Hey May, How's it hanging?

After my exciting trip to Tongariro at the end of April, the month of May was pretty calm. My roommates and I discovered a frozen yoghurt shop that we really liked called yoghurt story, so several trips were made down the street at night since it was one of the few places that stayed open until later than 7. I always got original flavor with some granola sprinkled on top. This is very different from my usual froyo habits in Boston of piling as much chocolate as I can in as many forms as it comes on top my my yoghurt. Why the sudden change in behavior? I don't know exactly but whatever the reason, it was nice to enjoy the actual taste of the yoghurt itself. 

 Back at work, I was still having a good time with Cate, although I couldn't believe that she had never even heard of Reese's before. That is one of my favorite candies! They didn't sell it in the food store but I found a convenience store down the street that sold them so I made sure to bring one in for her the next day. 

The BU group organized a trip for us all to go to Rotorua for a weekend, so that happened one of the first weekends in May. We all piled into a big coach bus and drove to the infamous sulfur smelling city. Rotorua  sits atop geothermal vents that release gases into the air, permeating everything with that classic egg smell. Luckily it went away pretty quickly once we got there and got used to it.

Some people went zorbing, which is one of New Zealand's unique thrill experiences where you're shoved inside a plastic ball and rolled down a hill, usually with a couple other people inside with you. I didn't partake because I tend to get motion sickness, but I did enjoy watching everyone dizzily push themselves out of the big ball at the end. Quite entertaining. 

Laura exiting her zorb

The rest of the weekend was really nice and pretty relaxing. We had filled up the entire section of a hostel, so it felt like a big family reunion all living in the same house. There was a barbeque the first night and leftovers the rest of the time. We played games, listened to music, and socialized with everyone that we didn't normally see in our everyday routines back in Auckland. It was also here that the seed was planted by my friend Dina for the idea of putting on a talent show at the end of the semester. She came up with the idea and together we approached everyone and pitched it to them, hoping for (and receiving!) an enthusiastic response. This was going to be so much fun!

The next day in Rotorua we went on a geothermal valley walk and saw some really cool vents and small geysers. There was one spot where we all shouted really loudly and it echoed throughout the entire valley. Very cool. Rotorua was a nice relaxing weekend spent in good company. 

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Echo Lake

Walking through geothermal vents

At the end of May I volunteered at the Auckland City Photography Festival. I watched an exhibit and made sure none of the works were damaged and then I handed out gift bags and encouraged people to listen to the lectures being given by some prominent photographers in the Art Gallery. Unfortunately I wasn't able to listen to the lectures myself but it was a good experience all in all. And with that, faster than I was ready for, May was over and June was beginning. This would be my final month is New Zealand; how had 5 months passed so quickly?