umbrellas and elections

Yesterday was a blustery and rainy day.  The weather in ChCh is quite confused...and confusing.  I dressed lightly, but grabbed a coat just in case, and throughout the day was bombarded with patches of warm sunshine, intermittent hail storms while it was still sunny, ominous clouds, and torrential rain.  I was busy about town, taking a scenic tour via bus, and working.  On one bus trip, there were nearly 70 people on the bus!  And only half of whom were seated!  I have learned my lesson; I will not ride the bus at the same time that students are getting out of school!  Bless the bus driver though, poor guy.  Work was brief, and I was forced to walk home with groceries in tow, all dressed up, in the pouring rain.  It was miserable and I arrived back at the flat soggy and cold.  I felt a bit like Mary Poppins, the nanny with the umbrella, walking down the street, but far less glamourous.

Last night, Bret and I watched the election results via Fox News in NZ, a comfort to Bret seeing American news being broadcast overseas.  It was very interesting watching the celebrations going on back in the United States, but we agree that the impact hasn't really sunk in for us yet.  The election in the United States is all over the NZ news, as their election is this weekend.  However, we both feel so far removed from the situation, except for the snippets of American news and broadcast of political opinions via Facebook.  It is exciting and scary all at the same time, and undoubtedly last night was a historic event.  Stay strong U.S.A and good luck in the long months and years ahead...we'll be rooting for you down-down under and can't wait to get back!