"he was exotic in an almost botanical way,
like some rare orchid requiring careful
monitoring of climate and temperature."

i currently have 5 beverages in my room:

+organic milk
+feijoa beer
+apple-guava juice
+green tea
+black tea

;-)

"FOOD IS POLITICAL.
IT IS SPIRITUAL,
IT IS PHYSICAL,
IT IS COMMUNAL."
**cucumber dip, brie, crackers,
lamb stew, carrots, wine and blood soup**
(sandra cut her finger badly chopping carrots)

we also baked ba-naw-naw bread.
(sandra's kiwi accent makes everything taste better).

and played "cards against humanity,"

'a politically incorrect multiplayer party game'
(basically r-rated apples to apples).
it was great fun. a little too much fun.

in preparation for our dinner party,
we walked to the New World market by the waterfront.

encountered a whimsical circus

she wanted a closer look at naked gandhi

the city is a cyborg.

today was international orientation.
we got talked at a lot (but it was very entertaining),
got a yummy free lunch & enrolled in courses.
i also met a french girl named amelie.

here is the view from the school library.

wellington has a somewhat labyrinth layout.
there are secret passageways & stairs
that lead to just about everywhere.
i found a wondrous shortcut walking home
and ran into a black + white cat.

"you grew up in california?
oh your english must be really good!"

"eh, it's alright."

make some food & eat it on the floor together.

in this city.

wellington farmer's market=
best thing to ever happen to me.

we went to warehouse to pick up some things
(i'd compare it to the walmart + target of nz)
i saw these pukeko themed plates & nearly died.

"in New Zealand the Pūkeko is mentioned in the Māori myth 'How the Kiwi lost her wings' in which several birds of the forest are asked to come down from the trees to eat the bugs on the ground and save the forest, but all give excuses except the Kiwi who is willing to give up his colours and the ability to fly. The Pūkeko's excuse is that it looks too damp down there, and he does not want to get his feet wet. The Pūkeko is punished for his reluctance and told he must now live forever in the swamps."

minty marshmallows with new friendz.
don't drink too much coffee, but this is the best
caffeinated beverage i have ever had.

had gluten-free toast & tea at lauren's,

visited sandra's apartment for the first time
then lounged in nick's room. he gave me a cute dish towel.

i noticed that sometimes, i'll start saying
some words with a kiwi accent :)
this is only partially intentional.

people > profits.

greatest day ever.
i made new friends from all over the world:
-a kiwi korean from auckland who likes crystal castles
(she just got back from 4 months in argentina),
-a new yorker columbia student with 4 sisters
who is going to lend me his murakami book,
-a ridiculously nice girl from iran.
we talked about rugs, farsi, perspolis & her childhood.

we also met some cool peeps from
turkey, south africa, canada
and of course some super nice kiwis.

we all formed a team for quiz night,
ate artificially flavored new zealand candy
and ended up at a pub.

"do you think they'll accept my turkish
driver's license?"

decided to have a nice morning in because
every time i go out, i end up spending money.
i did laundry, had some tea, drew some sunshine.

yes, no, maybe?
one of my favorite things about windy welly
is that it is completely walkable.
i also love windy days. there are a lot of those here.

i met up with alicia, got my first cup of
wellingtonian coffee(the city has a huge 'cafe culture')
& went to a contemporary dance performance
by the wellington freelance dance co.

there was a moth floating around the stage
during the entire show. i watched it for a while.
it landed on one of the dancer's legs.
i watched her mouth curve into a discreet smile.

i got a city library card today!

i am so happy right now.

i was smiling the entire walk home
as i lugged my tote bag o books.
there were pink and yellow clouds in the sky
(they were smiling too).

this is unintentionally turning into a food blog...
i just can't stop cooking.

morgan, marissa, a group of malaysian students

& i walked to Victoria's campus to check it out.

marissa is from chicago and goes to school in sf.
she's half mexican & half german.

the malaysian students were all really nice

and friendly. they don't touch dogs or eat butchered meat.
there was free orange juice.

then we went to a used bookstore,
japan city, and later found salvation (army)

and got some turkish food.

having no dining table results in eating
on the window sill while watching the city:
the passerbys, fluttering pigeons, drizzling rain.

i'm sorry you were rendered witch-like.

spent most of my day at the library
reading about apologies.

*~made lamb chops, green beans & quinoa for din~*
i'm amazed at how much i've been cooking.

Do it like a dude (Cover) - Laura Hunter

she sang a few songs while we sat
on the grass in christchurch.
her voice is lovely.

then there was free beer to be drunk
& DIY pizzas to be made in the garden's clay oven.

don't forget your roots.

i've been craving my grandma's food ever since
i left china this summer.
today, i skyped her and she gave me
step by step instructions on how to make 盖饭.
i ran to the grocery store and bought a potato.

it didn't taste nearly as good as hers
(in fact, it tasted nothing like hers...),
but it sure was satisfying!

"be safe, learn alot!" she says to me.

it was a perfect day to take the cable car up

to visit the botanical gardens.
here's a view of wellington:

we split a chocolate raspberry muffin from the cafe.
a bird literally flew onto my piece as i was holding it.
it startled me; i screamed...

these flowers remind me of my sister.
i think she likes begonias.
without her, i wouldn't be here in new zealand.
she was the one who encouraged me to study abroad :)

this plant makes me feel
uncomfortable but its so beautiful

dead little bug floating in the

lily pond while being nipped by little guppies.