THE INTERNAL - NEWSLETTER 27/04

OUR WEEKEND TRIP

Finally we have managed to actually go on a trip I wrote about in the newsletter. Good to know I am not doing this “just for fun” J

It was simply lovely, our trip, and I am sure all the people who went along will agree with me, though it did end on a bit of a sour note.

Six of us, Katja, Sophie, Christoph, Bastian, I and Frauke (a German au pair I met by chance), set out on Sunday, braving the chilly morning wind, and ignoring the persistent voice inside us saying that we needed a bit more sleep (we met about 9 am).

The bright blue color was our driving route.

First we drove over to Hamilton, trying to decide on the way there if we should take a river cruise along the Waikato River on the MV Waipa Delta, a historic paddleboat which made its first voyage on the Waikato River in 1877, or go to the Hamilton gardens. After being advised against the river cruise by a gas station salesman who had taken it into his own power to be our very own personal trip advisor, we decided to drive along the river and have a walk through the Hamilton gardens. I must say we were a bit disappointed with the gardens, having expected something much grander. However, we tried consoling ourselves with the fact that it is still winter, and without the bloom, it cannot look as impressive as it is supposed to.

From Hamilton we drove on to the Waitomo glowworm caves (I wrote about it in the last newsletter), and it was very impressive. Walking through the natural chambers with their stalactite decorations, and seeing the glowworms dot the ceiling in the dark and glowing like stars in the sky, is an experience that has to be made. The beauty of all this was marred slightly when we had to wait for the boat at the side of the water in the dark cave because not all of us fitted in the first boat. We were very naughty as we talked quite loudly while waiting, despite the fact that this would disturb the poor glowworms, but we just had to in order to forget the fact that we were standing some meters under the ground, beside a river that had risen to twice its size about six months ago. Luckily, about 15 minutes later, we were rescued from our “near death experience” J by the next tour group. A word of advice, if you do decide to go to the caves, make sure you bring something waterproof to sit on, as the seats in the boat are cold and wet, very wet.

From Waitomo we drove back to Auckland, using an outer route, and stopped at the “natural bridge”. This used to be a cave but the top fell down, leaving a gully like structure with just a part of the top intact. Walking over small wooden bridges, we were transported to a completely different world full of tropical sounds and sights, and were awed by the beauty of nature. This feeling we got again when we went to the impressive 36m Marokopa Falls which was simply spectacular and impossible to describe in words.

We drove onto Kawhia, a charming little town with a population of 670, with the intention of getting to Ocean Beach, with its black dunes and hot springs in the sands. When we actually got there, it was dark and freezing, and we sat in the car for about 10 minutes before we decided that it was not worth our while to brave the cold and look for the beach and then start digging to get our own little natural spa. I mean, we would not have been able to see the black dunes in the dark anyway.

But it was a lovely trip all in all, though our batteries died halfway to Auckland, but we got it started again, and everything ended fine. It is a trip to recommend!

WELCOME TO MIDDLE EARTH

We are getting two new interns this week.

Nina is arriving Wednesday, and will be doing an internship at Silver bullet marketing until December, working – as the name of the company so aptly implies – in marketing, marketing research and a bunch of other things.

Nora has actually been in New Zealand for a while, but she was in Wellington. There she was visiting a friend and taking an English course, and will drive over from Wellington to Auckland, arriving here on Friday. She will be here only until the 10th of October.

Welcome to both of you, we’ll see soon!

WOX WEEKEND ACTIVITY

How about the rugby game on Saturday? All those interested say “me!”. It costs just 20$, so tell me before tomorrow if you would like to go, so I can buy the tickets.

Well, on Friday we could go out again, maybe we will make it to get into Galatos?

Sunday rest day? Or maybe barbecue? Katja and Sophie will be moving to another apartment on Sunday, so if both of you need our help, just say so!

If anybody wants to go on a trip, or do anything on the weekend, just call up, we are all happy to do something.

MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN

Hey guys! Hope you’re enjoying your time in Auckland.  

I was talking with a friend of mine from Germany on the weekend, and she told me that at Auckland University at the moment there are a very large number of German students.  When I was there, there weren’t many, but it seems that there have been many in the last couple of years.  In fact, she told me that at the orientation for new students, Germans came in third after Americans and Chinese students. 

So what is with the German influx?  As long as I’ve been here, there have always been large numbers of German tourists, but not so many German students and workers.  Interesting!  Our WoX program seems to be part of a growing wave.

In other news, the Olympics have come and gone, and I didn’t even notice! I’m sure Germany did splendidly.  But then again, maybe they didn’t, I have no idea! I should really watch more TV!  I know that Australia did very well – coming fourth after China, US, and Russia, and with only 20 million people!  But they pump huge amounts of money into their sporting programs for the reason of doing well at the Olympics.  Good on them, I say!  More surprising was that I read that Argentina hadn’t won a gold medal since the 1950s!  How weird is that! You’d think they’d have arranged to introduce some South American-type sports into the games, just out of sympathy.

Anyway, that’s all from me this week, hope you have a good one, and hopefully catch you at the next social night!

Jonathon

THAT’S IT FOR TODAY!

Marokopa Falls