apples and oranges

its easy to get disillusioned when youre traveling. as much as you appreciate the marvels and idiosyncrasies of the place youre visiting (or living), the gloriously special things that you discover can put a damper on those things that dont quite live up in the rest of the world. sound a little bananas? its the bananas that made me think of this yesterday at the Wellington fruit and veg market. this sunday tradition is one of my favorite things about wellington - just a few blocks from my apartment is a good sized farmers market with delish, cheap fruit and veg of better quality and much cheaper price than the supermarket (conveniently located next door for comparison shopping if you re not convinced). its also a really nice weekly activity to drag myself out of bed early on Sunday morning, grab my reusable shopping bag and join the other hundred or so wellingtons who at least for one morning a week are doing something good for the environment, local communities and their own bodies. and after the market is the cooking fest that ensures that the rest of the week I'll be eating yummy, healthy meals.
Yesterday I was excited to see some inexpensive bananas that were that perfect shade of yellow with just a touch of green. Eating one going home, I couldn't help but to think of the absolutely magical Indonesian bananas. this special fruit has a really thin skin and shorter body than you find other places, and inside is the most amazingly delicious fruit I have ever had in my life. Wellington bananas just cant measure up. Bananas I would have been very, very happy with 6 months ago are now relegated for use in banana pancakes. I guess the only thing to do is put the bananas aside and find NZ's own special thing and enjoy that as much as I can.

Well in Wellington

Things are still going well in Wellington, I finished my second week at my job at Public and am still loving it. Its very different from what Im used to, even waitressing in Australia. Everyone is so, so much more laid back about every aspect of the hospitality business. It could be partially due to the low rate of pay for hospitality workers in NZ (compared to Australia) so its taken less seriously. Im sure much of it is also due to the generally relaxed attitude that Kiwis have. But it is a nice change of place to work in a restaurant where the head chef doesnt yell, throw things, or call himself an "art-eest" and the management doesnt micromanage - theyre happy if the customers are happy.

I am starting a swing dance class tonight (Monday and Tuesday are my days off) so am excited to dust off my swing shoes and get twirling! It should be a fun new challenge to try Lindy Hop - the swing "standard" here in NZ (as opposed to the East Coast I'm used to in the States) as its always confused me since they can go from a 6 count step to an 8 step count at whim. Crazy Kiwis :)

Life in NZ

Life in NZ is good! The weather has been in the 60s (still too cold for me, but not too torturous) and its nice having my afternoons free and working in the evenings. In the afternoons I've mainly been exploring the area... I even found a beach within walking distance of my flat which will be great once the weather warms up! Im also looking at taking a trip out of wellington in the next few weeks to go hiking. The Kiwis have all been really friendly and laid-back, typical from what I expected from the culture here.

My Ipod Touch has been absolutely amazing since being here, since unlike Australia, the library here does not have free internet for me to use. Instead I can use my Ipod Touch with the wi-fi in my flat and it works really well (if just a bit slow). So very, very glad I got it!

life, accomplished

this week in Wellington I got a great job waitressing at a restraunt 2 blocks from my flat called Public - everyone there is really nice and its just the sort of place I like to work (and eat!), all of my flatmates are great as well. I have a kiwi phone number too, in addition to a bank account and library card! Feeling pretty well sorted here in Wellington, hard to believe I only got here on monday! On tuesday Im going to try out some dance classes and next week I think I might go hiking. I have plans on Sunday to go to the beach with some of my flatmates and their friends if the weather keeps up the way its been. Good life.

safe and sound

made it to NZ safe and sound! it was a good flight(s), nothing was delayed and no more than the usual issues with security and changing terminals and such. got some sleep and watched some movies and had my usual relaxing fly time! now im getting settled into my apartment, got a few things for it and did my big trip to the grocery store, all thats left is to get a NZ phone number and go apply for jobs!
the roomates all seem really nice so far, the apartment is a little run down but in a great location. I got some storage and bright colors to cheer it up and its already starting to feel a bit like home - luckily for me there is a Salvation Army (Salvo) right down the block.

On the drive in from the airport the shuttle went along the water and it was a great reminder of why I came here... the peacefulness and happiness that radiates from wellington is so strong all along the water, I love it!

Leaving on a Jet Plane, Dont know when Ill be back again...

So its that time again! In an hour I'll be getting on a verrrry long plane ride to new zealand (via Charlotte, LA, and Auckland, arriving into Wellington). Vegetarian meals are double confirmed (it was a nightmare last year when they forgot mine), the bags are packed, and Im ready to go! Its going to be nice to move straight into an apartment instead of going to a hostel first then finding a place. Its also a rare treat to be moving someplace I've been before - I was only in NZ for a month and Wellington for 2 days, but its enough that I understand NZ customs and way of doing things, and know my way around Wellington enough to get an apartment 2 blocks from Cuba St where I am sure I will be getting a waitressing job (its a great street in the center of town filled with restaruants, boutiques, cafes, and the like). Im also just 2 blocks from the water and very nearby parks, the national museum, and just about everything else in town!

Its been a lot of work getting everything prepped for a year (probably 10 months) away but I finally feel like I know exactly what to do and how things work... prewriting/addressing christmas cards so i can have them sent from the states instead of expensive NZ postage, storing the stuff I'm leaving in an organized fashion so Ill be able to find what I need when I come back, making sure to bring enough of the things that are especially expensive in NZ and none of the things that are cheap. I feel like a master of vagabonding now but I know I still have a lot, lot to learn - these things they just dont tell you in Lonely Planet! Maybe I'll start on my own, practical guide to vagabonding while I am gone.... let me know if you have any ideas!!