it has been almost 1 week in New Zealand

So it has been almost a week into my adventure, it is weird to think only a few days have passed.  I have definitely been keeping busy, since the first step off of the plane!  My Rotarians Allan and Jill Bain were at the airport to meet me, as well as a current Rotary Scholar Lane Perry.  They were all so welcoming and helped me to my student housing at the university, and Jill took me around town to get some needed supplies (I can't believe I forgot towels!).   My first dinner in Christchurch was with Jill and Allan, and they prepared me a lovely meal of pork and potatoes so I was very full, happy, and sleepy from the long flight.

I live in a flat with 4 other girls, I have only met one of them and I hope the others will be arriving soon.  My flat is very nice, it even has a washer/dryer and an oven.  Also I am only a short walk to my classes, and a short bus ride to a mall that contains a variety of stores.  The University of Christchurch is located in a residential area, and the City Center is a short 10 minute bus ride from campus.  I have been so busy enrolling for classes, opening a bank account, etc that I haven't had a chance to look through the beautiful botanical gardens but I am going to try to over the weekend.  I did go into town with another Rotary Scholar from Kansas, Brooke, on Sunday night for a Chinese Lantern Festival to meet Lane and his wife April.  It was full of people, and I had some delicious noodle soup and chicken dumplings.  Lane and April have been in New Zealand for the past 6 months, and are showing Brooke and I the ropes with regard to the Kiwi lifestyle.  Tomorrow I will attend my first Rotary meeting of the Papanui Club, they meet in the evening over dinner.  I am very excited to meet the members of the Papanui club. 

As for school, I had an International Student Orientation yesterday, and Postgraduate Student Seminar and Enrollment today.  I am getting excited for my classes to begin next Monday, all of them seem very interesting.  I have another seminar for my college, the College of Arts, tomorrow and I am hoping to meet some of my professors/course advisers.

I have been very impressed by New Zealand thus far, the people are friendly and the weather is beautiful.  That is all I have for now, more to come soon!