Sydney to Melbourne Transition (August 5)

It’s been a rough 2 days. I’m sure it was compounded by the fact that I’m still tired from last week’s event as well as didn’t really catch up on sleep this weekend.

Before flying into Melbourne Sunday, I tried to reach my accommodation’s contact to find out where I was staying in Melbourne; she didn’t respond to my texts, emails or voice mails. After landing in Melbourne, I talked to my AU boss (Philippe) who let me know that my contact didn’t check her work phone/emails over the weekend. Sigh. He was kind enough to book a hotel for me, so I had the treat of semi-unpacking for one night, in my 5^th place

·         Chews Lane (Wellington)

·         Wakefield (2 different apartments – Wellington)

·         Bondi (Sydney)

·         Stanton Hotel (1 night – Melbourne)

·         Medina Executive Northbank (Melbourne)

At this point, I’m tired of my clothes and they’re probably tired of me too. I’m trying not to think about having to pack/unpack a couple more times before I do my last packing. Since I will be going somewhere for last week of August, I need to figure out the smoothest way to get from here to Sydney to the destination without having to spend a night in a hotel in between. As well as, I’ll need to stay in Sydney for at least one night before I fly out on Sat. Sept. 1. Ok, that was rambling, boring stuff, but I miss talking to y’all so, tolerate my written rambling J

I jumped into a cab from the hotel to work Monday morning. The cab driver ended up dropping me 2 blocks away from the office, so I got to wheel my crap the rest of the way. Not a good way to start your day..cussing as your sweating.

After being in a fog all day, my blackberry got wiped out. The phone was asking me to type in “blackberry” (a first) and then the password. I typed in what I could have sworn was my password (haven’t changed it since I’ve had it) but the system didn’t like it, so it wiped out everything. I’m hoping that when I switch back to the US Sim card, it’ll still have that information on there, but at this point, I don’t have anyone’s number in my phone, including my AU number. No clue what it is, so I get to scrounge around for my paperwork and hope I can find my number.

I was tempted to order room service, but I figured I needed to get some fresh air. I wandered down the street at ended up at Bertha Brown’s. I asked for Jameson and Ginger Ale, nope, they were out. Then I asked if they had Hendrik's Gin..nope, out of that too (“sorry, that’s an empty bottle on the shelf). At that point, I was tired of asking for drinks they didn’t have, so I didn’t even want to think about what to have for dinner.

The friendly bartender told me about their special “Parm and Pot.” Parm is chicken parmesan and Pot is a specific size of a beer (Pony = 5 oz, Small glass = 6 oz, Glass = 7 oz, Pot = 10 oz, Schooner = 15 oz, Pint = 20 oz). I’m not really a fan of chicken parmesan or beer, but I was happy that someone did the deciding for me and am a sucker for anything that sounds tempting...parm and pot? Who'd pass that up?! 

The hotel I was in Sunday night was in a busier area (think it was near Chinatown), but about a 15 minutes walk from work. My new place doesn’t have much character (set up like a typical long-term corporate apartment), but it does have a nice balcony view and is a 5 minute walk from work. I’m going to try and get motivated in the mornings to do a short walk before work...get a feel for the hood. And by hood, I mean, a lot of gentleman's clubs...odd. 

I haven’t seen much of Melbourne, but the downtown seems to have a different feel than Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District) with trams running throughout the city. Weather wise, it’s colder here. 

I’m already thinking about what I can do this weekend. I may tackle the Queen Victoria Market and/or do the Great Ocean Road (full day outing). I only have this weekend to explore; next weekend, I am working both Sat. and Sun for a two day event (Mon-Tues) and then I fly out Sat. the 25.

I continue to be grateful for my experience, but I can also be human (tired and crabby), and I definitely had a human moment(s).  

July 28 - Turbo Tourist and Sydney Observations

I started the day with a jump into the bondi icebergs pool (landmark of Bondi Beach for over100 years). The pool temperature was a whopping 18 degrees Celsius, 48 Fahrenheit. When I jumped in, I literally had a moment of just standing there, then I figured I better get to swimming if I was going to warm up. I was only able to do 2 laps, and then figured I could check that nonsense off my list, and jumped out as fast as my frozen parts would allow. Bondi Icebergs

I thawed out with a cup of flat white and muesli for my brekki :) After regaining feeling, I headed to Paddington Market (every Saturday, there are over 200 stalls). I actually picked up a few items and then went downtown to catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly beach (seven miles northeast of Sydney). The 30 minute ferry ride was a great way to see the Sydney harbour on the way out, and on the way in...sunsetting on the harbor.

The Info lady (was born in Chicago) were talking about the Bondi scene, both of us agreeing that it is very young. She said that Manly is definitely more "grown up" than Bondi ("prams" all over the place). She figured Bondi was in the 20-30 yr range, and Manly is more 30-40+. Guess that makes me Bondi assisted living :)

Yeah, I'm loving the apartment and the proximity to the ocean, but I know that the crowds (backpackers, skateboarders, etc) would get on my nerves in the summer. For all the tourists that come here, the stretch of beach is relatively small (.6 miles).

The Bondi look and environment  
Girls: leggings/tight pleather pants (a la Sandy in Grease), sunglasses, tight shirt or baggy sweater (both not long enough to cover the hiney). The girls are in shape but wear too much makeup, even when they're in workout wear. Odd, considering that's why Iove the beach...flip flops, no makeup, etc.

Guys: Surfer scrubs and scraggly for the most part, but at my bus stop during the week, you see some suits.

People are active; multiple boot camps on the beach by 8am, yoga at Bondi icebergs, surfers, joggers... A la LA but less fake body parts. 

Observations: 
No signage on busses to identify routes
They use large headsets, not earbuds
The Up escalator is on the left side..just like they walk and drive
The $2 coin is bigger than the $1 coin
Trading hours = Business hours

First Week in Oz

I've been here one week; it feels longer. Maybe, it's because my brain hurts a tad...figuring out how to get around a city of 5 million, and working with a group that does things pretty much the same, but enough nuances to make a difference.

On the former, the busses do not let you know which stop is approaching. I took the bus to work on Monday, and asked the guy sitting next to me how people know when their stop is..."they don't." He was kind enough to let me tag along (he thought his stop was the same as mine, it wasn't). I haven't figured out how to get home yet since I was working late last week and was able to expense my cab, guess that'll be on my list to figure out this week. Good thing people speak English.

I did the tourist thing and rode the 'sightseeing' bus Sat. It was a nice way to see the layout of the city, and I jumped off at Chinatown (wanted a big, ole bowl of soup) and the Sydney Fish Market. Even though the Chinatown ramen soup was good, I wish I had saved room for the amazing looking seafood at the Fish Market.

Sunday was kinda crummy, raining off and on. I initially wanted to take the ferry to Manly beach, but instead, figured I would wander around the harbour, do the Sunday market at The Rocks (Sydney's oldest preserved colonial district), and do the Art Walk (18th biennial of Sydney). The markets validated that I am not a souvenir scooper, the only thing that was tempting was the jam and fudge :)

I stopped in for lunch at a restaurant near the wharf (Fratelli Fresh), it wasn't as good as the restaurants in Wellington, and it was definitely more expensive (grilled fish, brussel sprouts salad and a glass of wine - $50). I was trying to get a sense for Sydney people, and this spot (close to the city) seemed to be a place with money. It's funny, the people looked really dressed up, but their clothes don't look as modern as the states (this includes shop windows). The girls love leggings/jeggings and yes, they actually wear Uggs (typical Uggs look..leggings, baggy sweater).

The AU dollar is really strong right now and Sydney's not a cheap place to live. I was asking my co-workers what was inexpensive here, they mentioned meat and gas (saw a sign for $1.42 a gallon). Guess, I could try Atkins again, but last time my hair fell out in clumps, so I may need to pass on that.

After feeling guilty about my snack of flat white (pouring microfoam [steamed milk from the bottom of a pitcher] over a single shot of espresso) and carrot cake, I decided to walk home from the CBD (Central Business District). The walk wasn't that long (close to 7 miles) but they're kinda sparse with the street lights and the route isn't the most streamlined. I probably won't do it again, but passed some places that looked interesting.

I miss talking/texting my friends. I continue to research who offers free international texting, needs to be iPad, iPhone, Android, Australian friendly...think Viber may be the best bet. Let me know if any of you are on it. Oh, and the times I've tried to use Skype for calling, it constantly drops. This may be due to my wireless connectivity, but it drives me bananas.

Going to enjoy a glass of red wine, and watch the Blind Side. Hope you're having a good weekend, wherever you are.

Sydney Next Chapter

I've unpacked at my fourth place in six weeks. I received some recommendations from my co-worker, and ended up in Bondi. I wanted to be by the water and didn't mind doing a commute if it meant I'd have a community feel to where I lived. I've included a link to my new abode (it's adorable). http://www.stayz.com.au/98481 


I'm a five minute walk from the beach, and I feel safe living in a place that has three other apartments in the complex. I get to try out the bus system tomorrow and find my way to work (office is in the CBD [Central Business District]); according to the website, it should be 40 minutes from door to door. Right now, I'm slotted till August 5 to be in Sydney, then I could have the apartment extended or possibly go to Melbourne. I would love to see Melbourne, but don't look forward to making another move.


I'm worn out. I did the Coogee Coastal Walk today and have been up since 3:00am. Yawn.

Wrapping up Wellington

Hmmm...let's see, since I last wrote, I went to Queenstown the weekend of July 6. Yep, I bungy jumped! I also did a one day tour to Milford Sound. On the bungy jumping, I had signed up for Nevis (134 meters 440 feet 40), but wasn't able to do it due to 1) they had to fix something on it 2) we were the last group of the day so they were backed up. I figured I had to do something, so I ended up jumping off of the Kawarau Bridge (43meters, 142 feet), the first bungy. Suprisingly, once you can shimmy your way to the edge and jump, it's pretty exhilirating! Milford Sound was beautiful, but I actually enjoyed Queen Charlotte Sound more (on my way to Marlborough). I guess I'm getting jaded :)


The town of Queenstown reminded me a bit of Breckenridge, CO, and I actually enjoyed the place more once I got out of town. The scenery from town to Milford Sound was amazing. Every turn had a different landscape..beautiful..especially with the winter frost.


I was able to wrap up my Wellington time with a true NZ activity...I went to a rugby game! Loved it! It was really fast paced, and it only has 2 halves (40 minutes each) and we won!


I flew out this morning (Sunday, July 15) on a rainy, windy day (epitome of Wellington wind) and landed in Sydney around 8:00am for the next chapter of my adventure.

Earthquake!

Tuesday, July 3

"A strong earthquake has been felt throughout much of New Zealand, but there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

In the capital, Wellington, homes shook as the quake rumbled for about 20 seconds Tuesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.2 quake was centered about 105 kilometers (65 miles) south of New Plymouth on New Zealand's North Island. The temblor's epicenter was 236 kilometers (147 miles) below the surface, and the depth may have helped reduce surface damage.

Media reports indicate the quake was felt widely across both the North and South islands."

I'm sitting on my couch, sipping some wine, when the room started to shake. I first thought it was construction outside of my apartment (jackhammer). Then it kept shaking, and finally, my delayed response was, "oh, I think I'm feeling an earthquake." I felt like a little kid, excited by the whole thing. Especially, since it wasn't that big of one and no one was hurt.

Wednesday, July 4

My co-worker Catz (Catherine) decorated my desk with American Flag stickers..she really is the cutest little mom to our group.

Did a very civilized pub crawl (including dinner) with my co-worker Rob, we hit the following places:

The Establishment (decorated with July 4^th crap) http://www.theestablishment.co.nz/node/399

This is the kind of place that has drink specials for the Ladies..not my usual hangout, but Rob has a crush on one of the bartenders there, so we hung out for a beverage. The good thing was that they had champagne for the drink special.

Hung out at Malthouse  http://www.themalthouse.co.nz/ while we waited to get into the bar that I really wanted to try (The Library). If I was more of a beer drinker, I guess this is the place to be.

The Library http://thelibrary.co.nz/ Loved it! Cozy, dark sitting areas, with low key music and books all around. Hopefully, I'll be able to hang out there again.

Dinner at The Tasting Room http://www.thetastingroom.co.nz/ (once again, great service, food [squid for my appetizer and a burger] and wine..love Pinot Noirs from Central Otago)

I'm heading to Queenstown for the weekend. I've signed up for the Milford Sound tour (includes bus and cruise) and a bungy jump! Yikes! I'll let you know how it was.

Off to pack for another move. At least the next move is in the same apartment, but it's still a move :(

Martinborough and Misc.

I really just wanted to be mellow this past weekend, but I figured I didn't know how long I was going to be in NZ, so I just needed to suck it up and rally! I decided on Friday to take the train to Martinborough (Wairarapa region) to visit some more wineries. The train ride was short (approximately an hour), and it was another scenic ride.

Initially, I was the only person on the tour, and then after an amazing lunch (poached egg on a caesar salad and antipasto), we picked up two more people (a young couple from Wellington). I went to Te Kairanga, Schubert, Muirlea Rise, and Murdoch James Estate. Muirlea Rise was my favorite, purely based on the funny guy (Shawn) the owner of the boutique winery.

On Sunday, I had to move to a new apartment since Chews Lane (loved it) was booked for the next few weeks. This is an example of how ridiculously nice people are here. The realtor came to Chews Lane to get the keys as well as helped me move my stuff as well as my co-worker's stuff (he had to go to Sydney for the weekend for his personal apartment move) to the new place (Wakefield). And then, not only did he help me move, he also took me to a tourist spot (Mount Victoria lookout) to see a 360 degree view of Wellington...ridiculous, right?

I'm trying to make the most of my short time here, as well as, it's better being busy to not let my mental hamster over think things with Jens. Yep..he's gone. I was able to hang out with him the Mon., Tues., and Thurs., before he left on Fri. the 29. He had one day in Sydney to unpack from NZ and then pack for a 3 week trip to Thailand (sun, surf, shrines). He'll be back in Sydney on July 21, we'll see if we reconnect.

Right now, plans are for me to head to Sydney on either July 13 or July 15 for work, and then possibly splitting my time between Melbourne and Sydney. I would love to spend time in both places, and heard to get the most out of both places, stay away from the city in Sydney (not much going on there vs. the beach areas), and in Melbourne, the city was the best place to be (European feel, with great restaurants). My work contract ends Aug. 24, but I'm planning on spending an extra week for pure vacation time.

I just bought a ticket to Queenstown for this weekend, it wasn't super cheap due to my last minute decision, but I figure I may never be back here, so it'll be worth the splurge. I'll be flying there Friday morning and then return Sunday around noon to move to a new apartment (the current one was only available this week). I'm going to check on a day tour to Milford Sound (the Realtor recommended it, and the pics look amazing), and then I'll do at least one adrenaline-rush activity. Really not much time to do anything else (Milford Sound is 8am-8pm).

I checked the weather in Queenstown..it's in the low 40's...brrrrr....I'm sure those of you sweating right now wish they had a chilly day :)

Catching Up

Let's see, since I last wrote, I took a 3 hour ferry ride to the vineyards in Marlborough Sounds.The ferry ride was a little rough initially, I had to take several deep breathes, but once we got into the Sounds..everything was really calm, and the landscape is nothing like I've seen before. There are layers of mountains, and lush forests all around..absolutely the most beautiful place I've seen. It made me want to move somewhere with mountains and an ocean.


I was excited about potentially spending my wine tour with some fun Australian's or Kiwi's, but nope..the only other person in my van was a uh..softball playing looking woman named Julie from Michigan. Yep, Michigan of all places. Regardless of the company, the ride to the wineries was beautiful and I finally got to see some sheep! The tour was only for half a day, but I went to; Hunter's, Allan Scott, Seresin [Michael Seresin's estate -cinematographer] and Saint Clair. It's the first time that I enjoyed Chardonnay.


I spent the next day (Sunday) wandering around Picton, there wasn't much to see, but I enjoyed a long, leisurely walk around the small town, (started with an amazing breakfast of a "rasher" of bacon and eggs..the egg yolks are so yellow/orange here) and then took the 6:30pm ferry ride back.


This last week, I got to experience some amazing restaurants. Considering the city isn't that big, the restaurants are so diverse and really good. I went to Foxglove last Thursday for a going away party. The place has this wardrobe (literally) that you walk through to get to the back bar...loved it. Then on Friday night, I hung out with Rob and Luke - we had dinner at Public where they have a weekly show. The show consisted of a trio of women (looked like the epitome of 'cougars' - a word that I don't love, but it really fit them) singing doo-wop. It was the craziest thing, when they started singing, a bunch of middle-age, white people came out on the dance floor. It was as if I was dropped into a wedding party. We left there and headed to Mighty Mighty. Even though the place was too heated, and there were uh..interesting smells - translation b.o., the house music was fun (e.g., Tom Jones song in German), and I heard some live music. The first act was atrocious. The lead singer was a big belly middle-age man that was trying to sing heavy metal..just sad. The second band was better, or at least the lead singer thought it was.  


Last night (Sat), I went to dinner with Jens at Southern Cross, where the food, live music and company were all great.


Speaking of Jens..I found out that this is his last week in Wellington. He told me last night that he had been trying to meet me since the first week, but either the boys were in the space so he couldn't talk freely or when he tried to catch me before the first weekend, I got in the elevator right as he was trying to approach. Then the second weekend, I was gone all weekend. All that to say, he said last night, "I can't believe that I could have enjoyed 3 weeks with you". Sweet. Good thing he introduced himself, otherwise, I would never have taken the initiative, he figured as much.


I'm sleepy. A co-worker invited the boys and me over for dinner and to meet her family. We had a fantastic home-cooked meal of; chook (roasted chicken), potatoes, kumara (sweet potato), carrots, broccoli and for dessert, pavlova (meringue based dessert...such a lazy dessert..you can just let it melt in your mouth and then swallow).


Had a text from Jens when I got home, which made me happy. It would have been nice to see him, but we're both tired, so we passed on meeting up. Speaking of..can't stop yawning..heading to bed.

Lunch Date

Being a silly American, when I found out that Jens is German, I Googled German men traits. Who knows, maybe Jens Googled Asian women traits :)The article said that for the most part, they are not big flirts. With the minimal interaction I've had with Jens, this doesn't seem to be that far off base. He's more direct (not like "nice rack" direct), and also takes charge in a confident way. Examples:

• When he confirmed the lunch time, he said we could pick up my mobile sim card then (love that he remembered I needed one, and was willing to help me with the process)
• When we got to the phone store, I was absolutely clueless what I needed, so he asked all the questions. It's kinda nice playing "little lady" every now and then
• As we were heading back to the office, he said there's a restaurant he wanted to try (Korean bbq- he already knows I only speak English and a little Spanish), and wondered if I'd want to go sometime. What's nice with his "sometime" is that it seems more than just a vague timeline
• Told me to text him once I got my phone working. He offered to help set it up, but I didn't have it on me. Plus, he was giving me grief about me not understanding all the steps I needed to do, which he apologized about, asking if he was being harsh...something about that German trait sometimes comes out. I didn't think it was harsh, and if anything, I teased him about it

We had an easy going conversation; talking about all the different places we've lived. He did exchange programs in Portugal, Argentina, CA, Spain...he may be younger (not sure how old he is), but I like that he seems well traveled. He lives near the beach in Sydney, and does water stuff in NZ too (kite surfing, sailing). I guess he does look surfy.


The possibility of having someone to do stuff with would be so nice. The people in the office are friendly enough, but there just aren't many girls, and the ones that are there just kinda stick together. Perfect example of "it's easier being a guy to meet people"...Jens is going to a co-workers bachelor party this weekend. He asked if Luke (other co-worker) was going to be in town and extended the invite to him. I don't even think they know each other very well.


Ok, enough boy stuff...I'm booked on an 8:15am ferry from Wellington to Picton tomorrow (Sat). I'll be picked up at my hotel (Beachcomber Inn) at 1:30 and drink my way through Marlborough Sounds until 5:30...I'm excited :) I then have a ferry ride back Sunday at 6:30.


If I have internet access, and am not blotto (ha, j/k..kind of) I'll update the blog. Otherwise, I'll fill you in on my weekend Monday.

What's a girl gotta do to get a lunch date?

I guess travel 8,000+ miles.


There's this guy I noticed at work, mostly his nice, head o' hair (kinda sandy blond, not typically my type). Of course, I have absolutely zero game, so whenever I would see him, I would never keep eye contact. I know, ridiculous...the spirit of my geisha ancestors possess me or something. No giggling behind my hand, but it's pretty bad. 

Well hallelujah, he introduced himself! He came over to our space yesterday and asked my co-worker if he could use the space for a meeting. Rob (my co-worker) said, sure as long as they could do an exchange, the exchange being use of the space for helping Rob with some work admin stuff. Before the guy helped Rob, he turned to me and introduced himself. So, he's Cap and his name is Jans, Hans...something 'ans' ish. I mumbled something combined with my name and that I was with Cap too. I still didn't get a good look at his face, but I was hoping that we'd have another chance encounter, and I could say something brilliant and clever. Ok, I'll just strive for spitting out a complete sentence.

Yay, I got an opportunity to put sentences together! J/Hans stopped by and chatted; I found out that he's from Hamburg, Germany, has been in Sydney for the last two years, and is slotted four months on the NZ project. I don't  know where he is on the four month timeline. He mentioned that we should chat, and he could give me some ideas on what to see/do in NZ.

 

Well, time lapse to the end of the day...my two co-workers were leaving and Jens (yep, found out his name) came over as they were heading out to talk some more admin stuff to Rob, and then he stayed to chat with me for a bit. He asked if I had weekend plans...I actually do; I'm going to take the ferry to Marlborough (wine country) Sat. morning, returning Sun. night.

He gave me some suggestions for Queenstown (on my list) and offered to show me some of his pictures. I wasn't sure if he was being nice with his "chamber of commerce" role, or was interested since he kept mentioning "we went"....but then he said that we should go to lunch some time.

He was trying to give me his NZ cell number (people have both NZ and AUS cell phones), but couldn't remember it (he only had 3 hours of sleep, due to watching his team play - no idea if that's a German or Australian team, let alone the sport), but I told him I didn't have cell phone access anyway, so I asked for his email address (this is how I found out his name). As we were wrapping up, he mentioned the lunch thing again, and asked if I was free for lunch tomorrow. And, there you have it!

P.s., I finally got a look at his face - he has pale, either blue/grey eyes, kinda a crooked nose (a la Owen Wilson, but not as big or crooked), cute smile, but not the best teeth...not stained, just some spacing.

The downer is, if we hit it off at lunch tomorrow, I don't know how much longer he's going to be here, but I suppose, I don't know how long I'm going to be here either, so I'm just going to enjoy it! It'd be fun to have someone to do stuff with, that's the one thing that makes this adventure not 100%...I miss my friends.

Keep your digits crossed that 1) my American vs. geisha personality surfaces 2) we have something to talk about 3) he is a fun/funny, nice fella

Can you hear me getting bigger?!

I went to dinner with the boys last night. They chose a spot that I would have walked by without noticing; there was a sandwich board with the name Matterhorn on the sidewalk. I walked down a narrow hallway that led into the main restaurant. The space was surprisingly spacious, had a ski lodge feeling to it, and a real fire crackling. http://www.matterhorn.co.nz/about

I started with the Venison tartare (pickled radish, nashi [asian pear], yuzu [type of sour, citrus fruit] and wasabi). I’ve only had venison chili and was expecting a touch of gaminess to it, it had zilch. It was deeericious. The only complaint I had was echoed by a co-worker who said the portion wasn’t enough to satisfy his cat.

For dinner, I figured I had to try some New Zealand lamb; I ordered the

‘The Whole Lamb’ with goat yogurt and crushed peas. Not quite sure what parts I ate, but parts are parts, and since I slapped the yogurt on everything, it was fantastic.

For wine, I had the Lindis River Central Otago NZ Pinot Noir 2007 (Central Otago wine region is the most southerly wine producing region in the world). I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the Central Otago vineyard, but hopefully some weekend, I'll be able to knock out the Marlborough vineyard (3 hr ferry ride from Wellington). 

This morning, my tour guide, Stuart (client), no, tour guide is not code for anything. The guy doesn’t seem to be that busy, and is nice enough to tell me things about the city (e.g., where to get the best mussels). I asked him the best place to get raw oysters, and he asked if I could run out for a bit. He took me to a local seafood place to try and buy Bluff oysters. Sadly, due to the bad weather in the south island, a shipment won't be coming in this week. Instead, he picked up marinated mussels for a snack. I like vinegary things, so I loved the mussels. Just in case I don’t have enough iron in my system, I also had mussels for lunch. This time, they were grilled with wilted spinach, bacon and cheese at this great Belgium restaurant. http://www.leuven.co.nz/nz/

It’s not all just fun and mussels though, but for the most part, I've got a great set up; apartment gets cleaned on a weekly basis, hours aren't hideously long, the client and co-workers are nice, and in case my boss ever reads this, I'm actually learning a lot :) 

Ok, one more food thing to wrap this up...this is an example of how nice kiwis are. Tonight, I went to a restaurant close to my apartment, and asked if I could place a take out order ("take away" here). The server said, "no", but that she'd check with the chef. She came back and said that since I live so close, he said I could just take the plate with me and return it whenever. 

Besides the random Michael Hutchence picture in the bar (a la photo), and eclectic music selection (e.g., Tony Bennett, Peter, Bjorn & John, Hall & Oates), I'll definitely go back to the spot.

Weekend Wanderings

The city is very walkable. I knocked out about 10 miles on Saturday, and saw quite a bit of the city and the waterfront...amazingly clear, blue skies. I visited the Te Papa museum, and even thought it was impressive, it was more of a "I know I should do something cultural" item to check off of my list. Of course, the part that entertained me the most were the silly animal poses (will upload pictures).


Sunday, I had to go into work to prep for a one day session today (Monday), but before I went in, I checked out the market down by the waterfront.The people are so friendly and I feel totally safe here. Example: One customer, in front of  a coffee truck, left his toddler, in a grocery cart for a few minutes (after asking if he could leave her) while he ran off to deliver his coffee. I enjoyed my coffee, egg and bacon sandwich while enjoying the fresh, ocean air.


I'm trying to make some plans for this weekend but I need to ask one of the local ladies I work with for some suggestions; I have trouble gauging what's realistic for a short weekend trip. The boys I'm working with are useless in that category. Maybe it's because they're from Sydney, and don't really care about exploring New Zealand, but would rather stick to their radius of neighborhood bars.

Snapshot & Observations

Click on this (hehe..get it?) Foto..foto... 

 Observations

• Haven't seen one homeless person
• Unlike Chicago, people never use their car horns
• Nice people, beyond mere politeness
• No big butts, maybe out in the Wellington burbs
• Lots o' Chinese and Sushi restaurants
• Girls are natural looking, no dyed, helmet heads
• Best restaurants, not only food wise, but decor
• Currency - Only 10,20,50 cent coins
• Bills are made out of plastic
• The wind is insane
• Give up parting your hair
• Wear sunglasses, not only to keep out debris shrapnel, but to minimize squinting(er)

• Suck in belly at all times, your shirt is constantly pressed against your frontal 
• Funny words and/or way of saying them:
• Year = Yee-uh
• Test = Teeest
• Reckon = yeah, they use this..such a southern thing to say
• For validation, they'll say..”mmmh..mmmmh..”
• Bits and pieces
• Pinch that (take)
• Take Out = Take away
• Crack on
• Tall Poppy Syndrome (when someone [poppy] get too tall [big for their britches] they'll chop them off)
• Flip flops = Thongs (Aus) Jandals (NZ)
• Lolly = Candy
• Chocolate fish
• Pineapple lumps

Journey Timeline

It's hard to believe it was a week ago that I started this journey:

• Thursday night May 31 - Got the go ahead to buy my ticket
• Friday, June 1 - Finished up post work for a 123 person event, left the office at 1:00am
• Saturday, June 2 - Packed for a trip without knowing the duration (either 6 or 12 weeks). Caught a 6:20pm flight from ORD to LAX. Left LAX at 11:50pm June 2 for a 14 hour flight to Sydney
• Monday, June 4 - Landed in Sydney at 7:40am, to be detained by a woman that looked like she was going to call me fraulein. I got my paw slapped for not having an Australian visa. I didn't cry, but I did have a "head in my hands" moment. After showing my proof of a round trip ticket, New Zealand visa, and the reassurance that I was only in Australia for a meeting, frau crabby let me go
• Monday, June 4 - Went to the Capgemini Sydney office to meet my Australian boss (his request). I tried to look alert while Philippe (tiny, pocket-size, french) chatted at me about the gig. I truly felt like I needed to be propped up, a la "Weekend at Bernie's." I got through the day and caught the 6:45pm flight to Wellington, landing at midnight
• Tuesday, June 5- Started my project with the New Zealand Inland Revenue office; the slices of views I've seen on my way to work (15 minute walk) have been beautiful. I'm working with two boys who are sweet but young (one's around 23, the other is in his late 20's). It's not like I feel like a den mother, but I do wish I had someone to hang out with, that won't stop me from exploring on my own though
• Friday, June 8 - Had my first taste of what NZ offers in seafood (pic in Foto Foto link)