Getting urban in NZ

What an adventure the past few days have been! American Airlines (and every second of every airport) was torture, and then we boarded Air New Zealand. If anyone is planning to go to a fancy resteraunt anytime soon, I mean real expensive and high-class--dont!! Just buy a roundtrip of Air New Zealand. The food was great and I had my own television with a million movies and tv shows to choose from. You know I was in heaven. However, the flight was 14 hours long and in that time I had much opportunity to contemplate the absurdity of my decision to come here. I really didn't think this one through--a month is a very long time. And now that I have arrived here, I am slowly realizing many other things I didn't think through, such as: When they told me that it was going to be freezing cold here and we would be experiencing glaciers, I thought "hmmm...awesome. I'll bring a jacket" not "hmmm...awesome. I'll bring ALOT of very warm clothes". I am thinking of buying a big sweatshirt here and rocking it throughout most of the southern island. I have met som many new people here from so many places. I made very good friends with a couple of Australian girls who were EXACTLY what I expected. I loved them. In my adventures I have met many Irishmen, which is odd because you would think that I would be meeting people from here instead of somewhere else. But that is how it is here, especially at the hostel. Everyone is from somewhere else and everyone is eager to get to know everyone else. There have been lots of friendly faces. I have explored Auckland's city center very thoroughly, looking at all the local markets and checkingout all the local shops. And yesterday I started the day with an overdose...of adrenaline! I jumped off a bridge. Yes, a bridge. I bungee jumped off Auckland Bridge. The water was so clear and the city was just starting to come alive. Diving off the ledge was definitely a crash course in facing my fears and I can't wait to do it again. This place is gorgeous, even in the middle of the city. It is amazing how the old smashes into the new, and the beautiful and magestic mountains and harbors intermingle with the metropolitan city. Auckland is called the "City of Sails" and it is very apparent why. There are sailboats everywhere and it is so peaceful just to watch them. I love it here but I miss home very much. I hope I survive a whole month. I am very eager to see the rest of the island and explore further south, but I have to wait until Thursday (Wednesday, YOUR time). We are going to the World Congress of Reading starting tomorrow, then we are headed to Rotorua on Thursday to check out some of the Maori culture--which I absolutely CANNOT wait for!! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I am not entirely sure when I will have the opportunity to blog again, but keep your eyes peeled for any updates. I miss you all and can't wait to show you all the pictures I am taking!

Sending my love from New Zealand...