Some days, they last longer than others

Hi from Taupo! I don't have much to say because I don't really have the time (that's not true, I just don't have the money for the wireless time), but I understand that people have started receiving postcards! Hooray! For many of you, the date at the top means nothing, as I then waited weeks to send it. But, hey, it's something. So hopefully you'll all be getting something soon, although I can't seem to find an International Mailbox (different from other mailboxes) in Taupo, so I have many a postcard in my backpack waiting to go out (so if you haven't received one, do not fret. It'll happen in time. Now, if you haven't received one and you haven't given me your address, e-mail me your address. Or comment here, if you're so inclined. This doesn't count for those of you who live at, say, the fencerhaus, as I know that one. And anyone still on campus can simply post their CPU box number). Give it time. Also, you should let me know if international texting costs you a bundle (it clocks in at NZ$.30 for me, which is not much, I think), and if so I shall stop texting you. I won't take offense, unless you want me to.

Two nights ago, I wound up rooming with a bunch of American students doing a New Zealand trip after their semester in Australia, so that was fun. Really, really fun. Like, the conversation was going really well even BEFORE one girl went, "Oh, I wasn't there that night, that was when we stayed in to watch Serenity." And it all went up from there. I've had, on the whole, generally positive roommate experiences. Last night I went out with some British girls, and the night before the Americans, there was a group from Zimbabwe by way of Aussie, and we chatted for a while. But then we all went to bed at the same time, and THAT never happens (unless, like last night, you were all out together). It was pleasant in a simple way to just say "goodnight" and go to bed. I mean, these can't beat the BEST going-t0-bed experience (which was that one time in Auckland when a discussion of mobile phone flashlights came up and led to an impromptu puppet show on the wall of the dorm. Sometimes I stop and recall Pete shouting, 'Oh my god, there's a dinosaur in the room!!' and have to suppress giggles in public. It's like that one time I punched Jim. The memory always brings laughter), but they were fun nonetheless.

As you can see, I've not much interesting to say. I have a photo post written up, but I need to upload photos for that and that takes time and I kind of don't feel like it right now. Mostly because it's $4 an hour for the internet.

I'm trying to think of things to tell you about that I've done in my week in Taupo (oh, yeah, I've been here a week, there's that). I've...hiked up to Huka Falls, sunbathed on the Lake, watched a bit of the "Cycle Challenge" which is the biggest biking race in the Southern Hemisphere. Which: I hope the Northern Hemisphere has a bit more, because this was not much. Watched people bungy at Taupo Bungy. Walked along the Waikato River. Walked around Lake Taupo yesterday (not all the way around - it's very large - but I went pretty far). Went up to "Craters of the Moon" which is another geothermal hotspot. So that was cool. I've done so little, clearly. It's a nice place to walk around. Tiny, tiny town, but not like a small town in the US. It seems like a resort town, I feel (and I've had people back me up on this). It's totally quiet, like, all the time.

I bought Me Talk Pretty One Day and proceeded to devour it in less than a day (I've actually read it before, but it's good enough to spend NZ$4 to re-read it, I think. Oh! I found a cheap used bookstore, so that's a plus! In Wellington, the cheapest ones you could find were still NZ$10. New books run you about NZ$25-30 for paperbacks. It's insane). I don't have much more to say than that David Sedaris is a comedy genius. As is his sister.

OK, well, I just tried to please you all by uploading 5 pictures, and after waiting 10 minutes to do it, Flickr informed me that none of them made it. Fine, Flickr, thanks for that. I'm trying to get one up here for you guys, but who knows? I've already spent much too much time on the internet, probably. Yeah, this one didn't upload, either. What? I don't know.

Anyway, I miss you very, very, very much. I've heard some rumblings about people visiting me, and would like you all to cement your damn plans so that I can see you. Because I miss you.

This entry is the most pointless one ever, but I was asked for an update, so here you are.