I don't smoke

I'm writing from an Internet cafe in Dunedin, as web access in my room won't be available until Tuesday.

Except maybe for the wine, which flows quite freely, Air New Zealand has nothing on Emirates. Okay, let's see if I can stay awake to finish this post.

All in all, not too much disaster in terms of baggage. My bike in its cardboard box did not make the trans-Pacific flight, but I'm expecting that to be delivered to my dorm tomorrow, which will end up being more convenient than if I had to wedge it into the back of Sigurd's car. I lost a bottle of Citrus DeGreaser, which I found in Auckland had exploded all over my backpack due to the pressure difference. I removed the plastic bag carrying my bike tools to carry-on with me on the two NZ domestic flights, but then had the DeGreaser and a pedal wrench taken from me at Security. Incredibly, Sigurd brought a pedal wrench with him to the airport and has lent it to me to use when the bike arrives.

I got my first two comments on the Banta Lab t-shirt, which I sported throughout the travel marathon. The first was by a US TSA inspector, who saw the front and asked if I knew of any helpful bacteria she could put in her garden. I said I didn't know of any, that the bacteria we worked on were harmful to plants. Thirty seconds later I was kicking myself, remembering that any bacteria in the rhizobia family form symbiotic relationships with plants that are beneficial for both species. A couple flights later a woman saw my shirt and said it was "hilarious." I asked if she worked in microbiology and she said she worked in forensics, with DNA. Close enough. It felt pretty good to have the shirt noticed anyway.

The plane landed in Dunedin and when it got to the end of the runway, it promptly turned 180 degrees and taxied back to the terminal, which had two gates and one other plane. I used to think Albany was a small airport. Sigurd, my advisor, was waiting and we got my two bags and walked to the car. It was 30 Celsius outside, and I was told it would probably be the warmest day I would ever see here. My first impression of NZ from the car ride to the town--lots and lots of farmland. After a 30 minute drive, in which we discussed cycling, hiking, and NZ culture, we arrived at Carrington College, my dorm. This place shamed Williams dorms. Giant common room with fully stocked kitchen, massive flat screen TV, pool table. My room is relatively large and the bed has linens (!). Showers and toilets are sparkling.

The biochemistry building and lab is a 5 minute walk downhill from the dorm. Sigurd showed me the lab, which didn't look too intimidating, and we had a sandwich at a museum shop. Campus was beautiful, with spring in full bloom.

Sigurd dropped me back at the dorm and I took a much-needed nap, which only made me feel more out of it. This evening I walked around the town, only things open were restaurants, a fair number of them Asian. Tomorrow calls for more exploring and buying supplies.

Walking down the street two teenage girls approached me.

Girl 1: Hey I know you.
Girl 2: Yeah you smoke don't you?
Me: Half shake head, half ignore.
Girl 1: No no he doesn't smoke. He's clean.

Glad I already have a good reputation in town.

Now I'm headed back to the dorm, where hopefully I can meet the other dozen students in the summer program. And maybe wash my WOOLF jacket, which was splattered with seagull droppings right before I walked into this cafe. Life on an island I guess.

Long post for nothing really exciting.