Conservation Work

    This is the fist time I have internet access in two weeks, so I have been keeping a jounal about my trip that I can now post.  We arrived in Auckland around five in the morning and traveled about three hours to Tauranga, the city we are staying in.  There are six people in my cabin which is relatively nice, but has no heating (it is winter in New Zealand) and all our food is provided.  The weekend consisted of orientation about the program, what we will be doing, and  the Maori, the native people of New Zealand.  Saturday we went to a nearby town, the people here are very friendly, and of course rugby was playing at all the pubs.  We were supposed to go to the Marae which is basically their town center and church for a welcoming ceremony, however they are having a funeral which takes precedent over anything else.  We start work on Monday because it rained all day today.