Report 12.

 

Susie continues:  So, on March 16th, we moved into our furnished townhouse.  It really is nice and I was glad to hang up all our clothes to air.  Previous renters had left food, but since I did not know who, where or when, I discarded some—pulled out sheets, pillow, etc., generally wiped things down and we were settled in.  On Monday, I washed all day—washing machine and dryer in basement, bedrooms on third floor—up and down—you get the drift.  What can I say?  Up until then, I was basically a kept woman.

 

So, now here we are enjoying the sights around Auckland.  After just “me and the livestock” it is refreshing to hear the sounds of the city.  We are just across the way from the shipping channel so we hear our share of horns and clamoring, but it is O. K.  Trucks, trains, helicopters, and cars are heard also.  Our walks take us on a path along Hobson Harbor where the water is beautiful and the sailboats are plentiful – the City of Sails they call it.  As we look out the guest bedroom window we have a gorgeous view of the downtown area—especially at night.  The central focus in on the Sky Tower – it’s in all the postcards.  It was lit all white when we arrived, but it is now blue at night.  (It doesn’t really lean like this picture – the cameraman was tilting.)  We haven’t learned the color significance yet.  At any rate, those who pay and have enough gumption can cable drop off this tower.  Rob can see people “dropping” off the tower from his office.  Tom Cruise (making a movie on the island) and his children did the “cable thing” last week.  I said if Tom knew I lived so close he would probably have taken the time to come see me.  Oh well, it was his loss.

 

Last week-end we drove to the Waitakere regional park and Piha which is a resort area on the Tasman coast just west of Auckland (A. is on a narrow isthmus so you’re never far from one sea or ‘tother).  We were driving along a scenic hilly road and I saw a beautiful area below us, so I told Rob to turn left (fortunately there was a road) and we kept driving down, down, down and we really thought we were in an uninhabited area until we came to a lot of cars and many people with surfboards.  We parked the car and walked over hill and dale and ditches to the beach where there was a surfboarding contest taking place. 

 

We talked to a friendly “local” who was a scientist working in Auckland but living in this area who gave us a brief history of the area—one being that this was the beach where the movie “The Piano” was filmed.  I had remembered seeing the movie, but we rented it the other night and really recognized the area as being where we had been.  There are some pretty “explicit” scenes in it, but, of course, I closed my eyes.  The beach scenes are early in the movie.

 

Rob is being very successful in his teaching (R: I hope; we’ll see on the first exam in a couple of weeks).  He puts in many hours preparing for his two hour class, so I hope the students are appreciative.  I went with him to his office the other day and there were TONS of students on campus from all parts of the world.  I told Rob that we didn’t have to travel to the Polynesian Islands or Asia because we can learn about those cultures from many of the people living in New Zealand.

 

In April, Rob has a break from classes, so we are going to the South Island for 10 days.  We will fly to Dunedin and travel back to Christchurch worshiping in the beautiful cathedral on Easter.  About a week of that time will be in a rented campervan.  We probably will give you all a welcomed break and not write again until we return from that trip.  Mandi and Paul Venable and Jeff Easterling are arriving the first of May for a visit.  Ask us if we are excited???????  Then in June, between last class and final exam, we’re going to do 10 days on the east coast of Australia – as long as we’re in the area, why not?

 

Well, that’s enough from me.  I will let the professor insert pictures, add his words of wisdom and generally give thumbs up.  We are having a great time and all this togetherness does not seem to have made us not “like” each other.  We are still holding hands and loving one another.  Life is good!

 

Love to you all
Susie and Rob

 

NEXT              T OF C