Wednesday, May 26, 2010

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS...by 'Ilikea Arakaki

I was fortunate enough to be part of the UVU Volleyball team for the past year and lucky to have the opportunity to travel with them to New Zealand and Samoa! Of all places to go on a trip with my work, it had to be two of the coolest places! Now I can proudly say I've been out of the country with people that have become my friends. Thank you so much Coach for giving me this chance to connect with the girls and the staff!

NEW ZEALAND:
-Devonport: Beautiful city with the cutest houses!
-The ferry ride...and E and Tim Tam missing it. :)
-Going to the Children's hospital and being entertained by the clown and fairy...oh and Coach being sprinkled with "fairy dust".
-A cop looking at us weird after we parked on the grass.
-Taking pictures with the cool cop.
-Seeing the cars race at the museum.
-Exploring the museum and learning the rich history of the Maori people.
-Patti asking, "Is this a crater or a volcano?"
-Allyce always seems to grab a boob when taking a picture.
-Finally going to a beach, Piha! Taking tons of pics, playing with the kelp.
-Fish and Chips for the first time!
-Going to the rugby game...our team losing. But still super fun!
-Doing temple work and singing for a little bit at the baptism font...it was lovely!
-Lanni talking in her NZ accent.
-The cute elderly people, and the little old woman who couldn't figure out Meagan's camera.
-Smelly Rotorua. P.U.
-Playing endless games driving all around NZ and singing Disney songs.
-When Creeper looked at us playing and we all freaked out cuz we thought he was driving...haha.
-Luge! Kudos to Jessica getting slammed by all the carts and living to tell the tale.
-Daniel winning all of the races...boo.
-Coach being the chief. Whoot Whoot!
-The bus ride back and our tour guide going around a round-a-bout...like 20 times.
-Singing on the bus as loud as we could.
-Singing Edelweiss :)
-With Erica, Dani, Rachel and Meagan taking cool jumping pics at the pier.
-The sad goodbye song that our families sang to us after the game, and the spirit of love we felt.
 
SAMOA:
-Coach seeing his son as a missionary.
-Going to the beach more than we expected. Yay!
-When we first got to Coach's house where he grew up. Pretty amazing.
-Tricc saying, "So this is where Sam first Whammed." :)
-Delivering stuff at Ah Mu and the Elderly home.
-Dropping stuff off at the Pediatric Ward, seeing the parents and children's faces when they recieved an animal and hygiene kits was just so joyful.
-CFA playing with the two adorable kids running around the hospital.
-Doing an assembly at Pesega Church College...the kids going wild when a boy kissed CFA and another kissed Patti on the cheek.
-Taking pictures with those kids...wow. They attacked you!
-Erica saying, "I have sweat on my body that is NOT mine."
-Lanni and Rachel's gecko video. Hahaha!
-Sarah singing Phantom of the Opera in the van, and everyone belting out Sound of Music melodies.
-The girls giving stuff to the players, and just seeing the happiness on their faces was priceless.
-Daniel ripping open a coconut.
-Delivering supplies to the small hospital near the south side of the island where the tsunami hit.
-Visiting Coach's dad's grave. There was an incredible spirit there.
-Daniel falling on the road...Haha.
-Coach singing "Fantasy", Andrew singing "Sweet Caroline", Daniel sang "Everything She Does Is Magic", and Allyce belting out "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"...I miss you Pepe!
-The fish swimming so close and eating food out of your hands!
-Sunday being the hottest ever, never again will I take AC for granted!
-Lindsay singing with her flawless voice.
-All the little mishaps that happened during the fireside... :)
-Sarah saying that she prefers being called "Tricc" in her talk.
-Jaicee and CFA singing "Love at Home" in Samoan. So beautiful.
-Patti being hit on by the local Samoan boy after the fireside.
-Our devotional afterwards...no words can be enough to describe that night.
-While on our way to Piula, the fresh water cave, we threw t-shirts to people on the road. Their faces were so full of joy! Playing Santa Claus was the best!
-Singing Pirates of the Caribbean in the creepy fresh water cave...
-Snorkeling with Scotty, Jessica and Andrew...seeing all the tiny fish colonies.
-Watching Glee on the way home...Whoot!













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