It has been one year since I received notification that my VISA was approved to come to New Zealand (give or take a few days) and I certainly don't feel like the person who received that email anymore. There have been lots of positive changes, but also a lot of negative and now 10 months after coming to this country I find myself wondering what path to take next and feeling a lot of apprehension as well as excitement as to what is to come.
Going to Australia next has been the most conclusive decision that has been discussed so far. Mostly because the money one can potentially earn there is more both as a per dollar basis as well as in the world wide economy. But also because I still feel that New Zealand hasn't been the kindest to me. I am not sure what basis this holds as even though I have found the job market hard here I have had a number of opportunities present themselves that have never been at the right moment. I feel sometimes that its been hard to meet people, and yet the people that I have made connections with here are really amazing people who I do hope to have connections with for many years to come. I have found myself wondering if the struggle that I have found here has been more to do with my own uncertainty as to what my path should be, than what the country as provided for me.
So I find myself at a crossroads. When I think about leaving New Zealand I find myself feeling a little bit heartbroken that things did not go better here. I feel frustrated with myself for a number of the decisions I made in regards to work and training.
When I think about going back to Vancouver I find myself feeling apprehensive and uncertain. It doesn't feel right to be going back to Vancouver. Although to pursue school again Canada is the only logical answer due to International Student fees, and lets face it the rest of Canada is way too cold in the winter!
When I think about Australia, I fear that I will apply the same hesitations to it that I did to New Zealand. I know that I held back in making lasting friendships or finding jobs that could become careers here because it has always be juggled around whether we would stay or not. I feel that I have limited my potential because I have had the shadow of having to leave it all behind looming over me.
So I have found myself feeling quite stuck lately. I have been more teary than I would like to admit, and have been having a really tough go of finding my footing.
I would like to be able to flip a coin and trust the universe as to what path to take, but unfortunately I am just not that sort of person.
Moving and setting up in a new place was harder than I expected. And 10 months in I fear I don't have the energy to do it again.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Further musings on "like"
As difficult as it has been to be here in NZ I have found that once I hit my breaking point it has all become a bit easier. I think I needed to get to that point where I was so frustrated with my life here that I had no choice but to give up or change it. Well, never one to give up (its much easier to just not try in the first place) I figured that I needed to change perspective.
I do some days have quite a hate on for Christchurch. The idea of being here much longer than January, some days, does make me seriously reconsider sticking around. But for as much as I miss things about Vancouver I am starting to wonder if I might find those things here if only I were to change my definitions. I really miss cheap fresh food, I miss East Van queer dance parties, I miss independent cinema (oh cinematheque), I miss indie rock concerts, and I miss the company of having a lot of acquaintances even if I didn't have many close friends. But all of those things do have the potential to be here, I just haven't really gone looking.
What has stopped me? Well money has been a big part of it. In my time here I have found that I have either been working too much and have no time, or not working enough so don't have enough money. Soon that will balance itself out as it has been confirmed that my new job is starting next Tuesday. The no time thing may become a factor as I will still be working the cattery as well, but the cattery has also become a major social outlet for me as my boss there is pretty awesome.
I think also what has stopped me is that in the back of my mind is the thought that I will be leaving here in a years time, so whats the point in creating that network just to have to pick up and leave it all all over again.
But when I think about going back to Vancouver and suffering through another winter of rain and dark for months, or going back to the hustle and bustle of the city that I find holds a lot of aggression. I mean, winter here is stunning and locals have been saying this is a tough year. The people that I have met are super friendly and super accommodating. This is a beautiful city and country even though it is quite conservative, drinking is a sport rather than a past time, and racism is rampant. So its hard to think about giving up the good here to go back to Vancouver so soon. Maybe I am not giving it the time it needs to foster itself into an amazing city yet. I am just not sure my waffling will help any.
Oh Christchurch why can't your food be cheaper, your dances be eastvanesque, or your ocean be closer to downtown?
Oh Vancouver why do you have to do nothing but rain, for months, and months?
I do some days have quite a hate on for Christchurch. The idea of being here much longer than January, some days, does make me seriously reconsider sticking around. But for as much as I miss things about Vancouver I am starting to wonder if I might find those things here if only I were to change my definitions. I really miss cheap fresh food, I miss East Van queer dance parties, I miss independent cinema (oh cinematheque), I miss indie rock concerts, and I miss the company of having a lot of acquaintances even if I didn't have many close friends. But all of those things do have the potential to be here, I just haven't really gone looking.
What has stopped me? Well money has been a big part of it. In my time here I have found that I have either been working too much and have no time, or not working enough so don't have enough money. Soon that will balance itself out as it has been confirmed that my new job is starting next Tuesday. The no time thing may become a factor as I will still be working the cattery as well, but the cattery has also become a major social outlet for me as my boss there is pretty awesome.
I think also what has stopped me is that in the back of my mind is the thought that I will be leaving here in a years time, so whats the point in creating that network just to have to pick up and leave it all all over again.
But when I think about going back to Vancouver and suffering through another winter of rain and dark for months, or going back to the hustle and bustle of the city that I find holds a lot of aggression. I mean, winter here is stunning and locals have been saying this is a tough year. The people that I have met are super friendly and super accommodating. This is a beautiful city and country even though it is quite conservative, drinking is a sport rather than a past time, and racism is rampant. So its hard to think about giving up the good here to go back to Vancouver so soon. Maybe I am not giving it the time it needs to foster itself into an amazing city yet. I am just not sure my waffling will help any.
Oh Christchurch why can't your food be cheaper, your dances be eastvanesque, or your ocean be closer to downtown?
Oh Vancouver why do you have to do nothing but rain, for months, and months?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Like List
I have been meaning to write for ages but have been feeling a little down on New Zealand these past couple weeks so have found it difficult to write something nice. And I was always taught that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. But I figure I am here for at least 5 more months so maybe I should chronicle some of the good things about New Zealand.
1. Winter
Winter here is amazing. We have had our cold days for sure, but most days it is sunny enough to only be out in a tshirt and hoodie. Some days even the tshirt will suffice as long as you don't venture into the shade. After living in Vancouver most my life this is amazing to me. I haven't had any of the usual winter blues because there has actually been light. Vancouver has never seemed so dark and dreary as it does now in remembering the rainy dark cold that permiates it for months at a time. Winter here has really crisp mornings with beautiful sunsets. It has me opening the windows to let in fresh air and it being warmer for it because the air is warmer outside than in. Insulation would be wonderful, but our new home is much better so I shouldn't complain!
2. Small Community
This is both a blessing and a curse. But overall I have found people here to be so giving. I struggle to think of a time that people were so willing to give us a car to use when ours died, with no strings attached. I have a boss who rewards me on a regular basis, lets me use her car, gives me bottles of wine and says thank you each and every day. She even gave us a dining suite to use in our new house and use of their car and trailer to move. People on the street say hello to you. Strike up conversation about your extremely bright socks when waiting at red lights. They remember you when you go to the gym and ask where you were last week because they didn't see you (even though you had only gone twice before that time). It is nice to never really have rush hour traffic. To not have as much agression out in the world because people are getting to where they need to be on time. Although I don't have the same social community as I did back home I am enjoying the fact the people are interested in me and my accent, and are friendly about both those facts.
3. Birds
It's winter and I wake up to bird calls. I saw two black swans in the Avon river the other day. There are birds here who mimic car alarms when they call. They scare me by jumping out of the underbrush when I walk up to the Cattery where I work. But above all these things there are breed of duck here called a Paradise Duck that pair up and are always seen together. They are beautiful. On a ride one day I saw one that had been hit by a car, and the other was standing guard and calling out. It was both depressing and beautiful to see as it gave me a strange sense of connectedness. Plus seeing penguins in the wild was amazing and awe inspiring. They move quite a bit faster than I exptected!
4. Landscape
Although not as true in Christchurch as the rest of New Zealand, you can easily go from hills to mountains to farms to rolling plains to ocean to rainforest in just a tiny amount of driving. I love that there is so much diversity in the landscape here. I also like that it is flat here as it makes cycling reasonably easier than Vancouver. As long as the wind is in your favour. But its neat to see chickens in peoples back yards, and sheep hearding on the hills. To see so many gardens and green spaces. Its a nice aspect of a smaller city.
5. Cathedral Square
The main square in town which is the center of downtown is home to many different crazy prophets and buskers. It also has a daily market set up on it (see #6) and so you can eat a hot dog while browsing home made scarves listening to someone rant on a box (literally) about how buildings are what have ruined society and we should all be living in the wilderness. There also seems to only be about 4 buskers in Chch and so I get to see the different crowd reactions to the same shows each time I head to the square. It is a great culteral hub as well as there are a few different backpackers and the info center so its neat to watch people discover the buskers and cathedral for the first time. There is also a large scale (about three feet high pieces) chess board and watching the older gentlemen who play in the days is usually really cool.
6. Markets
There are markets everywhere in this city. I discover them often as I am casually wandering through town. Although I rarely buy much more than some food to snack on while I wander it is neat to see how many crafters and artisans there are in this city. It isn't even the exact same people each time I go which is more than I can say for markets in Vancouver. I am looking forward to spring coming to see how the food markets change now that I have found some pretty decent ones. But again, its a great way to spend the day.
7. Boy Racers
Okay, I admit it, I find the boy racers amusing here. For those of you who don't know Chch has an epidemic of boy racers which police and good citizens are a blight on society. We actually live just off of a major boy racer strip in Chch now. And its not what you think as I have never actually seen any of them race here in Chch (Although we did in Dunedin, a few meters from one red to the next!) so what they do is drive down Moorhouse, go up Fitzgerald, down Bealey and then through Hagley Park. They drive these four roads seemingly all night long. They have blow off valves that make cool "pffhst" noises and they talk to eachother between cars. Sometimes they even rev their engines! Now why I find this so amusing is that more often than not it seems the cars they have chosen to sup up is a station wagon. Station wagons are very popular here. Of course you will have a few Toyotas and Hondas in the mix but there isn't much more enjoyable than a station wagon lowered with nice rims. I hear that they do race but have yet to witness it myself. Although we did hear a few single cars fly down the highway by our old place.
8. Spandex
Cyclists that are not wearing spandex outfits, often matching their bikes, is an anomoly here in New Zealand. It seems that in order to ride your bike from point A to point B you must don your spandex and fly like the wind. It is so bizarre and amusing to me even still because as you cycle past these people they give you the nod and check out what you are riding yourself. I can see their egos shrink a little as I come toodling past with knee high brightly striped socks and a hoodie. Although I must admit I gave in to Drews insisting that cycle shorts were a good idea and do wear spandex shorts now. The padding is so worth my fashion disaster. But I also really enjoy seeing all the spandex because more often than not it is on someone very much fit enough to be wearing it.
9. Food
There are definitely food items that are better here than in Canada. Ketchup tastes better. Gingerale actually contains ginger flavour. Potatoes are less starchy. They promote home made yogurt, which is awesome. Food tastes cleaner. I do dislike the prices but now that I have adjusted to that I am enjoying the options that are available here. There are of course things I am missing from home but I am getting used to certain ingredients here and will miss them when we leave.
10. Its all different
Although I struggle with this fact more often than not, it is still pretty amazing to be somewhere new. I have the travel bug again and am looking forward to our departure from Chch (and possibly NZ) but it is still exciting that this is all new, all different. The culture has its similarities but there is so much new here. And I am noticing how much I have changed as well. A lot of my neurosis have diminished if not disappeared, I am reevaluating what is important to me, and overall I just feel like I am striving towards something. There are things that I have lost in myself as well, but I am trying to look at that as a good thing. But the adventure is still going on (even if I struggle with it) and I need to find solice in that adventure.
1. Winter
Winter here is amazing. We have had our cold days for sure, but most days it is sunny enough to only be out in a tshirt and hoodie. Some days even the tshirt will suffice as long as you don't venture into the shade. After living in Vancouver most my life this is amazing to me. I haven't had any of the usual winter blues because there has actually been light. Vancouver has never seemed so dark and dreary as it does now in remembering the rainy dark cold that permiates it for months at a time. Winter here has really crisp mornings with beautiful sunsets. It has me opening the windows to let in fresh air and it being warmer for it because the air is warmer outside than in. Insulation would be wonderful, but our new home is much better so I shouldn't complain!
2. Small Community
This is both a blessing and a curse. But overall I have found people here to be so giving. I struggle to think of a time that people were so willing to give us a car to use when ours died, with no strings attached. I have a boss who rewards me on a regular basis, lets me use her car, gives me bottles of wine and says thank you each and every day. She even gave us a dining suite to use in our new house and use of their car and trailer to move. People on the street say hello to you. Strike up conversation about your extremely bright socks when waiting at red lights. They remember you when you go to the gym and ask where you were last week because they didn't see you (even though you had only gone twice before that time). It is nice to never really have rush hour traffic. To not have as much agression out in the world because people are getting to where they need to be on time. Although I don't have the same social community as I did back home I am enjoying the fact the people are interested in me and my accent, and are friendly about both those facts.
3. Birds
It's winter and I wake up to bird calls. I saw two black swans in the Avon river the other day. There are birds here who mimic car alarms when they call. They scare me by jumping out of the underbrush when I walk up to the Cattery where I work. But above all these things there are breed of duck here called a Paradise Duck that pair up and are always seen together. They are beautiful. On a ride one day I saw one that had been hit by a car, and the other was standing guard and calling out. It was both depressing and beautiful to see as it gave me a strange sense of connectedness. Plus seeing penguins in the wild was amazing and awe inspiring. They move quite a bit faster than I exptected!
4. Landscape
Although not as true in Christchurch as the rest of New Zealand, you can easily go from hills to mountains to farms to rolling plains to ocean to rainforest in just a tiny amount of driving. I love that there is so much diversity in the landscape here. I also like that it is flat here as it makes cycling reasonably easier than Vancouver. As long as the wind is in your favour. But its neat to see chickens in peoples back yards, and sheep hearding on the hills. To see so many gardens and green spaces. Its a nice aspect of a smaller city.
5. Cathedral Square
The main square in town which is the center of downtown is home to many different crazy prophets and buskers. It also has a daily market set up on it (see #6) and so you can eat a hot dog while browsing home made scarves listening to someone rant on a box (literally) about how buildings are what have ruined society and we should all be living in the wilderness. There also seems to only be about 4 buskers in Chch and so I get to see the different crowd reactions to the same shows each time I head to the square. It is a great culteral hub as well as there are a few different backpackers and the info center so its neat to watch people discover the buskers and cathedral for the first time. There is also a large scale (about three feet high pieces) chess board and watching the older gentlemen who play in the days is usually really cool.
6. Markets
There are markets everywhere in this city. I discover them often as I am casually wandering through town. Although I rarely buy much more than some food to snack on while I wander it is neat to see how many crafters and artisans there are in this city. It isn't even the exact same people each time I go which is more than I can say for markets in Vancouver. I am looking forward to spring coming to see how the food markets change now that I have found some pretty decent ones. But again, its a great way to spend the day.
7. Boy Racers
Okay, I admit it, I find the boy racers amusing here. For those of you who don't know Chch has an epidemic of boy racers which police and good citizens are a blight on society. We actually live just off of a major boy racer strip in Chch now. And its not what you think as I have never actually seen any of them race here in Chch (Although we did in Dunedin, a few meters from one red to the next!) so what they do is drive down Moorhouse, go up Fitzgerald, down Bealey and then through Hagley Park. They drive these four roads seemingly all night long. They have blow off valves that make cool "pffhst" noises and they talk to eachother between cars. Sometimes they even rev their engines! Now why I find this so amusing is that more often than not it seems the cars they have chosen to sup up is a station wagon. Station wagons are very popular here. Of course you will have a few Toyotas and Hondas in the mix but there isn't much more enjoyable than a station wagon lowered with nice rims. I hear that they do race but have yet to witness it myself. Although we did hear a few single cars fly down the highway by our old place.
8. Spandex
Cyclists that are not wearing spandex outfits, often matching their bikes, is an anomoly here in New Zealand. It seems that in order to ride your bike from point A to point B you must don your spandex and fly like the wind. It is so bizarre and amusing to me even still because as you cycle past these people they give you the nod and check out what you are riding yourself. I can see their egos shrink a little as I come toodling past with knee high brightly striped socks and a hoodie. Although I must admit I gave in to Drews insisting that cycle shorts were a good idea and do wear spandex shorts now. The padding is so worth my fashion disaster. But I also really enjoy seeing all the spandex because more often than not it is on someone very much fit enough to be wearing it.
9. Food
There are definitely food items that are better here than in Canada. Ketchup tastes better. Gingerale actually contains ginger flavour. Potatoes are less starchy. They promote home made yogurt, which is awesome. Food tastes cleaner. I do dislike the prices but now that I have adjusted to that I am enjoying the options that are available here. There are of course things I am missing from home but I am getting used to certain ingredients here and will miss them when we leave.
10. Its all different
Although I struggle with this fact more often than not, it is still pretty amazing to be somewhere new. I have the travel bug again and am looking forward to our departure from Chch (and possibly NZ) but it is still exciting that this is all new, all different. The culture has its similarities but there is so much new here. And I am noticing how much I have changed as well. A lot of my neurosis have diminished if not disappeared, I am reevaluating what is important to me, and overall I just feel like I am striving towards something. There are things that I have lost in myself as well, but I am trying to look at that as a good thing. But the adventure is still going on (even if I struggle with it) and I need to find solice in that adventure.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
June Update
Living in the Southern Hemisphere means rethinking the seasons, so I find myself often saying "this would be December back home". So what exactly does that mean? Well today I was out walking in a tshirt, hoodie and scarf and was warm. My trusty laptop said it was 9 degrees but with the sun it certainly felt much warmer. It is strange to think that this would be December back home as it feels unseasonably warm here, considering it is winter. They have been threatening for weeks that a cold front will be moving in with sleet. The weather for tomorrow is supposed to be sleet, wonder if it will actually come this time.
Things have been much nicer living in our own place. You really take for granted how nice it is to not have to worry about planning when you want to use shared space when you live on your own (or with just a partner). I have learned being here that my home is really important to me, and that includes not having to make allowances for someone else and how they use the space. It is different with partners because you can find that balance together but I found that moving into a home where someone had already been living I always felt like it was her space and I was just using it for the time being. Now this is my space, and I am loving it. Best thing about it is that it is really close to downtown so it is easy to take a wander to the city. Whereas before we were quite isolated. The act of moving has made me feel like I could stay in NZ longer than the year. Just being able to find stability in one aspect of living has made me feel much more at peace. So glad we found it.
I still find myself being surprised by New Zealand and the differences that exist. For example, you can shop around for cheaper electricity prices. It is quite the maze looking at all the different companies and the rates that they charge and trying to delineate which would be the most cost efficient.
Bandwidth is insanely expensive here compared to Canada. Its weird to have to think about what you are doing online and how much bandwidth you have left to be able to do it. In Canada you can do whatever you want essentially without too much worries. There is also only one cable operator in all of NZ. The rest are ADSL which require a landline which is itself quite expensive.
I have discovered though that I love driving on the left hand side of the road. The driving rules are becoming easier to remember, and I rock at parallel parking here even in our beast of a vehicle. I am not sure what it is exactly about being on the opposite side of the road that I enjoy so much, but its starting to feel very natural. To the point where both Drew and I have found ourselves thinking "they are on the wrong side of the road" when watching an American Film before catching ourselves.
I am patiently waiting for a new job to start up sometime in July. It is in a home for people with traumatic brain injury and they are currently doing renovations to get it set up so the start date is whenever that finishes. Best thing about it is that it should work well with my Cattery job so I can still do that. I have come to the conclusion that the Cattery is probably one of the best jobs I have ever had both due to the nature of the work and also because I have a really amazing boss there. I have decided to stop working at the retirement home as it is very inconsistent hours and I have been having conflict with the amount of gossip and negative speak that goes on there. I found that it was making me feel frustrated and unhappy, which is something I didn't want for myself in a job.
Next week Drew and I are hoping to get down to Dunedin to do some South Island sightseeing. Hoping this nice winter weather holds until then.
Things have been much nicer living in our own place. You really take for granted how nice it is to not have to worry about planning when you want to use shared space when you live on your own (or with just a partner). I have learned being here that my home is really important to me, and that includes not having to make allowances for someone else and how they use the space. It is different with partners because you can find that balance together but I found that moving into a home where someone had already been living I always felt like it was her space and I was just using it for the time being. Now this is my space, and I am loving it. Best thing about it is that it is really close to downtown so it is easy to take a wander to the city. Whereas before we were quite isolated. The act of moving has made me feel like I could stay in NZ longer than the year. Just being able to find stability in one aspect of living has made me feel much more at peace. So glad we found it.
I still find myself being surprised by New Zealand and the differences that exist. For example, you can shop around for cheaper electricity prices. It is quite the maze looking at all the different companies and the rates that they charge and trying to delineate which would be the most cost efficient.
Bandwidth is insanely expensive here compared to Canada. Its weird to have to think about what you are doing online and how much bandwidth you have left to be able to do it. In Canada you can do whatever you want essentially without too much worries. There is also only one cable operator in all of NZ. The rest are ADSL which require a landline which is itself quite expensive.
I have discovered though that I love driving on the left hand side of the road. The driving rules are becoming easier to remember, and I rock at parallel parking here even in our beast of a vehicle. I am not sure what it is exactly about being on the opposite side of the road that I enjoy so much, but its starting to feel very natural. To the point where both Drew and I have found ourselves thinking "they are on the wrong side of the road" when watching an American Film before catching ourselves.
I am patiently waiting for a new job to start up sometime in July. It is in a home for people with traumatic brain injury and they are currently doing renovations to get it set up so the start date is whenever that finishes. Best thing about it is that it should work well with my Cattery job so I can still do that. I have come to the conclusion that the Cattery is probably one of the best jobs I have ever had both due to the nature of the work and also because I have a really amazing boss there. I have decided to stop working at the retirement home as it is very inconsistent hours and I have been having conflict with the amount of gossip and negative speak that goes on there. I found that it was making me feel frustrated and unhappy, which is something I didn't want for myself in a job.
Next week Drew and I are hoping to get down to Dunedin to do some South Island sightseeing. Hoping this nice winter weather holds until then.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
apparently older
The 30th birthday came and went, and it was a good day. I like finding a reason to celebrate and be cheery with friends, and if you agree that my birthing is worth celebrating, then such was the case!
Karen woke me up, several times, before I rolled over and groaned. It was a spritely start to the day. But she persisted and I managed to draw back the tectonic eyelids to see a small, oddly shaped, white wrapped thing with a bright orange bow around it. My very own ceramic chubby orange chicken! Pictures to come...
As an aside, for those who don't know, I have a small fascination with kitschy chicken things.
The bike ride to school was great, and none of the drivers tried to share my lane with me! How considerate! By about 7:20 I managed to crank my neck around to see a beautiful sun rise - heaps of pink, orange, and violet streaked across the puffy mass above, and wisps of cold morning breath across the fields below. This is what I ride for.
At school a friend offered to buy me a wee dram, but we had to wait until 11:00am. We found a sunny spot that was reasonably warm and enjoyed coffee until 11:00 came about - and I was treated to one of my favourites, Laphroaig 10 year. A double, actually. Good friends indeed! I found myself in a very warm, relaxed state for the rest of the morning.
Apparently The Bodhi Tree restaurant is a landmark in the city, and it was highly recommended to us. Unfortunately it's also a small place and bookings have to be made weeks in advance. So, taking a page from my Dad's book of 'How to Think You're Able to Influence People', I left a long sappy message on their answering machine about how we're new to town, did I mention it's my 30th?... today?!, and they found us a table. Dinner was fantastic. Tea-leaf salad, Nga Hin (Methinks it was Halibut, in tomato/cilantro/chili/other stuff), roasted mushrooms with sesame seed, and a beef curry (with clove, yum!) that was perfectly tender. All enjoyed with an excellent bottle of Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2007. Gorgeous wine!
And then we came home and passed out.
Thanks everyone for the messages, cyber-bouquets, and cards. It was a good day.
Karen woke me up, several times, before I rolled over and groaned. It was a spritely start to the day. But she persisted and I managed to draw back the tectonic eyelids to see a small, oddly shaped, white wrapped thing with a bright orange bow around it. My very own ceramic chubby orange chicken! Pictures to come...
As an aside, for those who don't know, I have a small fascination with kitschy chicken things.
The bike ride to school was great, and none of the drivers tried to share my lane with me! How considerate! By about 7:20 I managed to crank my neck around to see a beautiful sun rise - heaps of pink, orange, and violet streaked across the puffy mass above, and wisps of cold morning breath across the fields below. This is what I ride for.
At school a friend offered to buy me a wee dram, but we had to wait until 11:00am. We found a sunny spot that was reasonably warm and enjoyed coffee until 11:00 came about - and I was treated to one of my favourites, Laphroaig 10 year. A double, actually. Good friends indeed! I found myself in a very warm, relaxed state for the rest of the morning.
Apparently The Bodhi Tree restaurant is a landmark in the city, and it was highly recommended to us. Unfortunately it's also a small place and bookings have to be made weeks in advance. So, taking a page from my Dad's book of 'How to Think You're Able to Influence People', I left a long sappy message on their answering machine about how we're new to town, did I mention it's my 30th?... today?!, and they found us a table. Dinner was fantastic. Tea-leaf salad, Nga Hin (Methinks it was Halibut, in tomato/cilantro/chili/other stuff), roasted mushrooms with sesame seed, and a beef curry (with clove, yum!) that was perfectly tender. All enjoyed with an excellent bottle of Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2007. Gorgeous wine!
And then we came home and passed out.
Thanks everyone for the messages, cyber-bouquets, and cards. It was a good day.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
something's rotting...
This is really a time-kill post. I've just spent the past few hours reading and note-taking all that I can on ... a fungus. I have a 20-page write-up due in 1 week, and it's about a fungus. Man does life ever come down from this high?
The program, as maybe evidenced by my absence from this space, is still nuts.
I think if I hurry I may be in time for some good night cuddles, provided Karen hasn't passed out.
Hope all's well with everyone out there, wish I had a bit of time to write more. Would love to read about your lives though, if you have the time and inclination.
The program, as maybe evidenced by my absence from this space, is still nuts.
I think if I hurry I may be in time for some good night cuddles, provided Karen hasn't passed out.
Hope all's well with everyone out there, wish I had a bit of time to write more. Would love to read about your lives though, if you have the time and inclination.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
113 Days
Just updated my self portrait a day and realized that it has been 113 days since we have been gone. Its getting pretty close to a third of the trip being done. It is stunning to think how long it has been, but also how short so far.
Had our housewarming party last night, which also happened to correspond with Anzac day (sort of like our remembrance day). It was awesome to get lots of the people we have met here in NZ together in one room and realize that we have made some pretty great connections.
Drew is back to school tomorrow after a brief respite (from lectures at least as he was at school almost everyday during the break) and I am going to miss having him around again. But I should be busy myself as I will be working almost every day over the next two weeks, which is wonderful as I could use the infusion of cash right now. Really beginning to find my groove with the two jobs I have and feeling that I am starting to find my place here. Still getting used to the changes in social life and activity levels but it will all come with time.
Looking forward to welcoming in Autumn and have been loving the amount of light (and heat, today its 25 degrees) that we are still getting. It is amazing to have an Autumn with leaves falling to the ground dry and brittle instead of wet and soggy.
Had our housewarming party last night, which also happened to correspond with Anzac day (sort of like our remembrance day). It was awesome to get lots of the people we have met here in NZ together in one room and realize that we have made some pretty great connections.
Drew is back to school tomorrow after a brief respite (from lectures at least as he was at school almost everyday during the break) and I am going to miss having him around again. But I should be busy myself as I will be working almost every day over the next two weeks, which is wonderful as I could use the infusion of cash right now. Really beginning to find my groove with the two jobs I have and feeling that I am starting to find my place here. Still getting used to the changes in social life and activity levels but it will all come with time.
Looking forward to welcoming in Autumn and have been loving the amount of light (and heat, today its 25 degrees) that we are still getting. It is amazing to have an Autumn with leaves falling to the ground dry and brittle instead of wet and soggy.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friends
Had friends here this past weekend and it was so amazingly comfortable being able to joke through slight inflections (which it appears Kiwi's don't get all the time since they don't know me or my accent), and was so much fun to show them around the town. It was sad dropping them off at the airport this morning as I really miss having people around to eat dinner with and then sit chatting all night until sleep takes over. And going out and just seeing parts of the town for the sake of exploration. I do really miss having people who "get me" in more quantities than just Drew (as wonderful as he is) as I really thought that sarcasm would transfer through accents, but it doesn't.
So I do hope that others decide to make Christchurch a destination spot through the next 9 months. The floor is very comfortable I hear.
So I do hope that others decide to make Christchurch a destination spot through the next 9 months. The floor is very comfortable I hear.
Monday, March 16, 2009
They didn't lie - it does get easier
I had struggled off an on for our first few weeks in Christchurch, I wanted something familiar in a way that led me to frustration and tears on a few occasions. But as 'they' always say, it does get easier. Now as I travel the city I have landmarks that make sense to me, I know a few different grocery stores where you can get deals on certain items, and I am finally meeting people.
I wouldn't call it homesickness though, as it really didn't have anything to do with wanting to be back "home". But I guess I really took for granted how nice it is to know what Indian restaurant is good for butter chicken, which used book store has the best selection, and which produce store is guaranteed to have golden delicious apples (which I have yet to find here). But it is just a matter of time until I get those things sussed out.
Spent six days in a row working myself into the ground last week. Enjoyed it, and hated it all at once. But it was a good reminder of how much my mood improves when I am cycling about 20km a day and working myself into a sweat running around serving tea, making tea and sorting out lunches. But I certainly am glad that the week is over and I don't think I will be jumping on taking a job like that again unless the pocketbook really gets hurting again.
Today I officially start work at the holistic cooking school and will be taking my first course with the woman I will be apprenticing for. If the details work out I really feel like NZ is finally giving me some direction.
I wouldn't call it homesickness though, as it really didn't have anything to do with wanting to be back "home". But I guess I really took for granted how nice it is to know what Indian restaurant is good for butter chicken, which used book store has the best selection, and which produce store is guaranteed to have golden delicious apples (which I have yet to find here). But it is just a matter of time until I get those things sussed out.
Spent six days in a row working myself into the ground last week. Enjoyed it, and hated it all at once. But it was a good reminder of how much my mood improves when I am cycling about 20km a day and working myself into a sweat running around serving tea, making tea and sorting out lunches. But I certainly am glad that the week is over and I don't think I will be jumping on taking a job like that again unless the pocketbook really gets hurting again.
Today I officially start work at the holistic cooking school and will be taking my first course with the woman I will be apprenticing for. If the details work out I really feel like NZ is finally giving me some direction.
Ode to Wind
Alternately titled: I Only Put Up With You Because You Let Me Breathe.
While I really do love cycling and all the things that come about with being active in outside, I'd appreciate a certain level of understanding from good ol' Ma Nature. Sure it's fun to be 'challenged' each day in unpredictable ways, and there have been elements of punishment gluttony to my riding (Adam, I'm looking at you), but I think a balance must be struck.
In this case, I'd like to talk to this fine Environmental Matriarch about the way in which winds behave in these parts. In Vancouver when the wind blew it may have blown with force but rarely did it blow outside of a familiar pattern. Onshore during the day, offshore at night. This may not always have been the case but there was certainly a strong positive correlation between day or night and wind direction.
Not so in Kiwi land. Actually today's ride home was on the perplexing side of things. For example, when one rides with a strong wind blowing from their right-hand side, it would be expected that, should the rider make a 90 degree turn to the right that they will be heading into the wind. Today I experienced the strange phenomenon of making that turn and finding the wind blowing from my left, then from dead ahead, gusting from the right and moving back to a head-on orientation.
I'd like my hills and my predictable wind back, please. Mum, can you fit that in a care package if I help with postage?
While I really do love cycling and all the things that come about with being active in outside, I'd appreciate a certain level of understanding from good ol' Ma Nature. Sure it's fun to be 'challenged' each day in unpredictable ways, and there have been elements of punishment gluttony to my riding (Adam, I'm looking at you), but I think a balance must be struck.
In this case, I'd like to talk to this fine Environmental Matriarch about the way in which winds behave in these parts. In Vancouver when the wind blew it may have blown with force but rarely did it blow outside of a familiar pattern. Onshore during the day, offshore at night. This may not always have been the case but there was certainly a strong positive correlation between day or night and wind direction.
Not so in Kiwi land. Actually today's ride home was on the perplexing side of things. For example, when one rides with a strong wind blowing from their right-hand side, it would be expected that, should the rider make a 90 degree turn to the right that they will be heading into the wind. Today I experienced the strange phenomenon of making that turn and finding the wind blowing from my left, then from dead ahead, gusting from the right and moving back to a head-on orientation.
I'd like my hills and my predictable wind back, please. Mum, can you fit that in a care package if I help with postage?
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