Praise the Lord, I have a home! Yes, that’s right. I’m writing to you from my new house! My friend Hayley and I just moved in tonight along with EIGHT other people. I know it seems crazy, but that’s what everyone does here. We live in a four bedroom home that’s just a short walk from the center of town with a killer view of the mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Hayley and I share a cozy little room. I never thought I would appreciate shelves so much in my life. I’m so happy to unpack! I haven’t met all my new roomies yet, but they are all friendly people so far. A couple of them even work on Coronet Peak with me. It’s nice to always have someone around to hang out with too.
Not too many new updates as of now. I’ve been working my little tail off. For the first couple of weeks, the large amount of snow and ice caused bad road conditions. Since the bus drivers had to drive really slow and chain up the tires, all the NZSki staff would have to catch the 6:45 AM bus to go up the mountain. It was still dark when I got to work, but I would get a good sleep in on the bus ride. Luckily, they changed it back to 7:45 AM. My job is going great. It’s been so absolutely chaotic in the administration office. I don’t have a single second of down time. I really enjoy it though. It keeps me on my toes. We even had to go over avalanche procedures today which I’m supposed to help handle if it occurs. Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen under my watch. It’s supposed to die down after the New Zealand school holidays are over. At that time, we will get to take ski breaks during lunch. I usually go skiing on my days off or on Fridays and Saturdays for night skiing.
This morning on the bus ride to work, I truly realized how amazing New Zealand is. I often take that time to think about how lucky I feel to be here and how this experience is once-in-a-lifetime. When we reached the top of the mountain, I looked up and the sun was coming up on one side in front of pink and purple clouds, and on the other side, the moon was still shining bright around a lit sky. Right below the mountains, I stood above a thick layer of clouds that really looked like snow. It was so amazing and unlike anything I’d ever seen. All the staff got off the bus and just began to take pictures (see my pictures tab). So with that said, I continue to remember to never take this experience for granted. Obviously I have my ups and downs, but lately it’s all ups! I hope everyone takes the time to see the beauty of what’s out there because there really is so much.

Well we finally got a dump… a snow dump that is (hehe). That’s right… it finally snowed A LOT! YAY!! I arrived in Queenstown a couple of weeks ago. It was perfect timing because Winterfest just started. There were all sorts of things going on like dodgeball tournaments, drag queen drag races, and tons of bands playing. There was even a Japanese James Brown band which was totally awesome. I want them to play at my wedding.

Queenstown is by far my most favorite place in New Zealand. The scenery is breathtaking. It’s just a cute little snow town with tons of activities always going on. I even did a bungee jump. I can’t even begin to describe the adrenalin rush. It’s 134 meters high with about eight seconds of free fall. I honestly didn’t think I would be as scared as I was, but it’s so incredibly intimidating. Not to mention I was the last one to go, so I had to wait for about 15 people to go in front of me. I’m not sure I even remember the first few seconds, but it was truly amazing. I want to go again!

Good news. I officially started my job! I’m working for NZSki as the Coronet Peak Administrative Assistant on the mountain. I get tons of perks like a free ski pass for both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables which runs upward of about $1,400. Lucky me! I work in the office with all of the ski area managers and other admins who are all really nice. So far so good. Some of my job duties include updating the Web site and snow phones, finding missing people, and making PA announcements which I struggle with. The entire mountain hears my voice and I always stumble on my words. I accidentally even said “y’all” when I radioed patrol the other day. I’ll never hear the end of that. It’s a chaotic job, but goes by super fast every day. You wouldn’t believe how many missing people there are! As long as the snow keeps up, I should have a job for the rest of the snow season. I was supposed to go skiing today on my day off, but due to high winds, they closed all the mountains.

I’m staying at a hostel right now which is definitely the nicest one yet. It’s only a year old and centrally located. I met a good group of friends who are also staying here most of whom are British. I love to hear them talk. Do you fancy this? Do you want to have a sit down? Do you need to throw away your rubbish? They get a kick out of me saying “y’all”, which I guess I never realized how much I use the word. As much as I enjoy hostel life, I finally found a place to live! It’s a brand new, 4 bedroom house about 5 minutes from town. I’m sharing a room with my friend Hayley. There are 2 people to a room, so I will have several roommates. We have a great view of the mountains and Lake Wakatipu. I’m pretty pumped!

Thanks for all of the recent e-mails! Keep them coming! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. Unfortunately, I didn’t do too much for the holiday because we were all too tired, but I celebrated in spirit! Love and miss everyone. :)

After the fruit-picking season ended in Tauranga, I decided to take a bus back to Auckland for a couple of days with my German friend, Katrin. It was sad to leave all the people I met there, but I think you just get used to saying good-bye while traveling. I still keep in touch with some of them and hope to see everyone again at some point.

On my birthday, Katrin and I went on a sailboat for the afternoon and then out-and-about for the night. I know a couple of people who live in Auckland, so we all met up for a fun night out. They didn’t want me to feel lonely or miss friends and family on my birthday, so they showed me a great time. Of course I still missed everyone, but had fun regardless!

After Auckland, Katrin and I headed to Waiheke Island. It’s just a short ferry ride from the city with lots of wineries and beaches. We checked into a hostel called Kina Backpackers. It was very laid-back and had an absolutely amazing view of the beach.

Luke, the owner, lives next door with his family and runs the place well. I even caught him drawing with a marker on the face of a passed-out, drunk Irish guy. Hilarious. While staying there, we visited a winery, hiked, ran on the beach and just relaxed. Waiheke is really quiet this time of year. It is really small and doesn’t have much nightlife. The nightlife exists in the hostels I suppose. We met an English guy, coincidentally named Guy, who helps Luke run the hostel. He offered to take me and some friends around the island where the buses don’t go. We got out of the car on top of a hill to take a picture and the car broke down. We tried to jump the car, but that didn’t work. Oh and it was raining. Luke got in car to come get us and ended up getting in a wreck and flipping his van! He was ok, but shaken up. Oh and did I mention the car that we broke down in was also Luke’s? Guy managed to break two of Luke’s cars in one day. Another girl attempted to come get us and got stuck in the mud. Finally, she was able to get out and come find us. It was an interesting day to say the least.

Last week, I went by myself to a place called Russell Island. I had to take a ferry at 6 a.m. in the morning from Waiheke to Auckland in order to catch an 8:00 bus from Auckland to Paihia. Katrin got up at 5:30 in the morning and sat outside to wait for the bus with me. What a good friend!!! I miss her already. I came to Russell because I have a work-for-accommodation job with a family. Basically I watch their kids and do some light cleaning for 12 hours per week in exchange for a room in their staff house. Well, the first day I arrived, I received a phone call from the HR lady about the job I had been hoping for in Queenstown on Coronet Peak. They told me I got the job and orientation was the following week. I ended up having to tell the family I will be leaving next week instead of staying. I felt so awful, but I really need a steady job that pays. The next day, I booked my flight to Queenstown and not even 30 minutes later, the HR lady called and told me they were delaying orientation another week due to the lack of snow. Lovely. That’s ok. Everything happens for a reason.

I’m taking everything day-by-day and trying to go with the flow. I try not to worry about the little things and just enjoy living. I have my ups and downs, but I know that’s part of this experience. I love meeting new people from all over the world. I love the endless scenery of this country. I love the casual lifestyle of the Kiwis… no fancy cars, jobs or clothes. I love that I can repeat the same outfit two days in a row and no one cares or even notices for that matter. I do miss a lot from home though… MY PARENTS (so much), brother, sister-in-law, grandpa, my dog, friends, my bed, Tex Mex, Fahrenheit, miles, pounds and the letter Z… you know, the important things. J

Soooo, I guess I’m headed to Queenstown tomorrow. It’s in the South Island where all the ski areas are located. I’ll be working in the administration office. I am actually in the 2nd intake of employees, meaning, I have the job, but I don’t start until the season picks up and it begins to snow. They tell me it should be very soon. Please, please everyone pray for it to snow!!!!! No seriously, every day and night… pray for it to snow. Much appreciated.

I still love hearing from everyone, so don’t forget about me!!! I love detailed e-mails with lots of updates. J Talk soon. Miss you all.

Kia ora! I know it’s been a while, but free wifi is hard to come by. I am currently in a city named Tauranga. I came here so I could make back all the money I spent over the last few weeks by fruit picking. It’s a common job that most all backpackers do; however, I will never feel the same about kiwis. It is a really tough job! I never thought I would be using my college degree for manual labor, but it’s a great experience. It’s really hard on the back and shoulders, but I’m building big muscles. There are tons of fun people from all over the world working in the orchards. If you are slow, the Maoris will fire you! No joke. Needless to say, I will never look at a kiwi without thinking of the thousands I have picked over the last couple of weeks.
In Tauranga, I’m staying at a place called Just the Ducks Nuts (insert joke here). I still have no idea what the meaning is, but it’s still funny. There are three separate houses with a garden and hammock in the middle. There are kitchens and living rooms in each house where everyone hangs out. They are much nicer than the previous places I stayed at… more like a home. There is also a great view of Mount Maunganui overlooking the bay. I had a free day and hiked to the top. It’s a beautiful.

I have met some really awesome people here who are also fruit picking. Tons of French and Germans. Luckily everyone speaks a little English. None of them can understand the locals Kiwi people because of their accent. I have become the official translator.
I have to mention my road trip to Rotorua two weeks ago. The whole city smells of sulfur. It is from the geothermal activity within the region. Luckily, instead of the smell becoming unbearable the longer you stay, the aroma fades. Rotorua also goes by the name Roto-vegas. I now know why. Friday night, we went to a party called Shake the Lake. It was on a huge boat that drove around Lake Rotorua with a local band playing all night. The next day, we did one of the coolest things I have ever done… zorbing! See picture below. You get in a huge, inflated ball that they fill partly with water so you slide instead of flipping with the ball and then push you down a long hill. IT’S SO FUN!!!! My friend Muna even got us two free rides since she works for Base.

You cannot visit Rotorua without visiting one of the hot pools. We went to the Polynesian Spa overlooking Lake Rotorua. There are about 10 different pools with temperatures ranging from 36˚ to 42˚. That’s Celsius, not Farenheit. I still don’t know the conversion, but it was hot. The pools are filled with alkaline mineral water.
The last day, we stopped off to Luge. A world 'first' proudly designed and built in Rotorua. The Luge is a ride on a three-wheel cart. The braking and steering system provides the rider full control and allows you to travel as fast or slow as you want. We took a gondola up the hill where we were armored with a helmet. You can choose from three courses: beginner, intermediate and advanced. It’s kind of scary at first, but once you get comfortable, it’s awesome and you can go really fast!
Today, New Zealand has a public holiday for the Queen’s Birthday. We plan to go watch the Mavericks game. Just so everyone knows, people from all over the world are rooting for our little Mavs! We are world famous! Until next time… Go Mavs!!!

Bay of Islands

Hi everyone! I'm slowly but surely starting to adjust to the Kiwi culture. Let me preface this by saying "Kiwi" has many different meanings. It refers to a person from New Zealand, a little bird that is indigenous to NZ, or the actual fruit. The Kiwis (person) have a vocabulary of their own. First off, they say "sweet as" all the time. You think they're going to compare it by saying it's "sweet as something", but they don't. It's just "sweet as". Also, instead of saying a lot or tons, they say heaps. I have heaps of work to do or there are heaps of people. "Cheers" and "mate" are common too.

I am also finding that people here are not huge fans of Americans. Surprise surprise. Our entertainment culture is ruining us as well as our government. They sure do like American music and movies though. Don't worry, I'm working to change their perception. :) Luckily, everyone has been super nice to me. I have only met a handful of people from the states. There are far more travelers from other countries.

This last weekend, we were lucky enough to have our own personal tour guide to take us to the Bay of Islands! A girl we met, Muna, is from New Zealand but lived in Germany and then Australia. Now she works here in tourism at Base which is a large chain of hostels. She was nice enough to offer to take us with her on her business trip. We got to see beautiful scenery on the way. It's all green rolling hills. Not like the green in the states. It's bright green. Once we got to Paihia, we stayed right by the beach and had an amazing time! On Saturday, we took a ferry across the way to a place called Russell Island. We hiked up to Flagstaff Point and got a 360 degree view of all the islands. Absolutely amazing. My pictures won't do it justice.

On our way back, we made a stop at Goat Island. It's a marine reserve with some really great views.

Right now, I'm still in Auckland. I actually had a skype interview for an administrative assistant position at Coronet Peak near Queenstown. Unfortunately it doesn't start until July when the ski season starts to pick up. It's a start though!

Cheers!

Good morning! Or good afternoon in Texas. You get two for one on the blog updates today. I haven't had time to upload. Yesterday, we took a train to see Mt. Eden. It was quite a hike to get up that hill. Sadly I'm sore today which means I am so out of shape. Once you get to the top, you can see the entire city. It's amazing and beautiful. There is a gigantic crater. There are (I think) approximately 15 volcanoes in the Auckland area, but they are all dormant.

Last night, we had a pub meet with some of the other people in our program. We went to a bar where they serve basically towers of beer with a tap. Afterwards, we headed to a bar completely made of ice. They provide you with Eskimo jackets and gloves and you're set! It was pretty cool. We had two additions, one guy from Germany who barely spoke English and a guy from London who looked EXACTLY like Napoleon Dynamite (see picture). Don't worry mom... I won't spend every day at the bar. :) I'm still in the honeymoon phase.

We are having a slow morning as it is raining and the guys are hung-over. I was a good girl and returned to the hostel a little early. I did open a bank account yesterday so my money is safe! Cell phone is next. I feel so disconnected from the world, but I kind of like it. I originally wanted to find a job immediately, but I am going to wait until we figure out where we are going next. I feel a little guilty not having one, but I'm going with the flow. Oh and "we" is always Paul, Daniel and Dave (well for now at least).

First Things First

Hello from New Zealand. I finally arrived early Sunday morning. The flight wasn't too bad even though it was 13 hours from Los Angeles. It is weird that I missed an entire day of my life due to time changes. I was really emotional the first day wondering what in the hell I was doing leaving my wonderful family and friends and moving halfway around the world. I mean seriously, that's a gut check. I could barely even read your e-mails without tearing up. After a lot of prayers and some new friends, I feel 100% better. I went to the orientation for the program I am in and could not be more excited. There is so much to see and do here. It's the "world's biggest playground". I met two guys at orientation, one Canadian, Daniel, who I can barely understand. I swear he sounds Irish, but we all know I cannot decipher or really understand new accents. The other guy, Dave, is from Portland via Pittsburgh via a bunch of other places. We call him our "token black guy". His roommate, Paul, is also from Canada where he was a police officer and some sort of UFC fight. Let me tell you, we are the most random group you have ever seen, but we sure do have fun together. They make fun of me for saying "y'all" and call me "Frizzy"because there is no hope for my hair here. It's so humid. I'm sure the guys I used to work with are relieved that someone is taking up the slack on making fun of me.

My plan was to head straight to Queenstown, but after orientation, I decided to stay around Auckland for a couple more days until I figure out what we're doing. As I'm beginning to realize, it's best just to go with the flow here.

The hostel situation is well, very interesting. I sleep in a very small room with two bunk beds. There is another guy I share it with who I have yet to meet. All I know is he farts a lot and has zero remorse. Showering is a huge pain. It's like living in the dorms, but worse. The showers water turns off after about five seconds to save water. You have to continue hitting the button to turn it back on. The temperature is always either really hot or really cold. I am not exactly living in the lap of luxury, but I love it!!

Auckland is a lovely city. You could be walking down the street and hear 10 different accents of people from all over the world. Last night, the guys and I went down the harbor to an Irish bar. The people here are very friendly. I think our plan today is to head down to see the volcano, Mt. Eden. There are several in the surrounding area, but they are all dormant.

Oh and I am hesitant to even say this because I will scare my parents to death, but I promised to be honest on my blog. I had a major scare yesterday, but it taught me a valuable lesson. I went to get some coffee and decided I should clean out my purse, but oops, I took my money belt off. The money belt that had ALL of my money in it that I had yet to take off. Well, I go to open my bank account later and realize it is no longer there. My sweet friend Dave walked with me to retrace my steps. Low and behold, there are good people in this world. Someone turned it in without a penny missing. Thank you God! He's watching over me.

I will try and update as much as possible, but I'm never sure when I have internet access. If I haven't returned your e-mail, it's not because I don't love you. :) I miss everyone so much, but rest assured, I am having an amazing time thus far! Pictures will be posted soon.