So I felt the need to post just one last time. We are leaving today to head back to the states but we have tell 3pm to get in our last NZ experiences. I am going to miss the people and culture and lifestyle down here. This has been an experience that I will never forget and I cant wait to come home and tell everyone about it. I am also going to miss the summer. I hear it is quite cold back at home. But whatever the cost I am on my way home today and cant wait to hear everyones voices once again (without costing me an arm and leg). See ya all soon
Jen

This past week has been crazy!

Today was our last full day in New Zealand! We went on an amazing hike this morning on Rangitoto Island which is an extinct volcano. It was about 4 km up and back which we think is about 3 miles. The scenery was awesome! Then for our last night together the whole group went on a dinner cruise on a sailboat in Auckland Harbor! It was so much fun. We got some great skyline views! We leave tomorrow afternoon to get on another 12 hour plane ride before we have a 5 hour layover in LA and then FINALLY make it home.

Warm. Blue. The Atlantic Ocean at last. It was so quiet. The entire neighborhood on pause. Empty carnival rides, closed up refreshment stands. Soft wind blew paper and sand gently across the Boardwalk. Old men and women strolled comfortably along—so unlike the streets of Manhattan. So quiet. I followed Jason to walk away from the rest of the class. He and I, in the quiet, captured little moments in the sand, in the pier, in the sky. For the first time here I breathed deep the scent of salt and felt at home.

Yesterday we went to a lecture at the offices of Digital Railroad, an online network for photographers that hooks them up with clients by cataloguing their work etc. Connie Evans, a painter, photographer, and art administrator, spoke to us about her work helping artists find resources and residencies and her journey through her own art. It was encouraging in many ways. Her work is centered around the concept of following the parts of images that interest her most—dissecting the textures and moods of place and time, finding a desert of peace inside herself.

Jamie, Kristen, and I woke up very early. Hahaha, not as early as the New Yorkers who are up and walking very briskly to their destinations at 5am. It was probably about 9am when we all got ready for the freezing outdoors of our warm and comfy hotel!

I can't believe we are leaving tomorrow!

Hey everyone!

Life as a New Yorkers is quickly coming to an end. I have enjoyed my time here and it's almost over. When we went to Coney Island, I realized that I miss family and friends back home. I have loved my time in New York, but I'm starting to get more and more home sick.

So I have come to a conclusion well maybe it is more of a question. Why is it when you walk into a childrens book store or any book store for that matter in New Zealand you find books from every where in the world. And when you walk into a book store in the US there is only US books with a little tiny sections about other countries and books by their authors. Why is New Zealand ahead of the game and providing their children and young readers with the oppertunity to learn and grow with a variety of books and the US is only focused on the US.