New England to New Zealand

Hello from New Zealand, my fellow skeephs and skeeph fans! 

I’m writing this from my desk, looking out the window as double-decker trucks full of sheep roll by! 

My (extremely brief) summer at home was the perfect reminder of why I love New England (and specifically Upper Valley) summers – endless fun outside time, friend time, family time, dog time, a Mt. Joy concert, Crossmolina Farm pizza night...time really does fly when you’re having fun.

Revisiting my high school rowing days. I didn't fall in!

A lovely gravel ride

Before I knew it, it was time for the travel day I had been dreading, but also time for the adventure I had been looking forward to for so long! On June 27th, after 24+ hours of travel, Chip, Chloe, Ben, and I convened in Auckland, New Zealand. We explored the city for a few days before meeting up with the rest of the students from our program and exploring more of the North Island - highlights include stinky geothermal hot springs in Rotorua, zorbing (invented in NZ - look it up!), a geyser, a cultural dinner at a Māori village, and lots and lots of sheep. 

Soggy days in Auckland

Auckland rainbow!

Hiked a volcano!

After a few days of adventures, we flew to our new home of Dunedin, New Zealand. We settled into our flats that are sprinkled around the city, met our flatmates from around the world, and went to a Rugby game (All Blacks v. France – Go All Blacks!). There’s no dining hall here, but it’s been fun to cook in my (tiny!) kitchen, and so far I don’t miss Driscoll dinners. Except the cereal, and maybe the fact that there’s always food ready and I don’t have to cook after training, and of course, the squeezing around the table with the team. Actually, maybe I do miss it? 

Classes start today! Lectures are BIG and nobody really asks questions – very different from Williams. There are also tons of sheep here. I knew there would be lots, but they are EVERYWHERE. These sheep live great lives, grazing the most beautiful pastures in the mountains and on the coast. I would love to be a NZ sheep. 

Highcliff Track

Silver Peak

Tautuku Beach

This past weekend, we saw more of the South Island, camped at Pūrākaunui Bay (thanks Kennedy for the recommendation!), and road tripped to the southernmost point of the South Island, Slope Point. It was fun to explore beaches, mountains, rainforest, and waterfalls along the way. The landscape here is so different and so beautiful – I love it. 

Pūrākaunui Bay

Camping!

Next up, hopefully some skiing at the Snow Farm! Sadly, our shared ski bag is still in Houston, TX, despite the countless emails, phone calls, and messages sent to Air New Zealand and United. We’ve got quite the team of Ephs (and fans) working on getting this ski bag on a plane to NZ, but no luck. Are you an airline customer service or lost baggage locating expert? Please reach out. 

Lost skis aside, I’m so excited to read and hear about everyone’s epic summers! I miss you all and cannot wait to be reunited with you (and our new teammates!) in November. Here’s to even more adventures between now and then! 

Lots of Eph Love, 

🐮💜

Ann