Stephanie McKenzie: America: Week 2

Can not believe this but, I am half way through my stay here in Trexlertown! Well time fly's when you are having fun, right? Unfortunately I don't have any racing photos to share with you! If anyone know's any photography's floating around here in Trexlertown - let me know!

World Series of Bicycling: Last night I was very happy to have won the Keirin Cup to Dana Feiss. Here is an article from the Morning Call, wording was slightly out, but the only one I could find enjoy - http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-keirin-cup-06142013-20130614,0,3302937.story

Results: http://www.thevelodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/June-14-results2.pdf

Sooo being in this country, the United States of America has been a real big eye opener, not sure if that is an understatement or not, but I have experienced many "language" barrier situations, though my highlight has been explaining us "Kiwi's". So for those American's that are reading and not sure what a "Kiwi" is, please do read on...

A piece of fruit high in fibre and Vitamin C caled Kiwifruit

So, us New Zealander's are also known as Kiwi's, this is not associated with the fuzzy green piece of fruit but a Kiwi that is truly unique, it is the only bird in the world with nostrils at the of its beak, they are nocturnal, which means that they come out of their burrows after nightfall to forage for insects, grubs, earthworms, fallen fruit and native plants. They have very tiny wings, but cannot fly, their feathers are more like fur. Their eggs are also the largest in the world in relation to the size of the bird laying it.

A Kiwi amongst the Silver Ferns

Koru

"So that is why you guys have feathers on your skin-suits?" - Nope that is also incorrect, to confuse you guys a little more we have what is called a "Silver Fern" on our skin-suits. So like the Silver Ferns netball team, right?..... What's netball? Sounds like "nipple" when us "Kiwi's" say it, so I found out. But it is not handball, basketball or football it is just netball - 'you put the ball through the net'. Here is a short introduction video to what netball is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBuxsRnU50A

The Silver Fern is out national symbol and is named for the silver underside of its fronds. The fronds are the ferns leaves and when they are young they are tightly coiled into a tight spiral. This shape is called a 'koru' in Maori, it is a popular motif in many New Zealand designs. Silver ferns are typically found in moist, forested areas because they require lots of water. Tree ferns are some of the most distinctive features of our forests.