Cheers Peter! God is good huh.

Yeah, it's really opening my eyes to how different American culture is to NZ culture; I think we tend to assume that cos they're both Western, they're similar.

I'm learning to say "courses" or "classes" not "papers," "red pepper" not "capsicum," "devastated" not "gutted" and so forth. I'm also adjusting to the fact that people like cream with their coffee, eat "granola" bars and tons of Mexican!! (The latter I guess is more of a California thing, right? I LOVE it.)

Hey Alice, SL Beach Project just finished. It was great. We saw God work in the lives of the people on the beach and in our lives too. I finally got "Black Like Me" out of the library; I'm just reading it now. It's awesome to read about your travels far and wide. I bet you're really enjoying it. I also reckon you'll understand a lot more about American culture by the time you return. Peter

No, I think she could live off chocolate cake for a month or so no problem... And if she keeps telling waiters they are "tres jolie" then I'm sure she won't have any problems getting some food for free anyway! OK, people here think I have packed LIGHTLY. Honestly, I know it doesn't feel like it when you lift it BUT compared with most exchange students its relatively little, especially seeing as I only have one bag. Hard to believe I know. How's Lamu? Or where are you now?

yes, pretty amazing that it is such a small world for travelling kiwis that they bump into friends..glad you are safely there and have unpacked that huge backpack though did see one person here with an even bigger one which was saying something!! Seriously loving your blog, glad all sounds as if its going well and perhaps between us we can teach Rach a new french phrase to go with the one about chocolate cake, just in case she needs some other food too while travelling!! look forward to hearing about how the classes are.. mum x

hey thanks!! i leave on the 30th of january for OB

Yo Rachy!! Yes, I definitely prefer your French phrase to those German ones... :)

PS: You're always welcome to visit me here in California ya know...

cant believe you randomly met someone in london! crazy! im am officially so jealous that you went to london and paris even tho it was so quick! Been practicing a smidgen of french here cos livs parents both speak it, so far i can pretty much only remember "i would like to eat a chocolate cake" which i guess is probably more useful than my german... hope your awesome travels continue to be cool! miss ya luv ya xx rach

Kirsty: Yeah man, it was rockin'! We were both so shocked and just kept being like, "Woah, can't believe this!!" How are you? And how's Teeny? She told me she's engaged?! Possum-Hunter (you know who you are): Wellington huh, that's awesome. So when are you starting a business? And still thinking of buying a house? I reckon you should ay... Miriam: Thanks for your welcome and your spelling help! I can't belive I'm on the same land mass as you and I don't get to see you... Bummer. Next time?

oh woah! thats so kewl you saw sarah off the spirit! say hi from me if you meet up again and if she remembers me i see christina all the time in auckland! remember her?

hi buddy ,this is cool site ,hope you had a good new years ,ur so gutsy going round the world good on ya ,this year im planning to go to wellington haha can't really leave my apprenticeship, have a good trip Jas p.s. ive got a work van not the man yet for my own bizness yet : )

HAPPY NEW YEAR Alice and welcome to Europe! Hope you enjoy the short stops in London and Paris. Love Miriam PS: It`s spelled "Schnitzel"

oh... i meant spelt Schnitzel