is coming over next week so i'm totally kidnapping her.
church this morning was SO good. got to catch up with a few peeps and there will be the women's conference on when coralee is here on Moloka'i (another island) so i'm totally guna try to convince her that we should totally go because it will be amazing.
and that's it, taking it all one step at a time, remembering that just because circumstances change, promises of peace don't. it's still there, it's just up to me to stand on it.
ok that's me for today.
love love
A
got back to hawaii a.ok, spending thursday with brenda before she went to mississippi or something like that for 5 months or something. just layed out on the beach all day and of course being the cautious responsible girl that i am, applied plenty of sunscreen, but i guess i didn't get everywhere because that night i had the sorest patches just above my armpits...so now i look like i've had a bad reaction to deoderant : ! typical : ) there is a lesson in this people, always sunscreen your pits!
it's been a bit of a stress readjusting, i left home with so much peace like you couldn't even imagine about life and the future and this year and friends and water polo just like, have no idea what's going on but i know it's going to be good. thats a lot harder to walk out once you get to the place where nothing is for certain for real! so we applied for a place that's really cool and the guy was really nice about it all and was like, you're the only ones we're considering and bla bla bla and then friday afternoon he calls saying that someone else has applied and they'll probably go for them so we should look for somewhere else. the same day one of the girls we're supposed to be living with was like, if we don't get this place i'm going back on campus. so that leaves us as yet to find out if we are 4 peeps, 3, or 2. and gutting, love the girl but a bit rude to be like yea yea yea na but that's life i spose. everything will work out it always does though - just have to keep reminding yourself of these things! and then have been really sad - i keep getting excited that school is about to start so everyone will be coming back soon but then remember that so many people aren't coming back and get sad. but then yesterday i got to talk to kezia and alyssa - totally cried : ) and hung out with barry and liz and mark last night so that was really good too. and juliana is coming over next week so i'm totally kidnapping her.
church this morning was SO good. got to catch up with a few peeps and there will be the women's conference on when coralee is here on Moloka'i (another island) so i'm totally guna try to convince her that we should totally go because it will be amazing.
and that's it, taking it all one step at a time, remembering that just because circumstances change, promises of peace don't. it's still there, it's just up to me to stand on it.
ok that's me for today.
love love
A
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
just a little bit of home
Friday, August 03, 2007
breathing
so i think it's ok for me to say that the recent melt down is over. not sure why it came, where it went but i got my joy back : ) i think it's just maybe readjusting to life at home and you know the constant journey of discovering who you are and that really even if you think you're crazy and nothing much makes sense, you're ok. la vita est bella. lol. i'm so funny : )
anyway the last few weeks have been so amazing. i'm so astounded thinking about my time at home at how much people have embraced me in such a short time. not just you know, been polite and hung out with me but embraced me. yesterday was my last day at work and one of the girls there and i were nearly crying, lol it was actually pretty funny. but made me realise a little bit the human capacity for relationships. people actually have really big hearts. really big. pretty cool.
had an amazing day with my brother just sitting in the sun, chatting, napping and watching tv. he's so totaly my hero. he's playing rugby for tasman this year and even got to play in the first game. so anyone who watches rugby, number 5 Rees Logan is my brother and he's the best ever in this whole world.
got to see one of my childhood friend's beautiful newborn baby -Ashton. now, i'm not one for babies or small children, and most newborns are really ugly let's be real here people. they're all wrinkly and can't open their eyes and just cry and sleep. but this baby, Ashton, is so incredibly amazingly cute. just cant get over it. i'm going over to see them after this actually so better hurry up : )
and have just really been able to have some quality time with peeps thats been so special, not really doing much, just sitting around and laughing and crying and talking.
on tuesday i went to the "lunch club" - a bunch of peeps from church or i don't know where exactly but it was awesome. i totally fell over on the way there and there was no one around but this one awesome girl behind me and i kind of tried to laugh it off and not be too embarassed, and she was going to lunch too with the group so it was an automatic bond time of making a fool of myself. but it was really fun, good food, awesome peeps, what more could you ask for?
and then WEDNESDAY! my boss took all the admin team out for lunch and again, good food, good wine, good conversation. and the last few weeks i had to move because a newbie came in and kind of needs to be near my boss and i missed her! and so it was a good chance to catch up and chat before leaving.
AND THEN on wed night went to life group and Andrew (leader) had taken the day off work to cook a 3 course meal for like 12 people and it was amazing, stuffed chicken, pumpkin soup, the works. and we were all dressed up and it was so fun. and he gave us this sheet of paper with all these clues on it as to what the dishes were, and we had to guess what we wanted for each course. so i ended up eating my soup with a fork. it was so fun. and because they're amazing i don't know why, they got me a present and a little book with nice things written in it to tell me i'm cool. and i got to talk to this guy i haven't really talked that much to about social justice issues that i'm discovering more every day are where my heart is. so that was awesome too.
so, about to go back on thursday, to an incredible amount of uncertainty, don't know if i'll be playing polo next season, no meike, no kezia, no alyssa or juliana or christel or kim or liz or brenda and the list goes on. but i'm actually ok with that. so it'll be good.
my dog is getting old, she keeps pooing inside. isn't funny but not. hahaha.
a few friends are coming to visit this semester too so yay! VERY excited about that.
k thats all for now.
A xxox
anyway the last few weeks have been so amazing. i'm so astounded thinking about my time at home at how much people have embraced me in such a short time. not just you know, been polite and hung out with me but embraced me. yesterday was my last day at work and one of the girls there and i were nearly crying, lol it was actually pretty funny. but made me realise a little bit the human capacity for relationships. people actually have really big hearts. really big. pretty cool.
had an amazing day with my brother just sitting in the sun, chatting, napping and watching tv. he's so totaly my hero. he's playing rugby for tasman this year and even got to play in the first game. so anyone who watches rugby, number 5 Rees Logan is my brother and he's the best ever in this whole world.
got to see one of my childhood friend's beautiful newborn baby -Ashton. now, i'm not one for babies or small children, and most newborns are really ugly let's be real here people. they're all wrinkly and can't open their eyes and just cry and sleep. but this baby, Ashton, is so incredibly amazingly cute. just cant get over it. i'm going over to see them after this actually so better hurry up : )
and have just really been able to have some quality time with peeps thats been so special, not really doing much, just sitting around and laughing and crying and talking.
on tuesday i went to the "lunch club" - a bunch of peeps from church or i don't know where exactly but it was awesome. i totally fell over on the way there and there was no one around but this one awesome girl behind me and i kind of tried to laugh it off and not be too embarassed, and she was going to lunch too with the group so it was an automatic bond time of making a fool of myself. but it was really fun, good food, awesome peeps, what more could you ask for?
and then WEDNESDAY! my boss took all the admin team out for lunch and again, good food, good wine, good conversation. and the last few weeks i had to move because a newbie came in and kind of needs to be near my boss and i missed her! and so it was a good chance to catch up and chat before leaving.
AND THEN on wed night went to life group and Andrew (leader) had taken the day off work to cook a 3 course meal for like 12 people and it was amazing, stuffed chicken, pumpkin soup, the works. and we were all dressed up and it was so fun. and he gave us this sheet of paper with all these clues on it as to what the dishes were, and we had to guess what we wanted for each course. so i ended up eating my soup with a fork. it was so fun. and because they're amazing i don't know why, they got me a present and a little book with nice things written in it to tell me i'm cool. and i got to talk to this guy i haven't really talked that much to about social justice issues that i'm discovering more every day are where my heart is. so that was awesome too.
so, about to go back on thursday, to an incredible amount of uncertainty, don't know if i'll be playing polo next season, no meike, no kezia, no alyssa or juliana or christel or kim or liz or brenda and the list goes on. but i'm actually ok with that. so it'll be good.
my dog is getting old, she keeps pooing inside. isn't funny but not. hahaha.
a few friends are coming to visit this semester too so yay! VERY excited about that.
k thats all for now.
A xxox
Friday, July 20, 2007
breaking down but not
i haven't been doing very well lately. putting it down to this stage of my life of uncertainty or growing up or something, just because i have no other category to put it under. and it's weird. i'm happy, i'm stoked to be home, with catching up with friends, with my bed, with the awesome people at work, with new zealand. love it and so enjoy being here. and i'm stoked to go back to hawaii no qualms about that! but for a while now, if anyone asks me how i am like, so how are you? i just want to cry. (note: if you read this, don't ask me how I am) ask what i've been up to, how things are going fine and dandy. but for some reason, when i think about how i am, it distresses me so much that it feels like a raging ocean inside my chest and it takes everything i have in me not to have a melt down right there and then. was talking to a friend last week about it and she's kinda going through the same type of thing - actually there's a few of us, which makes me put it down to this time of my life or something. but anyways, she was like, i feel like i've been 18 for the last 5 years of my life. and i was like, sister, i hear you!
i don't know why it happens, it's not like i'm not happy, i'm not depressed, i don't want anything more from my life or any less, it's just something under the surface that comes out sometimes - like at least once a week : )
that's all i have to say at the moment, that's my news. sorry to be so melodramatic : )
oh yea, and my friend luisa had a baby boy last friday : ) ashton. going to see him today yay!
and i bought a hair straightener. i know what's up with that i'm so not into that but must be i spose to buy one! it's a good one too, and i mean i'll use it that's for sure. so stoked about that, first trademe experience woop woop!
that is all
peace
i don't know why it happens, it's not like i'm not happy, i'm not depressed, i don't want anything more from my life or any less, it's just something under the surface that comes out sometimes - like at least once a week : )
that's all i have to say at the moment, that's my news. sorry to be so melodramatic : )
oh yea, and my friend luisa had a baby boy last friday : ) ashton. going to see him today yay!
and i bought a hair straightener. i know what's up with that i'm so not into that but must be i spose to buy one! it's a good one too, and i mean i'll use it that's for sure. so stoked about that, first trademe experience woop woop!
that is all
peace
Saturday, June 16, 2007
life in the real world
so i've been back for nearly 2 weeks and am back in the swing of things i guess!
the day after i got home i emailed my old work for a reference and was lucky enough to be offered a job which i started last friday. so for 3 days i did absolutely nothing and slept about 13 hours a night with no troubles and didn't feel the slighetest bit guilty about it, and then friday started work. i'm really happy to be back with the same people i was with before i went to hawaii, a lot has changed at work but i really enjoy the people and am enjoying myself : ) there is a lot to do so i'm always busy which is good too.
other than that i'm pretty boring. i'd forgotten how exhausting working full time is - quite ironic really, i can train 6+ hours a day and manage but put me in an air conditioned office for a day and i'm exhausted. am not doing any training whatsoever other than 2ce weekly club which is good. teaching me to loosen up a bit and not take myself so seriously - at least i hope that's what it's doing! i'm so used to being so focused and trying to get as much out of every training or whatever, but for the next 2 weeks my focus is going to be having fun. i don't know if it's noticable to anyone else but it's a really funny feeling, like this inward argument - my body and mind go into the mode they usually do and then this other part of me laughs the whole time there's no way to explain it but it's a really funny experience, every training and game.
went wedding dress shopping this week with coralee and jess. everything is so exciting. coralee went to kate dowman for a consultation who was really good and professional and knew her stuff and the gowns are gorgeous and i came away feeling very educated. we got it down to 3 dresses, all pretty similar but just a little different. jess didn't want to pay for a consulation so we went spent the best part of a morning (after 3 hours sleep from a night out with mandy before she goes away) walking around and looking (but not trying on) at dresses until we came upon a shop that has a wonderful lady who let her try on anything and knew her stuff and was so incredibly helpful. at some point jess put on a veil and i freaked out and was like, i'm sorry i have to go i'm sorry and had to go have a breather lol. but we found a really nice dress and she's going back with her mum to have a look.
mandy is moving to brisbane in a week and a bit so on friday night after the game and after having a fantastic dinner with greta and catching up with alex and wade (i have missed those boys) i FINALLY got to frankie's after midnight just in time to go to town with the girls to send mandy off and have a happy birthday celebration for kelly. so that was fun, it has been so long since i've been into town there's a new bar (which aparently has been there for ages) where there used to be a clothes shop. so that was a lot of fun and finally rolled up the driveway at like 5 just in time for mum to get up and go to work at 6. the next morning she asked if i had been talking in the car all night because it was still warm when she got in, quite nice really she wan't cold the entire journey to work.
last weekend a friend mike from hawaii was visiting the country so we watched the rugby with my dad and then went into town to the minus 5 ice bar which was fun. was cool to have a visitor. jen from the uh team is here this weekend but i haven't heard from her and wouldn't know how to contact her so that's sad to miss her!
since starting work i have been enjoying my walk from the bus stop to the office down the main street with all the hustle and bustle of the early morning city. i find myself wanting to browse shops and being disappointed this isn't america and they're not open until a reasonable hour. and then i have to remind myself that even in america shops don't open at this hour, it's just because the only place i can ever afford to go to is wal-mart which is open 24 hrs lol. so then i am content to be home around clothes shops in the city in good old nz and am happy to just look at the window displays.
and thats all really. very boring but good. really good. there is always something cool about any scene if you look for it. the other day walking to work i looked up and there amongst all the high rises i could see on the roof of one of the buildings leaves from a garden that must be up there and i was like, that is cool.
anyway enough for now xxox
the day after i got home i emailed my old work for a reference and was lucky enough to be offered a job which i started last friday. so for 3 days i did absolutely nothing and slept about 13 hours a night with no troubles and didn't feel the slighetest bit guilty about it, and then friday started work. i'm really happy to be back with the same people i was with before i went to hawaii, a lot has changed at work but i really enjoy the people and am enjoying myself : ) there is a lot to do so i'm always busy which is good too.
other than that i'm pretty boring. i'd forgotten how exhausting working full time is - quite ironic really, i can train 6+ hours a day and manage but put me in an air conditioned office for a day and i'm exhausted. am not doing any training whatsoever other than 2ce weekly club which is good. teaching me to loosen up a bit and not take myself so seriously - at least i hope that's what it's doing! i'm so used to being so focused and trying to get as much out of every training or whatever, but for the next 2 weeks my focus is going to be having fun. i don't know if it's noticable to anyone else but it's a really funny feeling, like this inward argument - my body and mind go into the mode they usually do and then this other part of me laughs the whole time there's no way to explain it but it's a really funny experience, every training and game.
went wedding dress shopping this week with coralee and jess. everything is so exciting. coralee went to kate dowman for a consultation who was really good and professional and knew her stuff and the gowns are gorgeous and i came away feeling very educated. we got it down to 3 dresses, all pretty similar but just a little different. jess didn't want to pay for a consulation so we went spent the best part of a morning (after 3 hours sleep from a night out with mandy before she goes away) walking around and looking (but not trying on) at dresses until we came upon a shop that has a wonderful lady who let her try on anything and knew her stuff and was so incredibly helpful. at some point jess put on a veil and i freaked out and was like, i'm sorry i have to go i'm sorry and had to go have a breather lol. but we found a really nice dress and she's going back with her mum to have a look.
mandy is moving to brisbane in a week and a bit so on friday night after the game and after having a fantastic dinner with greta and catching up with alex and wade (i have missed those boys) i FINALLY got to frankie's after midnight just in time to go to town with the girls to send mandy off and have a happy birthday celebration for kelly. so that was fun, it has been so long since i've been into town there's a new bar (which aparently has been there for ages) where there used to be a clothes shop. so that was a lot of fun and finally rolled up the driveway at like 5 just in time for mum to get up and go to work at 6. the next morning she asked if i had been talking in the car all night because it was still warm when she got in, quite nice really she wan't cold the entire journey to work.
last weekend a friend mike from hawaii was visiting the country so we watched the rugby with my dad and then went into town to the minus 5 ice bar which was fun. was cool to have a visitor. jen from the uh team is here this weekend but i haven't heard from her and wouldn't know how to contact her so that's sad to miss her!
since starting work i have been enjoying my walk from the bus stop to the office down the main street with all the hustle and bustle of the early morning city. i find myself wanting to browse shops and being disappointed this isn't america and they're not open until a reasonable hour. and then i have to remind myself that even in america shops don't open at this hour, it's just because the only place i can ever afford to go to is wal-mart which is open 24 hrs lol. so then i am content to be home around clothes shops in the city in good old nz and am happy to just look at the window displays.
and thats all really. very boring but good. really good. there is always something cool about any scene if you look for it. the other day walking to work i looked up and there amongst all the high rises i could see on the roof of one of the buildings leaves from a garden that must be up there and i was like, that is cool.
anyway enough for now xxox
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tianjin, China
my journal on the 28th of may (caution, the following might be considered a little crude to some people so i apologise for any offense caused. if you dont want to hear about toilets in china, skip the next paragraph):
we arrived in China today and made it to Tianjin so easily! last time we had to go 4 hours and the bus broke down and ra r
a ra. this time it was only 2 and it was such a fun drive. we stopped to go to the toilet at this pit stop type thing and there was a bathroom with only squatters but it was so nice and clean! didn't even smell. I was worried because I remember the bathrooms at Guilin airport last year being so horrible,but this one was really nice. Anyway so there we all were squealing away because we had to squat and "wiggle" because there was no toilet paper. and the cleaning ladies were laughing so hard at us because we didn't really know what we were doing and were all shouting advice at each other at how to avoid peeing on ourselves all at the same time - there were lik 20 cubicles so no one had to wait. poor (name deleted) had to wash her feet afterwards, i guess she had a little trouble. but it was awesome. definitely feel like the team bonded a lot as a result. probably my best toilet experience ever!
a ra. this time it was only 2 and it was such a fun drive. we stopped to go to the toilet at this pit stop type thing and there was a bathroom with only squatters but it was so nice and clean! didn't even smell. I was worried because I remember the bathrooms at Guilin airport last year being so horrible,but this one was really nice. Anyway so there we all were squealing away because we had to squat and "wiggle" because there was no toilet paper. and the cleaning ladies were laughing so hard at us because we didn't really know what we were doing and were all shouting advice at each other at how to avoid peeing on ourselves all at the same time - there were lik 20 cubicles so no one had to wait. poor (name deleted) had to wash her feet afterwards, i guess she had a little trouble. but it was awesome. definitely feel like the team bonded a lot as a result. probably my best toilet experience ever!so that was the beginning of our trip. it was a lot more fun and foreinger friendly than last year anyway : ) the bathrooms didn't flood at there was bread at almost every meal, so we did alright with that. they had some awesome markets in Tianjin so everyone shopped up a storm, almost everyone in the team (except me) bought a fake prada/chloe/puma/gucci/luis vuitton bag for like $10 NZD or something, it was pretty sweet deals. i bought some cool stuff, but didn't find the right bag. being not the biggest bag person, i'm very fussy even when stuff is cheap.
the water polo wasnt very good at all, we lost all our games which was really disappointing but we didn't have any time together before hand so it wasn't that surprising anyway. we just didn't mesh well as a team. since we got back, our coach has resigned and i'm starting to wonder if it's my turn too. but then who knows. maybe i could just keep playing without international water polo? yea right. anyway i'm glad i don't have to make any decisions right now.
anyways, so now i'm home until august and have found myself a job at an office i used to work at before i left. so at least i know the people and even though the work is totally menial i'm looking forward to catching up with people and earning some money to keep me out of trouble! no more water polo except club so that will be interesting, playing for fun with absolutely zero pressure or expectations...we'll see how that goes anyway!
since being home i've had about 12 hours sleep each night which is totally amazing, haven't even stirred during the night. i love my bed! but tomorrow i start work so that is the end of that. it has actually been really nice to just sit on the couch all day and not do anything and be even too lazy to think about feeling bad for not doing anything.
good to be home, it's not too cold at all, quite nice actually probably like 15ish which is pretty nice for winter here, all the seasons have been coming late though so by the time i leave it will no doubt be very good timing. it's kinda sad to leave the summer in the air feeling though. was talking to my friend in Long Beach today and i got really jealous because she's just chilling at her house in the summer, playing water polo and enjoying evenings on her verandah with friends and riding her bike around everywhere, and i was like, wow. fun.
Monday, May 21, 2007
home and away
so i'm finally home, but not really. leaving for china on sunday for a week. then i'll be home.
it's funny being home after so long away and actually having time to breathe, i'm usually running around trying to catch up with people or training or doing something. this week i only have the mandatory training and am only catching up with family and yesterday i got the chance to go for a walk and catch the train - something i haven't done for probably like 4 years or something. so that was fun, the local train station has moved and where it used to be there is a community police/probation office type thing, and where i used to skip through to get to the train station and all the druggies used to hang out is a lovely road with brick foot path and everything. the worn down old buildings are still there, but i dont really think they're that bad. which is funny because if they were anywhere else other than somewhere i walked passed almost every day for like 5 years i would think they were horrible and should be torn down. the new train station is very sparkly and clean and next to the local mall - southmall - which has changed so much since i used to loiter there waiting for mum to finish the groceries, i haven't ventured inside yet. the new world and woolworths are still there but i think that's pretty much it.
i wonder if i'm thinkin this way because i have been reading alex's blogs or because i'm feeling old enough to have seen a bit of change in my neighbourhood... i can't even imagine what manurewa will be like when i'm 40...we'll soon find out anyway!
other than that i'm kind of in mourning still, last of all good-byes for the time being was Meike, i made her a book to remember us, i never thought i'd get through it because it's a pretty big book. but i did! and she wrote me a 4 page, typed out poem and gave me a friendship bracelet with my "colours" on it : )
it was very teary, not much was said because i was for once at a total loss for words. and then she was gone... lucky i have been concentrating on living day to day and not getting too far ahead of myself or i would be in total dispair about next year living without her, rather than just getting teary every now and then when i think of her and all my other friends who i will never get to do life with in person for very long periods of time again.
so thats me for today.
A
it's funny being home after so long away and actually having time to breathe, i'm usually running around trying to catch up with people or training or doing something. this week i only have the mandatory training and am only catching up with family and yesterday i got the chance to go for a walk and catch the train - something i haven't done for probably like 4 years or something. so that was fun, the local train station has moved and where it used to be there is a community police/probation office type thing, and where i used to skip through to get to the train station and all the druggies used to hang out is a lovely road with brick foot path and everything. the worn down old buildings are still there, but i dont really think they're that bad. which is funny because if they were anywhere else other than somewhere i walked passed almost every day for like 5 years i would think they were horrible and should be torn down. the new train station is very sparkly and clean and next to the local mall - southmall - which has changed so much since i used to loiter there waiting for mum to finish the groceries, i haven't ventured inside yet. the new world and woolworths are still there but i think that's pretty much it.
i wonder if i'm thinkin this way because i have been reading alex's blogs or because i'm feeling old enough to have seen a bit of change in my neighbourhood... i can't even imagine what manurewa will be like when i'm 40...we'll soon find out anyway!
other than that i'm kind of in mourning still, last of all good-byes for the time being was Meike, i made her a book to remember us, i never thought i'd get through it because it's a pretty big book. but i did! and she wrote me a 4 page, typed out poem and gave me a friendship bracelet with my "colours" on it : )
it was very teary, not much was said because i was for once at a total loss for words. and then she was gone... lucky i have been concentrating on living day to day and not getting too far ahead of myself or i would be in total dispair about next year living without her, rather than just getting teary every now and then when i think of her and all my other friends who i will never get to do life with in person for very long periods of time again.
so thats me for today.
A
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
small change
it was graduation the other day, it was pretty cool. ok so it was a long and boring ceremony but it was also graduation day of about 15 people I know so I kept myself occupied looking out for everyone.
i kinda feel like i'm a little bit in mourning at the mo, it's guna be so strange being here without these peeps who have been my support network since i got here. who have seen me grow up a little bit and been with me the whole time and who know things about me better than i know myself i think. it's hard being the one who is being left behind... usually i'm the one who leaves! feeling a little left behind, they're all going out to their amazing lives and i know they're each guna change the world in their own way and rock the world of those around them. i forget my own little mission and purpose when everyone is moving on to the next chapter, i have to remember i'm here now and i still have to make the most of it because this too is going to come to an end pretty quick and there is a whole year of life to live before then!
so last night we went out for dinner with the roomies to dukes. the poor girls, em and myself went for a run before we met up with them, thinking there would be like a 40min wait and we'd get there in time for the table, but they wouldn't seat anyone till the full party was there so they'd been waiting like a whole hour for us and then had to wait like another 20mins once we got there. felt so bad for them, sorry girls! by the time we sat down we didn't even converse or reminisce, everyone was so hungry we just stuffed our faces and then left! at least it was amazing food. i love dukes! mmm salad bar...
so i'm going home in 3 days for like a week then we're off to china for a week and then back home for like a month or so. so that will be awesome. i'm excited to go to china again, last time was fun but there was a definite culture shock, this time i feel a lot more prepared and ready to experience it. i also have 2 friends who are guna be in beijing (like an hour and a half from where we'll be) and they will be there for a couple of days with not much to do so i'm trying to convince them to come see me so that would be flippin sweet!
And then when I get home there are people to catch up with and weddings to help plan and get excited about! and a job to find and the task of figuring out how to get around and do all this without a car. as much as i would love to improve my bicycling skills, from manurewa to town is just a wee bit far... although it would be amazing training and i would get a lovely bottom out of it.
anyways must be off, things to do and organise before the day is already over.
love the ones you're with
A
i kinda feel like i'm a little bit in mourning at the mo, it's guna be so strange being here without these peeps who have been my support network since i got here. who have seen me grow up a little bit and been with me the whole time and who know things about me better than i know myself i think. it's hard being the one who is being left behind... usually i'm the one who leaves! feeling a little left behind, they're all going out to their amazing lives and i know they're each guna change the world in their own way and rock the world of those around them. i forget my own little mission and purpose when everyone is moving on to the next chapter, i have to remember i'm here now and i still have to make the most of it because this too is going to come to an end pretty quick and there is a whole year of life to live before then!
so last night we went out for dinner with the roomies to dukes. the poor girls, em and myself went for a run before we met up with them, thinking there would be like a 40min wait and we'd get there in time for the table, but they wouldn't seat anyone till the full party was there so they'd been waiting like a whole hour for us and then had to wait like another 20mins once we got there. felt so bad for them, sorry girls! by the time we sat down we didn't even converse or reminisce, everyone was so hungry we just stuffed our faces and then left! at least it was amazing food. i love dukes! mmm salad bar...
so i'm going home in 3 days for like a week then we're off to china for a week and then back home for like a month or so. so that will be awesome. i'm excited to go to china again, last time was fun but there was a definite culture shock, this time i feel a lot more prepared and ready to experience it. i also have 2 friends who are guna be in beijing (like an hour and a half from where we'll be) and they will be there for a couple of days with not much to do so i'm trying to convince them to come see me so that would be flippin sweet!
And then when I get home there are people to catch up with and weddings to help plan and get excited about! and a job to find and the task of figuring out how to get around and do all this without a car. as much as i would love to improve my bicycling skills, from manurewa to town is just a wee bit far... although it would be amazing training and i would get a lovely bottom out of it.
anyways must be off, things to do and organise before the day is already over.
love the ones you're with
A
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
the ship that never sailed
i've tried 3 times to post this post but every time the internet cuts out right when i go to post. so now i'm in a cafe and that wont happen. but i can't be bothered analysing the whole thing for the 4th time so this will be short
we're not going to nationals. a committee decided that even though we wasted san diego state and have been ranked higher than them since the end of march, they still deserved to go more than us because they played more games and won more games against division 2 and 3 teams. so we got robbed.
in the last 3 posts that never posted i explained that as heart-breaking as this whole thing had been, we still had something to be proud of we've come so far this year as a team and we can hold our heads high. personally my world has been rocked upside down this year, i feel a lot older (lol, maybe have the emotional maturity of a 10 yr old now) and calm about the world and water polo and people and their opinions. so yea it really sucks but i've taken things out of this season that are so much more valuable than a plaque to say we were at NCAAs 2008 and 3 more games.
I got back in the water yesterday with a couple of other girls, but just wasn't ready to pass yet. the funny thing is, neither were a bunch of other girls. i had to giggle. i'll give it a go tonight. we'll see how it goes : )
in other news, i'm done with school! woop woop! had 3 exams yesterday and now i just have to write a couple more pages on a paper and then, c'est tout!
days are counting down to when 10 of my friends leave... i cried the other night, i got to pay tribute to some of them and burst into tears in front of like 50 people. yea, story of my life : )
and thats it for now : )
peace
we're not going to nationals. a committee decided that even though we wasted san diego state and have been ranked higher than them since the end of march, they still deserved to go more than us because they played more games and won more games against division 2 and 3 teams. so we got robbed.
in the last 3 posts that never posted i explained that as heart-breaking as this whole thing had been, we still had something to be proud of we've come so far this year as a team and we can hold our heads high. personally my world has been rocked upside down this year, i feel a lot older (lol, maybe have the emotional maturity of a 10 yr old now) and calm about the world and water polo and people and their opinions. so yea it really sucks but i've taken things out of this season that are so much more valuable than a plaque to say we were at NCAAs 2008 and 3 more games.
I got back in the water yesterday with a couple of other girls, but just wasn't ready to pass yet. the funny thing is, neither were a bunch of other girls. i had to giggle. i'll give it a go tonight. we'll see how it goes : )
in other news, i'm done with school! woop woop! had 3 exams yesterday and now i just have to write a couple more pages on a paper and then, c'est tout!
days are counting down to when 10 of my friends leave... i cried the other night, i got to pay tribute to some of them and burst into tears in front of like 50 people. yea, story of my life : )
and thats it for now : )
peace
Saturday, April 28, 2007
we nearly went to oz today
So here we are in the desert, AZ, I seriously don't know how people live here - it's not even summer yet and it's like 40C it's insane. you could seriously get heat stroke walking to your car! today we played Stanford and lost by like 6 goals, had a good first and last 1/4 but were lackin in the middle a wee bit. Still though we're playing a lot better this week and it feels a lot better too, we're all on the same page and lovin eachother and it's sweet.
yesterday we beat san jose state so now we're goin to the 'ship! yay! we did it! after all the drama of this season we actually pulled through and have played a little bit like what we're capable of. it's really nice to know you're not as delluded as you sound : )
so today in the middle of our game we had to get out because there was a dust storm. it was pretty cool, half way through the 2nd it got really cloudy and everyone was stoked because there wasn't any more glare and anyways, but the sky went orange and i was like, is there a fire somewhere? because the air got plump like it was guna rain but it wasn't wet. so i didn't know. and then the refs said we had to get out for 1/2 an hour for it to pass. when we got back in the water was pretty gross and at the time it was all very dramatic. we had to go inside, we hung out in this random room that i called the bomb shelter : )
haha, above is ryan and right is me and kristen getting scared. lol, i got a fringe last week so now when my hair isn't done i look like joe dirt : ) haha!
um... I'm trying to think what else. Did I tell you we're going to nationals!!! woop woop!!
nearly done with school, just 1 day left. then it's finals time and then it's all over! and then we might go to world league in China or I might go home for a few months! either way I'll be SO stoked.
peace
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Trade Winds
The other morning in practice, it was like 7something am and we were just sitting in the dive well passing the ball around, the air was quieter than usual and the sky really beautiful and clear, the sun just popping out over the bleachers, and it felt like summer is coming. For the first time since being here at this time of year, it feels like summer is in the air... yay!
School is nearly done, polo is nearly done for a wee while - just 3 more tournaments - conference, nationals and then the first round of world league in China. And then I have like a whole 5 weeks at home! home! yay! even though it will be winter and I'll have to find a job and won't have a car yay!
My cousin got engaged last weekend yay! I'm so excited for them! it cracks me up though because now tali is like my only close christian single friend so at the age of 22 i'm pretty much a spinster at church. I'm going to be the girl everyone feels sorry for and tries to set up on blind dates lol : )
I cut my hair and got a fringe. I like it, still not quite used to it but it's what I wanted and it'll grow and you only live once don't you : ) have been thinking lately that I sincerely hope that as I grow older, I get more adventurous and more open to trying anything. Like my parents are like that so I guess that's a good sign for me. They always surprise me because I always think they're pretty conservative but then they go and do something crazy cool that makes me smile.
Meike is leaving forever in like 2 weeks I'm really going to miss her. And Kezia and Alyssa and Juliana and Christel and Kim and Liz...next year is going to be really strange and hard. But I won't think about it yet
must go pack, we're leaving again. Arizona this time - something new
School is nearly done, polo is nearly done for a wee while - just 3 more tournaments - conference, nationals and then the first round of world league in China. And then I have like a whole 5 weeks at home! home! yay! even though it will be winter and I'll have to find a job and won't have a car yay!
My cousin got engaged last weekend yay! I'm so excited for them! it cracks me up though because now tali is like my only close christian single friend so at the age of 22 i'm pretty much a spinster at church. I'm going to be the girl everyone feels sorry for and tries to set up on blind dates lol : )
I cut my hair and got a fringe. I like it, still not quite used to it but it's what I wanted and it'll grow and you only live once don't you : ) have been thinking lately that I sincerely hope that as I grow older, I get more adventurous and more open to trying anything. Like my parents are like that so I guess that's a good sign for me. They always surprise me because I always think they're pretty conservative but then they go and do something crazy cool that makes me smile.
Meike is leaving forever in like 2 weeks I'm really going to miss her. And Kezia and Alyssa and Juliana and Christel and Kim and Liz...next year is going to be really strange and hard. But I won't think about it yet
must go pack, we're leaving again. Arizona this time - something new
Sunday, April 15, 2007
For Tals
When I was home last, inspired by Alex's tatoos I had a conversation with my dear friend Athalia about whether or not we would get one. She is the only other person I have ever met who would get one on the bottom of her foot! Hers was the fish and mine was the southern cross - if we were ever motivated enough to save the money and actually go through with it.
so anyways, in one of our many hours driving last week, I got bored. I think the photo turned out pretty sweet anyway : )
so anyways, in one of our many hours driving last week, I got bored. I think the photo turned out pretty sweet anyway : )
5-0 streak
so we just got back from a 8 day road trip, in which we played 4 games. It was a really long trip and involved a lot of driving and most attempts to do school work just didnt' work out for me. So here we are again, now 6 weeks behind in school work, but since we only have 3 weeks left of school I'm searching for a motivation that just doesn't seem to be there. We won all of our games, which is a new record for this season - 4 wins in a road trip, and now we have won 5 games in a row. the games were pretty shocking we were losing to a div 3 team at half time. but we won so I will be happy.
in other news, I'm not really enjoying this whole traveling so much thing. I was feeling really down and disconnected from the world for the whole week and didn't really understand why until I realised that the longest I've been in one place since december is 3 weeks. So it's no surprise really. I just wish I had more time with my friends who are leaving hawaii this semester, it's going to be so hard without them. I had a cry with my other dear friend who is kinda feeling the same way and we decided that we actually can't think about tomorrow, we must only take each day as it comes. And so I won't talk about that anymore.
On a lighter note, I love my team. Even though for some reason we're not playing very well, I just really love getting to know each of them a little more and getting some one on one time with each of them and just being around these girls who see all my weaknesses and the worst possible side of me that I'm sure most people think doesn't even exhist ; ) but still love me. I hope they feel as safe with me as I do with them and that I have something to offer each of them, wherever they're at.
Coralee and Alex have set a wedding date, and I can go!!!!!!!!! woop woop! It's a week after Michelle and AJs, which is on my bday and it's just guna be the coolest week ever! it will even get me an extra few days at home over xmas without causing a kerfuffle with school. I can graduate in May, I think I'm going to do all but my senior thesis next semester (4 french classes and 1 pols) and that way if I don't end up playing next season I could probably graduate without having to be here, if I don't want to hang out in Hawaii. It would be really really hard to be here during season without playing.
k thats my news
big loves
A xxox
in other news, I'm not really enjoying this whole traveling so much thing. I was feeling really down and disconnected from the world for the whole week and didn't really understand why until I realised that the longest I've been in one place since december is 3 weeks. So it's no surprise really. I just wish I had more time with my friends who are leaving hawaii this semester, it's going to be so hard without them. I had a cry with my other dear friend who is kinda feeling the same way and we decided that we actually can't think about tomorrow, we must only take each day as it comes. And so I won't talk about that anymore.
On a lighter note, I love my team. Even though for some reason we're not playing very well, I just really love getting to know each of them a little more and getting some one on one time with each of them and just being around these girls who see all my weaknesses and the worst possible side of me that I'm sure most people think doesn't even exhist ; ) but still love me. I hope they feel as safe with me as I do with them and that I have something to offer each of them, wherever they're at.
Coralee and Alex have set a wedding date, and I can go!!!!!!!!! woop woop! It's a week after Michelle and AJs, which is on my bday and it's just guna be the coolest week ever! it will even get me an extra few days at home over xmas without causing a kerfuffle with school. I can graduate in May, I think I'm going to do all but my senior thesis next semester (4 french classes and 1 pols) and that way if I don't end up playing next season I could probably graduate without having to be here, if I don't want to hang out in Hawaii. It would be really really hard to be here during season without playing.
k thats my news
big loves
A xxox
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Where Am I?
So, I'm not exactly sure why because I thought that I was a travelling machine and was not the kind of person to suffer from jet lag or have trouble adjusting to time differences, but I guess after a couple of months of only being in one time zone for 2 weeks max takes its toll on even the machiniest machines...
We're in LA at the moment on our last road trip before our conference finals. We had a big win last week against Cal (10-9) which means that if we win our next 3 games then we probably won't cross over with them at MPSFs (conference finals) which means we have a really really good chance of going to nationals. So I really hope that we can do it. Our game against Cal was pretty good, I must say it was a bit of an out of body experience for me, we just got back from Melbourne the day before (10 hr flight) and were pretty dead. And somehow I managed to score 3 goals so I guess I should do that more often? I'm really glad we pulled it together for that game, it showed us what we're capable of - we created a lot on offense and did some really good defense so even though I think we could have won by a bit more, everyone is a bit more excited now. Today we played Santa Barbara and we were up by like 4 goals the whole game and then in the last 4 minutes they came to within one goal, luckily we managed to keep it together for the last minute and come away with the win. It was a bit disappointing because we were in control the whole game and the goals they scored at the end were just from foolish errors (mostly mine). But live and learn right? So on thursday we play CS Northridge and Saturday we play Hartwick and Cal Baptist. It will be good to see the kiwi girls again and have a wee catch up after worlds again. I kinda miss them.
The end of worlds was fun. We lost to brasil - we got wasted by brasil. We lost like 14-9 or something horrible like that. It was a horrible game, we were up 4-1 after the 1st 1/4 and then I duno what happened everything just started falling apart. We started yelling at eachother and stuff, which never happens, and yea it sucked. But we had a big talk after the game and sorted everything out and came together for the last game against Germany, which we lost in over time 10-9. Another disappointing loss but at the same time, it was a good, hard fought game and everyone was forced to give their best. So we came 12th at the 12th FINA world championships.
Our last night in Melbourne w
as a lot of fun, I even went out! I was even the last one standing! We were hanging out with the Kiwi guys and also the South African guys and it was a lot a lot of fun. I am a sucker for a safa accent and they were pretty good lookin and none of them were sleazy I just had the best time dancing the night away. The next day we had a bit of a sleep and a bit of a gossip session with everyone about the previous night's events and then were off on the plane back to Hawaii.
We're in LA at the moment on our last road trip before our conference finals. We had a big win last week against Cal (10-9) which means that if we win our next 3 games then we probably won't cross over with them at MPSFs (conference finals) which means we have a really really good chance of going to nationals. So I really hope that we can do it. Our game against Cal was pretty good, I must say it was a bit of an out of body experience for me, we just got back from Melbourne the day before (10 hr flight) and were pretty dead. And somehow I managed to score 3 goals so I guess I should do that more often? I'm really glad we pulled it together for that game, it showed us what we're capable of - we created a lot on offense and did some really good defense so even though I think we could have won by a bit more, everyone is a bit more excited now. Today we played Santa Barbara and we were up by like 4 goals the whole game and then in the last 4 minutes they came to within one goal, luckily we managed to keep it together for the last minute and come away with the win. It was a bit disappointing because we were in control the whole game and the goals they scored at the end were just from foolish errors (mostly mine). But live and learn right? So on thursday we play CS Northridge and Saturday we play Hartwick and Cal Baptist. It will be good to see the kiwi girls again and have a wee catch up after worlds again. I kinda miss them.
The end of worlds was fun. We lost to brasil - we got wasted by brasil. We lost like 14-9 or something horrible like that. It was a horrible game, we were up 4-1 after the 1st 1/4 and then I duno what happened everything just started falling apart. We started yelling at eachother and stuff, which never happens, and yea it sucked. But we had a big talk after the game and sorted everything out and came together for the last game against Germany, which we lost in over time 10-9. Another disappointing loss but at the same time, it was a good, hard fought game and everyone was forced to give their best. So we came 12th at the 12th FINA world championships.
Our last night in Melbourne w
as a lot of fun, I even went out! I was even the last one standing! We were hanging out with the Kiwi guys and also the South African guys and it was a lot a lot of fun. I am a sucker for a safa accent and they were pretty good lookin and none of them were sleazy I just had the best time dancing the night away. The next day we had a bit of a sleep and a bit of a gossip session with everyone about the previous night's events and then were off on the plane back to Hawaii.
School hasn't been too hard to catch up on, just had a couple of essays to write and now have like 3 exams to make up but hopefully they'll be ok. I'm just really gutted that we're always coming and going, I don't have much time at all with my friends who are graduating which is really sad. But at least I know to cherish the times we do get together. I just feel a little disconnected - a month is a long time to be away in the middle of a semester and then to only be around every other week, it's hard. But such is life. This time is so weird, it's like high school all over again exept now we have to be grown up once we graduate and start making the right decisions and scary stuff like that. Lucky for me I think I still have a few months before I have to find my way in the big wild world.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Roller Coasters
Worlds has been amazing, as I'm sure it always is and always will be.
We ended up drawing to Cuba last week when we played them. We were pretty disappointed as we'd wanted a win but had to just take it in our stride. The funny thing is that, Italy and Hungary (the other 2 teams in our pool) also drew. So for the first time in Worlds history, we had 2 draws in a pool. So that made for interesting games everone just trying to score as much as we could so we'd go through to the top 12 at least. For Italy and Hungary they were fighting it out for 1st place in our pool to go straight through to the top 8. We lost 17-7 to Hungary, which, although sounds bad and granted, is bad, shows a big improvement of NZ since the beginning of our program a few years ago when we lost 18-1 at the Olympic Qualifiers in 2004. We even scored the first goal and were even after the 1st quarter (gotta claim all we can). So anyways, we also lost by 12 goals to Italy. But the thing is, because this never happened before, no one really knew who should go through as number 1 in our pool - first they said it would be determined by their results with number 3 (us) - so Italy would have gone through, or with their overall goal difference - which would make Hungary go through because they beat Cuba by like 15 goals. They ended up deciding on over all goal difference and it was the strangest sight to see pool side. NZ was happy because we were in the top 12, and Italy, who had just won by 12 goals, were crying and yelling at eachother and kicking signs over, they even smashed a window on the bus. Needless to say it was an emotional night.
So yesterday we played Greece and for the first time I think we were pretty disappointed with our game. We just didn't play the way we have been playing, with the same heart or sight. We went down 6-0 in the first half, and clawed our way back in the 2nd half to bring the final score to 9-5. One good thing though, was for the first time this tournament I wasn't on 2 in the first quarter so got to play a lot of the game, and I didn't even get majored. So I was happy about that anyway.
In other events, I have been watching a bit of diving, There was a kid here who goes to UH diving for sweden so we watched him as much as we could. He's one cool cat. I have so much admiration for divers, they must need so so so much patience to get to even competition level let alone international level. There is something quite fascinating about bodies flying and twisting and turning through the air I must say. And we also got to watch the groups final of the synchronised swimming so that was awesome! they were like throwing people through the air and climbing over eachother and the russians even got a tower of 2 people high out of the water - and in synchro you're not allowed to touch the bottom so they were holding them up doing egg beater. Amazing.
Tomorrow we play Brasil to decide whether we play off for 9th or 11th. I hope we win, Brasil is one of those teams that never gives up and is really emotional and passionate so even though I definitely think we're a better team, we will really have to work hard for it.
It's crazy that we've nearly been here for 2 whole weeks and we'll only play 6 games, but it's so fun. I thought before we came that this might be my last worlds but now I really want another one...getting a bit far ahead of myself I think. It's a wee way away.
In other exciting news! One of my bestest friends Coralee just got engaged last weekend to the most amazing boy who adores her. I'm so happy for them, and they are getting married over my winter holidays, and ALSO one of my other most closest childhood friends Michelle is getting married on my birthday! I'm so excited, it's going to be the best xmas, new years and bday ever!
We ended up drawing to Cuba last week when we played them. We were pretty disappointed as we'd wanted a win but had to just take it in our stride. The funny thing is that, Italy and Hungary (the other 2 teams in our pool) also drew. So for the first time in Worlds history, we had 2 draws in a pool. So that made for interesting games everone just trying to score as much as we could so we'd go through to the top 12 at least. For Italy and Hungary they were fighting it out for 1st place in our pool to go straight through to the top 8. We lost 17-7 to Hungary, which, although sounds bad and granted, is bad, shows a big improvement of NZ since the beginning of our program a few years ago when we lost 18-1 at the Olympic Qualifiers in 2004. We even scored the first goal and were even after the 1st quarter (gotta claim all we can). So anyways, we also lost by 12 goals to Italy. But the thing is, because this never happened before, no one really knew who should go through as number 1 in our pool - first they said it would be determined by their results with number 3 (us) - so Italy would have gone through, or with their overall goal difference - which would make Hungary go through because they beat Cuba by like 15 goals. They ended up deciding on over all goal difference and it was the strangest sight to see pool side. NZ was happy because we were in the top 12, and Italy, who had just won by 12 goals, were crying and yelling at eachother and kicking signs over, they even smashed a window on the bus. Needless to say it was an emotional night.
So yesterday we played Greece and for the first time I think we were pretty disappointed with our game. We just didn't play the way we have been playing, with the same heart or sight. We went down 6-0 in the first half, and clawed our way back in the 2nd half to bring the final score to 9-5. One good thing though, was for the first time this tournament I wasn't on 2 in the first quarter so got to play a lot of the game, and I didn't even get majored. So I was happy about that anyway.
In other events, I have been watching a bit of diving, There was a kid here who goes to UH diving for sweden so we watched him as much as we could. He's one cool cat. I have so much admiration for divers, they must need so so so much patience to get to even competition level let alone international level. There is something quite fascinating about bodies flying and twisting and turning through the air I must say. And we also got to watch the groups final of the synchronised swimming so that was awesome! they were like throwing people through the air and climbing over eachother and the russians even got a tower of 2 people high out of the water - and in synchro you're not allowed to touch the bottom so they were holding them up doing egg beater. Amazing.
Tomorrow we play Brasil to decide whether we play off for 9th or 11th. I hope we win, Brasil is one of those teams that never gives up and is really emotional and passionate so even though I definitely think we're a better team, we will really have to work hard for it.
It's crazy that we've nearly been here for 2 whole weeks and we'll only play 6 games, but it's so fun. I thought before we came that this might be my last worlds but now I really want another one...getting a bit far ahead of myself I think. It's a wee way away.
In other exciting news! One of my bestest friends Coralee just got engaged last weekend to the most amazing boy who adores her. I'm so happy for them, and they are getting married over my winter holidays, and ALSO one of my other most closest childhood friends Michelle is getting married on my birthday! I'm so excited, it's going to be the best xmas, new years and bday ever!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
autumn in the southern hemisphere
So we just got to melbourne for world champs the other day after coming 3rd in the southern cross cup we had in NZ. I think overall the tournament was a big success and thouroughly enjoyable, for myself anyway! PS I have the cutest niece in the whole world.
I don't know if it's good or bad but more and more I'm just enjoying water polo as this incredible way to bring people together. In NZ last week we had people who had grown up in the soviet union, people who had endured civil war, people who eat pasta for breakfast lunch and dinner, people who I always make fun of like americans and brits, and then us, all together in lil' ol NZ playing a sport that we love. The reality is that really in the end everyone just wants to win but in my brain I think it's such an incredible privelage and so cool to be friends with and play against people from all over the world, from incredible backgrounds and histories. and i just think thats cool
We got to show Meik around a wee bit, so cool, I think she really enjoyed it. So I was really happy about that, we just went to newmarket and had tea. and do you know what I love about Meike? OK so she was on a budget right, and we were in the middle of the shopping district, and Meike spends the last of her money on a bag of tea. Granny's garden fruit tea to be precise. That is was I love about Miek. While the rest of her team went to NZ's poor version of an outlet mall, and Meike bought tea. anyways, then I showed her my old uni, which brought on a big wave of nostalgia eating hummus in albert park and just not going to class. and then we went to Em and Kelly's house so she could see it and they're on the way to Piha. Piha was good. It was an
awesome raw NZ day with wind that blew your hair off and the break going all the way out past the point. I was like, now you get what I mean when I say in NZ the break goes out like 100m from shore.
I was also lucky enough to catch up a little with some good friends while I was back so I'm still on a high from that.
And now here we are at world champs, tomorrow we have our first game against Cuba. They were our nearly last game last time. So it will be a good game and hopefully we'll come out on top!
There is so much going on in Melbourne at the mo, and there was so much going on in Auckland too, there was Pasifika festival, the Auckland Festival and a bunch of sweet concerts and stuff. It just hasn't stopped once coming to Melbourne. As I'm writing this the grand prix is going on right across the road, so that's loud. And also the Melbourne wine and food festival is on right now too. It's crazy! So much to do!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
home!
I'm home!
Only for like 2 weeks, and we have so many games and trainings I don't know if I'll even get to catch up with anyone but wow, I have to say that I think I am possibly the most blessed person in the whole world with my friends and family. Both at home and away. I'm just really blown away right now thinking about it. People are so amazing.
Polo is good ish, we had a couple of really bad games (UH) last weekend, 10 games in 11 days. Killer. and then we had like 3 days at in HI then I came back home to NZ! Then we've just been scrimmaging against Great Britain and touching up on a few of our moves and stuff. It's so good to play with everyone again, and it's so cool to see how much everyone has grown as players, we have 2 girls in Italy and one in France and one in LA and then the HI girls and the Hartwick girls and it's just so awesome to come together again. Everyone is so cool and has improved so much and it's just really awesome.
Tomorrow we have our first official game against Great Britain and then the Southern Cross tournament starts on Thursday. It's so cool there are so many teams here, in the women there's the Netherlands and Germany and Great Britain, and in the Men there are Serbia (#1 in the world at the mo), Italy, Russia, USA and Canada. And we're getting a lot of media coverage and stuff so it'll be really good for water polo in NZ. It's a really exciting thing to be a part of.
It's so nice to be here, it's still summer, the sky is blue and the sun is still setting late and I just really love the feeling in the air at this time of the year...
woop woop!
Only for like 2 weeks, and we have so many games and trainings I don't know if I'll even get to catch up with anyone but wow, I have to say that I think I am possibly the most blessed person in the whole world with my friends and family. Both at home and away. I'm just really blown away right now thinking about it. People are so amazing.
Polo is good ish, we had a couple of really bad games (UH) last weekend, 10 games in 11 days. Killer. and then we had like 3 days at in HI then I came back home to NZ! Then we've just been scrimmaging against Great Britain and touching up on a few of our moves and stuff. It's so good to play with everyone again, and it's so cool to see how much everyone has grown as players, we have 2 girls in Italy and one in France and one in LA and then the HI girls and the Hartwick girls and it's just so awesome to come together again. Everyone is so cool and has improved so much and it's just really awesome.
Tomorrow we have our first official game against Great Britain and then the Southern Cross tournament starts on Thursday. It's so cool there are so many teams here, in the women there's the Netherlands and Germany and Great Britain, and in the Men there are Serbia (#1 in the world at the mo), Italy, Russia, USA and Canada. And we're getting a lot of media coverage and stuff so it'll be really good for water polo in NZ. It's a really exciting thing to be a part of.
It's so nice to be here, it's still summer, the sky is blue and the sun is still setting late and I just really love the feeling in the air at this time of the year...
woop woop!
Friday, February 23, 2007
5 down, 5 to go
I'm so tired, and part of me is like why? and the other part is like, don't be stupid.
Starting last friday we have 10 games in 11 days, which is pretty a lot. We're half way now and just have 2 tomorrow, 2 on sunday and then one on tuesday when we get back (we're in California at the moment)
and then friday I go home to the national team and the southern cross tournament. at least we're getting a lot of games in : )
We've been playing ok, it feels like we're putting in a lot of effort and not getting much back, I think if we can cut down on our errors and slow down in our heads a bit we'll be a lot better off for it.
and for those that aren't really interested in water polo... : )
I got to see Viv (my sister) last night for a couple of hours which was really cool, she's over here for work and was staying just down the road so as soon as we got to the hotel last night we hung out for a wee bit. it was nice, I'm going to see her again in like a week but it was really nice to see her in the OC anyway : )
um... here are some sweet photos from when I was home at xmas
:This one is of Kate and Nicholas in the bath, isn't she so cute.
and then I can't remember why but Kate was crying after her bath so had to tickle her
this is prob one of my all time favourite photos - Grandpa and Katie pie eating sweet corn on the grass by the swing : )
and last but not least, the brothers garks. I really love them,
they're so cool....
Um... I can't think of much else to write...oh I got two really awesome bikinis today for really cheap. Like really nice ones that I would pay like $100 each for at home but were $20 each here at Ross. Gotta love Ross : )
k time to go,
peace out cub scouts
Monday, February 05, 2007
This Time of Year...
I'm usually at the beach. Or playing water polo in some foreign country (other than NZ or USA).
2007 however, has been a whole new story. I have been at school for a month already, while all my friends are lapping up the last hot month of summer and getting fabuloso tans, I have been at school. Taking classes that make me fall asleep because I feel like I'm form 4 again but I have to take these classes because I'm not really going to be at school much from now on.
I only have 4 weeks left till the end of the semester really...
Sorry, OK I'm totally not complaining, my tan is lovely and it's always hot here so it's not like I'm missing out, it's just so weird going to class in January. Like, straight after my birthday. I really don't know how I'm going to survive in the real world. It's so mean, they give us like a good 3 months off school through high school, then at uni they give you like 4 or 5, and then when you start work you're down to 3 for the rest of your life. Who worked that out? I think it's pretty mean.
A good majority of my friend, except for like polo girls are graduating at the end of this semester and I'm really sad about it. I'm in Hawaii for a week and a half and then we go on our next road trip to CA, then I'm back for a few days and then we're off home and to Australia for worlds, and then I'm back to HI for a few days then it's another road trip, then back for a week then it's conference finals in Arizona, and then it's the last week of school. I have a slightly overwhelmed feeling coming over me. Not really, it just sounds a little overwhelming doesn't it?
We just got back from our first road trip, I forgot how long they are. We were away for 6 days and played 6 games in 4 days. I think we got a good kick in the bum so that was good, the first games are always pretty shocking and then you pull your head in and things work out a bit. So at least now we know where we are and where we want to go. And I have decided that I have 5 weeks (thats how long it is till world champs) to become a really good water polo player.
Now I know you're thinking, hang on Amy, you're on your national team you can't be that bad. I'm not saying I'm bad, I'm just thinking I want to be a lot better than I am right now. So no doubt I'll let you know how that goes.
I'm a little dillusional...can you tell?
2007 however, has been a whole new story. I have been at school for a month already, while all my friends are lapping up the last hot month of summer and getting fabuloso tans, I have been at school. Taking classes that make me fall asleep because I feel like I'm form 4 again but I have to take these classes because I'm not really going to be at school much from now on.
I only have 4 weeks left till the end of the semester really...
Sorry, OK I'm totally not complaining, my tan is lovely and it's always hot here so it's not like I'm missing out, it's just so weird going to class in January. Like, straight after my birthday. I really don't know how I'm going to survive in the real world. It's so mean, they give us like a good 3 months off school through high school, then at uni they give you like 4 or 5, and then when you start work you're down to 3 for the rest of your life. Who worked that out? I think it's pretty mean.
A good majority of my friend, except for like polo girls are graduating at the end of this semester and I'm really sad about it. I'm in Hawaii for a week and a half and then we go on our next road trip to CA, then I'm back for a few days and then we're off home and to Australia for worlds, and then I'm back to HI for a few days then it's another road trip, then back for a week then it's conference finals in Arizona, and then it's the last week of school. I have a slightly overwhelmed feeling coming over me. Not really, it just sounds a little overwhelming doesn't it?
We just got back from our first road trip, I forgot how long they are. We were away for 6 days and played 6 games in 4 days. I think we got a good kick in the bum so that was good, the first games are always pretty shocking and then you pull your head in and things work out a bit. So at least now we know where we are and where we want to go. And I have decided that I have 5 weeks (thats how long it is till world champs) to become a really good water polo player.
Now I know you're thinking, hang on Amy, you're on your national team you can't be that bad. I'm not saying I'm bad, I'm just thinking I want to be a lot better than I am right now. So no doubt I'll let you know how that goes.
I'm a little dillusional...can you tell?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
resurfacing
I want to get back into this. But there is this weird fear thing thats like hmmm will I actually commit or will I just update once and forget it again for the next 6 months?
Regardles, we'll give it a go.
Uni this semester is awes. I'm takin 3 classes at school just elementary basic core requirements that for some reason are neccessary in the States and then 2 online, one is about staying healthy (I can't believe they offer that at university) and one is about International Relations and Human Rights. We're studying Niger and the food crisis of 2005 and what's been going on since and it's freakin hot stuff. Sad, makes me want to cry but so interesting. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the UN and also has the lowest Human Development Index, which means that they don't have much education and they don't earn much. So you'd think they'd get more aid than most. But they don't. they get an average of $200 per capita a year, the Marshall Islands, where the US does nuclear testing, gets and average of $16,000 per capita a year. It's all very interesting and also very shocking and just makes me want to go save the world even more.
We leave for our first road trip on Tuesday. A week from today. I'm excited. for the first time in a long time everyone is in high spirits and it's really cool and I like it. I hope we do well this year.
The apartment on the surface of things is neat and tidy but underneath something is about to explode. I'm sure it's really not that dramatic it just feels like it. Not very comfortable but am sure things will work out.
And that is the latest. for now I have to go to practice. Should be good.
Peace
A
Regardles, we'll give it a go.
Uni this semester is awes. I'm takin 3 classes at school just elementary basic core requirements that for some reason are neccessary in the States and then 2 online, one is about staying healthy (I can't believe they offer that at university) and one is about International Relations and Human Rights. We're studying Niger and the food crisis of 2005 and what's been going on since and it's freakin hot stuff. Sad, makes me want to cry but so interesting. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the UN and also has the lowest Human Development Index, which means that they don't have much education and they don't earn much. So you'd think they'd get more aid than most. But they don't. they get an average of $200 per capita a year, the Marshall Islands, where the US does nuclear testing, gets and average of $16,000 per capita a year. It's all very interesting and also very shocking and just makes me want to go save the world even more.
We leave for our first road trip on Tuesday. A week from today. I'm excited. for the first time in a long time everyone is in high spirits and it's really cool and I like it. I hope we do well this year.
The apartment on the surface of things is neat and tidy but underneath something is about to explode. I'm sure it's really not that dramatic it just feels like it. Not very comfortable but am sure things will work out.
And that is the latest. for now I have to go to practice. Should be good.
Peace
A
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