This past weekend was our free weekend. Me and half of the group went to Waihike Island. We had so much trouble finding a place to stay. We ended up renting this house, and everyone was expecting it to be a shack. Big surprise when we get there and we see that it's actually worth....oh, I'd say about a million dollars. It overlooked the bays and two vineyards. Needless to say, it was the start to the perfect weekend. We grilled steaks, went shopping, and visited vineyards. Although it was a little cloudy at times, the weather was absolutely perfect. My favorite part of the weekend was going to a little marketplace on Saturday. Every week, the island hosts this market where people sell their goods. There was everything from clothing, jewelry, paintings, and blueberry muffins (tasty). It was also a bit of a culture experience. SInce they have it every week, it gives the islanders a chance to get together in one place. You could really get a feel of the sense of community between everyone at the market. I think living on an island also changes people for the better. I don't think that the islanders had the word 'stress' in their dictionary. Everyone was extremely friendly. There was one couple who offered to show me and Nate and Dom how to get to the market, and split a cab with us. There was also our wonderful neighbors. Most people would probably cringe at the thought of living next door to a large group of kids. Although they said they were initially hesitant, they ended up showing us wonderful hospitality. I think this weekend was the culmination of kiwi culture. This country is full of genuinely friendly people.