Kia Ora,

(Hello in Maori)

Now i am already staying for 9 weeks in New Zealand. It´s going unbelievable fast. The last time I knew a lot of people and did very nice trips. I went with a dutch girl(Ylze) to the Rangitoto. That´s an inactive volcanic island near Auckland. We drove with the ferry about 20 minutes. It was a very nice walk to the top of the island(260m). Only the weather wasn´t so nice. It rains a lot and we couldn´t see the beautiful view to the Skycity. Even so it was a nice trip! The next weekend I knew another dutch girl(Grietje). We met us in a bar and had some drinks. It was a nice night. We danced a lot and got to know other people. I also had my first surflesson at the muriwai beach(westcoast). A beautiful beach with such big waves. I went two more times there to surf and relax there. I also went to the Piha beach. That´s also a very nice surfbeach at the westcoast. Close the beach there is a waterfall which is named Ketiketi fall midden in the Waitakere forest. After a nice walk about 30 minutes between the forest we arrived at the beautiful waterfall . The water was freezen cold but I swam under the waterfall. Very cool feeling! In the afternoon as the sun went down we drove back to Auckland. Its only 45 minutes and then you are in such a nice nature like this. The last weeks I also knew a lot of other nice places around Auckland. Like Haukari beach(that’s over the big harbor bridge), the mission bay, Devonport and Schnapper Rock. Very nice place also in the north of Auckland.

Last Thursday I went with Grietje to Coromandel. We drove Thursday after our work 2 and a half hours to our camping place in Hahei. And ohh my goodness I ran over a possum. Of course by mistake. But here in New Zeeland it’s a good job if you do that. So I mustn´t have a bad conscience ;). At Wednesday we went to the Hot waterbeach. If there is ebb you can dig a hole in the sand and you arrived at hot water. Amazing is that. The water is really hot. Amazing experience! Later in the midday we went to the Cathedral cove. The cathedral cove is a marine reserve on the Coromandel peninsula. It looks awesome there! After that we drove back to Auckland because we both had to work the next day.

I am very happy in New Zeeland and glad with my family here. I enjoy the time with the children and love to see how Maia is growing up. Now she begins to walk. Every day she is learning something new and Honor is such a good girl! My host parents give me the feeling to be a part of the family and I am happy to be in this family.

Wish you all the best

See you,

Mirjam