Auckland Again



Rugby.



Roast Chicken, stuffing, veggies.




Pumpkin Pie. Of sorts.

 4th of July I was in Taupo at the Meditation Centre. Not really a place of meditation but it was still cool. they made me an American dinner in celebration of Independence Day. Ever so thoughtful. the Singapore guy made the pumpkin pie. I was excited for all the kiwi's to try it since pumpkin is never a sweet but a savory. Alas, I forgot this dude was a health nut and you could taste the eggs more than the pumpkin. He didn't add any sugar. Nuff said. It was nasty. but the thought was there and thats what counts?

I'm back at my Uncle's and so happy, I have missed them oodles! Aunt Mary is back on both feet. They are returning the crutches today and she is ecstatic.

It's sad having to explain to everyone why I'm back in Auckland. With only a week left my time here seems so short. I've been wracking my brain for things I need to do so to double check I'm not missing out on any experiences. Wish me luck!

If you can't handle the heat..

I still can't believe the people who I am sharing my life with for the next week. Everyone here is too bizarre to be real. Why does everyone insist on spoon feeding me??

A guy taught me how to see the energy of a leaf yesterday morning. Honestly. Half the things he says just have to be made up but you know he believes himself. And that sometimes rubs off on you.

There's a 56 year old from Singapore who pats you on the back after everything he says, which is usually thank you no matter what you do or say. And then he will say 'oh I will be so sad when you are gone'..

Another fellow who heals through a native american drum sort of thing.

Then a guy who does sweats.

I could go on. The weird, but maybe not so weird, thing is I love spending time with all of them. And I think I'm actually beginning to believe in this energy stuff. People may think it's bogus or that it's some shaman thing but it's fairly practical. Many thought Prince Charles was crazy when he talked to his plants, but research shows it helps them grow. He was sending his energy to them and it worked. As the kiwis would say- the proof is in the pudding.


Mom here are the photo's you have been requesting. I didn't even realize I had them on my phone. It's your lucky day :)

'The Lone Gumtree'

View from Tauhara

How long has it been since I saw library card index? Second grade.

Plant tissue paper. Yup.

What's in her bowl? Hot cocoa.

My caravan. Yes that my laundry all over the place. And yes it is surprisingly warmer than my room was.

Said room. As you can see my side was the clean one.

Tauhara centre.

Real

I haven't been thinking much of anything except my self the past 5 months, and within the past few days it's become apparent how out of touch with everything I am. 1- I watched the movie "The Constant Gardener", 'nuff said. 2- I found out what life in China is really like.

I realized I don't think I have ever met someone from China, who currently lives there and grew up there. Japan, sure. Korea, of course. Same with many other countries in Asia. It's blowing my mind, and when the two girls were talking like Hong Kong wasn't in China it confused me. Was I that horrible at geography? But the laws are completely different.

On a good note, I now have a Chinese name. It sounds like Lay Ju Hui and it means "Thunder Intelligent". A very serious name...

Winter Solstice

black swans at lake taupo with florian and jojo

Lake Taupo is the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere

This treasure is made of flax and just happened to be laying around..

Solstice time.

Everyone's candle

My Future.

Iris with our glow sticks

Lantern trail

Yesterday was the winter solstice and at Tauhara we held a festival. Kids from the local Steiner school came out with lanterns they made and walked around outside with them. We ate homemade pizza and didnt have to do dishes! Bless those Steiner parents. Once those little rascals left we had the real shabang which started with lighting of the candles in celebration of the return of the song. then the dances for universal peace began. We did the Kiwi take on singing Kumbaya around the camp fire, but it was Hallelujah around a star of candles while dancing in a spiral thing. It was weird but cool? The three Asian girls quickly exited after this.  German guy didn't even attend the beginning. I stayed because I knew some poetry was about to unfold. Patrick had been a trucker all his life and bam!- writing poems. Super rad. I totally shared my fav by Shel and it rocked. there was a cute couple who played the uke and bass and they did a few songs. And another lady who played the uke and guitar and her own songs which were so good! I thought she looked familiar and guess who it was. The lady who had been at Harmony Farm who came to have a jam session!! So crazy that we met up again! 

I met this lady from Iran who was the nicest! And she was into the peace dances man. Swayin and movin, girlfriend was feeling it. She went out of her way to really talk to me which was surprisingly nice, and just shared so much of her story with me. People here are like that though, they want to get to know you and what is happening in your life. Sometimes I think 'ok who are they fooling, this is unreal' but I think they are genuine. hopefully at least. I really connected with the lady Maria who is a complete gem, a professor at a university here and full of laughter. I saw her giving a tarot reading to someone and I have always been curious but felt it was sort of depressing thing. I asked her if I could watch her do one but she offered to give me one. It was an absolute positive experience. I'm not staking everything on it but yea it was rather accurate (though I suppose you could say that about a random horoscope reading..) and I like to think everything was true. But only time will tell and I didnt have to spend a large amount of money, so I am pleased.

The kids are planning a trip for tongariro crossing and i feel for them. They are out of their minds to be doing it at this  time of the year! I hope they make it! It makes me feel so glad I did it during the summer and was mostly prepared for it. I will be lonely when they leave because then it will just be me here. Crossing my fingers someone else will show up!!

Treasures

There is a resident woofer lady who does the dinners here. She is a refugee from Zimbabwe and had to leave her home country at the age of 65. She is incredibly lovely and sweet. After having her home shot at and intense inflation she had to leave. Not to mention she was involved politically so the target was rather large on her. Leaving her successful business behind and coming to NZ with nothing, suffering from PTSD, she is still a happy person. I'm inspired by her and the life she now leads.

I have finished HP4 audiobook via my ipod and it was like reading it the first time. I was gasping with shock and responding so often, it's a completely different experience I'm so glad I was given the files! But now I really want to listen to 5 which I dont have. But a girl from China is here with me and after sharing our love of Doctor Who we stumbled upon our other favorite British National Treasure: Steven Fry. And girlfriend has 4 of his audio books which she has given me. Huzzah!! Let it be known I love everything he has to say, including him talking about his wicked case of diarrhea and then segue into facts about Peru. Steven Fry is the man.

Heads Up, 7 Up

Does anyone even remember the point of this game? Everyone puts their head down and a few students would go around tapping people on the shoulder. But then did they have to guess who tapped them??

Just thought I would make a disclaimer that I'm going to be one of those annoying people who talk about their feelings and good intentions from now on. As if you havent already noticed. I'm off to Taupo today for another meditation/yoga retreat center but this time I'm wwoofing. I've heard great things about it and I figure it's run by a couple from Scotland so you know it will be fabulous. I just ran into 4 people who were at meditation with me and one of them is about to head off to the airport back to Germany, so sad! But it was great to see how everyone was doing a few days after. I may or may not have had a break down Sunday afternoon. Who knew it would be so intense? Promise more happy posts to follow!

Vipassana

 My room. Just cleaned.

 Outside the meditation hall.

Folks, I have just returned from my 10 day silent Vipassana meditation course. It was awesome. When I use this word "awesome" when speaking of New Zealand I need to clarify that I am using the 19th century definition. In awe. I had sort of known what I was in for from my friend who had just completed it, but if I had really known I may not have gone. I am so happy I did though. The schedule ran from 4 am to 9pm. About 11 hrs of meditation but I'll be honest and say I slept in till breakfast at 6:30 and took the meditate on your own from 1-2:30 as 'lie in my bed and watch the clouds pass by my window' time. But I needed that time because whoever thinks meditating is easy is crazy. Days 1-3 we focused on our breath. Day 4 is when Vipassana started, observing sensations both good and bad while not becoming attached to them. Sensations will change, as everything will. Becoming attached causing craving which causes misery. and the point of this style is to stop misery to become equanimous and peaceful. But for real most of it was pain, misery. Days 4-7= misery. I thought I couldn't go on. We were told not to expect a moment of light or nirvana to occur. but on day 8 instead of misery I found Happiness and I became incredibly attached. I was done with pain. Day 9- calm. day 10- we are allowed to talk! who knew talking was so precious? though I had never spoken to these people before I felt close to them from sharing energy for the past week and a half. And it was all for free. Donations accepted. The food was incredible! Possibly the best ever. I'm lucky to have found this and will continue to go every year. It was hard but I have never felt more happiness and peace.