And on the sixth day...

Welllllll.

I sent out a mass email, which I should probably repost here, eh?

Here it is--loads has happened since then, and I'll admit that the magic of arrival has worn off a bit--don't get me wrong, I'm still happy to be here, but I'm a bit lonelier than I'd like to admit, and I'm very weary from job hunting and very early mornings. But, onward and upward, oui? Oui. Here's the email...

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Kia Ora mates! I am currently sitting at a cafe called Revels, which specializes in vegan/vegetarian food--I just had a vegan peanut butter cup! Quite delicious. This cafe is on K Road, and the K is short for a really really long Maori word that I can't spell out right now. The street I'm looking out on looks quite like a busy sidestreet in New York or Brooklyn, except that everyone sounds like the Flight of the Conchords, and the Pacific Islander population is much, much higher here. An update, shall we?

When I arrived in Auckland, I got to my hostel, the ACB Backpackers on Queen Street (the main street of Auckland) at around 5:30 am--and I kept myself awake! I showered, locked up my stuff, and went exploring. Auckland is quite big, and VERY hilly--so I should have some real killer calves when I get home. I walked up and down queen street for awhile, and then went back to the room where I met my other hostel companions--three 28 year old men from Leeds! It was a little weird at first, being a girl in a hostel room full of guys--we women are trained to see that as an "uh, this isn't a good idea" situation, but they turned out to be lovely. Drunks, but lovely ;) Their names are Steve 1, Steve 2, and Nick. Nick looks especially british--he wears these pointed black shoes and tight pants. You'd know what I meant if you saw him. We got on famously, and I got to be rather good pals with Steve 1. The first day, Steve 2 and Nick stayed in bed the entire day, but Steve 1 and I ventured out and did more exploring--we found a beautiful park called Albert Park with MASSIVE trees. I didn't have a camera on me at that point, but there will be pictures eventually. It is a little cold here--at first I scoffed at it, but it can actually get a little chilly, especially in the morning. Plus, central heating isn't common here--meaning.... houses are cold cold cold. And you know how I feel about cold... However, during the day it's just beautiful--clearest skies you've ever seen, it's almost surreal. Anyway, back to Steve 1. We did a lot more exploring over the next few days together...

I had an orientation that Friday (I arrived on thursday) which was very helpful. I bought a pay as I go phone that day--there's a huge text culture here because phone calls are REALLY expensive in New Zealand--went out with a new friend named Tara whom I met on that new zealand dating site (she's quite excellent, she's lived on a boat and speaks french) and we got vegan food and sorbet, and then headed back to the hostel. I met a german student named Ana at something called the Globe bar--which was FREEZING. I just couldn't comprehend why a bar would be that cold. Sticking to my usual dorkiness, I had a coca cola. ;) Then I turned in.
Saturday I spent the day walking up and down Ponsonby road, another long popular and cool road in Auckland, New Zealand. Steve 1 and I had a grand time (we have hilarious banter, think a british and midwestern american beatrice and benedict) walking around, looking in shops, and looking for a new place for me to live. I settled on a place called Verandahs (really because it was there and they had a room) which was very very pretty--all white and latticed--and had a HUGE backyard which led into another huge park which was gorgeous. It dipped down right in the center--so it was like a canyonesque park. Very cool. The room was a bit pricey, so I knew I'd only be there a day. Plus, I think the owner/manager/hostel proprietor? thought I was a bit scatter brained. I just had to keep digging in my purse for such and such document, and then the next day when I checked out, I lost the keys... heh, typical me. Saturday night I went out for indian food with another new friend named Kat whom I had also met on that website (it's just a network, some dating, some friends, Kat's a friend) and she was lovely too--and incredibly incredibly helpful. She showed me around K road, and over dinner, offered to let me stay at her place in the spare room for the house she is house sitting. As traveling and backpacking is sort of reliant on the kindness of strangers, I accepted, tsk all you'd like. It's turned out to be a grand arrangement--except that I have to get up and leave the house when she does which is at (wait for it) 6:40am. Take that in for a second. Allow yourself a giggle. And... we're back.

But it takes LOADS of expenses off of me, since it's free laundry, free room and board, a kitchen, and internet.

Sunday Steve 1 & 2 and Nick and I went exploring Rangitoto Island--we took a ferry there, and spent about three hours. It was beautiful--it's an ACTIVE volcano, and very well preserved. There is plenty of volcanic ash, and "lava rocks" or whatever the technical term is... we took some great pictures (which I don't have uploaded yet, sorry.) We did some "off roading" too, exploring places without paths and the like. It was great. Well, Steve 1 and I did most of the off roading.... Nick had worn his very tight black British shoes, and his feet hurt. We also saw what are called "baches"--summer huts that are about 3/4ths the size of a trailer and they're really cute--these were "historical" but Steve and I were convinced that that was 'bollocks' because they looked VERY lived in. To quote myself, "There is no way that is an ancient maori historical towel."

Which takes us to today... I spent the bulk of the morning applying for jobs online, and tomorrow I'll hit the streets looking for work. I really wanted a cruise ship job, but they didn't want me :( Alas, but onward and upward! I may have to move around with the work, so although I think I'd like to stay in Auckland, I may have to move to Wellington for jobs and the like... but that's alright with me! I'll go where the wind takes me. Today I also got myself a bank account and bank card, which is a good step. My four steps to living successfully in NZ are as follows: Phone. Bank Account. Job. Place to stay. So far I have 2 of the 4--50%, not bad, eh? Except the last two are obviously more complicated ;)

Well, I'm off. I've got to meet Kat at her work and we're going to go grocery shopping and then head back to her house.

Much love to all of you!
Sarah