I started the day out with IEP's orientation, nine stories above the nearest Starbuck's. I misestimated my packing time, so I didn't have time to grab a bite beforehand. It was about three hours long and I was about ready to gnaw a limb or two off by the end of it. Other than that it was all right. Just about everyone at IEP had come from abroad, loved it and stayed.
There was a lot of fluff to start out-- the kiwi accent, quirks of a culture very similar to ours (though I'm being a bit unfair calling that fluff-- not everyone there was American or Canadian, just most of us), etc. Then we started going over all the attractions around the islands and holy smokes there are a lot of them. There are so many, in fact, that any attempt to give a comprehensive list becomes downright tedious by the thirtieth gorgeous forest/unique geothermal spot/scary place to jump off. Especially if you haven't eaten anything yet. The best part, by far, was the description the German guy gave of New Zealand's rail system. Positively sodden with distain.


Fo' real, dough. See also:




It was also a frustrating and scary road, when driven by a city boy who's rusty with a stick shift and doesn't have all the reference points for driving lefty internalized yet. We didn't crash, but I spent more time six inches away from beautiful precipices than the rest of my life combined.
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