Kia Ora!
In the span of a couple of weeks, I have checked off so many things from my bucket list. I have found a good group of friends with the same sense of adventure. We have gone on hikes and camping trips. One trip that amazed me was far south of New Zealand in the Catlins. This coastal region is filled with amazing waterfalls and wildlife. We saw penguins, seals, and dolphins during just a 3-day camping trip. We took our boogie boards and wet suits at Curio Bay and swam with the Hector dolphin colony. As we rode the waves, they would rush right past us. It was truly an amazing site.
After seeing the dolphins, we went to Nugget Point to see an iconic lighthouse and some seals. There were at least 50 seals playing in the pools below. They were hard to spot, but once you saw one, you saw many more.
I have really gone out of my comfort zone and am willing to try just about anything here. I came in with an adventurous attitude, and New Zealand has matched it with flying colors. I joined the kayak club here, and we had to take lessons on how to roll a kayak. It is a fun new skill that I had no idea about. I also participate in the premier football (soccer) club here at Otago University.
Another club I have joined is the Otago bike club. There are so many fun communities within Dunedin and so much to do. I finally have a routine with my classes and really try to study during the week so my weekends remain free. My next adventure takes me to Queenstown and Wanaka.
Aroha,
Kahiau Bonacorsi