My mum and I
Me with the Christmas ham
Our Family Christmas Tree
My Dad and I
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas Photos
Me playing Cricket for the first time with my (host) cousins.
My mum and I
Me with the Christmas ham
Our Family Christmas Tree
My Dad and I
My mum and I
Me with the Christmas ham
Our Family Christmas Tree
My Dad and I
Friday, December 19, 2008
Windy Wellington!
Kia Ora everyone! Been a long time since I have written a blog! My last trip has taken me to the bottom of the north island to the capital city in New Zealand, Wellington. It is known to be one of the places with the most wind in all of NZ and in the world. It was great weather for the most part. I got to go to the parliament building while I was there and do a tour around to see where the Prime Minister of NZ does a lot of stuff. We saw places such as where he entertains queens, kings, other prime ministers, and presidents. I also got to visit Te Papa museum which is the national museum for New Zealand. Nina and I were lucky enough to be there the week they opened up the new piece of it which is the part that holds the colossal squid. It weights in at a shocking 495kgs which equals 1091 pounds. It was found and frozen in Antarctica. It was something pretty cool to see. While in Wellington, I also got to meet up with my mates Jane and Alexis who flew over on the same plane as I did and who will fly back on the same plane with me. Jane is from New York State and Alexis is from Phoenix, Arizona. We had a great time hanging out! Nina and I had nothing to do one night so we decided to go to a football game (soccer) and watch that along with 2 other mates, 1 being from my exchange chapter. The 4 of us greatly enjoyed the game and it was nice to actually attend a NZ sporting event. Jane, Alexis, and I also managed to get to one of the many Burger Wisconsin's which are in Wellington and in other parts of the country. It is home of the best burgers in the world! The burgers were great so if you make it to NZ, go to a Burger Wisconsin!
Lastly, I would just like to send out a big thanks to everyone that has been keeping up with the New Zealand Adventure! I hope everyone has enjoyed my posts and has been coming back often to make sure I am still kick’n! I hope everyone has a very good holiday season and a Merry Christmas! This will however be the last blog I write. My journey is going to come to an end before I know it. However, the dates of my arrival are still undecided. (My parents don’t even know when I am coming home! haha). The next few things I am doing while still in NZ are having Christmas with family and then it will no doubt be New Years. Then I will spend my remaining extra weeks finishing off what I wanted to achieve while being here. I would like to send out a big thanks as well to some of the people who have made this trip possible for me and this much fun! The following people/places deserve great thanks- Ron and Geney Johnson, Steen Construction, Diane and Ken Hendricks along with ABC Supply Co., The Schwerke Family, Mark and Donna Steen, Hong Construction, the Colby's, my parents and other Pettis Family, and all the other people who donated to help make this trip as much fun as it has been. I will be posting Christmas photos on the blog but there will be no written information. Check back to see pictures!
Big thanks to Tom and Pat Morgan for hosting me too! Could not have been possible without them! They are great beyond belief!
Once again, THANK YOU and have a wonderful Christmas. See you all mid-late January! Cheers.
Josh Pettis
Lastly, I would just like to send out a big thanks to everyone that has been keeping up with the New Zealand Adventure! I hope everyone has enjoyed my posts and has been coming back often to make sure I am still kick’n! I hope everyone has a very good holiday season and a Merry Christmas! This will however be the last blog I write. My journey is going to come to an end before I know it. However, the dates of my arrival are still undecided. (My parents don’t even know when I am coming home! haha). The next few things I am doing while still in NZ are having Christmas with family and then it will no doubt be New Years. Then I will spend my remaining extra weeks finishing off what I wanted to achieve while being here. I would like to send out a big thanks as well to some of the people who have made this trip possible for me and this much fun! The following people/places deserve great thanks- Ron and Geney Johnson, Steen Construction, Diane and Ken Hendricks along with ABC Supply Co., The Schwerke Family, Mark and Donna Steen, Hong Construction, the Colby's, my parents and other Pettis Family, and all the other people who donated to help make this trip as much fun as it has been. I will be posting Christmas photos on the blog but there will be no written information. Check back to see pictures!
Big thanks to Tom and Pat Morgan for hosting me too! Could not have been possible without them! They are great beyond belief!
Once again, THANK YOU and have a wonderful Christmas. See you all mid-late January! Cheers.
Josh Pettis
Pictures below include:
Me and Alexis and Burger Wisconsin
Me with mates at the footy game
Me and Felicity (the lady Nina and I stayed with)
The Parliament building
The Squid
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wedding!!!
Hello~
Hope everyone is doing well. As you all are probably aware, my brother Chris got married last weekend in Hahei just above the beach. It was a great wedding and we were blessed to have scorching hot weather. It was on Saturday and the weather was around 85-90 degrees. I got to meet several people that were either family or friends of the family. Because my mum Pat has most of her family living in Australia, I got to meet several of her side of the family which I enjoyed greatly. During the wedding, I was asked to video tape as much as I could and take photos of it as well. I managed to take lots of video and many pictures. I later put all the video into DVD’s to give to close friends and family to have as a gift.
My mum (in the states) has been asking me, “When are you writing a blog? When are you writing a blog? Have you written it yet? Yet?.” I figure I probably should write one now so you all know that I am doing fine (haha). I am currently in the countries capital, Wellington, on a small getaway trip. I will be sure to write another blog when I return back to my small town up north with many pictures and stories to share. I hope everyone is doing great! Check back late next week for a blog on my trip to Wellington. Cheers!
Picture 1- My Mum and I Dancing
Picture 2- My sister Shelly and I
Picture 3- Me and my sister-in-law Tracey and my brother Chris :)
Hope everyone is doing well. As you all are probably aware, my brother Chris got married last weekend in Hahei just above the beach. It was a great wedding and we were blessed to have scorching hot weather. It was on Saturday and the weather was around 85-90 degrees. I got to meet several people that were either family or friends of the family. Because my mum Pat has most of her family living in Australia, I got to meet several of her side of the family which I enjoyed greatly. During the wedding, I was asked to video tape as much as I could and take photos of it as well. I managed to take lots of video and many pictures. I later put all the video into DVD’s to give to close friends and family to have as a gift.
My mum (in the states) has been asking me, “When are you writing a blog? When are you writing a blog? Have you written it yet? Yet?.” I figure I probably should write one now so you all know that I am doing fine (haha). I am currently in the countries capital, Wellington, on a small getaway trip. I will be sure to write another blog when I return back to my small town up north with many pictures and stories to share. I hope everyone is doing great! Check back late next week for a blog on my trip to Wellington. Cheers!
Picture 1- My Mum and I Dancing
Picture 2- My sister Shelly and I
Picture 3- Me and my sister-in-law Tracey and my brother Chris :)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Christchurch!
Kia Ora! Hope I find everyone is doing fine! As you all know, I just came back from Christchurch a few days ago so I have been trying to sort through photos and things. I will start by saying Christchurch is a beautiful city with many things to offer almost anyone. It is a very English looking city with old buildings. It has around 370,000 people and public buses traveling every direction you can see!
Nina (Austrian) and I flew down to Christchurch Monday afternoon and arrived around 3p.m that day. The lady we were staying with (Barbara) picked us up there and showed us around the city. We then went back to her house and ordered pizza because Barbara had a dinner meeting in the city.
The next day I went into the city to hang out with some exchange students I had not seen since the first day in NZ and Nina took off to go on a horse trek all day. Meanwhile, I hung out with Aniely (Brazil) and Debora (Paraguay) and they showed me around the city. Aniely lives in Christchurch with her host family so it was nice having someone who knew the city showing you around! Later that day, the girls took me on the city tram and gondola ride which was very fun! After that, we did lots of shopping for souvenirs and had dinner. I left them to go home but I ran into a "slight" problem........ I managed to get on the wrong bus which took me ALL THE WAY to the coast which was 40 minutes out of the way. I was then dropped off at the last stop which was a good 1 hour and 20 minutes from where I was suppose to get dropped off! I managed to find the right bus eventually and make it back home. However, I had given Nina enough crap about getting on the wrong bus about 2 weeks ago so between her and Barbara laughing and texting people about my mistake, I never heard the end to the laughter!
The next day, Nina did another horse trek and I went back into the city to meet with more exchange students. I met up with Aniely and Debora again along with Felipe and Antonio (Chile) and Felipe (Costa Rica). The guys and I decided to go to an indoor wave pool with spas, sauna's, and swim lanes. It was quite fun! Then we went into the city and met with another bunch of AFS students and we all had dinner at La Porchetta (an Italian place). There were about 15 of us out to eat.
The last day, Nina and I went into the city and looked for last minute things to buy. Then we headed to the Antarctic Centre because it was a 5 minute walk from the airport. We also stopped to see the United States Antarctic Program Air Force Base which is in Christchurch. It takes supplies to Antarctica along with scientists and soldiers. We then did a ride at the Antarctic Centre which simulated what goes on in Antarctica along with the temperature. We were allowed to go into a room where the room was -18 degrees Celsius. I don't know that in F though.
After flying back to Auckland, I stayed the night at Nina's house in Hamilton. I then arrived back in my town on Friday afternoon. It was a long but great week away!
I know this post was late, BUT you have to be patient because I am not near the computer always and when I am, I am not always in a mood to type paragraphs full of information! Hope you enjoyed! Check back in a week or so and I might have more :)
Me, Charles, Felipe, Antonio, Felipe, Debora, Aniely
Me at the Bridge of Remembrance
Barbara and I
Me with the Arctic Mobile!
Nina (Austrian) and I flew down to Christchurch Monday afternoon and arrived around 3p.m that day. The lady we were staying with (Barbara) picked us up there and showed us around the city. We then went back to her house and ordered pizza because Barbara had a dinner meeting in the city.
The next day I went into the city to hang out with some exchange students I had not seen since the first day in NZ and Nina took off to go on a horse trek all day. Meanwhile, I hung out with Aniely (Brazil) and Debora (Paraguay) and they showed me around the city. Aniely lives in Christchurch with her host family so it was nice having someone who knew the city showing you around! Later that day, the girls took me on the city tram and gondola ride which was very fun! After that, we did lots of shopping for souvenirs and had dinner. I left them to go home but I ran into a "slight" problem........ I managed to get on the wrong bus which took me ALL THE WAY to the coast which was 40 minutes out of the way. I was then dropped off at the last stop which was a good 1 hour and 20 minutes from where I was suppose to get dropped off! I managed to find the right bus eventually and make it back home. However, I had given Nina enough crap about getting on the wrong bus about 2 weeks ago so between her and Barbara laughing and texting people about my mistake, I never heard the end to the laughter!
The next day, Nina did another horse trek and I went back into the city to meet with more exchange students. I met up with Aniely and Debora again along with Felipe and Antonio (Chile) and Felipe (Costa Rica). The guys and I decided to go to an indoor wave pool with spas, sauna's, and swim lanes. It was quite fun! Then we went into the city and met with another bunch of AFS students and we all had dinner at La Porchetta (an Italian place). There were about 15 of us out to eat.
The last day, Nina and I went into the city and looked for last minute things to buy. Then we headed to the Antarctic Centre because it was a 5 minute walk from the airport. We also stopped to see the United States Antarctic Program Air Force Base which is in Christchurch. It takes supplies to Antarctica along with scientists and soldiers. We then did a ride at the Antarctic Centre which simulated what goes on in Antarctica along with the temperature. We were allowed to go into a room where the room was -18 degrees Celsius. I don't know that in F though.
After flying back to Auckland, I stayed the night at Nina's house in Hamilton. I then arrived back in my town on Friday afternoon. It was a long but great week away!
I know this post was late, BUT you have to be patient because I am not near the computer always and when I am, I am not always in a mood to type paragraphs full of information! Hope you enjoyed! Check back in a week or so and I might have more :)
Me, Charles, Felipe, Antonio, Felipe, Debora, Aniely
Me at the Bridge of Remembrance
Barbara and I
Nina and I on the plane
Me with the Arctic Mobile!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Heli Ride!
Gidday! I am again SORRY that I forgot to post this past week. Because school is coming to an end this Thursday, I will be posting a blog once every week or whenever I do something. I go to Christchurch next Monday (17th) so that is what I am looking forward to next!
Ok so, this weekend, my mate Nina (Austrian exchange student) came to stay at my house for the weekend. We went to Shakespeare Cliff which is a few kilometres down the road from my house. The history to that cliff was made by Captain Cook. Captain cook landed on "Cooks Beach" and saw the cliff next to it and thought it looked like Shakespeare nose, so he named it Shakespeare Cliff. I have a picture attached on the bottom of the view from the cliff. It’s amazing!
After going to Shakespeare’s Cliff, we walked to the ferry landing which was another kilometre or so. We got on the ferry and went across and had lunch at a Fish N' Chips place. We then started our walk to the Whitianga Airport which was a very long distance (maybe 3km or more?) When we got to the airport, we hung around for a hour or so and then boarded the helicopter. It was just us two so we got a private ride. The pilot, Karen, showed us lots of the islands and things around Whitianga. It was really a great ride. We were only in the air for about 15 minutes but then again, it costs a fortune to get a helicopter off the ground. After that, we got a ride back into town and went to the beach for a bit but however, it started to rain so we walked back to our bus stop. The rain stopped and we eventually walked back down to the beach for a bit and then went back to catch our bus from Whitianga back around to Hahei.
After getting back to Hahei, we went down to Hahei beach and walked along that and through the marine reserve. That was another good 1km walk. After that, we went back to the Cafe which my mum Pat owns and we had dinner there. We ate fast because it was close to 7p.m and we wanted to go to Cathedral Cove yet which is only a 1 hour walk from the Cafe. However, in NZ, when the sun starts to go down, you have about 5-10 minutes before its BLACK! The sun crashes down. We made it the cove and then started walking back to the cafe. It was pitch black and we only got lost 1 time by taking the wrong trail but soon got back on the right one :). We then headed back to the cafe and my mum picked us up there. That was my excitement for the weekend!!!
Hope you enjoyed the blog post this week! I will be writing one again after I return from Christchurch which will probably be the 20th of November. I believe that is a Thursday? Thanks!
Ok so, this weekend, my mate Nina (Austrian exchange student) came to stay at my house for the weekend. We went to Shakespeare Cliff which is a few kilometres down the road from my house. The history to that cliff was made by Captain Cook. Captain cook landed on "Cooks Beach" and saw the cliff next to it and thought it looked like Shakespeare nose, so he named it Shakespeare Cliff. I have a picture attached on the bottom of the view from the cliff. It’s amazing!
After going to Shakespeare’s Cliff, we walked to the ferry landing which was another kilometre or so. We got on the ferry and went across and had lunch at a Fish N' Chips place. We then started our walk to the Whitianga Airport which was a very long distance (maybe 3km or more?) When we got to the airport, we hung around for a hour or so and then boarded the helicopter. It was just us two so we got a private ride. The pilot, Karen, showed us lots of the islands and things around Whitianga. It was really a great ride. We were only in the air for about 15 minutes but then again, it costs a fortune to get a helicopter off the ground. After that, we got a ride back into town and went to the beach for a bit but however, it started to rain so we walked back to our bus stop. The rain stopped and we eventually walked back down to the beach for a bit and then went back to catch our bus from Whitianga back around to Hahei.
After getting back to Hahei, we went down to Hahei beach and walked along that and through the marine reserve. That was another good 1km walk. After that, we went back to the Cafe which my mum Pat owns and we had dinner there. We ate fast because it was close to 7p.m and we wanted to go to Cathedral Cove yet which is only a 1 hour walk from the Cafe. However, in NZ, when the sun starts to go down, you have about 5-10 minutes before its BLACK! The sun crashes down. We made it the cove and then started walking back to the cafe. It was pitch black and we only got lost 1 time by taking the wrong trail but soon got back on the right one :). We then headed back to the cafe and my mum picked us up there. That was my excitement for the weekend!!!
Hope you enjoyed the blog post this week! I will be writing one again after I return from Christchurch which will probably be the 20th of November. I believe that is a Thursday? Thanks!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Over half way done!
Oi! I hope everyone is doing well. I apologize again for no blog last week! I was kind of busy and out of the house most of the time. Anyhow, last week was a weird week for me considering my mates and I had to get used to going to school again (haha). I did however enjoy last week a lot because we had to rush through one of our cooking units, which was "hot finger food" so that meant we got to cook everyday of the week except Friday. Then this past weekend I helped my host mum in her cafe for 3 days because on Monday of this week, we did not have school because it is the national Labour holiday. We were so busy in the cafe it wasn't even funny! It was nice to get busy and have something to do that keeps you on your toes. Besides school, there hasn’t been a lot new with me. I am however quite saddened because I know that my time left here in New Zealand is quite short so I am trying to get out and experience everything I can before coming home to the USA. My Austrian friend Nina and I leave to go to the South Island and visit Christchurch on the 17th of November so we are quite excited for that. We also have a trip booked to take a 9 hour train ride from Hamilton, which is located towards the top of the north island, and travel all the way down to Wellington which is at the bottom of the north island. It should be really fun because we should get to see much of what New Zealand has to offer. We will be taking that trip on the 10th of December and staying there for a week. Overall, nothing new is coming up that I know of but then again, things are always coming up for me to do, I am normally just unaware (haha).
At the bottom, I have attached a few pictures! Enjoy! Thanks for reading!
My new meals which I eat all the time and have adapted to love!
(includes corn silverside, califlower, broccoli, cooked cabbage, mashed spuds, and green beens)
Something tells me I am eatting better than my mates back in Osseo? haha.
My steak my mum gave me to cook
in cooking class (I ate it all, not a problem)
At the bottom, I have attached a few pictures! Enjoy! Thanks for reading!
My new meals which I eat all the time and have adapted to love!
(includes corn silverside, califlower, broccoli, cooked cabbage, mashed spuds, and green beens)
Something tells me I am eatting better than my mates back in Osseo? haha.
My steak my mum gave me to cook
in cooking class (I ate it all, not a problem)
Me and my mum outside her cafe. (Luna Cafe)
Picture of me above Hahei beach
Friday, October 24, 2008
~Sorry~
Sorry for the delay with the blog. Not lots of time to write this week due to the Labour Weekend in New Zealand. My town REALLY fills up and gets busy. I will write a blog post after the long weekend is over. Check back around Tuesday or Wed next week! Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
