ccbi – Hello Hayley

In travel on

October 16, 2012

ccm camp

a couple of weeks back, i went with a team from my college to melbourne, australia to help at calvary chapel melbourne’s family camp. it was such an awesome week and we were all so blessed by the fellowship and the sessions we got to attend when we weren’t helping with the adorable kiddies. just looking at these pictures makes me miss everyone i met and all the fun times we had! the camp was beautiful and there were so many fun camp activities to do but it was the amazing people that really made the camp memorable!

hayley

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In food on

September 26, 2012

drinks and words

i’ve been consuming a lot of two very important things lately: books and caffeinated beverages. i thought i was tea obsessed in ohio but boy was i wrong. i must drink 5 cups a day now and it doesn’t help that all my classes have mandatory half way breaks where everyone congregates in the kitchen to drink tea and chat. i’m usually a good earth spice or chai drinker but lately, i’ve been drinking more earl and lady grey (and feeling oh so british in the process). i’ve been drinking coffee quite often too and the discovery that it doesn’t keep me up at night has just added to my consumption. i’ve been known to brew coffee at 10 at night and proceed to be surprised when i’m the only one who drinks it. some things are learned with experience i guess.

i’ve also been reading alot. i’ve always loved to read but there is something about the peaceful environment here, mixed with the chilly weather and torrential rains, that makes me just want to curl up with a good book. along with the books i’m reading for my classes and of course the Bible, i’ve also had time to start (and finish… thats rare for me) some really good books. at the moment, i’m reading wild by cheryl strayed and so far, so good! i’m also loving the fact that i’m not the only reader here. it seems like people are always reading something awesome and are excited to talk about it. i’m so blessed to be around these wonderful kindred spirits.

candid photo of my roommate drinking coffee and reading the cost of discipleship

hayley

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In life on

September 21, 2012

life lately

life here in new zealand has been amazing! its been like being on vacation in the most beautiful place in the world while taking classes about my favorite subject and hanging out and living with my friends. needless to say, i’m in heaven! here are some of the things that have been filling my time and making life awesome

the evening sky from the living room – this is the view out our living room windows. everyday, i look forward to the beautiful sky and sunsets over these hills. i always mean to take a picture but i finally got this one just as the sun was going down. views like this makes doing dinner dishes seem not so much like a chore

paella at the rotorua farmers market – my roommate works at the farmers market on saturdays so i went to visit her a few weekends ago. farmers markets are one of my favorite things in the world and though this one was small, i still had a great time eating crepes, buying fresh produce and looking at all the odd local buys like possum hair socks and taro roots.

rugby games – rugby is one of those sports i don’t think i will ever fully understand but i still love a good game. on weekend, we pile into one of our instructors houses to watch the all blacks (the national team) and i even went to a local game a few fridays ago! though it was freezing, it was still a blast to hang out with my friends and cheer loud like americans.

homework at local cafes – since our biggest assignment of the week is due on mondays, the weekends are always full of cramming homework and lots of coffee. there is a darling cafe we found by the local redwood forest that has private rooms for studying (score!) and great coffees and drinks. i tried a hot carmel and it was delicious! i think i may have a new addiction

hayley

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In travel on

September 14, 2012

lake rotokawau

lake rotokawau is one of my favorite places around campus! its a 5 minute walk from the dorms but it feels worlds away. during the day, the water and shore is beautiful and at night, the path to the lake is covered in glow worms (which i didn’t know actually existed before coming here). everything about being here is pure magic.

hayley

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In travel on

September 10, 2012

hello from new zealand

i’m finally settled in and getting over the 19 hour ahead time jump. i LOVE new zealand. its like the perfect mix of northern california and southern ireland, which happen to be two of my favorite places. believe it or not, this is the campus! its so beautiful, even in balmy weather (got that one from my awesome kiwi roommate). the campus is on a horse ranch next to a volcanic crater, which is now a lake, surrounded by forrest. the picture below is the view from our common area. its pretty epic! i find it amazing how much the vegetation differs within such a small area: from jurasic looking palm trees to lush rolling hills to fields of beautiful yellow flowers. it can look like a jungle out of jurasic park then a few minutes away looks straight out of the shire in lord of the rings. its pretty trippy! there are lots of trails to hike and roads to explore, when i’m not studying of course. the classes i’m taking are fantastic (all 22 credits worth) and it feels like everyone here has been friends for ages. needless to say, i’m having a blast here on the other side of planet earth.

*side note: the internet is terribly slow here (if the internet is even working at all) so i will definitely be posting less. i’ll still try to update regularly, just not the same ‘every-other-day’ posting schedule i’ve been on lately

hayley

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