28/03/2008

Moving again!

So after the good news of last time a lot has happened again. It is like life is everchanging the last months. This is great, because for me a life without change is like not living at all.


First of all I have spent the Easter Days in Wellington, where for a change, the weather was marvellous for nearly all of the weekend. Unfortunately, I had to write two assignments during my stay and therefore I did not have enough time to meet the people I would like to meet and to do everything that I had liked to do, but maybe next time ........ When I came back in Blenheim again there were visitors from Wellington. Blenheim is in a convenient position to the Picton Ferry so I have been meeting a lot of people from Wellington in the meantime (or are they just checking what I am doing here?) and it is great to go out with them and have a good time. A good break from school and the grapes.


The grape growing season here in the Marlborough area has come into its final stages. A lot of the grapes have been picked in the mean time. Last week we started monitoring the grapes in the school vineyard to decide when to pick. We have to make a red wine from Pinot Noir grapes in groups. I am working together on this project with a Russian girl and a Japanese guy and I think our group is very special, because of the different backgrounds and views on wine. From the start we agreed that we wanted to go the extra mile and so we have taken the extraordinary approach to try to make a Pinot Noir, but at the same time a Rose from these grapes. Therefore, we have to follow two separate procedures and although it will be extra work it will be far more interesting and a challenge! The test of the juice at the moment is perfect and we are confident that we are producing something that will be drinkable. From now on we have to monitor our product daily to be sure the process is going well.


In between the picking and crushing of the grapes I had to move houses again. Although, I did not have to, but I decided on moving somewhere where I had internet access and more space, so I have a real desk to do some work for school. The house itself is bigger as well, but here we live with four people in total, being the landlord, a classmate and a guy who works in a pub and two dogs. So, this weekend I am trying to settle down a bit and preparing for some tests that are upcoming this week.

There was a multicultural event in Blenheim organised by Migrant Support Marlborough this weekend where a lot of cultural groups performed. With my former flatmate I spent some time watching the different shows on stage - and for the first time the sun was not shining. It seems that autumn really is coming now. It feels already like a very long summer to me and I am enjoying that very much.

This week Marco will be travelling down to Blenheim for the first time, so he will be there during the official presentation of the Scholarship Award during a ceremony at the Institute on Thursday.

Cheers,
Anita





3 comments:

Gustav said...

Dear Anita

I enjoyed your blog and congrats on the Scholarship Award.

Anonymous said...

Hoi Anita,
Gefeliciteerd met het behalen van jouw Scholarship Award voor het onderzoek naa een meer biologische werkwijze voor de teelt van druiven.Hopelijk levert het uiteindelijk een heerlijke "slow"wine op.
Een "vruchtbare"dag toegewenst bij de uitreiking van de Award en ook de groeten aan Marco.
mvrgr,
Anton Groeneveld

Anonymous said...

Druk met school, wijn,verhuizen, een award!... en nu ook nog de herfst. Volgens mij gaat het wel goed daar ;)
Groetjes,
Hanneke