Canoe Club (why not kayak club?)

This morning Mel, Lauren and I went kayaking down a river with the boating club. When we arrived on campus to catch a ride there were about 50 people and not enough cars so we had to wait around for about an hour. Apparently that is normal. Canoe club time is two hours later than normal time. Half of us went down the river to the half way point and then the others went down the rest of the river. Some guys got off onto the bank and started throwing mud at us so I paddled to the side, grabbed some mud and started throwing it at people. Then I took my kayak up to the dock and jumped in the water. After we had a barbeque with sausages, on white bread with grilled onions and tomato sauce. I should start a count of how many sausages I have eaten since I have been here. I think its about 15 free sausages so far because for every orientation event they would have free food and it was always sausage, sometimes with hash browns. I put the hash browns on top and call it a college meal.  One guy who came on the trip legally changed his named Obi Wan Kanobe (no I am not a Star Wars nerd so I don’t know how to spell it). I haven’t heard the story yet, but apparently it’s worth hearing. He is about late thirties/early forties and films for a television show about helicopter rescue missions. A few days ago he saw a car crash victim with a pole through his shoulder who they had to airlift to the hospital. He has also worked in Africa, trying to reveal rhino and elephant poachers. He has to travel with anti-poacher guards because the poachers obviously don’t want to be revealed and aren’t afraid to kill anyone who gets in their way. Obe told me about the atrocities of these poachers and how they take the entire horn by cutting off the rhino’s face and leaving it to die in agony. He also went into a cave and filmed a lion walking in. Next, he is going to India to film a new T.V. show. He wouldn’t disclose the name of the show, however.

 Tomorrow I’m going to another kayaking event. We are going to learn how to flip in a kayak. I’m thinking of joining Scuba Club, but don’t have enough money to get certified. Obviously, NZ would be one of the coolest places to learn. Gus and Eric stampeded into our room tonight and took off all of the sheets and comforters from our beds and then flipped them over so we put a bucket of water against their door… so they copied us and did the same. Get original guys, come on!

Yesterday, I walked around the city looking for my classes and trying to find a store that sells tents. Some guy I met at a café told me his sister worked in admissions so she could get me a map. He told me that their family had moved to New Zealand from England 26 years ago, back when there was still animosity towards the British for colonialism. He was disappointed when I told him I am twenty because he is 32. Its not as if I would date him anyways, even if I was older. He was nice though and showed me where all my classes are, rolling his child-sized BMX bike along and telling me about a crazy concert he went to last weekend. After we parted ways, I searched for a camping store called Doyle’s that he told me is as cheap as The Warehouse, but better quality. I walked to the Sky Tower, but couldn’t find it. By the end of the day I felt the way you do after a long day of showing, aching and parched (guys, you may not know how this feels). I had to get out of the city so I caught the next AUT bus at 4:30 back to Akoranga on the North Shore where I live. When I got back it was still sunny out so I decided to familiarize myself with the way to the beach. I seem to get lost every time I try finding it. It’s already a 35 minute walk, which for me becomes an hour walk.

The tutorial I was waiting for apparently moved, but no worries because I had to switch classes again anyways. Now I’m taking a creative writing  class. Ok now I’m not in a creative writing class, I switched back to a sports media class or “paper” as they call it.