In our final meeting prior to departure on January 6th, we decided that we have many questions about our host country and that our notions about New Zealand are formed by films we have seen and other media such as the advertisements for Travel New Zealand. We know that the country is filled with beautiful land, sea, and mountain scapes. We suspect that we won't be disappointed in the exploration of both the North and South Islands. We found that our impressions of the people of New Zealand are positive and we look forward to the friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable people we are likely to meet.

In one month from now it will be the dead of winter here and instead of the dealing with the cold Tacoma rain I will be having fun in the sunny summer weather in New Zealand. Lately, everyone has been asking me if I am nervous but honestly I am too excited to be nervous. I've never been out of the country before (well, not counting Mexico) so this will be a completely new experience for me. I have always wanted to travel and this is one of the top three places on my list, so it’s kind of an extra special trip for me; one that I hope that will eventually lead to many more. There is so much I am looking forward to I don’t even know where to begin.

At our meeting I think we agreed to revise this question. While we all have our stereotypes of people from other cultures we are going to wait and discuss those stereotypes and the extent to which they are true when we get to New Zealand. I am looking forward to this experience for many different reasons. Leaving the dreary weather of Tacoma and heading to a place where it is summer will be great. I am definately looking forward to exploring the country and its many outdoor activities, however, the plane ride is a different story. While I do not really know what to expect from traveling for an extended period of time, I am very excited to have this experience.

I am so excited about going on this trip! I know it is going to be such a great experience...and what a beautiful country to travel to!! I am very excited to be away from Tacoma weather for awhile and get to spend a month in the sun! I think this will be such an eye-opening experience for me, given that I have never left North America before! I can't wait to see what else it out there!

New Zealand here I come! I am so excited to be going and less than a month away, Yeah. When asked what I am looking foward to? I would have to say everything. Yes, even the plane fight. Just to be going and getting to experence something that will only come once in a life time is very exciting.

Only 2 more weeks and we are off to New Zealand! I am looking forward to all of the trip. I have heard a lot about Auckland, So I am greatly looking forwarding to seeing Auckland and what the culture is like! I am looking forward to learning all about New Zealand. This is my first time out of the country, so I know it will be an amazing experience!

I'm basically packed. Unpacked for break, repacked for New Zealand. All at once. I'm ready. I've been ready. Sunscreen, shorts, Chacos. The necessary ingredients to studying Children's Literature in The Land of the Kiwis (not the fruit, not the bird... well, the bird, but mainly the people. Native New Zealanders are called Kiwis).

It's an early afternoon flight, January 6th, and it's sixteen hours long. We (two female Professors, thirteen female classmates and me, the solo male) have a three or four hour stretch break, in Las Angeles, so that'll be nice(?). Maybe we can go explore the streets of LA and, I don't know, find a library or something class-y.

For some this trip to New Zealand is their first time getting out of the country. For me this is just one more country off of my list, but every time I leave the U.S. there is always one thing I am excited to see on my trip. For France, it was the Louvre. For the different islands of the Caribbean it was the beaches and shopping. For Mexico it was the different ruins of the Mayans, Incans, and Aztecs. For Trinidad and Tobago it was the people. For New Zealand its the ability to see the toilet water go down clockwise (opposite of the Northern Hemisphere).

We're leaving tomorrow, and I'm superexcited.

Jessica Roberts brought up the fact that I'd be going not only to a different country, but the other side of the world. The Southern Hemisphere. That's pretty awesome.

Anyway, we're not arriving until January 8th or something to our final destination (we skip a day!) so I'll see you in the future.

"I think that wherever your journey takes you, there are new gods waiting there, with divine patience -- and laughter."

- Susan M. Watkins

**Need 4 postcards

So it's been about, oh, a day since getting to New Zealand. After a 3-hour flight to LA, a 3-hour layover, a 12 1/2-hour flight to Auckland, NZ, a 1-hour layover, a 1-hour flight to Christchurch, we were all excited to finally be here.

(Mom, watch "The Queen." I saw it on the plane and I know you'll really like it.)

Here are some highlights so far:

1. Seahawks won! Our LA layover was dedicated to dinner and watching almost the entirety (all but the first quarter or so) of the game. Sucks to be #9.
2. It's me plus fifteen females.