We've made it! can't believe it, we're actually in New Zealand, though in some ways, doesn't really feel like it, esp b/c both Liz & I have done a lot of work w/ internationals before, & we're surrounded by Starbucks & McDonalds, even Dunkin' Donuts! Also, this is my 1st time to a foreign country (aside from Canada, which everyone knows doesn't count) that speaks English, which at times is quite relieving, such as when we were setting up a bank account, for example. We're actually quite anxious to leave the city & get on w/ our grand adventure. We've been waiting, however, to buy a van. It was quite the decision, b/w buying an expensive bus pass, a car, or a van, but we've finally made it & will finalize our purchase tomorrow, then take off for parts unknown, aka, Hawkes Bay area, in order to do some tree thinning & make some dough to recoup our exorbitant losses we've acquired thus far.
Who knew that flying 1/2-way round the world, buying health/travel insurance, buying bus tickets, buying a van & registration & insurance, buying phone cards/ a phone? (currently working on that), staying in a hostel ($22-25/ea/night), buying food, etc, etc, etc could be so gosh-darn expensive??
pre-arrival, I made sure to spend plenty of time stretching out in public (this is something I have a tendency to do quite often, for which my friends point & giggle), in the dirty LAX, where I spent a Looonnnggg lay-over. Qantas airlines, however, is the way to go to NZ, they've got the hook-up! on-demand movies is where it was at, for that 12-hr flight. does anyone know how "Lucky # Slevin" ends, by the way? it was turned off right before the main character gives his enlightening soliloquy of why & how everything went down. that stuff kills me! Thus, it is my current mission to find out what happened... Flights are also a lovely time to rejoice in my 5'4" size, esp as I noticed a HUGE guy standing in the back of the plane about 3 a.m., b/c it was more comfortable than his cramped seat, I'm sure. Plus, I completely lucked out & had the seat next to me empty, despite how full the plane was!
Everything else went smoothly, I made sure to eat my apples before arrival so that I wouldn't be thrown in jail; however, the PBJ didn't make it past the quarantine inspection, about which I was quite, quite disappointed. :( I thought for sure after the inspection dog bypassed the PBJ (amazingly, they're trained to only set up a fuss w/ fruit, vegetables, & beef jerky; he sniffed me out b/c I'd had apples in the bag previously) that it'd make it past the *ahem* large lady at the qurantine counter, but alas, right into the rubbish bin it did go. I did notice, however, @ the Foodtown they do sell PB, along w/ vegemite. ugh, smelled some the other day & that was enough for me.
Since arrival, we've been spending practically all our time taking care of annoying logistics, buying the van, getting bank accounts, setting up jobs, deciding where to go, etc. Despite the numerous headaches, we're quite excited to have the freedom that the van will bring us, along w/ the ability to sprawl! instead of having our stuff crammed into our backpacks (it was lots of fun breaking out the hiking boots from the bottom of the bag for inspection), we'll be able to spread out in our space.
Look forward to future updates featuring our skydiving, zorbing, kayaking, & rafting adventures. Wish us luck driving on the "wrong" side of the road over here (almost got hit by a bus on my 1st day b/c of that)...
curious Liz & Liz similarity #1: neither of us minds eating cold leftovers, at odd times of the day, like opening & eating a can of vegetables for breakfast or something. odd, eh?
