Snow, church, and Johhny Depp

Sorry I haven't posted in a while; I've been kinda busy. Some exciting things have been happening! First of all, it snowed last week!!! It was so beautful. Kestrel came into my room and woke me up Monday morning screaming, "Jessi, it's snowing!" I was like, "What?" (I was still mostly asleep.) She went to my window and threw back the curtains and I couldn't believe my eyes - everything was covered in white and the snow was still falling. I hurried up and ate and got dressed (no time for a shower) and went outside to play. We made my very first real snowman and had a snowball fight with some of our friends. So fun. The crazy part is that I was wearing a tshirt outside two days before. Apparently we got an Antarctic blast or something.

Also, I finally found a church! Its called City New Life and I love it; everyone is so nice, the worship is great, everything is great. And it's in this cool old building downtown. I like it a lot. I just wish I would have found it sooner. Now I only have like 6 more weeks to go. Wow, I've almost been here for three months. Can you believe that? Right when I start to get settled and comfortable I'll have to leave. Not that I don't want to leave - I do miss you guys tremendously, but I can see how its gonna be hard leaving all of the people that I 've shared my life with these last few months. It would be like leaving Auburn for good after my first semester. I mean I hated college when I first got there; I missed my friends from high school so much, but after I got through the first semester I loved it. Its kind of the same thing here. Although, I seriously doubt I could love this place as much as I love Auburn. The friends I've made there will never be replaced.

On a happy and relieving note, I got an A on that research report I was slightly worried about, so thats good news. I'm just about done with the hard school work stuff now - just one more test and then finals! Hooray! Now I can relax and read...something I've been loving lately.

Anything new in Auburn? Are there a lot of new people in XA? How's the football team doing?

In addition I need some sane people to back me up in the fact that Johhny Depp is one of the most amazing actors out there...I din't say the best, but he's definitely one of them. I have officially declared war against Josh Ezzell in this matter. I need soldiers. I need you!! So, my fellow Johhny Depp fans, our ammunition is as follows: leave comments on either my blog or on Josh's saying why Johhny Depp is such an amazing actor. Thank you so much for your support. Peace, Love, Nike

Did we really lose to Georgia Tech?!?

Chapstick and chapped lips and things like chemistry

Hello my loves, I know I haven't written in a while, but I've been busy busy busy. I had a research report and an essay due last week and they were pretty difficult, but now I am happy to say they have been turned in and I no longer have to worry about them (not that I worried...worrying is bad for you, you know).

Not too much else going on in my life. Well, except for a couple of things I guess. I went to a Student Life meeting Thursday and I really liked it. They are basically like Campus Crusades, for those of you who have heard of them in the States. Two of the leaders are actually from Alabama! Birmingham to be exact. So that was cool. And they played reliant k and switchfoot which are two of my favorite bands (by the way, the title is a reliant k song).I'm looking forward to going back next week.

I got a guitar yesterday! I was dying without one, so I went and got a cheap one that I could sell back at the end of the semester. My fingers hurt so bad. I love it.

I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night. I liked it a lot, but I couldn't help but compare it to the old movie the whole time I was watching it, and it really didn't compare. I have decided that Johnny Depp is my favorite actor though. He really is amazing. I mean Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Carribbean, What's eating Gilbert Grape, and now Charlie and the chocolate factory - all great movies, and all very different characters that Johnny Depp does an amazing job of portraying.

Man I really have nothing interesting to say. So sorry. Maybe I'll make something up later and write about it...

"We are the music makers and the dreamers of dreams."
-Willy Wonka

Pictures of my holiday travels! Starting at Abel Tasman...(I'm going backwards)

First day - kayaking...work those arms baby!




























Second day - hiking...and fording freezing streams














But the scenery was amazing...the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen













Taking a little rest on the beach before the water taxi came to pick us up.

The infamous Queen Charlotte track

This is the view from the back of the boat on the way to our drop off point.














A couple of the viewpoints (first day)














Second day's travels...














The rainbow...so gorgeous.

The finish line! I was so exhausted...I could barely walk.

Kaikoura

On our way to swim with the dolphins!













Swimming circles with the Dusky Dolphins - check out those mountains in the background!













Our view from the hostel.














Group shot!














Momma sheep. Interesting fact: the sheep to people ratio in New Zealand is 12:1...scary...they could take over...like Animal Farm...such a crazy book













View from on top of a big rock on the Kaikoura coast.