July 4th, 2014

Kia Ora and greetings from Aoteaora (also known as New Zealand!)  Today the squad experienced another fun-filled day as we explored some of the surrounding area.  I welcome you to join our adventure through this blog post!  Currently we are in the midst of celebrating America’s independence by belting Nsync and Spice Girls in my room, so I’ll do my best to recap today’s events despite the shenanigans.

The day began with fried eggs and baked beans in the dining hall as we fueled up for the day’s adventures.  We took a short drive to join forces with Colin Meurk, one of Dr. Hostetler’s colleagues, who lectured about New Zealand’s unique natural history.  Interestingly, the island had no naturally occurring mammals for thousands of years (except a couple species of bats), and therefore boasts a variety of uniquely adapted plants and animals.  The kiwi, as an obvious example, is a flightless bird that never acquired the evolutionary need to escape predators through flight.  We also discussed bioclimatic zones, native flora, and conservation efforts among other things.  A tea break at 10 was much needed before heading out to Riccarton Bush.

Riccarton Bush provided insight on what natural New Zealand looked like before Maori and European colonization.  It is comprised only of native plant species that are extremely well-protected by a 10-foot electric fence!  Not only does this deter meddling teenagers, but also rats, weasels, cats, and other land-bound predators that may interfere with the growth of the plants.  Colin is pictured below on the left-hand side.

After exploring the forest, it was time for a picnic lunch at the Deans family cottage.  We then ventured to what remained of downtown Christchurch after the earthquakes in 2011.  Creatively redesigned to invite visitors to shop and sip coffee, the city incorporated bright sculptures, musical gardens, and a life-sized chess game in its main plaza.

Tea time again! We went to C1 cafe, which boasts a bookcase doorway, an antique sewing machine water dispenser, good jams, and rich desserts.

At last, we arrived back at Lincoln and it was dinner time.  (All we think about is food, huh?)  A sweet potato/egg/cheese tortilla was on the menu - delicious!  I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us tomorrow as we make our way to the local farmer's market.

Connor