Well, New Years Eve last night was very exciting. We went to the city's convention centre 'Aotea Centre' for the free festivities of the town. It was kind of like being at a Hawaiian party and a masquerade all at once. The theme for the night was "First Night-Pacific Bright, 2007". The convention centre was decorated to the extremes with Hawaiian lays, fresh flower head pieces being made for evryone and free elaborate face painting for those who were willing to stand in a line up 2 hours long to get painted...We did. Ha ha. And that's not the funny part. At about 10 people left in front of us, the came out to the people standing in the line (2 people infront of us) and said that they were only painting until 10pm and that we would have to leave. Ha ha. Anyways, things got better. We went to a concert inside the Opera House of New Zealand's most famous female singer, Aaradhna. She was great (and looked like a young Diana Gabaldon-wait till you see the pics girls) but it was weird listening to her b/c we really had no idea just how big she was. Then we went to a performance of dance and they kind of did a fashion show with girls dressed in coconut bras and hula skirts and wrapped dresses. They danced and demonstrated different ways to try the dresses and then asked for people from the crowd to go up and dance and do the same wrapping. They asked me, but ha ha, of course I said no. Melissa said "I will" and she did. She did great. It was really funny-luckily she could do it over her clothes and did not have to wear a coconut bra. Then we fell in love with this elderly Maori woman who was making the fresh flower headpieces, and we got out picture with her. She was so beautiful in her own handmade gown-great picture..when it comes.... Then we went outside for the last 1/2 hour before midnight. They had an outdoor festival, a glowing parade along the balcony of the convention centre and then just before midnight there was tribal chanting and dancing from the balcony leading to the fireworks show that was set off from the sky tower. I got video, no worries. :o). and NO COUNTDOWN! That was interesting, and I'd prefer the tribal chanting anyday, it was so powerful. Overall, very neat to see how other cultures celebrate the important event. It has an entire different meaning here.
Today we decided to go and visit our workplaces so that we knew where to go on Wednesday, good thing. We spent the WHOLE day just looking for Melissa's place. We took the train to Takanini (where the site suuposedly is) but no one around had even hear of the centre for Traumatic Brain Injury or the organization. NOt even the only hospital in the city! They all must have brain injuries... We didnt't have much luck trying on our own either as Melissa forgot the address to her worksite at home....in Canada. :o)....So we spent 2 hours walking around asking people and looking up stuff in the phone book, calling the AUT coordinator, well of course no one is home, its a holiday. So is tomorrow! They celebrate both days, Jan 1 and 2. So it started to pour and we decided to call it quits. No time to visit my place today so we will try early tomorrow morning and spend the day in Kumeu, maybe visiting the winery that I wanted to go to for lunch and a tour. I feel bad because no one has even heard of the place that Melissa works and well, the train ride to her works some nice mountains, it also reveals miles and miles of beautiful graffiti art but when people hear that I am going to Kumeu they say how beautilful it is up there. I wish we were at the same place. I 'm sure she'll be fine, as long as she can find the place....
Tonight we are going to cruise in the harbour and see the city by night. Its a little chilly tonight so I hope we don't fall in.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Having a Zoo-rific time!
Today we made it to the zoo. It did rain for about 15 minutes in the morning like it does every morning (like when we went down south Eddie) but that's it, and then it turns into a beautiful day. So as we were waiting for the bus, a kiwi came by and sat with us and told us that we would really really love the zoo because "It's so real!". Yipee! A real zoo...now we were more excited than before :o). The drive was nice, and the zoo is about 30 minutes outside the city in another direction than we went yesterday. It is in a place called Western Springs, home of the Museum of transport and technology (lots of old cars Ed, you would have liked it), we didn't stop or I would have taken pictures, maybe we'll get back. But on the way we passed a lush golf course and a REAL LIVE RUGBY FIELD! Impressive. So to the zoo...it was like nothing I can describe. And for those of you whom have had the pleasure of taking me to zoos, you know that I don't really enjoy them and actually get every inpatient at the exhibits and start to get cranky not too far into it. Well...let me just say that those zoos are not New Zealand Zoos. I was so excited all day. I can't wait to get the pictures posted up here. I took over 200 today (after deleting the "just not gorgeous enough" ones). My camera is working incredible and I was able to get some real hummdinger shots. Paige, you will be impressed. It's like there was too much beauty to see today for one person to take in. Melissa went all crazy with her video camera and shot like 1-hour long documentaries of elephants (so there is like an hour of just elephants, I feel asleep watching the playback), and WHY you ask? Because she just wanted to record the accent of the guy putting on the show. :oP. I must say the accents are very catchy. So the zoo was just like being in a movie where you think that all the scenery is fake and nothing can be that lush and perfect. For all of the plants and trees, you know how sometimes (most of the time) it looks planted, well here the plants were plunging out from the earth and fighting for space, everything is so dense and so varied! It was just spectacular. I like zoos now. I got Baby J a little Zoo-something!
After the zoo, we went to Western Springs park to find an old Volcanic Lava Flow amongst the wetlands. And we found it, and sat down and enjoyed the scenery, when you are here, nothing in the world can enter your mind. Nature really takes over and just makes you forget everything. I love it! What is this school/work thing that we are here to do? :o)
Tonight is New Years Eve, we are off to the waterfront now for the big outdoor concert and fireworks show. :o)
Side note: There is this store that we are in a love/hate relationship with. We went in and were taking pictures of their displays (Maori culture artwork and stuff) and were told to put our cameras away. We took a few more...But this store is like $300.00 for a t-shirt. So one the last day left here, if I can find any money left, I am buying a $29 lip gloss. Since my own lip creme was confiscated at the airport, my lips are hurting and this stuff is well worth the $29. But I figure I better eat first. But that will be a treat if I can get that. You all know how I love the Moisturel, well this is better. and no white cakey stuff Eddie! :o)
Second side note: Thank you so much for the ME bag Kelly, it is incredible for this type of travel. :o) Melissa ended up buying almost the same one here at Kathmandu, the biggest outdoor sporting store here.
Other things I have learned about NZ:
-Public displays of affection are encouraged and looking upon highly by all others. Makes me miss Eddie. Everytime I see couples in love and enjoying the scenery and sights together, I wish he was here. I mean, Melissa will do to a certain extent... :o)
Love and miss you all...but I am so glad that I am here now! I just wish you could all be seeing the same things that I am. Over here, it's just like a world that you can't see, even with the most vivid of imaginations unless you are actually here to see it, feel it and live it. So happy I am one of the lucky ones. Keep writing, makes me smile.
After the zoo, we went to Western Springs park to find an old Volcanic Lava Flow amongst the wetlands. And we found it, and sat down and enjoyed the scenery, when you are here, nothing in the world can enter your mind. Nature really takes over and just makes you forget everything. I love it! What is this school/work thing that we are here to do? :o)
Tonight is New Years Eve, we are off to the waterfront now for the big outdoor concert and fireworks show. :o)
Side note: There is this store that we are in a love/hate relationship with. We went in and were taking pictures of their displays (Maori culture artwork and stuff) and were told to put our cameras away. We took a few more...But this store is like $300.00 for a t-shirt. So one the last day left here, if I can find any money left, I am buying a $29 lip gloss. Since my own lip creme was confiscated at the airport, my lips are hurting and this stuff is well worth the $29. But I figure I better eat first. But that will be a treat if I can get that. You all know how I love the Moisturel, well this is better. and no white cakey stuff Eddie! :o)
Second side note: Thank you so much for the ME bag Kelly, it is incredible for this type of travel. :o) Melissa ended up buying almost the same one here at Kathmandu, the biggest outdoor sporting store here.
Other things I have learned about NZ:
-Public displays of affection are encouraged and looking upon highly by all others. Makes me miss Eddie. Everytime I see couples in love and enjoying the scenery and sights together, I wish he was here. I mean, Melissa will do to a certain extent... :o)
Love and miss you all...but I am so glad that I am here now! I just wish you could all be seeing the same things that I am. Over here, it's just like a world that you can't see, even with the most vivid of imaginations unless you are actually here to see it, feel it and live it. So happy I am one of the lucky ones. Keep writing, makes me smile.
On the Upswing
Good news all! So things (other than our accomodations) have improved. This city is hard not to make first impressions with, but we have done a lot more exploring and have found some comfort. I was out exploring this morning for other places to stay, checking hotels for monthly rates, etc, but nothing cheaper that about $750/week for hotels. I guess we will wait until AUT opens on Wednesday (the university) and will enquire about the residences then. Until then, no worries! We are being very careful.
It is now Sunday morning here and I am out at the internet cafe by myself (Melissa is still sleeeeping) :o). It is 9:00 am. Yesterday we bought a day bus pass and went to visit 2 towns about 30 minutes outside of Auckland City. We were planning on going to the zoo but it started to pour in the morning so we changed plans. The sun came out as soon as we got in the bus and stayed beautiful the entire day. We first went to a town called Onehunga (Pronounced "One-Unga"). We went here because they are the outlet shopping capital in all of New Zealand. Needless to say we spent too much (but all on gifts for you guys of course...). Kathryn, I bought you the best gift ever! :o) This town was really cute and very heavy culturally with the Maori. It was a very nice and much needed change from downtown Auckland. The locals are just so friendly and very very interesting. There were so many market shops too, bakeries and alot of NZ made products. Then we were off to New Market, the posh shopping capital of NZ. This was also fun, as surf clothing shops are by far the majority. Melissa is in heaven. :o). This place was nice too, but a lot more expensive, but they did have a store that I knew! Esprit! I bought a handbag. So far 2 new handbags, Esprit and Billabong. After coming back to the city we explored the waterfront, again outside the central part of the city. When what to our wondering eyes should appear but a place called "Danny Dolan's". We stopped on the street, looked at it for a few minutes, just praying that its food was edible, and wouldn't cost us a weeks salary. We found it! Our place! I ordered a graden salad and fresh veggies and it only cost me $9.00. And it was like art on a plate. We ate soooooooo slow to savor this new experience called "eating". :o). Then we asked some of the restaurant staff about other edible places, and they pointed us down the waterfront to about 5 other "our kind of restaurants". But although the food is normal, the price is OUTLANDISH. Can not even get a salad for less than $25.00 or a pasta dish for $30.00. Danny Dolans may get sick of us! So at least that was a nice end to the day, eating and finding a whole new world that we fit into here in the Auckland city itself. We got groceries last night, which (sigh of relief) were normal prices compared to home and very good selection of wordly food. We dislocated our shoulders carrying it back to the apartment but well worth it.
Today, we are off to the Auckland Zoo as it is a beautiful day! Very hot, I'd say 26 degrees at 9:00 in the morning! Then tonight for New Years Eve, we are going to an outdoor concert down on the waterfront and a fireworks show.
Note 1: I have mailed people some things, with the return address on it. PLease don't send me anythng to that address, because A) I don't know if we are staying there and B) there are no locked mailboxes at our apartments, just big piles that anyone can root through. I am going to get the office mailing address for me at the Hospital when I start this week so if you want to mail me a letter or anything, it can go safely there. I will write you when I get the address.
Note 2: Thanks for the emails from a few of you. It really means a lot when you are this far away and is very very much appreciated.
Tid Bits I have learned:
1. Melissa is already getting an accent, after 3 days! (I think she was practicing at home before we came) :o) The only thing that I say now is "No worries" instead of your welcome.
2.Garbage is called "rubbish", Melissa wanted to take a picture of the trash can with this on it, but I told her you can not take home a picture of a garbage can.
3. Some people don't think they have to give you change when you pay for something. We aren't sure if they just don't have really small change here, or they just dont give you change.
4. Pedestraians do not walk in the crosswalks with the traffic. There is a buzzer that goes off and all traffic stops and the pedestrians attack the intersections (crossing diagonally, etc). It looks so funny, we took videos which hopefully we will post soon). I will be able to start posting pictures next week wehn we can use the computers at the hospital, until then, just believe me that NZ is breathtaking and so beautiful, utterly undescribable (and this is only the city). Next weekend we will start our long weekend trips to the beaches and towns across the North Island
5. Yogourt is called Yoghurt
6. Rugby rules this city. There are countdown in the 200 millions of seconds everywhere until the next world cup (next fall...)
It is now Sunday morning here and I am out at the internet cafe by myself (Melissa is still sleeeeping) :o). It is 9:00 am. Yesterday we bought a day bus pass and went to visit 2 towns about 30 minutes outside of Auckland City. We were planning on going to the zoo but it started to pour in the morning so we changed plans. The sun came out as soon as we got in the bus and stayed beautiful the entire day. We first went to a town called Onehunga (Pronounced "One-Unga"). We went here because they are the outlet shopping capital in all of New Zealand. Needless to say we spent too much (but all on gifts for you guys of course...). Kathryn, I bought you the best gift ever! :o) This town was really cute and very heavy culturally with the Maori. It was a very nice and much needed change from downtown Auckland. The locals are just so friendly and very very interesting. There were so many market shops too, bakeries and alot of NZ made products. Then we were off to New Market, the posh shopping capital of NZ. This was also fun, as surf clothing shops are by far the majority. Melissa is in heaven. :o). This place was nice too, but a lot more expensive, but they did have a store that I knew! Esprit! I bought a handbag. So far 2 new handbags, Esprit and Billabong. After coming back to the city we explored the waterfront, again outside the central part of the city. When what to our wondering eyes should appear but a place called "Danny Dolan's". We stopped on the street, looked at it for a few minutes, just praying that its food was edible, and wouldn't cost us a weeks salary. We found it! Our place! I ordered a graden salad and fresh veggies and it only cost me $9.00. And it was like art on a plate. We ate soooooooo slow to savor this new experience called "eating". :o). Then we asked some of the restaurant staff about other edible places, and they pointed us down the waterfront to about 5 other "our kind of restaurants". But although the food is normal, the price is OUTLANDISH. Can not even get a salad for less than $25.00 or a pasta dish for $30.00. Danny Dolans may get sick of us! So at least that was a nice end to the day, eating and finding a whole new world that we fit into here in the Auckland city itself. We got groceries last night, which (sigh of relief) were normal prices compared to home and very good selection of wordly food. We dislocated our shoulders carrying it back to the apartment but well worth it.
Today, we are off to the Auckland Zoo as it is a beautiful day! Very hot, I'd say 26 degrees at 9:00 in the morning! Then tonight for New Years Eve, we are going to an outdoor concert down on the waterfront and a fireworks show.
Note 1: I have mailed people some things, with the return address on it. PLease don't send me anythng to that address, because A) I don't know if we are staying there and B) there are no locked mailboxes at our apartments, just big piles that anyone can root through. I am going to get the office mailing address for me at the Hospital when I start this week so if you want to mail me a letter or anything, it can go safely there. I will write you when I get the address.
Note 2: Thanks for the emails from a few of you. It really means a lot when you are this far away and is very very much appreciated.
Tid Bits I have learned:
1. Melissa is already getting an accent, after 3 days! (I think she was practicing at home before we came) :o) The only thing that I say now is "No worries" instead of your welcome.
2.Garbage is called "rubbish", Melissa wanted to take a picture of the trash can with this on it, but I told her you can not take home a picture of a garbage can.
3. Some people don't think they have to give you change when you pay for something. We aren't sure if they just don't have really small change here, or they just dont give you change.
4. Pedestraians do not walk in the crosswalks with the traffic. There is a buzzer that goes off and all traffic stops and the pedestrians attack the intersections (crossing diagonally, etc). It looks so funny, we took videos which hopefully we will post soon). I will be able to start posting pictures next week wehn we can use the computers at the hospital, until then, just believe me that NZ is breathtaking and so beautiful, utterly undescribable (and this is only the city). Next weekend we will start our long weekend trips to the beaches and towns across the North Island
5. Yogourt is called Yoghurt
6. Rugby rules this city. There are countdown in the 200 millions of seconds everywhere until the next world cup (next fall...)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
CULTURE SHOCK NOT EXPECTED, BUT HAD
Hi Everyone,
Me and Melissa are at an internet cafe in downtown Auckland, which we are not fond of. I'll start with the beginning. Our flights here were incredible, hardly seemed like 2 days in the air at all, and the last flight from Los Angeles to NZ, we were very pampered, well, I was...Melissa slept through the whole thing. LA was incredible (well we were only at the airport, but even that was so cool! Stretch limos all around, could feel the presence of 'les famous'. So, since there is a countdown clock on the screen telling me my time is ticking, I will only write a short bit for now and more next week when hopefully I have free internet at work. So...we flew down over NZ, and oh boy what a sight, just like the travel guides show it, it was surreal, from the AIR, New Zealand is breathtaking, and on the ground New Zealand is breathtaking, as we saw from the ride from the airport to the city...and well downtown Auckland is certainly not. We took a shuttle to our apartments and thats when it all went downhill. We show up at 8:00 am (when the office is supposed to be open, and besides they knew that we were coming) and no one shows up at the office until almost 10. We were gievn the key to our apartment and went to it. We opened the door...only to realize that other people lived inside, we walked in on them...good thing, because that place was DIRTY! So we go down to the office and get another apartment, and go to it, lets just say that there was what appeared to be a blood stain (a big one) in the middle of my carpet in my bedroom and well, we moved again. This time they said they would move us to the other building which was nicer. Hmmm...why didnt they give us that first. Hmmm, so they did and we walked into our new apartment, and well, there was only one bed in the 2-bedroom apartment. We went downstairs and I was ready to come home. Needed to cry, but held off. Finally we got another room (the owners room) which is also awful, but livable until we can figure out what to do. They seemed to have no idea which keys are for which apartments and so I asked how secure this was b/c I felt that anyone else could ahev our keys. He assured me this is not true, but really he didnt even understand what I was asking. I tried calling all the contacts that we have for the University for help, but they are all away until next week. Now I cried. We really have no one and the people that work here don't understand or seem to care to want to help us). It's in a really good spot, but boy, we just dont feel safe at all. So we left our stuff there and headed out to the downtown waterfront. It is true what they say about Auckland being a majority of asian. That was the major culture shock. We went to a nice market this morning but I kid you not when I say that Melissa and I walked around the ENTIRE city of Auckland ALL afternoon trying to find anything that looked edible. I exaggerate none when I say that there is 99.9% asian food and the other is all McD's and Burger King. NO PUBS AT ALL! We could not succeed on this day. We settled for lasagna and pizza that we both could only take 1 bite out of b/c it was so awful. I cried, right there in the food market. Melissa just looked at me, and said nothing-We are both thinking the same thing. This is awful. We maybe saw 2 places that seemed okay to eat, but even appetizers are at least 20 dollars! We read so many menus and turned around with our heads hanging low more times than I care to mention. So now we are all sad we are writing all the people who think won't mind hearing all this because we certainly do not have any support here (until next week), as is so hard to communicate with most of the people here. Anyways, we our aching, throbbing feet are killing us, but we are off to find a grocery store that we are told is on the other side of town. Even then, it's gonna be tough to buy stuff b/c our kitchen unit at the apartment I would say is not clean enough to use. I am crying again now. I am sure this will get better as long as we can stay out of the city as much as is possible and as soon as we get working. We have planned a day at the North Island Zoo tomorrow and will be taking a nice country bus ride and dining in the countryside. As far as we are concerned, the more we can stay away from this city the better. Don't worry about us though, I am just pretty upset right now and am probably complaining more than I should, but I just a little worried. But mom, don't you be worried. In a few days hopefully we will be moved somwhere else when we can get some help. I love you all, and most of all Eddie, I wish you were here. This place does have so much potential. There are so many beautiful things in the city that could be enjoyed! Crying again, good thing I am sitting in a corner booth. Love Jo xooxoxoxoxoox
Me and Melissa are at an internet cafe in downtown Auckland, which we are not fond of. I'll start with the beginning. Our flights here were incredible, hardly seemed like 2 days in the air at all, and the last flight from Los Angeles to NZ, we were very pampered, well, I was...Melissa slept through the whole thing. LA was incredible (well we were only at the airport, but even that was so cool! Stretch limos all around, could feel the presence of 'les famous'. So, since there is a countdown clock on the screen telling me my time is ticking, I will only write a short bit for now and more next week when hopefully I have free internet at work. So...we flew down over NZ, and oh boy what a sight, just like the travel guides show it, it was surreal, from the AIR, New Zealand is breathtaking, and on the ground New Zealand is breathtaking, as we saw from the ride from the airport to the city...and well downtown Auckland is certainly not. We took a shuttle to our apartments and thats when it all went downhill. We show up at 8:00 am (when the office is supposed to be open, and besides they knew that we were coming) and no one shows up at the office until almost 10. We were gievn the key to our apartment and went to it. We opened the door...only to realize that other people lived inside, we walked in on them...good thing, because that place was DIRTY! So we go down to the office and get another apartment, and go to it, lets just say that there was what appeared to be a blood stain (a big one) in the middle of my carpet in my bedroom and well, we moved again. This time they said they would move us to the other building which was nicer. Hmmm...why didnt they give us that first. Hmmm, so they did and we walked into our new apartment, and well, there was only one bed in the 2-bedroom apartment. We went downstairs and I was ready to come home. Needed to cry, but held off. Finally we got another room (the owners room) which is also awful, but livable until we can figure out what to do. They seemed to have no idea which keys are for which apartments and so I asked how secure this was b/c I felt that anyone else could ahev our keys. He assured me this is not true, but really he didnt even understand what I was asking. I tried calling all the contacts that we have for the University for help, but they are all away until next week. Now I cried. We really have no one and the people that work here don't understand or seem to care to want to help us). It's in a really good spot, but boy, we just dont feel safe at all. So we left our stuff there and headed out to the downtown waterfront. It is true what they say about Auckland being a majority of asian. That was the major culture shock. We went to a nice market this morning but I kid you not when I say that Melissa and I walked around the ENTIRE city of Auckland ALL afternoon trying to find anything that looked edible. I exaggerate none when I say that there is 99.9% asian food and the other is all McD's and Burger King. NO PUBS AT ALL! We could not succeed on this day. We settled for lasagna and pizza that we both could only take 1 bite out of b/c it was so awful. I cried, right there in the food market. Melissa just looked at me, and said nothing-We are both thinking the same thing. This is awful. We maybe saw 2 places that seemed okay to eat, but even appetizers are at least 20 dollars! We read so many menus and turned around with our heads hanging low more times than I care to mention. So now we are all sad we are writing all the people who think won't mind hearing all this because we certainly do not have any support here (until next week), as is so hard to communicate with most of the people here. Anyways, we our aching, throbbing feet are killing us, but we are off to find a grocery store that we are told is on the other side of town. Even then, it's gonna be tough to buy stuff b/c our kitchen unit at the apartment I would say is not clean enough to use. I am crying again now. I am sure this will get better as long as we can stay out of the city as much as is possible and as soon as we get working. We have planned a day at the North Island Zoo tomorrow and will be taking a nice country bus ride and dining in the countryside. As far as we are concerned, the more we can stay away from this city the better. Don't worry about us though, I am just pretty upset right now and am probably complaining more than I should, but I just a little worried. But mom, don't you be worried. In a few days hopefully we will be moved somwhere else when we can get some help. I love you all, and most of all Eddie, I wish you were here. This place does have so much potential. There are so many beautiful things in the city that could be enjoyed! Crying again, good thing I am sitting in a corner booth. Love Jo xooxoxoxoxoox
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Countdown 9 days
I have packed and unpacked a dozen times in the past 2 days...oppps, I mean 2 hours. Just when I think I have everything together, I remember a dozen things that I have forgotten. And then I have a panic attack because I think of how many times will that happen on the way to the airport and then again once I am already on the plane. I guess that no matter what I forget, nothing can be that bad as long as I have money. And well, I have just remembered that I don't have much of that. I think I'll take my Lorazepam now.
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