Feb 22: Holy cow, can we start school yet?

It feels like much longer than five days since my last post. Not a whole heck of a lot has been going on, besides the sort of stuff that usually happens in the few weeks before school starts. I'm not bored. Much like my south island vacation, there is much to do and much to see, but it is all much less interesting. 

Ah, I shouldn't give it such a hard time. I had some Yum Chow the other day, which is this variation on Dim-Sum, in Chinese restaurants, except for they exclusively serve dumplings. Easily one of the most delicious meals I've had in NZ, and will go back sometime soon. And last night, a friend of mine from the dorm, a first year named Scott and I went to see the Broken Social Scene play at a place called the King's Arm Tavern. It was stuffed to the gills, and practically impossible for us to stand inside. There was a courtyard (with grass and picnic tables and potted plants!) to the side of the bar, and we had drink and danced in that direction. 

After the show, we were invited by our RA's to go clubbing with them, as it was their last night of summer school. But getting in was a pain in the ass, as the lines extended around the block, and apparently in order to go to a club you have to dress up: fancy club dresses for gals, alligator shoes for dudes, etc. So we picked up Scott's girlfriend at the club and walked back to the dorms. 

Yesterday I met a nice girl named Theora, an exchange student from Berkley, California. Today we walked over to the university and went to our exchange student's orientation briefing, and met another girl from Canada (Saren, anthropology student with pink hair) and Emma (I think that's her name...I know she's from England, and I have a tendency to think all English women are named Emma). 

We set up our internet, printing and photocopy accounts today also. The internet account is pretty obnoxious. You must pay for high-speed internet usage; 56k speed is free. I'd be keen to figure out why it's so hard to get fast internet over here. I hear it's just a lack of competitive providers, so the one or two that they do have just slack off. 

The best part about today so was walking past Albert Park and seeing people prepare and set up the Chinese Lantern Festival.  Took a lot of pictures because it's daytime now and I don't know how the nighttime photos will turn out, but head over to the FB page and see 'em. Seriously, they're so pretty, you should really check them out. 

All in all, quite a good day, but I'm ready like rock for school to start.

Lurv, Ems.