Volunteering at the Opti Worlds in Napier

On the 2^nd of January I took the plane to Napier to volunteer at the Optimist World Championship 2011. I spent ten days there and helped out in the GPS tracker area.First I flew from Kerikeri to Auckland, where I had to wait about 2 hours before I could catch the plane to Napier. At 7.30 pm I finally arrived and was a little bit nervous to meet the host family, in which I would stay for the next days. I didn’t know for who I was looking for...I just knew the name of the family. I must have looked pretty lonely and lost. At the end I got picked up by the three children, aged 13-17. They were very friendly and I immediately stopped feeling nervous and I relaxed. We drove to town for dinner and went back later to their house with Pizza and afterwards we watched a DVD. Late in the evening their parents came home from a party and I could talk to them before I went to bed.  They were very nice and I was so happy to stay at their house.

The next morning started very early, because we had to be at the sailing club at 7.30 am. We had to switch the GPS trackers on, pack them each in a waterproof bag and put them in a bigger bag for each of the 49 countries. After this job was done, we went out on a boat to watch the races. It was so exciting to be so close! I’ve never thought I could even go on a boat! 

I knew quite a few of the participants from last year in Malaysia and from earlier Optimist Regattas in Europe, but on the first day I didn’t have the chance to talk to them…                                                             

We came back in the evening and had to collect all the country bags and take all the GPS trackers out, dry them and switching them off. Our last job was to charge them, because they would need to have a full battery the next day. Quiet tired we were back home at 8.30 pm, after dinner I went straight to bed.

The next day began pretty much the same and in the afternoon we watched the Team Racing on the water. On the 3^rd day was a free day for the sailors. Most of them had a look around New Zealand, went training on the water or sailed the Fun race, where I helped out. I was on a boat, which got used a mark. It was a long day on the water with a lot of sun and I was very tired in the evening. The next days I spent quiet a lot of time with the Swiss Team. I could speak Swiss German with a friend of my sailing club and French with the others. I was surprised, my French was still quiet good and fluent. =)

The weather became worse and worse and we had a lot of heavy rain, but the time ran and World Champion became a girl from Singapore. The last day I had a look around Napier and packed my bag. In the evening I went to the prize giving and enjoyed the last evening with all the others and I used the time to talk to old friends and had a great time.

On the last day I helped to pack everything together, (so much work!), it took us about 3 hours!!      My flight was in the late afternoon, so I had still some spare time, which I used to go swimming and relaxing in the sun. For 2 hours I had the chance to go sailing, which I used of course. I took an Optimist and had a great time out sailing in a nice breeze. It was the first time I sailed Optimist again since I stopped last January. It was a very awkward feeling, but everything came automatically and it was as I never stopped. I really enjoyed being back on an Optimist and I was really surprised, how well I did, but the time ran and I had to go back to get ready. After saying goodbye to my host family, I went to the airport.  

It was a great experience and very nice to meet all the people and being a part of the whole Volunteering Team.

Christmas and New Year's Eve

On the 23th a friend of mine form Italy, who stayed four months in New Zealand and went back in October 2011 came back for a two week holiday. It was nice to see him again.
Franzi's dad and her brother came to New Zealand to get Franzi for travelling around New Zealand and going back home in January. They arrived late in the evening in a vang and even I was so excited for Franzi and of course to meet the family.. When they jumped out of the car and huged Fanzi again after 6 months not seeing her everyone had tears in their eyes and it gave me the heebie-jeebies.. I was so happy for her =).
The next day was the 24th of december and Franzi and her family picked me and some other friends up to spent the day at Taupo Bay.
It was a windy day, but it was Christmas so we went swimming, had yummy muffins (made by myself) and other nice food. It didn't feel like Xmas at all, just like a very nice summer day, but it was a good experience, but if I'm honest, I still prefer Christmas in winter with snow and my family..
In the evening we opened our presents and as it got dark we packed our stuff together and went back.
I had to say goodbye to most of my firends, because they would all leave in the next couple of days.. It's hard to say goodbye and it didn't feel real, but the time came to say goodbye, even if we don't want to.. We had a awesome time together.which we will never forget. And I'll meet Franzi when I'm back in Switzerland.. =)

Merry Christmas!

It was about 9 p.m when I arrived home and my hostmum was still out at a friends house.. It felt akward to be alone at Christmas Eve and I suddenly felt homesick.. But I listened to Christmas music and made a delicous Tiramisu for the next day.. Afterwards I felt much better.

On Christmas Day we organised a Christmas lunch with typical Kiwi food. Turkey with apple sauce, pork, roasted vegetables, salads and bread and lots of desserts. I got more presents from my hostmum and she opened my present for her.
It was sunny and warm, a beautiful day for a BBQ.. In the evening I went to my friend's house to spent the rest of the day there. All in all I had a nice, but diffrent Christmas.. In New Zealand Christmas is more relaxed and less important than in Europe.. For me it was very intressting to experience Xmas here, but I'm already looking forward for next year..
The weather became worse, so we (Sebastian, Marco and I) stayed most of the time inside, spent our time with watching movies and drinking coffee in town, talking and enjoying ourselfs.. At New Year's Eve we were invited to stay over at Marco's place. We had a BBQ and watched a horror movie. At midnight we jumped into the pool, it was freezing!! =D But a nice start into the new year.
We slept in the next day and had a late breakfast at 12 a.m. with pancakes and golden syrup! Yummy! =)
In the afternoon we went swimming and my hostmum picked me up in the evening..

First Team Racing Regatta & Xmas time

The really next day I had to get up very early to get ready for sailing. I trained the last months with the school sailing team and we had a training regatta for 4 days. We were eight teams, they came up to Kerikeri from Auckland, Whangerei and we had lots of fun. In each team are 3 boats and we did Team Racing, which I actually just know from Optimist sailing with 4 boats in each team.. But we did quiet well, even if the wind was a little to strong for my taste.. (In optimist I loved strong wind), but in 420 it's much harder to keep the boat flat. At the end my team finsihed 3rd and we were the first Kerikeri High School Team. I was satisfied, but I'll have to train a lot and get used to the bigger boat and learn the diffrent techniques.. We'll have a summer break now and the next training will be at the end of january..

On Saturday afternoon we went to Mangawhai, where my hostmum's daughter has her holiday house. It's an 3 hour drive one way but it's worth. It's a lovely, modern house and we had a nice BBQ with my hostmum's daugther family. Marie and I played cricket with the children and enjoyed the last evening with Marie.
It got very late when we finally left Mangawhai and we arrived at 1 a.m back in Kerikeri.. Marie started packing and I stayed awake and helped here to spent as much time with her as possible.

On Sunday (18th of December) we went to the airport to farewell my hostsister Marie.. It was very sad, she was a great hostsister and we were very close.. It was hard to say goodbye, but I'll see here again, I'm sure...
The next days I spent with my friends and planed the next month. I'm going to do a South Island Trip in January for 11 days. It's a organisation for International Students and we will tavel around the South Island. I'm looking forward to it.
At the moment it's quiet boring at home without company.. But soon is Christmas and it's going to be more exciting..

Auckland Trip

From the 7th of December until the 13th I had a great time in Auckland. Franzi, Kurumi and I took the intercity bus from Kerikeri to Auckland. It’s actually a coach and you have to book the tickets in the internet. We started early in the morning and after a 5 hours drive we arrived with our heavy backs in the biggest city of New Zealand.

We looked our bags at the bus station and along the Queen Street and did lots of shopping. Later on we went to the harbor and had a nice coffee. We had sushi for dinner and took then the bus to our accommodation. We first had some problems to find the host family but after a up and down walk the streets we finally found the house. We went directly to bed, because we were so tired from getting up so early and the walking the whole day.

 

The next day we went to New Market, a suburb perfect for shopping! The main point why we went there was the General Issue Shop, which is only selling A&F cloths, a paradise for us.
After 2 hours spending in trying and paying and a few bags more we finally left the shop and took the bus back to town. Franzi met a friend from her organization and Kurumi and I had another look at the harbor. In the evening we all went together to the sky tower to enjoy the sunset high over the ground. We had a iced chocolate in the sky tower café, 240 meters over the streets..



Franzi & Kurumi




Kurumi & Me





Franzi & Me




Kurumi & Me

We took the last bus this night, back to our host family. The next day I said goodbye to my friends to make myself on the way to the meeting of my organization.
Franzi and Kurumi took the bus back to Kerikeri and I had to find the house of my leader. It was quiet complicated and the bus driver weren’t friendly at all!! First I had to drive 40 minutes out of town and there I had to change the bus and drive another 20 minutes.
I struggled to find the right bus and I waited 50 minutes at the second bus station, probably missed about 3 buses until I was finally sure to take the right bus. Another problem was the fact to not know where I had to get off the bus. In New Zealand they don’t have names for the bus stops and there not saying any names of streets or anything..
 It was pretty hopeless, but somehow I found the place to get off the bus and the address of the house. A few people from the Introduction days where day and we had a nice GERMAN barbeque.  It was akward to speak german, I had problems with the grammar and needed a few seconds to find the words in my head.

 The next morning we were blessed with a typical German breakfast. We were so excited about the “real” bread. I didn't have anything like that the last 6 months, only toast!

BREAD!!!

A friend of mine and I spent the day in Auckland at the harbor and walked along the Queen Street and had coffee in a Cafe, which had free Internet on Ipads to offer.
In the evening we met with the others and walked together to a field near New Market. Hundred of people came together to listen to the famous Christmasconcert "Xmas in the park".
In the middle of the park was a enormous stage. The crowd was sitting on picnic blankets distributed on the field.
The music was quiet good and the atmosphare was just brillant. At the end of the concert the lights of a monstrous Christmastree in the middle of the park were switched on, it was a breathtaking moment. The crowd startet to leave the place and we walked with the crowd back to Queens Street. It felt liked carneval, we were so many people!! I was happy to get in the car, because I felt quiet uncomfortable in middle of all those people, probably because I'm not used to this amount of people.. We were all tired and went straight to bed, as soon we arrived home.

On the next day was actually planed to go to the beach and having a BBQ in the evening, but the weather was terrible so we visited the museum in Auckland. It was very intressting to learn something about the Maori culture and the New Zealand\Asian History. The exhibition was also about the geografie and flora of New Zealand. The most exicting part for me were the extinct native animals, because I've never heard of those animals before.

I'm smaller than the pinguin.. =P



Kiwi bird



In the evening we had a delicous dinner, which made me feel a little homesick; Raclette. We had a lovely night and after dinner we watched a movie.

On the following day we went to Muriwai for a surf lesson. I surfed already a few times, but I was used to very small waves. At Muriwai beach were gigantic waves and it was very windy. We had good boards and as soon as I got into the water I got on the board. I first thought it would be difficult with these big waves, but I caugh many waves and enjoyed ever second of it.

 After the surf we had a picnic at the beach and drove to a shopping centre spent the rest of the afternoon there.. After dinner we went to town to walk along a famous street in Auckland. "Franklin street" was illuminated with Christmas decoration and each house could have belonged to Disney land.

I had a great time in Auckland and the time ran so fast, the day came to say goodbye again and I took the bus back to Auckland with my heavy bags and waited 3 hours in Starbucks and took then the coach back to Kerikeri and I was pleased to be back "home".

Farewells

The last month I often spent my time at the beach or at Charlie’s rock. It’s a beautiful spot with waterfalls and high rocks from which you can jump in to the water. December was a warm and nice month but a sad month as well because most of the Internationals were leaving and everything changed.

We had a farewell barbeque at the stone store. All of the Internationals came and everyone brought heaps of food and we had a lovely evening in the sun, went swimming and played rugby.

I had a few training weekends in December with the sailing team. We sailed every day from 9 a.m until 5 p.m in rain and cold, but I just loved it! I often was very tired after, but friends slept over and we had movie nights. At “Samichlaustag” Franzi and I made Xmas cookies in shorts and t-shirt and listened to Christmas songs. It was a very awkward feeling and it felt so wrong, not like Christmastime at all! But we tried to make the best out of it and our cookies were delicious.

End-of-the-year-programm

Before the summer holidays had started the big NCEA Exam were on. Year 11, 12 and 13 had their final year exams. Fortunately the International students didn’t have to sit them. While the others were studying for their exam we enjoyed an End-of-the-year program, which was organized by the International Department.

For four days we were instructing the other Internationals in sailing. We were split up in groups and taught them the basics of dinghy sailing. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to see how they were improving their knowledge.. We had some windy days, so a few were more in the water than sailing. But after the 4 days all of them passed the theory test and we were able to organize a funny race. I was supporting them on a motor boat and helped and gave the tips while they were sailing.. I really enjoyed those days on the lake with all the others and it was a great experience to be a coach and not the sailor. After 4 days of sailing we were all very tired after this week of sailing and happy to have a break. The next day we got picked up in a huge bus and drove to Whangerei to an Adventure climbing park. We spent the whole day high over the ground in the trees.. All of us just loved it! Some of us were pretty scared so high over the ground. At the end of the day everyone got safely back home and nobody had any hurts, except of sore hands.

In the second week of our program another surf camp was on. We had 3 fabulous days at Taupo Bay! We were 8 participants and enjoyed every second in the water and of course on the board. After the surfing we watched movies, played rugby or went swimming in the sea or just enjoyed the sun. One morning our surf trainer woke us up at 6 a.m and told us to go straight in our wetsuits and in the water. Hardly awake we got in the water and had a great morning of surfing and a delicious breakfast for our early work. The time ran so quickly and the surf camp was already over and we went back to Kerikeri..

Farewell & holidays

On Sunday evening Franzi and me were invited to go out for dinner with Marco's hostfamily.. We ate in a nice, small restaurant next to the Stone Store and we enjoyed the last evening together.
Marco left the next moring. A lot of friends came to the airport to say goodbye.. It was very sad and were all crying.. He was a really close friend to all of us and we'll miss him a lot.. but fortunatley nearly all of us are living in Europe so we can meet each other again, one day.. =)

Marie and I spent the afternoon with Franzi. To animate us, we played Singstar and we ate a lot of chocolate.. We felt much better after, but the weather was terrible so we had to spent to whole day inside..
For a few days Gail's daughter came with her children to visit us.. it was nice to busy with the 3 kids and we had fun.. =)
The first week of the holidays was boring.. We coudn't do much, because the weather was bad, went to the cinema and once we slept over at Franzi's and watched many many DVDs =).
For dinner we bought real bread (no TOAST), Parmesan, Pesto & very expensive prosciutto.. it was delicious!! =) We did a pick-nick on the fields near the Stone Store.
The next day Franzi came to our house and we made crepes, yummy =)....We had so much fun and the weather became finally better.. so we spent the rest of the day outside..

In the second week we went a few day to Mangawhai and visited some beaches and went to Auckland for one night..

While we were in Mangawhai we enjoyed the weather, went to diffrent beaches and we went swimming.. =D The water was freezing!! Marie and I both broke our cameras at this day.. Because of the sand.. Yes, I know we were so stupid.. but it happend..
In Auckland we spent a lot of time in STARBUCKS.. and walked up and down along the Queen's Street.. At lunch time we went back home to Kerikeri..
The rest of the holidays we were at home and a friend of our hostmum stayed at our house. We visited the west coast of Northland and had a small pick-nick.. The weather was beautiful and it was nice and warm..

Saturday I went to a festival in Paihia. There was live music, a lot of food and we just had a great day there..  After those 2 weeks the holidays were already over, but I was happy to see all the others again at school.. =)