What? Why are my friends leaving tomorrow?

So today was a much more productive day than yesterday was. I woke up after a wonderful 8 hours of sleep (2 days in a row! yeahhhh), did some stretching and yoga in my room, and took the bus down to this really cute place off of Queen Street called The Stables to meet up with Maddi, Sarah (from Gustavus), and another IESer Kristen. When I was walking from where the bus dropped me off at Victoria Street, I passed by an area that I don't think I'd ever seen in broad daylight before - an area populated with trashy clubs that I only go to because they don't have cover charges. There was of course construction (as there always is in Auckland) but The Stables was really cute. It was set up like a food court (minus McDonalds, Subway, and Sbarro of course.. they don't have Sbarro here either haha) but way classier. I had a bizarre second lunch of one piece of sushi and a heated-up gooey chocolate cupcake. It was very bizarre because Kristen's flight left a few hours ago. In less than 24 hours, she will be home in the states. In 24 hours, most of my friends will be on flights home if they're not there already. Ahh. So. Freaking. Weird.

I had some errands to do at uni so I decided to use the time afterwards to walk around and take pictures of the University of Auckland. It was very bizarre to see the campus so empty, not having to wait behind a crowd of people to cross diagonally at the intersection of Symonds and Grafton. Not having to wait for a computer in the library to print something off. Not feeling too touristy taking pictures or having people constantly in the way. Very desolate. It was like that when I first arrived, but I'm just so accustomed to the busy-ness of being on a campus of 40,000 undergrads and never being one of few walking down the street. I walked around where some of my papers were held, down the paths I normally took to get to class, and tried to memorize it. While I may not have been the biggest fan of the actual academics of UoA, it truly is a beautiful campus. Here are some pictures so you can see it too. Yes, you need to see 25 pictures. I couldn't narrow them down enough.

inside Kate Edgar Information Commons

you wouldn't know it but this street was under construction from February-beginning of June

walking to dance class

this building was gorgeous six weeks ago

the building that my dance class was in, Kenneth Myers Centre

in Auckland, this is what we call winter

Clocktower! (I had a lecture here)

Symonds Street

these are academic buildings. Can I say cute?

the corner of Symonds & Grafton, where there were usually at least 100 people waiting to cross, is deserted.. strange

OGG, aka the business school part of UoA

the marae.. we had class in the building on the left

(it was awkward, there were people in the building when I was taking pictures)

really tempted to get up on the sign and take pictures like at Gustavus

I stopped at IH to say goodbye to a couple people who are leaving tomorrow on my way back to PSV, as well as stopping to take pictures of the Grafton Bridge, paying my dues for the PSV formal dinner, and taking a few pictures at the Auckland museum.

Grafton Bridge
(rumor has it they put these things up because people jumped off the bridge, which is over the freeway.. so sad)

Auckland museum, fountain in front of it

my view of the ocean to/from class

these stickers are from the Auckland museum. They cover the posts around the museumParnell Student Village from Domain Drivemy flat is the one in the background on the left. My window is the one on the second floor? (creep)

I got back to my flat, made dinner while watching Shortland Street with Andrew, hung out with Nicole and her boyfriend for a bit, watched some Dexter, and then Maddi, Caitlyn and Meagan came over to say goodbye. Maddi's moving into my flat next semester (my room actually) so she's leaving the things that she is moving in in the cupboard under our stairs. I swear she brought enough stuff over for at least two people. Sheesh. She's going to have to try hard to get that much stuff to fit into my teeny room she'll be living in next semester.

It was weird saying goodbye to them. Meagan and Caitlyn live in Wisconsin and Illinois so it's not like they're far, but I think it's because my friends actually going home means this is coming to an end soon. And Maddi? Well, she'll be in Auckland next semester and she's from San Diego so it's not like she'll be easy to see - though I'd love an excuse to visit San Diego so who knows.

Tomorrow I'll be saying goodbye to Nicole and Emily, who both depart late enough in the day that they'll be around in the morning for me to say goodbye to them. Nicole lives in Maine so I think that will be a weirder goodbye as well, like hey, when are you going to come visit Minnesota? Possibly never? But please come anyway? Gahh. I'm excited about my next few days in Auckland and the few plans I have made with people who will still be here, but it is so so so so so so strange to think we all won't be united in Auckland like we have been ever again. I'm getting the hardcore nostalgia now that some people have had for a week.

In brighter news, Jetstar has been flying trans-Tasman both yesterday and today. Things for Aussie are looking up! Knock on wood.

No need for 16 facts tonight, this post is long enough and I want to go to BED