Hi Alice, I don't really have anything to say right now but I thought you might appreciate a message :P. I just finished reading 'Red Moon Rising' and it's left me depressed (so far to go... why am I so undisciplined when it comes to prayer and obedience? yet hopeful (yay! God can use me for stuff like this!). I hope you have a great time in New York, New York!

that is so exciting you taking a trip there on friday. Man I wish I was coming, isn't that the bridge of Full House or am I wrong???

too many gaps.....do more pictures and stories please...we hungry

Alice, I've answered some of your specific questions in a new post. I didn't see your questions before my first one.

Barbs: Thanks for the recommendations. I look forward to having insightful chats with you about the subject when I get back! Ho Ho: You SO have to come visit!! It'd be so awesome. I'm excited that it's so close. KEEP IN TOUCH. PS: Here are a few to add to the list (by no means comprehensive) of American words: bell peppers, check [for payment], Uhu tac, rountrip, granola, golden raisins [I think those are supposed to be sultanas!], sidewalk, windshield wipers, backpacking [meaning hiking for more than a day; we would use it to mean travelling the world with a pack on your back], coffee-shop [instead of cafe], mom, 2% (instead of trim / whole milk etc), trash, "take a shower" [instead of "have"], stick-shift, dish-towel... The list could go on... And yes, I know what you mean about hardout/harcore diff. Have you noticed how they say CAPILLARIES? If not, please ask someone to say it; it's amusing. :) Liv: You are HILARIOUS!! In fact, if there was a competition for hilariousness between you and Rachy I'm no longer so sure I know who'd win... I intend to print off the list later so I can get to work on it!

yes indeed it is ho sarah! lol....life is going well, very excited to go home and see all my friends and family though!! i'm on the waiting list for the 15th and 16th of feb. I will have to look into if I have time to bus to see you, but I'm sure we can sort something out! Can't tell you much though at the mo, since my flight is not confirmed, but will let you know asap, k? yeah, I have had a lot of moments where they just stare open-mouthed at me when i say something kiwi! lol! it's funny. i keep saying 'hard-out', it's meant to be hard core here....haha, and so many other things, i could possibly write out a whole list of words! glad things are going well, will update you as soon as i get confirmation on my flight ok? enjoy the warmer weather in california (the cold is almost unbearable, i'm so jealous!) anyway, take care girl, byebye!

Hey, Ever read any short stories by Sherman Alexie? Great stuff. Native Americans living now. Sad, fascinating, hopeful. There's also a really good book by someone whose name I can't remember, it's called "Pigs in Heaven"; about the after-effects of what I think is called the 'trail of tears'. Anyway, hope everything is going well with you and I will email you soon - or at least after Aussie;-) Have fun and take care, Barbs

Hey Alfalfa... Glad to hear your going all good!! Here's a little list for you...i'll give both you and rach a week and whoever gets the most done in that week wins ok?? (except rach won't see her's til next weeked so you've got a bit of a head start...) right... 1)You have one day, with US 50c, (if you succeed i'll pay you back when you get home) to buy as many things as possible (no double up's)...and the more variety the more points. (i did it here once with a friend-you'd be suprised how cheap washers and screws are in the hardware!!) 2)Find someone with the same initials as you.. hehe..just worked out yours is AB..hehe...i can't remember what your middle name is though.. 3)Promise yourself that for one day- no matter where you go- you'll never use and elevator or escalator of any sorts! 4)Find 6 different people from 6 different countries and learn to say "Alfalfa's are discusting" in each language (and report back to me) -if they don't know alfalfa's feel free to substitute in brussled sprouts or something... 5)Walk down the biggest street near where you live, preferably a sqaure or something-stand in the middle and do the NZ anthem- Maori & English at the top of your lungs! 6)Find a pack of cards and ask a stranger to play a game of memory with you in public 7)Find someone who has a skipping rope-and skip down the street for your exercise...(if you don't have one your just going to hav to do it anyway pretending you have one..) 8)Teach someone the Maori alphabet....you remember 'A ha ka ma na pa ra ta wa nga wha...e he ke me ne pe re te we nge phe...etc...but if you don't know it...Opua e! and yes i am impressed with what you taught ur friends!! 9)Next time you go out for a meal/event talk the whole time to whoevers ur waitress/hostess/whoever with an american accent then at the end see if you pulled it off for them to believe you... 10)Make alfalfa pizza and make your friends all try this "delicacy"-but make sure they don't think all kiwi's eat that stuff!! hehe Love, Liv xxxxxxxxxx

Oh, silly me, I just saw your first comment... Thanks! Yes, all's going well here in the beautiful San Diego; have two mid-terms tomorrow, and a test Friday but besides a little exams stress things are pretty good. How are you? Thanks for commenting! Luv you and God bless you HEAPS!! Alice. PS: Have you noticed they don't say "heaps" here? PSS: I was telling my friend about your legendary and unforgettable 21st birthday the other day!

Sarah!! Is that Ho Sarah?? Dude, I would LOVE to see you! LA is about 2hours north of me (I think!) so I could bus up or you could bus down or we could both bus mid-way and meet each other... Anyway, let me know the date and I can look into it... How's life?

oh, i forgot to tell u something! i'm flying off from LA, so maybe there is a chance for a small reunion after all! but not sure yet, is that even far from you? I have no idea.....

hey alice! just thought i'd check on you all the way on the west coast there! :D how's everything? I guess you are not coming over to the cold east? would really love to see you. hope everything is going well, take care and god bless!