University of Otago

The Bridging Cultures Program in Auckland and Rotorua are complete.  I have moved into my flat.  I have explored the city, including some surrounding landscapes and the Cadbury chocolate factory!  I have been to all the necessary orientation and welcome events.  Courses have been approved.  I have received my class schedule, bought school supplies, and found all the buildings I have classes in.  It has been two and a half months since I was in school last.  That is two and a half months of relaxation, exploration, and ignoring anything that may cause my brain to think too much.  With nothing more to do, besides continuing my holiday of exploration, I think I am as ready as I will ever be for classes to start… tomorrow!

One of the things I have enjoyed doing various times during the past two weeks of being in Dunedin is going to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens.  It is a beautiful place- and big too!  I have even walked through it a few times to get to one of the supermarkets.  It’s a nice place to go to relax in some nature, or to feed the ducks.  Now, usually when you think of feeding the ducks, you imagine throwing breadcrumbs to them from a distance, trying to entice the ducks to come closer.  Not here!  As you approach the duck pond, the ducks swarm you, expecting to receive food that the information center provides.  It was quite surprising, and a bit unnerving, the first time I visited the duck pond!  The ducks are soo greedy, but some of them a super cute!  It is fun to have the ducks surrounding you, like you’re the coolest thing on the face of the Earth.  If you are brave enough, the ducks will even eat out of your hands!  (I like to let them eat seeds off the tops of my shoes)  One of my favorite ducks likes to hide under the bench and wait for you to give it food.  Maybe it’s his timid personality, or maybe it’s because he is more polite than the other ducks, but he is so cute!

My little duck friend!

Anyway, I am excited to begin classes tomorrow!  I only have one class on Mondays, so maybe I’ll run some errands, or even visit the ducks after class!  Hopefully it’ll be a good way to get back into the swing of things. 

Please pray for a good semester for me, and for time management skills!  Thank you!

Blessings,

Kelsey

Alecia, Siri, and I at Uni!