Dunedin and Windy Welly

At the All Blacks game!

Recreating our kindergarten play

The last week and a half have been busy busy busy. Last weekend two friends and I ventured to Dunedin for four days to explore and see the All Blacks (New Zealand’s national rugby team) play Australia—their rival. Dunedin was beautiful! While we were there, my best friend from elementary (whom we stayed with) took us down the peninsula to see seals and lots of red-billed seagulls (unfortunately we missed the albatross bird colony there cause they were in a closed area). Her parents treated us to a wonderful seafood dinner along the water the first night we were there. Highlights also included: visiting the steepest street in the world, trespassing in abandoned castles, and exploring small beach towns along the coast. Although, the ultimate heights of the trip were the rugby game and going into town afterwards. They had streets blocked off all night and they were filled wit

h fans—a crowd ranging from young college students like us to long-time old fans. It was fun to celebrate the kiwi victory and enjoy a few beers at various bars along the main drag.

The coastline in Dunedin

            I returned to reality in windy Wellington Monday night and started my seven-week long internship Tuesday morning at Generation Zero. Generation Zero is a youth-led organization that was founded with the central purpose of creating a generation-wide movement of young Kiwis working together to secure a safe and thriving zero carbon Aotearoa. I’m working as the “solutions researcher intern” and I’m working to complete different reports about the current and possible future of different climate issues such as freighting in New Zealand, 100% renewable electricity, cycling, etc. So far it’s been a really positive experience and I think it will challenge me and be an exciting learning experience. We’re also trying to organize a massive stunt downtown having to do with creating a light rail system through the city…details to come in future posts.

At the top of Mt. Victoria!

            This past weekend has been nice and relaxing for the most part. I spent my days exploring Wellington and checked out a few farmers markets, hiked up Mt. Victoria to see a beautiful view of Wellington, had an amazing homemade Indian food meal at my friends house, and did a very windy hike along the coast and saw some fur seals! I also relocated and switched homestays this weekend—my last homestay was less than ideal, and I’m now happy to be with a welcoming, very friendly family that has three kids—all teenagers. So far I’m feeling much more at home and I’m happy to be a part of their family for the remaining six weeks I have in Wellington!