August Showers Bring September Flowers

Spring has sprung in Christchurch! The blossoms are everywhere, as are the sweet smells.

Particularly impressive are the towering rhododendrons. If they don't call them trees here, as opposed to bushes, they definitely should.

This rhododendron is about as tall as a two story building and the blossoms look like 

the puffy kleenex flowers we used to make to go on cars at weddings.

Here are some more photos I took while out for walks around home and on campus.  Unfortunately, I just had the camera on my phone so the photos aren't as good as they could be. I'll have to start walking around with my camera in my backpack! 

I'm not familiar with the plants above but I definitely recognize the azaleas below. 

I think Kiwis must sneak plant steroids into the soil. :)

 

Below is a row of (what I believe are) cherry blossoms, lining the road that 

runs next to Hagley Park in the center of the city.

Next blog: My first kayaking adventure in New Zealand. 

(Hint: It was amazing. :)

Mary had a little lamb, fries and a coke

Here are some more additions to my list of observations that now make up my new normal:

- there are no squirrels for the dogs to chase, and no coyotes to get the dogs

- McDonalds serves lamb burgers. Their most recent ad: "Mary had a little lamb, fries and a coke." Very, very clever.

- campus wear is *not* mostly jeans, especially for female students who dress very individualistically. While most individualism is quite stylish, it can also be just individualistic. Example: The 25-30ish year old staff member who gave me a tutorial on how to use the online student management system was dressed in a new dress that was somewhat of a cross between a square dance dress and a traditional German dress, but with lacing on the back. It was quite lovely and very unique.

- some folks walk around barefoot (or in the winter, in flipflops)

- style, even in college administration, is less conservative. Example: one of the 30ish year old staff members in the dean's office has her hair died very bright pink.

- the water from the tap is the best water I've ever tasted, and it's free.

- prepositions can differ from what I'm used to. Example: 1. "Just give a call and we can talk on what's needed." ( I'd say 'talk *about* what's needed'). 2. Sign on bus: "Not on service" (I'd say 'not *in* service')

- I have even more of an accent now than I did when I lived in the States (not that the way I speak has necessarily changed much :)

Cheers,
Beth