Autumn In Another Land

It is difficult to feel like it is actually Thanksgiving or Christmas season here in New Zealand. While usually trees lose their green vibrant colors and fade into the comfortable fall colors, they are actually gaining some of their green back in the Southern Hemisphere spring! Most trees and plants here in New Zealand have just been green year round, so there isn't much of a change in the hillsides. As well, the temperature is rising, the beach is becoming more inviting, and we are all wearing fewer jackets and socks.

And what would this season be without a big Thanksgiving feast? So our wonderful kitchen staff coordinated for all the students to be able to make their own special recipes at home to prepare for a large feast. Then we sent out invitations to everyone we could think of we've been connected to here in Piha as well as the greater Auckland area. Students together produced a most delectable meal of appetizers, breads, pies, turkeys, mashed potatoes, desserts, and drinks (including Horchata!) for the several guests we invited.




Homestay parents, different people from the Piha community, and even some more recent friends joined us in our hall to enjoy all of our American Thanksgiving food, hear a bit about what Thanksgiving means to us, and play a Turkey Day Jeopardy game. The game was Kiwis Vs. Americans, and for Final Jeopardy, Alex was clever enough to rig it so that we won by ONE POINT. I was in a nearby building and heard an eruption of cheer and protest reverberate throughout our property from that nice little trick.




Currently, Forest Ecology is well underway. Today we spent lots of our time in a local preserved Kauri grove examining and identifying all kinds of plants. We even spotted some great birds like Silver Eyes, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, and some Fantails.

Piha Film Series, Crazy Hair Day

[Our outdoor theater showing "Millions."]
This last week we featured the 2007 CCSP Piha Film Series for a few of the nights. We began with a viewing of "Millions" on Monday night, then an episode of Planet Earth about seasonal forests (to prepare for this week's Forest Ecology Trip!) on Tuesday night, with a showing of "Black Gold" on Wednesday night. Short discussions preceded and followed each flick, and a small opening fireworks display was always witnessed to start off the nights. I made some popcorn on one of the nights with tons of butter and tons of salt. I don't really know if it can be eaten any other way. Do you?

We also held Wacky Hair Wednesday this last week. I was pretty impressed. Check out this picture!


And I think I need to show one of our staff. Matt with a bird nest, Nate with Tina Turner Fro, and Jess with the tallest pointiest hair I've ever seen.

Our Everday Life, Sustainable Dev. #2

Mick Duncan is back for week two of Sustainable Development. The sun has been out for a few days. The summer season is creeping up here in the southern hemisphere. Life is good.

This last weekend, a crew of students and Matt and myself went hiking through the muddy and beautiful Waitakere Ranges. We ended up setting ourselves up at a really well kept camp site in the middle of cow pastures. At one point, Jake and Joe were chased by hungry cows. We enjoyed some nice panoramic views, listened to the wild screeching of Cockatoos (yeah, wild Cockatoos!), and tried to get the cows to chase us around the pastures.

Here are some pictures of our everyday life here in Piha:

Notice the graceful serving position of Cam. He is known by many as a terrible volleyball force.

Erica and Allyson stirring up some pumpkin and baking some pumpkin bread for this Saturday's Thanksgiving feast. What sweethearts.

Here are some studiers. What good students. It was a perfectly sunny day out, and here they are...doing homework. Good job guys, good job.

Last night we showed a movie outdoors called "Millions." Matt put together a great outdoor living room! It was complete with mattresses, a small fire with hangi rocks, and sofas. Allison made some delectable hot chocolate that tasted like a liquid dark chocolate bar. AAAAAAAH! So good.

Here we are having lunch today.

Here is a picture of Joelle. She's great.

Some guys, just eatin some food. Jason wanted to be extra sure he was in mid-bite when I took this picture. I'm not sure why? Action shot?

Cameron and Jake. Silly Cameron.

Environmental Lit and Study Week

Students are chillin' out after a week of intense backpacking and travel about New Zealand. We had term break this last week, and most of the students broke off into small groups Some went to South Island, some stayed on the North, and some were lucky to visit friends.

Now about eight students are back at it in class this week studying Environmental Lit. I love it; I sat in on class the first day to listen to Robert Frost and Emily Dickenson poems while students discussed meaning. The rest of the students are either working on independent studies, playing guitar and singing (Abe), getting outside to play volleyball in the wind, or still traveling about. With the pace of this week's class times, the time "off" for the students not taking the Environmental Lit. elective, it looks like it's gonna round out to be a more relaxing week. Love and greetings to our friends and families back at home!

God & Nature #2, Costume Mayhem

Alright folks. We have had a couple of different parties here at CCSP this semester. We've celebrated a few birthdays, had a Samoan party, and various other small time dance times and goofy times. But last night, we held a Costume Mayhem party to celebrate in a small way the Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere we all miss a bit.

I've laughed pretty hard while working here. Sometimes the students do things that are just hilarious. Last night was one of those moments. So all I'm going to do is post some pictures of your ridiculous sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends so you can maybe have a few laughs with me.


This is Ben, Bethany, and Nate. They are a Morepork (NZ Owl) and two Puriri Moths. They had fantastic costumes, they read a poem, and even did a dramatic interpretation of the life cycle of the Puriri Moth. Bethany the Morepork actually ended up "swooping down" (running from a mysterious dark place) and chased Nate and tackled Ben on the lawn. We absolutely loved it.


Please notice Erica with a beard drawn on her face, the 80s girls, and little Bo-Peep behind the post (Abe!).

This is the Blue Man Group (Ginny, Aaron, and Allison). Sometimes creepy last night.


This is Suze. She busted out some great 80s dance moves with some spunk! Look at that smile!


The last thing I'll post up is a picture of Matt and myself. We're the ones doin' all this blog writing. Hope our friends and family are all well back at home.

God & Nature #1, Homestays

This is a view from above a beach about a kilometer away from the property.

We returned from Samoa and got right back into the classroom for a week of God & Nature with Brian Walsh. We enjoyed coming back to this place, and some of us needed a good week of being in one place for awhile to recover from the Samoan experience. I had anticipated that my chronic dandruff problem would be solved after spending so much time in the tropical climate and in saltwater, but...none can do.

The week after God & Nature was our New Zealand Homestay week. Students ventured out to stay with Kiwi families in the greater Auckland area for about a week. Some jet-skied, some traveled about a bit, and some just did some good ole being a couch potato with their families. Personally, I'm glad to see all the students back here in Piha. I think I shed a tear one night missing them while they were gone.

Here are some more pictures of our place here.

This is a view of a sunset from the local domain (park).

We also created a small labyrinth on the property for our community worship. Here are some pictures of our time in the labyrinth.



--updated by Kevin (Matt has no dandruff problems)

Week #3-Taufua and Marine Ecology

We were united with our rookie Marine Ecology professor, Brian Stockwell. He showed no signs of springtide as we were quickly impressed and enthused by the love that he has for the ocean and its creatures. Brian traveled from the Philippines (where he works as part of several MPAs (marine protected areas) to be with us for the week at Taufua. We were able to stay right on the beach in fale's with the reef just meters away from our sandy doorsteps. It was quite a life, with loads of snorkeling, sunsets, and Samoa's attempt to make us comfortable by feeding up heaps of fried "Western" food. The effort was appreciated greatly and we again, got to experience the hospitality and love of Samoan people.