What day is it again?

Okay, so I still haven't totally adjusted to the time thing. I slept for a total of three hours last night and cannot go back to sleep. Boy am I gonna crash today!

So, I've now done two things that I never thought I would ever do in my life: fly solo internationally and stay at a youth hostel. At first I was very shy, as I tend to be, but the people here (well most of them) are pretty awesome and I've met people from all around Europe. I thought I had left the whole "dorm thing" behind when I graduate from the university, and let me tell you, I really don't miss it. I do enjoy my privacy, but this has been a great learning experience for me, and that I wouldn't trade. It's good to meet and talk to "real people" and locals- the sort of experience that itinerary tours just don't give you.

Yesterday, Sarah and I toured Wellington by foot. There were a helluva a lot of hills, by the way. We went to the free national museum, whose name I will only butcher if I try to spell, and that was pretty cool. There was a modern art exhibit though that focused on the placement of hair on chain linked fences, which I didn't "get", but I do know that it was very creepy.

My favorite place was seeing the Maori meeting house that they have in the museum. We had to take off our shoes before entering, and it was very darkly lit, which only increased it's coolness. Maori art is fascinating and I do have to admit to being totally taken with the swirls and complex patterns. It was fascinating because the meeting house was very reminiscent to me of the Scandanavian meeting houses.

Afterwards we took a walk to the botanical gardens which were awesome as well, but we went through them pretty quickly because the sun was setting and it was getting colder. We stopped at the grocery to pick up some items for supper and I was amazed at the price of bell peppers- anywhere from 8-15 dollars (about 5-9 American). While we didn't get any peppers, we did get some chocolate biscuits which are fabulous and some ice cream (which was like eating marshmallows) called "Hokey Pokey" and had butterscotch in it. We also picked up some golden kiwis. Now, I don't like green kiwis, but golden ones are some of the best fruit that I have ever eaten. After all of this deliciousness, I have to agree with Sarah when she said, "You will never be happy again when you leave all of this." Lol, too true.

And the Second Leg Begins!

Well the good news is I didn't toss any cookies (although the ones Delta provided were rather tasty) as the flight was pretty smooth. I did have a window seat, but it was right above the wing so I couldn't see much. I also sat next to a lovely lady from Valdosta named Betty who was probably in her seventies. We had several lovely conversations about the following items:
1) The fact that she is deaf in one ear.
2) The fact that it is not safe for a young women to travel alone these days.
3) That I got my computer from amazon.com
4) That I did not get my computer from verizon.com
5) That I did not get my computer from verizon.com (Had to have that one twice.)
6) The rules of playing Spider Solitaire.
7) The fact that I shouldn't nap on my pull out tray because it will hurt my back.
8) Did I want to share her headphones?
9) The fact that I was not married.
10) Why was I not married?
11) The fact that I am not, in fact, a Baptist.
12) The fact that she was glad I was a Christian.
13) The fact that Niagra Falls is a lovely place to visit, especially on a honeymoon, should I ever get married.
14) The fact that her daughter wanted to be a teacher until she got knocked up.
Yeah, the conversations were a little one sided. Although I did think it was awesome that she pulled out a GameBoy Advance and started playing Tetris.

Anyway, not much happening here in San Francisco. Pretty airport, if you don't mind the whole construction thing. Apparently they are redoing a big section of it. Okay, there are some people eyeing this computer table prettily heavily, so I'll be polite.

Don't know when the next update will be....don't know how the whole internet in NZ will work. Hopefully, I'll be able to post when I get to Auckland.

Ah, the beauty that is Hartsfield-Jackson

Well, I'm at airpot one of the journey awaiting my flight to San Fransisco. Daddy dropped me off here around 8:30ish and I was at my gate an hour later. Security was a breeze; I was through that in less than five minutes. So, I've been hanging out at gate A24 for several hours now, mostly playing on the computer.

The weather is overcast and a bit rainy; I'm real excited about flying into those clouds, let me tell you. I'm suddenly reminded of the Mr. Bean sketch of the kid puking on plane. In case you've never had the pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T403eJoOcE

So here's a fine example of my luck. I sit down at the gate, the empty gate, mind you, with my tea and parfait. There are seats everywhere, but where do the next people to come to the gate sit? Right next to me. Yup. And they are somewhat lacking in their hygiene. Then the woman took off her shoes. This was not good times. I have since moved seats. They are both asleep now, stretched out on six seats. Guess I'm too much of an Atlanta girl; ain't no way I'm falling asleep in Hartfield-Jackson with all my belongings setting beside me. But then again, I don't have eau d'toe as a security measure.