Less than a week

Hey everyone! My name is Lauren and I am a sophomore Geology major with a German minor. I have been interested in everything concerning the ocean since I was about 10 or 11, so the courses for this trip fit me pretty well. I'm really looking forward to exploring a part of the world I've never seen before, as well as getting to know the geology and biology of the area. Travelling to various locales is one of my favorite things to do, and I greatly enjoy learning more about the earth. The article Art put up a few posts down about the erosion occuring at Lake Taupo is one thing that caught my eye, and it would be cool to follow up on that and see the effects of the erosion in person. I've also heard that a fair amount of German tourists visit New Zealand, so maybe I'll even have a chance to practice my German skills there.
I love being outdoors, so I haven't quite been able to decide what to do on our free weekend yet as there are numerous choices. Hiking and getting to see a lot of scenery would be great, but participating in some extreme activities is something I want to do as well. I used to be really afraid of heights, so I like to push myself out of my comfort zone and try things I used to think I couldn't do. One thing that looks kind of exciting is the Shotover Canyon Swing (http://www.canyonswing.co.nz/) in Queenstown. It's kind of like bungy jumping, except instead of falling straight down and getting pulled back up, your body makes an arc inside of the canyon after you jump off.
Although I'm kind of concerned I won't be able to sleep on the plane ride over (because I haven't in the past on long flights, and felt the effects badly), I'm really looking forward to the trip. I know it is going to be amazing, even life-altering. The experiences during this trip are going to be unlike any other, and I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I hope you all are having a great break; see you in 6 days!