If you would like to know how nice it is over here ...

Thus experienced and as seen by us in April 2000 on the Abel Tasman Track For some of us, it was the first hike in this beautiful country, and we all really enjoyed it. After we split up our group on the Abel Tasman, some of us went down south to roam across the island. They got a chance to see Mount Cook, Queenstown, and the Milford Sound. A few weeks earlier, when summer still reigned, we had a lengthy bathing outing on the Whanganui River. I can only say that whenever you get a chance to see this country, and even if you have no time to spare, go for this canoe trip. We spent those three days completely shielded by nature from civilization, and we didn't miss the latter a bit. Just beautiful. Additionally, a cute picture of Hartmut, playing Jumping Jack Flash near Waitomo.

A few weeks later, we were invited by Trudy to have a dinner at her house. A bunch of international students showed up and we had a great time (and some excellent food). Trips on the weekend became a major part of our student life, and by doing this we discovered the North Island bit by bit. Some of us went to the Waitomo Caves, famous for their glowworms, who turn the cave ceilings into a star speckled carpet. It looks like the milky way. During the study break some discovered Northland and hiked to Cape Reinga, which is where the souls of the dead go, according to Maori legends. After Cape Reinga, there is only the endless ocean ... Others thought, Lake Waikaremoana would be a good spot to have a small hike. Unfortunately, the wheather was miserable, which didn't stop us at all. If you want to know what happened, read the wonderful story by Susanne.

With the end of the semester, some of us unfortunately had to leave to their respective home countries. Saying farewell was always hard. Usually, the shuttle bus pulled up outside the Dining Room right after breakfast, and those of us who are lucky enough to stay constituted the good-bye committee. Hope to see everybody again in 2002, when we have the first CH reunion in good old Germany!
The second semester started, and we increased our travelling. The Coromandel is, as we soon found out, a really nice peninsula. Beautiful beaches, majestic rocks, and hot springs, in which you only believe after burning your feet ;-) Mt. Ruapehu with the Whakapapa ski area is a really nice mountain, especially when you're there snowboarding (or skiing), and its neighbor, Mt. Ngauruhoe makes for some good hiking. Birthdays are nice as well. We had many of those, and they were always a good occasion to have some serious fun. Hartmut and Cec were the first of us to go to the East Cape and they found some nice dunes. The first thing that sprung to their minds was of course to jump off these, see the results for yourself. I think they really enjoyed it. To practise what they had learned at the Indoor Climbing Gym, Cec, Jenny and Hartmut went to Froggatte Rock.

Furthermore we collected quite a few interesting pictures of all the people who are or were here in College Hall. We have some of Luke and Colby, and a few of Karen and friends. So called X-Men safeguard us (?), well, not really. Different people from behind, David at Cape Reinga, there is a second semester group picture on the couch, and another one at the Hamilton Gardens. Here is one of Leo. On the Skiwi trip, Hartmut saw mountains, and he also often witnessed a sunset in Raglan. What do girls named Serena and Jenny do when they come to a big city? They go shopping! And last, but not least, we all should remember that fateful night at the Hilly's, when some of us signed our souls to the devil.