Hi. I am now using my blog: www.stefanieelise.blogspot.com. There are some really great posts lately :)
love, stef

TALOFA

How am I supposed to capture my entire time in Samoa with a single blog post? Well, here goes my best shot:
Samoa (Sa-forbidden moa-chicken) has such a unique, and defined culture with gorgeous landscapes and beaches ta boot! My parents and Ali and I flew into Apia, (Western) Samoa around midnight Tuesday and stayed until midnight Sunday. The airport has one gate, and flights arrive and depart once a week. We stayed our first and final nights at a place called “Bertie’s B &B.” According to the website, it seemed the most reliable as far as taxiing us in from the airport. Here are our friends Mark and Marietta.

Samoa (pronounced “Saw”moa) is not tourist friendly at all. Just how I like it :) The country/island felt untouched, it was so primitive and so honest. The people and the land. Our rental car came in the morning and we were off! Dodging pigs, wild (SCARY) dogs, chicken, and all sorts of other animals in the street, we were back to driving on the right side of the road. (The big controversy in Samoa right now is about changing driving to the left side.) We drove through the poorest places I’d ever seen. Families (like, entire families) dwelled in their individual fale’s and then the extended family had a big, central gathering place. A fale consists of sticks in the ground with leaves on top.

Samoa is not a well-mapped country. Because of this slight dilemma, we ended up asking several people for directions. They were kind to try, but in broken English, our help sounded sort of like this: “Just go up here a ways, turn left and then go a while longer and turn left again,” or “Come up the street by the sea, and then go this way (waving their arm who knows what direction) until you see a blue fale.” Every fale is blue. Anway, with no street names and locals who couldn’t verbalize their knowledge, we had quite the time…

It was SUCH a surprise to come upon the Apia, Samoa temple our first day. After driving through such primitive living conditions, it was amazing to round a bend and find the beautiful temple. Due to my mom’s geniusness, we were able to go into the baptistery even though the temple was closed. We spent the rest of the day touring the island and landed at the Litia Sini resort in a village called Lalomanu. Ali and I shared fale number 7 mosquito net and all, and my parents were right next door. Our porches were very conducive to card playing, and we even had a water bucket in the fale to rinse our feet of the sand before getting in bed. Well, getting “on” bed… our beds were a ½ inch mattress and a mosquito net.

Here are directly quoted conversations with a lady at the Litia Sini resort:

Mom: Do you know the name of this flower?
Samoan: Yes.
Mom: What is it?
Samoan: I don’t know. Please ask the manager.

Mom: How late is this fale open tonight?
Samoan: 95 Kilometers.
It then became the joke to just reply whatever you want if you don’t actually know the answer to a question :) We spent the Thursday, Friday and Saturday enjoying the warm water and fine sand at the primarily vacated paradise. Our resort (don’t be confused, it cost something like $6 U.S. per night) provided breakfast and dinner, which were our only commitments each day! It was great!!! We played cards, went swimming, enjoyed INCREDIBLE snorkeling just 20ft. from shore, and went on a cultural hike/tour which was most definitely my highlight. Actually, I don’t know, snorkeling was REALLY awesome! Mom brought 4 sets of snorkel gear so we could go out whenever we wanted without rental fees or time limits!

Aleki (suspicion: German escapee claiming Samoan heritage) brings in some extra Tala for his (adoptive) family by giving visitors a tour of the family land and answering questions on Samoan culture. We went to his family fale where sisters and kids were squeezing coconut cream, the boys gambling and making brick, and the kids practicing their fire dancing and knocking coconuts out of trees. I LOVED being with the people and observing true daily life. We watched them and talked for a while before climbing a mountain to a taro (like potato, kind of…) plantation. Throughout the entire walk, Aleki pointed out all the plants and their purposes. His major emphasis was that you can get everything you need from the land. Here are some uses of leaves and plant juices that I remember:

-Mosquito repellant and anti-itch cream
-Hair shampoo and conditioner (out of a pine cone type thing…)
-Toilet paper
-Large leaves for bedding and shelter
-Cold sore remedies
-Leaves to rub on your temples for headaches
-Extra strong tree branches and trunks for spears, walking sticks, and carvings
-They recently found a substance anticipated to cure aids! UC Berkely is working on it…

We went to 2 Fia-Fia’s which are basically family cultural shows. The fire dancing was my favorite part- they had 4 year old out there whizzing these flaming sticks past their faces, around their bodies, through their legs, and even balanced them on their feet. I’d seen fire dancers before, but these kids were just so young!

To my dismay, we went to the English branch for church Sunday. I go to church in English every week and was looking forward to feeling the spirit and enjoying the cultural and language differences. “I like church better in Latin, it’s nicer when you don’t know what they’re saying!” - Name that movie! Anyway, it was a MERCY we didn’t because we met so many great people and made social lives for ourselves for the next 2 days. We joined a senior missionary couple for dinner in the mission complex (nice!) and went to a missionary fireside that night.

The next day, mom and dad dropped us off at the mission home when they left for Australia. Ali and I spent the day with President Price’s family in a village in the mountains called Sauniatu. It is a sacred, highly spiritual village that was dedicated years ago by President McKay. He was the first general authority to visit Samoa and blessed the village with some really special things and started traditions that they still continue. It was REALLY neat to see how the LDS people combined their faith with their Samoan culture. The primary kids did a song and dance presentation for us, and the missionary prep class did the Haka and sang their village song for us. We met up with 7 LDS dentists for the events in Sauniatu so it was neat to promote oral health and pass out new dresses there. I LOVE Samoa!

I went to the mission home’s FHE that night where we had a great testimony meeting and heard Rebecca Whale (with BYU Singers) perform. It was so cool to be included in that and feel so at home while so far away. President Price talked with the baggage man at the airport and got a weight exception for my bag worked out… I don’t know what I would have done without that! If I learned one thing about traveling, it is: PACK LIGHT. Baggage is just a hassle and you don’t need to use half the things you pack anyway. I absolutely loved spending time in the villages and with the people of Samoa. What a grateful and giving people they are. They have so little, yet so much. I loved watching how they work together so well to provide for everyone’s needs. I gained a special appreciation for the voices of the Samoan people as well. There is something about their voices and their spirits that make their music special. I feel so blessed to have been exposed to the Samoan way and will always cherish my memories from that awesome week!

The REAL wrap up

My time in New Zealand has come to an end. What an adventure this has been! Leaving the country for 4 months is a big deal. I have fulfilled so many goals and experienced things I have been dreaming about my entire life. Here is a list of the top 5 things I have learned in this gorgeous country:

1. The outdoors makes you honest.
Your true self comes out when you are FREEZING on the top of a mountain. Fears are exposed and true character is displayed as you conquer fears and do things that are hard. I have found that people are just more honest as they get in touch with the outdoors and ponder on their life and the plan of salvation. Heavenly Father’s creations make so obvious His existence and love for us.

2. Be a good friend to have a good friend.
That’s just the way is goes! More communication is not always better, but healthy communication is NECESSARY! A true friend is someone you can just chat with. Someone who knows you. Someone who brings out the best in you. Someone who laughs at your jokes and someone with whom you share commonalities. A friend is someone who treats you well.

3. You can do more than you think you can.
I surprised myself more times than I can count by just “giving it a go” as John Kappa would say. I am more capable than I think I am sometimes, and I can do hard things! It is so fulfilling to do things I didn’t think I could do, and that confidence spreads to other areas of my life. Prime example: rock climbing. It was hard and scary, but SO fun as I gave it a go and had confidence in myself and my gear.

4. Attitude is everything… most of the time.
You can make or break an activity or a day with attitude. Life is what you make it.

5. Good gear is WORTH IT!
I love headlamps. I love quality shoes. I love rain gear. I love nalgenes. I love The North Face brand. I love all things REI. I love Outdoors Unlimited. I am envious of my friends who spent money on good sleeping bags.

All in all, this was a great trip/semester which I will remember for the rest of my LIFE!

wrapping it up.

Well folks... sorry I haven't posted in a while...  Things have been crazy while finishing up classes, packing and emotionally preparing to leave my life here in New Zealand.  Mom and dad got here today!  We had a fabulous time in Bluff (the southmost city in the world!) and exploring Queen's park.  Mags made us a great tea tonight and we did a puzzle.  What more could we ask for?  Well, we are off for Dunedin tomorrow morning!  Let the RV adventure begin. Please pray for me and Ali- we'll be in close quarters with crazy mom and dad in that RV this week :)  It's sad to leave, but all good things must come to an end. I'm looking forward to this next few weeks of travel, and then getting back into routine in the states.  LOVE to you all!

Attititude is everything...MOST OF THE TIME.

I used to be a firm believer that "Attitude is Everything." Well, that view changed this week. From Monday through Wednesday, I carried on my back everything I used to combat gusty winds, heavy rain, hail and 33 bad attitudes.

(the main character in this picture is Tony our teacher. It felt like he belonged in central park. He insisted on wearing that dang coat with SHORT shorts the entire time. And yes, this picture was a covert operation.)

Monday was: HECTIC

The first day of the Mevora Lakes adventure was pretty hectic. The 33 students (we actually have 34, but one wise girl chose not to come...) were pretty unhappy going into it, considering how previous tramps had gone with John Kappa and crew. The teachers give us a compass and a map, and let us work out how to get from point A to B. It got pretty hectic considering that a group of 16 of us had to communicate and agree on every angle and bearing before we began walking. It was also hectic when we got to camp and it started raining. I got attacked by my new enemy: the Spaniard. It is a pokey devil bush that attacks you and makes you scream and bleed. We set up a bivvy/shelter to prevent rain. It mostly worked...

Tuesday was: HELLACIOUS

We woke up to rain. We ate oatmeal in little bags, in the rain. We put away our bivvy and packed our bags, in the rain. I was already positive about the rain once on the Routeburn trip. I was packed and ready to tramp approximately an hour and a half before the group was set to go. I hate waiting in the rain. Once we started hiking, our group got divided and we chastised each other and disagreed on which way to go for what seemed like an hour. I was so frustrated I just screamed. It was pretty interesting to see how everyone handled the frustration. We got to the very peak of the mountain, and it was SO COLD I literally thought I was going to get hypothermia. Our instructors, obviously had the same thought, let us move down to the bushline to wait for the other half of the students. We waited for about an hour. I took off my cotton t-shirt, hugged lots of people, and did speed drills to keep my body moving. Death crossed my mind. Then we summited the mountain. The term "hellacious" is derived from this part of the day. I crossed a rocky, barren mountain for about 45 minutes that was nothing more than a cold purgatory. Each step created a new avalanche and my shoes were cutting into my ankles from the incline. My knee was throbbing from stickes and pokies having been shoved into my open wound. It was about that time that it began hailing. Ashley says, "Stef, I don't know what's goin on, but I'm getting PELTED!" And, did I mention that I had to go #2 that ENTIRE time, but since we were along the ridge, there were no squatting places? I submit that it just cannot get worse than that. I looked at the view, and marched along the ridgeline until we dropped down into a horseshoe shaped field where we camped. Dinner was good, and we slept under a bivvy. That night was actually the highlight of the trip because at night, everyone in the bivvy was just saying random things followed by "April Fools!" or, "April TRUTH!" It was hilarious! Here is a conversation that took place at 2:40am that night/morning.
Stef: (poking Ali) Hey Ali!
Ali: Hey.
Janessa: I'm WIDE AWAKE
Cam: grunt
Ali: Does anybody have any food? I've been STARVING since 1 am.
Taylor: I need some water!
Ali: FOOD!
Taylor: WATER!
Ali: FOOD!
Taylor: WATER!
Ali: FOOD!
Stef: ugh.

That conversation was the best thing of the week.

Wednesday was HAPPY!

The third day of camp was HAPPY! You know why? Because I got to kiss the vans! I have never been happier to see warmth and shelter than I was Wednesday. I woke up to a frozen water bladder, frost INSIDE my sleeping bag, frozen toes that wanted to snap off, but, a far higher morale among group members. It was suddenly funny that our shoelaces were hardly pliable after a night exposed to the elements. It was HAPPY to be told by our instructors that we did not actually have to brave a river, and that our next destination point was the vans. I was HAPPY to walk along the track talking with my friends. I was HAPPY to return to familiar ground that promised I was close to the van. I was HAPPY to get in the car where I had a soft seat and dry clothes to sit in. I was HAPPY to get back to Mags' house and take a shower! I was HAPPY to eat fresh vegetables!!!

So in the end of the day, it was a pretty miserable tramp. I'm glad to be home. Most of the time, attitude is everything, but considering the situation, it was just miserable. I can't think of one person who liked/loved it. Looking back, there were some good parts, but overall, it was just one awful experience in the wilderness. We are not going tramping again :) Just to Te Anu and Milford Sound next week where I will meet up with Mom and Dad on the CRUISE! Wahoo!!!

In My Younger Years

A Trip to the Hospital

So you know how I crashed in the park? Well, it turns out that little knee scrape is a bit worse than I had expected. I ended up in the hospital last night and got three stitches. They said it was a good thing I came in because Megan hadn't cleaned it out quite well enough and there was an infection starting. The good thing is: I didn't break several major bones (is it your coxix? I hope it's not your coxix!) and just have to keep the stitches in for a week and a half. Mom, now I know how you felt at Christmas. My buns were NUMB the whole time they were doing the stitching. Let's hope this is the last of the injuries while I'm here. Oh yeah, I'm still working on getting the pictures up here, I'll keep ya posted.
Love.

The Spill.

I crashed my bike in the park. So I was just riding home from an afternoon in town with friends. I rode home alone in the rain. Some strollers were consuming the entire path, so as I approached, I yelled “on your left.” I’m glad I did that considering what happened next... I said it again, but getting no response from the pedestrians, I figured that taking a small detour on the grass was my best bet. I swerved over to the grass, peddled twice, and then it happened. On my way back up to the pathway, my tire slipped and my body propelled forward over the handlebars. I skid on the pavement and it turns out my bike did a little flip of its own too! Shocked, and slightly embarrassed, I laid splat on the ground and thought about whether or not I was okay. Then I jumped up, shouted “I’m fine!” and went to get on my bike.

Well, the pedestrians (Woman age:74 and son-in-law: mid thirties) ran up to me and refused to let me on my bike. The grandma thought I was in shock and told me to keep my head up and not to move. The man was checking to see if my pupils were dilated and checked my heart rate. I was like, “I promise I am FINE!” and went to get on my bike. Well, when I picked it up, the wheel was all turned around, the chain was off the gears and metal was stuck in places I didn’t even know were possible. Turns out the brakes were messed up and I bent the frame a wee bit too. Humbled by the sight of my wrecked bike, I stopped trying to hide my bloody knee, bent helmet, and ripped rain coat (the biggest loss) and accepted the help.

After about 10 minutes of trying to fix up the chain, by friends Megan and Jessica just happened to be riding through the park. “Red bike, green helmet. Which one of us is it?” they thought. So after more fiddling and no results, the girls convinced me to walk the bike to the shop right then and there. It was 4:35 at the time and Gladstone bicycles closes at 5pm on Fridays for the entire weekend. So we thanked the pedestrians (even though they were the initial cause of the screeching halt) and were on our way. BIG thanks to Megan and Jess for coming with! When I got to the bike shop, I was in pretty bad shape. The manager took one look at me and was like “what happened?” I told him that I took a spill in Queens park about a half an hour prior, and that I needed some help with my bike. He whisked away my bike and had his pal bring out a first aid kit so that Megan could dress my wound. Not 10 minutes later, I had bandaids all over and a bike in tip-top shape. I give Gladstone Cycles a 10 out of 10!

Now, about three days after the crash, my knee is still throbbing. It hurts to tramp, ride my bike, walk, sit, and stand up from sitting. I had Sue (Mags’ daughter who is a vet) take a look, and she declared it infected. So we had another big to do and I now have directions for how to care for it on my upcoming 3 day tramp. Wish me luck!

(I DO have pictures, just no time to upload them...)

YSA Jams!

Our weekend in Dunedin was honestly one of the most fun weekends of my life. We started out getting dropped off at the Southland surfing competition. Music blasting, vendors selling, waves crashing, wetsuits wandering... it was just amazing. I made friends with a surfer dude and watched little punks ride their skateboards up to unsuspecting cars and get free rides :)

Next we met up with the other (meaning, non BYU students) YSA's and divided into groups and got in vans. We stopped at KFC on the way. Mags gave me a pack lunch, so I felt no need to waste money on fattening food. Well, it was then and there that I learned first hand that Cook Islanders DO NOT let people sit at a table with food without eating. It defies culture. They bought me a 3-pc chicken set with mashed potatoes, chips, and a refillable drink. And that was that. We arrived at the awesome lodge, got settled and played every group game you can imagine. (i.e. Samuri's Unite, Boogidy Boogidy Boo, Zip Zip Bong...) We had pizza for tea (love it!) and just got to know each other and played all night long.

8 am came early after a late bedtime. We headed to the beach for our service project. I wore a sarong (sp???) and flower in my hair- courtesy of Annie and Trio, the girls from our branch her in Invers (how the locals refer to Invercargill). It was fun to walk along and pick up trash- I was sort of surprised how much we collected. We came back for a "light" lunch (nothing is ever light) and then back to the beach for group games. The most fun game was basically chicken wars on land. Except it's scarier since the goal is to retrieve a bandana wrapped around your opponents face, and since your opponent is more likely than not, large, brown, and very maori. We played other games involving full body rolls in the sand, untying knots with your teeth, and frantically chasing each other short distances. Too much fun :)

That night we had an awesome Hangi (INTENSE Maori meal cooked IN the ground/earth) and I learned 4 new chords on the guitar. I am SO excited about the guitar. I can't wait to get home and practice practice practice. It really has become a passion of mine here in NZ. If there are 2 things I've gotten more passionate about, its the guitar, and oil painting. We had a dance party with DJ and all that night. Can I just say, it was a lucky thing me, Brooke and Ben were there to get the party started because those YSA's had some serious issues conversing/socializing with the opposite sex. Regardless, it was a fun dance!

We had the sacrament and testimony meeting Monday, followed by rotating workshops on finances, personal revelation, dating and goal setting. I've many to many a workshop on dating, and this trivia game was the best one BY FAR. Talk to me later for details. We had a panel discussion that night which mostly flopped. There were a few good things answered... The questions were not sensored which made for a highly inapropriate and awkward setting, there was only one (soft spoken) female on the panel, and the countless "what if" questions concerning temple divorces and family unity got really old. Ben and I lightened up the discussion by inquiring what the President deemed to be the best hand holding technique :)

Monday brought bowling games with old car tires, and a rousing game of soccer, the latter of which I did not participate. I borrowed Harry Potter 7 from the Library the day before we left, and that poor boy needed my attention. I am completely and utterly absorbed in the book- always anxious to discover what adventures or information the next page holds. I don't know HOW I've managed to survive this last year not knowing what happens to Harry. (FYI- I'm currently on the chapter titled, "The Deathly Hallows." I've read the entire book aloud to Ben and Maggie, which has slowed down my pace, but given me friends to converse with as I discover the wonder that is: JK Rowling.

It always takes longer to clean up camp than you expect. That was a long process, but we had soup and leftover pizza to enjoy on our way out of camp. We said our goodbye's and headed to the steepest street in the world!!!!!! Baldwin Street We had tons of fun posing for pictures, racing up, doing cartwheels and just messing around. President drove us, and in efforts to please the American kids, attempted to drive up the hill, disregarding the sign reading "NO heavy vehicles beyond this point." Well, we didn't make it to the top, and my lungs were tired from screaming by the time we reached the bottom again. After realizing we were not going to make it (in a full 12 passenger van with all our luggage) we proceeded to roll backward, back down the hill. Scariest thing of my life.

Cadbury world was pretty great. not as great as anticipated due to the fact that it was a public holiday and all the employees were out of the factory. We still saw the production DVD, tasted cocoa beans, experienced the world's largest chocolate waterfall, and ate chocolate from the handrails where it had splashed. Fun times.

The weekend was so much fun, and I'll always remember the fun people I met there and the good memories we made. It was really cool to spend time and become friends with the saints my age here in Southland, as we are all growing in the gospel together.

Party Central.

Hey ya'll. It is late. I am tired. But I just thought I would give you a little goodbye note. I am going to Dunedin (party central) tomorrow morning until late Monday night. I will be busy having fun and playing. I anticipate this YSA conference will be much like youth conference. Except with kiwis. I will be touring Cadbury World while in Dunedin and will visit Baldwin Street- the steepest street in the world! Don't worry, I'll take pictures and even video clips, so you'll feel like you were there. Love. Love. Love.

Sudden Loss.

The branch here in Invercargill is small.  It's even smaller when the BYU students aren't here visiting...  The saints here have the right idea, but as a whole, lack commitment to the gospel.  When we came, there were approximately 4 Priesthood holders total.  

Well, last night at the Young Men's activity, the newly called (as of just last Sunday) Young Men's President died of a heart attack.  Brother Bennett, age 48, was playing soccer with the guys and felt short of breath.  He sat out and then decided to go to the hospital when his breathing became patchy and restrained.  The heart attack came just leaving the parking lot, and he died on the spot.  The branch president and the other leader gave him the medical attention they were capable of before the paramedics arrived, but it was too late.  Brother Bennett was the only tenor in our choir, and all the BYU students' favorite branch member.  He cooked the meat at both branch BBQs and gave us rides whenever we needed them.  He came with our group on our day trip to the Catlains, and brought coloring books for the primary kids.  He was so sweet and gentle with the low-functioning special needs man Puta who just adored him and followed him everywhere.  He was a major jokester, and just a really likeable guy.

Although I was never terribly close to Brother Bennett, I knew him well enough to mourn his death.  He began feeling signs of sickness just 30 minutes before he died.  I will miss his example of leadership in the branch and I know our small congregation here will feel the effects of his absence.  Brother Bennett's sudden passing inspires me to treat everyone as if it were our last time together.  

I LOVE.

I love vanilla mint Crest toothpaste.  I love nailing a jump rope routine on stage. I love wearing North Face clothing. I love scratching backs at church.  I love the first few strokes of a new oil painting.  I love feeling invincible after accomplishing something hard.  I love chatting about things that don’t even matter.  I love Thai and Indian food.  I love home theaters.  I love playing with kittens.  I love French braiding. I love reaching the peak of a mountain.  I love popping around corners to scare people.  I love long car rides.  I love spending all day and all night scrapbooking.  I love eating like a Queen over a bunson burner.  I love watching things expand in water.  I love doing things I am good at.  I love screaming as waves crash over me.  I love being cultured.  I love going out to dinner in the city.  I love hailing cabs.  I love doing things that are not required of me.  I love living with “the locals” in foreign countries.  I love winning.  I love a complete set of colored highlighters.  I love glass shower doors.  I love living near an IKEA.  I love eating bananas with hazelnut spread.  I love reading my scriptures on temple grounds.  I love solving miscommunications.  I love flipping upside down.  I love sneak previews.   I love putting my head between my legs to blow dry my hair.  I love doing science projects.  I love eating saltine crackers in bed.  I love finishing a large set of push ups.  I love shopping with a purpose.  I love talking with insecure people.  I love tying knots.  I love creamy ice cream- no matter the flavor.  I love fabric.  I love nice cameras.  I love long hugs.  I love the color green.  I love dressing up in costumes when I quilt.  I love conference calling.  I love flaring my nostrils to intimidate people.  I love sorting photos.  I love grosgrain ribbon.  I love having ambitions.  I love eating the same thing for breakfast every morning.  I love long-sleeve t-shirts.  I love playing competitive games.  I love talking to famous people like we’re old pals. 

The Iron Bladder Award

Presented to:

MARCINDRA GLAD

Marci hiked 3 hours of the Routeburn track with a full bladder. Not only was she tramping (creating discomfort in itself), But Marci walked through water and passed too many waterfalls to count. She allowed the group to press on due to her incredible ability to "hold it." Regardless of her internal state, Marci made our trek toward Te Anu one I will never forget. Congratulations Marcindra!

Wanaka CLIMBING Trip

All 34 members of our group went on a rock climbing trip to Wanaka this week! We spent Monday through Wednesday based out of Glendahu Bay holiday park and went climbing each day. Here is a run down of how things rolled out:

Monday March 10

We met at SIT at 9am but didn’t leave until about 10:30. Meanwhile, I played hand games with people and threw around my Moshi pillow. Boy is that popular. Well, the car ride there was really fun! It was longer than I thought, but it was fun to be sandwiched by Ben and Haree in the back back. We got to the camp site and set up around 3 pm and immediately went to our first crag. A smaller group of us went exploring in a river until the climbs were set up. We ended up lunging up a cliff bordering the river and then Lisa had to jump in the water to help us down. Bless her. The climbing wall was good- it was kind of hard, but fun. Climbing isn’t by favorite thing but it went okay. I think I just need to remember that it is okay to fall! There are belayers below ready to catch you- so just go for it! We got back to Glendhu Bay holiday Park around 8pm and I had pasta for dinner, prepared on the stoves accessible to all campers. I made friends with about 5 other campers (all age 50+) from England who were here on holiday. I played Nertz with Marci in her tent, but it was too small and cramped so I went to the beach and sang hymns to myself instead. We learned from Curtis about the stars in the southern hemisphere. That night was EXTREMELY cold and even more windy! I wore 3 pair of ski socks and woke up at least 5 times in the night which I am NOT accustomed to.

Tuesday March 11

We left camp at 9am after a nice breakfast of oatmeal and fruit. The climbing site was only about 5 minutes away. My first climb of the day didn’t go very well, so I was sort of scared the rest of the day which is a real shame. I did two abseils, one with a prussic and the other with a bottom belay and I learned new knots including the: clove hitch, italian hitch, alpine Butterfly, figure of 8 (one handed), double figure of 8, rethreaded figure of 8, handcuffs, tape knot/water knot, half hitch, whole hitch, and I learned to professionally coil a rope.

We took the written test after climbing all day and I did pretty well :) We attempted to play kick the can and ultimate spoons, but it was kind of a flop. We ended up eating cookies on the beach with us four, and Lisa and Maggie. Then I joined Taylor’s tent and we told stories until about 1 am. I didn’t care that it was late because I knew I would be too cold to sleep anyway.

Wednesday March 12

This climb is called "Tombstone." It's that big rock that looks like a tombstone. It's pretty hard to climb. I had to wedge my body in the crack like so:

We left camp at 8 am this morning, which meant 7 am wake up to pack up, put away the tent, eat pasta for breakfast, and get mentally ready to rock climb. At first, I spent some time on the top of the rock and just enjoyed being in New Zealand. I did a couple easy climbs in the morning, and then attempted the lead climb! That's where you hook yourself into the wall and have a much greater potential to fall :) I had a lot of fun looking for the next bolts and hooking my screwgate karabiners into the wall. Lead climbing was fun and challenging because you fell a lot farther and your life was more in your hands/legs instead of your belayer. It was so fulfilling to reach the top of the climb and just know you made it. I liked Wednesday's climbing a lot more! The tombstone crack climb was SO fun! There were parts when I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I just never gave up. On parts of the wall it seriously feels like there is just nowhere to put your feet and no handholds! Incredibly frustrating! Well, I eventually made it to the top and was rewarded with time to sit on the top of the rock and just look out and enjoy. I liked staying at the top for a while and feeling that sense of accomplishment. I can see myself getting into climbing for the photography. Once I reach the top what a better view of the landscape, and more importantly of the other climbers coming up! Abseiling down was actually the scariest part because you just have to fall backward and trust yourself and your gear. Here is an artistic pic of abseiling: (Which do you like better? The very topp pic or this one?)Bob was doing things to scare me on purpose- he had so much fun taking advantage of a dramatic person… I like Bob a lot and Nathan was just great! I totally scored with my instructors! We left back for Invercargill around half past one and got to SIT at 6. I slept/rolled in dirt on the floor of the van on the way home- it was surprisingly comfortable! Luckily Ken hadn’t left his office yet, so we showed up and just asked for a lift home. Mags was excited to greet us and we had chicken legs, rice and salad for tea. I was glad to shower off and put my things away. For future reference: It's always easier to put stufff away right when you get home.

Japanese Scissors

I decided to cut my hair the other day. It’s kind of a bad angle in this picture, but it gives the general idea. I put some more layers in front and took off about a half an inch. It feels/looks a lot healthier, and I just get a kick out of cutting my hair :) Ben called the other day and asked for a haircut. He biked on over after tea and I cut his hair for FREE! (That is a rarity around here.) He was very brave to trust me with his curly hair (not much experience there) and we had a rousing conversation in our 2 ft. kitchen. (and p.s. He kissed me RIGHT as Ali took the picture. That was not planned.)

It looks like Ali may be going skiing. Don’t be deceived. This is what we wear at home to stay warm. My “pajamas” consist of about 5 layers (including 3 pair of ski socks) and I still go to sleep cold. Please be grateful for central heating!!!

One SUPER Saturday

Mormon Helping Hands Day
"Mormon Helping Hands Day" had been advertised in the Branch announcements for several weeks. Finally Saturday morning arrived and the troops showed up at the chapel ready to serve! We all put on these sweet jersey’s and got in members’ cars to head to the service site. We ended up cleaning out some ancient, southland author’s house. By “cleaning out,” I mean: doing the dishes, mopping the floor, swiping cobwebs, organizing books, weeding, de-bushing, ripping off walls of the home, sawing and nailing up new boards, painting, and all sorts of renovation. We installed a toilet too!

An Urban Picnic
I took a little cat-nap midday, and then headed to our favorite grocery store Pak-n-save for dinner. We got ingredients to make cookies (not to be confused with biscuits which are hard as a rock) at Cam and Tyler’s homestay that night. Ashley and I went in on a loaf of bread and yogurt together for tea and then debated on where to eat it. After much “conversation,” Ashley, Lisa and I ended up eating in the median on Tay street :) (That means I won!) That is one memorable picnic dinner.

Cookie Party!

The bike ride out to Otatara was long and hard, but worth it! It was such a windy ride, but the thought of actual cookies made it easier to bear. With 7 people, we made about 5 different cookie recipes and watched High School Musical together! What a way to spend a Saturday night. I learned, yet again, something about my character. Or maybe it’s just about cooking. I really, really, really dislike it when people tell me exactly what to do in the kitchen. I want a domain to work within, but I feel so helpless and dumb when I’m told to pour in 1/3 cup of this or drop in a stick of butter. I just feel like I’m five. Maybe I’m too sensitive, but I just like to be in charge of something and not have people snapping at me if I do something differently from them in the kitchen. There. Venting over :) Their host dad Philip drove us home with our bikes since our new program rule makes it illegal for us to bike after dark.

Fun Fun Fun!

So it's been a long time since a blog post.  My bad.  I have no excuse, I'm not going to lie.  I think it's at this point of the study abroad (kind of in the middle) where I am sort of taking for granted my time here.  The THRILL of being here has worn off and I'm not cherishing the "last" time of my activities.  There is about a month to go, and I'm getting jazzed up for the fun to come.  I have so much fun playing with pictures and reflecting on the great things I've done so far... I need to live in the present and take every opportunity possible!  With this new resolution, I will be attending ward volleyball tonight :)  It gets kind of tricky because that overlaps with Mags' tea.  

I volunteered at the school today- that is going really well.  The kids get SO excited when the "American girls" come and were following me around with shirts and school books to autograph today.  They were pretty bad jumpers for the most part, but their accents and uniforms just make them so cute :)  It's a good thing I'm not a teacher because I definitely pick favorites... I told the teacher of my class, Mr. Goodsir a bit about the gospel and what we believe.  Today is Mary's (the facilitator) 20th birthday so we threw 20 bags of assorted treats at her during class.  I think Mark was a little annoyed :)  

This picture is from the other week when we biked to Oreti beach after school.  We weren't in togs (swim suits) but I took the liberty of "doing" Tyler's hair with wet sand and shoving some down his back :)  The fun just escalated from there!  I started writing a letter to Matt, and then my friends got a look at what I was doing... before I knew it, they'd all written about a paragraph and drawn pictures all over!  Boy is Matt going to get a fun letter!  Anyway, enough of my random goings-on.  Love ya!

MXC

That last post was pretty desperate. Well, justly so... The track was hard and I spent 3 days living in a cloud. By the second day, I literally could not remember what it meant to be dry. It started raining the first night, and didnt stop until we pulled into the driveway. Good timing, I know.
Well, we didymo-ed our boots before starting the track, and then came upon the most gorgeous, "rushnormous" (new word for rushing and enormous) waterfalls in the world! Only half of our BYU group went on the Routeburn hike, and that group split into 2 as well. So my tramping group of 11 started at the Queenstown side and ended in Te Anu where the other group began. It worked out well because we just swapped keys in passing on the trail and then took each others' cars home. Most trampers pay alot of money to get shuttled back and forth since they have no vehicle waiting at the other end.

The first night, we stayed in "huts" which basically means shelter!!! It was amazing to get there and have a dry place to keep our stuff. We cooked on the stoves they had there and played some AMAZINGLY funny games of Mafia where the killers usually ended up winning. I wish people would just believe me!!! We met/made friends with Hollandish trampers and one Bulgarian. It was amazing how global our track was! Trying to be positive about the torrential rain, I told Ben it would be great since we'd get so many more waterfalls! Ben jokingly replied, "the track is going to be a waterfall Stef!" Little did we know, that was NOT a joke.
There were parts of the tramp where I felt like I was on the show MXC (Most Extreme Challenge). THere was NO POSSIBLE WAY to make it across without falling in the river, but you have to go for it regardless. We started trying to find a way to avoid pure river and balance on high rocks, but after 10 minutes, we all bagged that idea and just embraced climbing waterfalls. All Marci wanted to do was ring out her socks. We reached the peak of the mountain and counted 50+ waterfalls from one spot! The mountain was just flowing! It was fun to hike alone part of the time, and fun to walk with the group and listen to/tell stories. It was such beautiful land and so magnificent! I have such spiritual experiences in the mountains and every time I go tramping, I just want to stay forever! The land is gorgeous and I learn so much about myself and others when I take the time to get away and appreciate nature. You should try it!

The second night was... wet. EVERYTHING was just soaked. We tried to hang it dry, but to no avail. When we got to camp the girls just started stripping like crazy. The boys turned the other way when they realized what was going on... It was the pits to put on wet clothes and sleep in puddles. Everyone had an awesome attitude and since there was nothing we could do, we just got through it together. We ate like kings over a bunson burner and warmed our noses with our dinner tins and ate chocolate covered almonds in bed. We went to bed at like 5pm because we had nothing else to do... I shared a 2 man tent with Erin and Marci- that was a thrill :) When I woke up I really felt like both my shoulders had been dislocated. Any direction I moved, pain. My hip made me feel like I was 90, and I had to crunch into a ball to avoid puddles.
The next morning we faced more torrential rain, and encountered teh MOST amazing waterfall of my life. If you even tried to walk through it, the wind would push you back and the rain pelt into your eyeballs like daggars. I can't even describe it- it was just AMAZING! So we took the flood evacuation route which turned out to be super cool! I dont have pictures because I love my camera too much to loose it to water. We couldn't even talk to each other by the waterfall because it was so loud! Cameron told us stories to keep our minds off our aching bodies. We tramped out the rest of the way and hurried to the toilets as fast as possible!!!

It may seem as though I had a miserable weekend. Do not be deceived. I really did have a great time and would do it again in a minute!

So help me.

Here I am ready to embark on 3 days of hiking the Routeburn track- used in filming Lord of the Rings!  My pack is super heavy, and I was in the ER with Mags’ chest pains until late last night, so I’m feeling less prepared than I hoped to be. I have barely any food (highly concerning) and snow is in the forecast.  So help me.  

FAMILY TIES

After catching up on a friends' blog, I am motivated to do a little thanking of my own. Although I haven't spoken with any of you for almost 2 months, I still feel so close to you. I want to do a mini-spotlight on each of you to remind you of what you already know:

Mom and Dad- I have the greatest parents on earth! Throughout my entire life, I have never doubted your love for me. As I get older, I reflect more on the principles you used in parenting and your examples of love and leadership. I get so excited thinking about my future opportunity to parent Heavenly Father's children as I know I will rely on your example as a guide post. Regardless of my personal choices and situations I get myself into, I have always known that you love me and will support me. I always want to make decisions that will make you proud! Dad, your goal setting habit and attention to people and relationships has helped me decide and become the person I want to be. Mom, your energy for life and confidence in yourself inspires me to embrace my own passions!

Rick- You make me want to be my best, smartest self! You suck stress out of situations and take the blame for anything :) I love how follow your dreams. I love how you teach your children the scriptures. I love how you use your talents to help other people (in being a doctor). I love how you sing karaoke. I love how you never care what other people think! I love how your calling is a priority. I love how you never complain. I love how you treat my sister like a queen!

Heather- Where do I start? We have so many fun memories together! Being so far apart in age, we have really had several stages in our relationship. I remember just wanting to share a room with you SO badly, and looking forward to our Sunday pow-wows where we traded of sneaking treats and choosing games. Then you left the house and I turned into a faucet for about a year. I lived vicariously through your adventures and felt so cool to be related to you. Those feelings never changed, but recently I admire your ability to spice up any social function, and reach out to people who are less involved. Whenever I notice someone in my life who seems friendless, I try to think of how you would handle the situation. I LOVE you and I LOVE your family!

Tanner- I love spending time with you because you say things as they are. You love to learn and you know how to have fun!

Sienna- You are always looking to please! I have a lot to learn from your tender heart and desire to serve.

Shannon- I love Shannon because she poses for crazy photo shoots and lets her siblings "play" with her. Shannon has done a great job pushing through the pain of teething and learning to crawl. Yay!

Bryan- What an incredible brother! I love how you pull people out of their shells and get to know the real person. No wonder you were such a great EFY counselor! You are so sensitive to other people's needs and do what you can to make others happy. I can always count on you to slide the block of cheese through the checkout counter or make a meal out of myseterious leftover cans. I wish I could have my own way of doing things like you do. China wouldn't have been the same without you... :)

Phil- I am so happy my sister has found someone she loves so much! You are ready for an adventure and constantly seeking opportunities to serve. You are so humble and meek- very respectable characteristics if you ask me! You have such a desire to do what is right and will do whatever it takes.

Noelle- You have been my best friend for who knows how long? I have always wanted to just be you! I admire you for the values you posess and the righteous life you lead. You know how to make living the gospel fun! I love your pizazz and creativity! You make the best of situations gone wrong and do a great job of intentionally planning fun times. I love your organization and your spontenaity. You have what I consider to be the perfect balance! You understand me and you know how to tease me. I love that we share so many favorite hobbies and love doing crafts! You do a great job in the kitchen SSSN :)

And what would I do without Beegee??? You have always been my biggest fan! You are so witty, creative and kind! You encourage me to be my best self and never sweat the small stuff. I can tell you love me because you get SO excited when I call and you always want to know what is going on in my life. You care about me so much and I know you are always wanting the best for me. You are such a positive, charitable person! I hope I can be just like you someday!!!

I love you guys and I'm so grateful that even a giant ocean can't seperate us!!! I definitely sense the pysical distance between us, but I feel our friendship as I reflect on the fun memories we have together and remember what makes each of you my examples and my friends. I feel strength as our family builds loving, uplifting relationships, observes our covenants and duties, takes personal responsibility to do good, and develops the skills to accomplish our goals in becoming an eternal family!!!