From New Paltz to New Zealand... and back again.

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21382320604304466332011-04-21T16:07:27.557-05:00From New Paltz to New Zealand... and back again.Preparations for, experiences of and musings about my trip to New Zealand.helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-63868203722438111152007-03-24T22:04:00.000-05:002007-03-24T22:34:37.821-05:00Long Time, No See...

WOW! A long time since my last post, huh! New Zealand has its share of modern amenities, but broadband Internet connections in farm country isn't necessarily one of them. Getting back closer to a city or large town has its advantages, although the beauty of the rural areas is a sight to see. Mt. Egmont. or Mt. Taraniki (depending on who you are and what you were brought up saying - I prefer Mt

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-74052283140727654942007-03-12T23:11:00.000-05:002007-03-12T23:36:25.920-05:00Fun with Sheep in Marton

Yep - I've shorn a sheep. I figured if I could purchase an Icebreaker tee shirt made of New Zealand Marino wool, I could shear a sheep. The sheep on Holly Farm are treated very well - only shorn once every nine months or so, and the rest of the time they live on beautiful hilly pastures with their only "predator" a barking dog to lead them in and out of their paddocks. After the sheep are shorn,

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-9360702880587868892007-03-08T13:48:00.000-05:002007-03-08T14:14:33.829-05:00Kapa Haka

The Kapa Haka is a traditional Maori greeting for visitors - kapa being the female movement and sound and haka being the male. This was the Maori welcome for the Hudson Valley Group Study Exchabge visit to New Zealand in March, 2007 performed by the Kapa Haka group from Mana College in Wellington, NZ.Thank you to the Plimmerton Club for this footage.

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-71928216532963597362007-03-08T05:22:00.000-05:002007-03-08T05:25:13.381-05:00After Dessert

Steve and Alex and Paul will appreciate this one...I have only one word for it...PICLETTE!

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-25071868561622396362007-03-05T03:37:00.000-05:002007-03-06T05:23:26.169-05:00Wonderful and Windy Wellington

The Gould FamilyMy host family in Wellington, The Goulds, have been nothing short of spectacular - I relly feel like I have been welcomed to New Zealand with open arms and have been made to feel part of their family.From left to right we have George and Phillippa ("Pip") Knight, the Gould's 7 month old grandson and daughter who are visiting from London, and then Janine and Nigel Gould with a view

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-33326154679435414442007-03-02T00:00:00.000-05:002007-03-02T00:11:52.864-05:00I Made It Safe and Sound!

Well, here I am in New Zealand! After 26+ hours of travel, I made it to Wellington safe and sound, if not a little jet-lagged. We were greeted at the airport by a group of Maori high school students who welcomed us with dance and chanting as well as by our Rotary Wellington Hosts who are absolutely wonderful! I am having a wonderful time so far, even though most of today has just been spent

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-53567833088697995832007-02-26T01:08:00.000-05:002007-02-26T01:31:53.573-05:00Slideshow for my Hosts

In case my photo album doesn't make it through customs, I thought I'd share some photos from home with this slideshow. Enjoy!

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-88102040249668735982007-02-19T12:59:00.000-05:002007-02-19T13:15:19.936-05:00Time and Weather Together

What's it like in Wellington and New Paltz right now?Check in here to find out what time it is and what the weather is like!

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-80333433158431913352007-02-18T15:41:00.000-05:002007-02-18T16:29:56.978-05:00Team Meeting in New Paltz

Today The GSE Team had our final pre-flight group meeting to prepare for our trip to New Zealand. Our 1-quart ziploc baggies are packed. Our bags are measured and weighed. We have all the magnets, pens, stickers, maps and photographs we can carry, and our presentation is presentable! Now all we have to do is get to JFK during rush hour! Wish us luck! Front row left to right: Bob Broadhurst,

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-66246300366234332032007-02-14T14:14:00.000-05:002007-02-14T14:20:24.826-05:00In The News

Hey - I made the paper!From The Poughkeepsie Journal:Monday, February 12, 2007 Good Life: In The Mid-Hudson Valley Rotary sends New Paltz woman to New Zealand The Rotary Foundation is sending Helen Gutfreund, a licensed massage therapist from New Paltz, to New Zealand on its Group Study Exchange.The Group Study Exchange program of the Rotary Foundation is a cultural and

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-13727587615475577592007-02-06T20:49:00.000-05:002007-02-06T21:19:36.803-05:00Red Hook Rotary Presentation

I was asked to speak at the Red Hook, NY chapter of Rotary Club after I was selected for GSE and today was the day. This morning, at the "Roasted Garlic Restaurant", I spoke for approximately 15 minutes about myself and the GSE and got a wonderful, warm response from the group's members, not to mention a delicious breakfast and a beautiful gift pen.Here is a photo of me with Fred Cartier (left),

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-10569603111558404752007-01-30T00:05:00.000-05:002007-02-04T21:26:00.171-05:00What is GSE?

Just thought you might like to know what the Group Study Exchange actually is, so here is the Rotary Club website's explanition of it:The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-51552937716448941772007-01-29T10:20:00.000-05:002007-01-29T12:03:50.294-05:00In Uniform

I'm not typically a uniform-wearing kind of person, but it is a requirement for this trip, so I am (willingly) joining in. Here's a picture of me in my "monkey-suit" (as Steve would call it) for your viewing pleasure.

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-38216397699733956062007-01-04T22:19:00.000-05:002007-01-04T22:26:09.279-05:00Mission Accomplished

Well - I've completed all the required paperwork insofar as the travel insurance and health certificate go. Got my white button-down shirt, khakis and navy blazer. I have an outline for my presentation on Arts & culture, outdoor adventuring and complimentary healing arts of the Hudson Valley. I even had a friend graciously agree to cover for me in my office while I am away. I've heard so many

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-83031275628113341772007-01-03T19:18:00.000-05:002007-02-19T09:21:52.934-05:00Countdown to New Zealand

New Zealand or Bust!

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138232060430446633.post-63623272612269281392006-12-24T10:14:00.000-05:002006-12-24T22:52:35.197-05:00And so it begins...

Found out less than a week ago that I am going to New Zealand for a month in 2007 thanks to Rotary International's Group Study Exchange. I'll be sort of a goodwill ambassador representing the Hudson Valley of New York as well as my profession, massage therapy, movement and bodywork.For the month of March. 2007, I'll be traveling in and around the Wellington area, meeting Rotarians and their

helenwillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10969382253248896005noreply@blogger.com1