Well, my one regret for the day is that I didn't take any pictures. But sometimes pictures take away from an experience. Or at least that's what I'll keep telling myself. I don't like having regrets when traveling. I will always remember the time I wished I had gone over to another roof in Jerusalem where some Swedish people were singing. It taught be to take more chances though. Today I visited a church in Auckland and it was fabulous. Reminded me a bit of the Albert Street Chapel in Oxford. I made a connection with the church here through the church I attended in college. At 9.15 this morning Laura (23) and her husband Mike picked me up in from of my hostel and off we went. The church meets in a high school gymnasium with maybe a hundred in the congregation. I felt at home with the hymns sung and was encouraged by the lesson in I Timothy. Afterwards nearly everyone came to introduce themselves and I made quite a few connections with local farms needing help in the next few months. I met a family from California who hooked me up with a cell phone and sim card so that will be helpful. After church I went to the Pastor's lovely home in the hills outside of Auckland. We ate salads, local cheeses, veggies, and fruit. I smailed as I looked around the table, listening to their New Zealand accent and trying to pick up on local table manners. I remember being completely lost when I was eating in England. I had never eaten so quickly and while using both a knife and fork. There wasn't much of a difference today, although I learned that one slice of bread was not enough for all the freshly made spreads. We talked about traveling and such after lunch and that's when I tried Hokey Pokey. New Zealand is famed for its dairy products, and ice cream is a dairy product ( in case you were wondering). And Hokey Pokey is a favorite New Zealand ice cream flavor. Its a rich, creamy vanilla with toffee-like crystals. Heaven. I spent all afternoon in their brown house with large open windows. Afterward I went with Laura and her husband to a strawberry field and we picked a couple kilos of strawberries. I now know the meaning behind sun-ripened strawberries. It was a wonderful day. My first real experience with Kiwis. I wish I could send you all some Hokey Pokey. I'm off to my first farm tomorrow! I'm sure I won't be able to update this journal as often but stay tuned!
