I am not sure how she does it, but Joni Mitchell is one of the most amazing singers I have ever heard. Her voice has a melodic quality that soothes you on some of the most upsetting days. After being in New Zealand for almost 2 months now I have hit my first string of "bad days". The kind of days that just hit you over the head like an anvil and don't stop. When you feel like you are drowning in your own stupidity and anger. Things I had planned started to fall apart, and other things I wanted to happen didn't look promising.

One thing I have gained so far is the knowledge that it does not matter where in the world you are, you can still have a bad day. The fact that I am in Auckland, New Zealand does not make it any less upsetting. I do the same thing that I do anywhere else when I have a bad day, I crank up the Joni Mitchell and let her voice drown out my petty little issues. It feels better, and soon I realise how stupid I was to get so upset my such a little thing, and how much damage I have done from being upset.

Although you can still have bad days in New Zealand, it is easier to get over them because you are in New Zealand. I realised after I had some difficulty planning a trip and getting all my stuff set for the end of the semester that it doesnt really need to be this difficult, I dont NEED to get so upset about things that will get worked out, a better plan would be to focus on the fact that I am in a beautiful country and culture. There is lot to be said for sitting down and taking a deep breath and moving on. Life is not all sunshine and rainbows, and not everything happens the way you want it, but as I always say "don't worry, be happy" and sooner or later you will find yourself in the middle of a fantastic adventure that never seemed possible.

So, after I gave myself a mental hug, and got over my emotional stupidity, wrote some apologetic emails and got a grip I think the next couple weeks are going to be great. I am hoping to go to the Bay of Islands for a few days, then getting some alpine training on Mount Ruapehu, and then doing a tramp down south from Auckland in Whirinaki. If all goes to plan (which lets just face it, things rarely do) I will still have some time to get some studying and relaxation in at some point. The next couple of days are spent studying for some intense exams I have coming up before the break. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...Just have to listen to a few more songs by Joni and then it is on with life, and in her words: "I want to be strong, I want to laugh long, I want to belong to the living, ALIVE ALIVE, I want to get up and DRIVE...well come on now." Well.....come on. :)