Date: Monday, June 20th
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Taupo, NZ, The Short's Kitchen
Men have designed my sink. What other explanation is there for a sink with two faucets? One spigot for hot, one for cold. WHHHYYY?? It’s become a treat to wash my face at night. My choice is either; scald my face or freeze it. So each night I clean my face with a handful of Antarctica-like cold water. I know what you’re thinking, “why not put the drain stopper in and have the sink fill up with both hot and cold water?” I’ve considered this, and the answer is; laziness.
So we haven’t discussed this weekend yet, have we?
So, on Saturday I experienced my first Netball game. Netball is a popular sport in New Zealand. Girls play it in jerseys and skirts… in the winter. That’s right, it’s considered a winter sport. And girls are running around in skirts. I have trouble understanding most American sports without having to try and understand a new Kiwi sport, but I’ll try my best to describe it to you. The Kiwi’s would get mad at me for saying this, but it’s most similar to Basketball. There’s a net, but no backboard. Each player has two letters on their jersey indicating what position their playing. Those letters also determine where on the court their allowed to go. Also, the ball cannot be bounced and once a player receives the ball they aren’t allowed to move.
That’s the best I can do to describe this foreign game because I was distracted by two things. One, the cute Kiwi boy (don’t worry Dad, I didn’t even catch his name hehe). And also, the referee.
The referee was not cute. He was a Maori man with a black bun on top of his head, a tribal tattoo running down the side of his neck, red shoes, super long finger nails, and a homosexual air to him. He was on a power trip and would blow his whistle at everything. And he was also prancing up and down the court with a sort of jaunt that gave him that homosexual air.
Sunday was exhausting. I went to church. Usually that’s not exhausting. I’ll tell you why it was, it was because I had to meet so many people. I was introduced to the whole congregation by going up on stage and answering questions about myself. And then I had to hang around afterwards to meet people. And after that I went to a newcomer’s lunch where I met MORE people. No one likes being stared at. And no one likes having to repeat their name and the exact same things over and over again. I am constantly asked where I’m from. I thought it was quite obvious but I guess the American accent can also be confused for the Canadian accent.
Sunday afternoon I enjoyed a walk around beautiful Lake Taupo with the Short’s and then we went to DeBrett’s Hot Pools. This was fantastic. DeBrett’s has cashed in on the natural geothermic hot water that flows through Taupo. They have done this by letting it gather in a pool to form a humongous Jacuzzi. The pool is over 100 degrees and has seating around the edges and bubbly spots where the residents and visitors of Taupo can relax. One interesting rule they have is that you can’t stick your head under the water because it’s not chlorinated. But there are lots of minerals in the water that make it good for your skin (supposedly). Also, the pool is only really open in the winter because of how hot it is. No one wants to go soak in an over 100 degree pool when it’s nearly 100 degree weather. Understandably.
This morning was my first day working at the church. Since the receptionist was out sick today, I filled in for her and sat at the desk and answered phones. I divided my time between doing the job the senior pastor Keith had given me, and chatting with my Dad on Facebook. Don’t judge. It was Father’s Day and I hadn’t gotten to talk to him in about a week.
As I am currently sitting at the Short’s kitchen table with the girls as their doing their homework, I was privy to this exchange:
“I want an Australian accent.” Susanna stated.
“Why would you want an Australian accent? They speak through their noses.” Lizzy laughed.
I guess I won’t say that Kiwis sound similar to Australians when people ask anymore… They sound exactly the same to me. Apparently, I’m wrong.
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