Saturday, April 11, 2009

t-minus 10 days

Hello everybody!!!


Only a few days until we leave for New Zealand! We'll be staying at Lincoln University in Christchurch. Christchurch is the largest city on the south island of New Zealand. Just take a look at this handy map that I've found.



[Look at the east side of the South Island]





You can see that it's by that little bump (Banks Peninsula), which is where we'll be weta hunting.

Some fun facts about Christchurch:


-It is equally far south as Wavelry ,IA is north.

-It is a key departure point for Antarctic expeditions.

-Known as the "garden city".

-Resident Wizard?

-Parts of the Lord of the Ring films were shot here.


Our trip has two components: Ecology and Maori Culture


Some of the things we're doing include studying the weta (a nocturnal grasshopper-like creature), studying sand dune plants, going on a dolphin cruise to see Hector's Dolphins, hiking at Arthur's Pass, and perhaps going to a Maori (Native NZ people) hangi (it's a feast that's almost like a luau).







This little cutie is a type of tree weta that we'll be looking for.

Well, that is all for now, more to come soon!



Ka Kite Ano (until I see you again),

Hilary







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