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The Semester is over

Well my semester is over and I am now back home. The goodbyes were very bittersweet and hard to do. I love everyone that I met and I am hoping hat one day all my friends from New Zealand can come and visit me because it's only been 1 day and I miss them a lot.

I am trying to put my life back together but it is really weird to think that I am home after 5 months. I didn't think I was gone for that long but I have missed a lot. It's weird to think about.

Study Abroad was probably one of the best experiences I could have ever been though and I wouldn't ahve traded it for the world. I have met lifelong friends and had amazing experiences.

If anyone has the chance to study abroad, please take advantage of it. Your life will never be the same but it will be changed for the best.

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Museum

Yesterday a couple of us girls went to the Auckland Museum to check it out. It was really cool and really interesting. They had a lot of things dedicated to Maori, which was really cool. They also had a section with things from the 90's which made me feel really old that they had items from my generation in a Museum. It was really cool though. It was such a fun day.

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Day in Devonport

Yesterday some of us girls took a ferry and went to a little Navel Base town called Devonport. We walked around to all the cute shops and stoppe and had some fish n' chips....well I had chicken nuggets and chips :) It was such a fun day with the girls!

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Coming to an end

Well it's coming down to the last week and I am officially done with finals! In 10 days I will be leaving and this last one is going to be tough saying goodbye to everyone. They have been such a huge impact in my life and I will never forget them all.

It's not goodbye, it' "see you later"

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Here are some awesome pictures of the city at night

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2 Weeks

Well it is officially down to 2 weeks from today that I have left in New Zealand. It is very bittersweet and I am trying to take hold of everything I can before I leave. I have 1 more final and then I will be exploring the city more to see everything before I am gone. I am really going to miss it here and all the people I have met. I have grown so close with people but it only makes my family bigger. I now have connections across the world with some amazing people.

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All Blacks vs. France Rugby Game

On Saturday June 8th I was given the privilege to see New Zealand's Rugby Champions The All Blacks play against France. I dressed all in black and was ready to take down the French. I was an honorary Kiwi that night. 

Before every All Black's game the players perform the Haka. The Haka is a war dance that tribes used to do against other tribes to scare them away. So at every game The All Blacks do the Haka to scare the other team and to get into battle and into the game. I was able to experience this and it was awesome! I also got to hear the New Zealand national anthem for the first time! It was such a great experience.

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Yuck

I tried vegemite and maramite for the first time tonight...I do not know why people like that stuff. It is very salty. Yuck! I figured I had to try it a least once before I left though. What an experience.

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Goodbye Dinner

Tonight all the Americans got together and were given a homemade dinner by the Globalinks crew. We were made traditional meat pies and potatoes and it was delicious! It was great to see the head leaders that helped us out the first week we were in New Zealand again but sad to know that I may not see them again. They started talking about that amazing adventures we have all gone through and I started to get a little teary eyed. I didn’t think it was going to hit me this hard to leave, but New Zealand has made a bigger impact on me than I thought. I really will miss everyone I have met and everything I have seen. I have less than a month left and it is becoming very bittersweet.

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My Resources

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Resources

So for my Infant and Toddlers class I had to make resources that I would take into a preschool to let the children play with. We had to make a sensory resource, a play basket, puppets and a magnetic story. I was graded on my resources today and I am pleased to say I got an A-. I am excited to bring these home with me to show preschoolers back home.

Sensory Blanket

Sensory box of mystery

Sensory book

Play basket

Puppet

Magnetic Story. Brown Bear, Brown bear. What do you see?

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A light in the rain

“Everyone wants happiness, no one wants pain, but you can't make a rainbow without a little rain.”

Beautiful image after the rainfall today

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Masquerade Ball

This past weekend my University put on a Masquerade Ball for all the students living on campus. It was located on the Harbor in a Floating Pavilion on the water and it was gorgeous. I really liked being bale to get dressed up and just have fun with friends before the pressure of finals exams start.

I wasn't a huge fan of my homemade mask, but it still worked

The night ended with us leaving and seeing an amazing view of the fog moving in.

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Daily reminders

Coming home from class today I noticed a beautiful double rainbow. The past couple weeks have been full of getting assignments done and trying to stay afloat that my mind hasn't been able to take a break. Sitting on the bus looking at this rainbow made me remember how lucky I am to have been given the opportunity of coming to New Zealand and studying here. Always remember to take time out of your day to let your mind rest and remember all the gifts you have been given.

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Funny New Zealand Slang

I'm sure there is a lot more but as of now I can't think of all of them at the moment. But here are some New Zealand slang words that are fun.

Rubbers=erasers

Gumboots=rainboots

Jumper=sweater

tramping=Hiking

Nappies=diaper

Sweet as=whenever "as" is added onto the end of a word, it makes it double what the word already was. So sweet as is more sweet than it already was.

Jokes=just kidding

Vived=sharpie

Full stop=the period at the end of a sentence

Half stop=comma

Sunnies=sunglasses

Togs=bathing suit

Flip flops=jandals

bach=small beach house

biscuit= cookie

capsicum=peppers

chips=french fries

lollies=candy

crisps=potato chips

Dairy=corner store

heaps= "a lot"

lift=elevator

mate=friend

Mum=mom

Zed=how they pronounce the letter "Z".

I will think of more and update.