I got a work for accommodation position!!! I leave Auckland on Saturday and will take a bus up to Paihia. I'll be helping out around a farmhouse in exchange for food and a room. I spoke on the phone with the man who's offering the job and he had two questions for me...
1. Can I edit film for his farm's website? (UM CHYEAH!! I'm editing film everyday for this blog!)
2. Do I mind going horseback riding with his daughter a couple times a week? (Twist my arm!!!)
I will be there at least 2 weeks and I'm so relieved to have a serious goal in my sights!! YAY!!
So part of my program is a FREE tour of Auckland!! Turns out this was not your typical tour bus. We went to so many wonderful locations and I made friends instantly. The pictures don't do it justice. These places were AMAZING!!! We hopped on at 10am then drove around Auckland for 6 hours checking out the sites. We took a break at a grocery store where our tour guide bought a bunch of sausages to BBQ and we bought beer to drink with them. We then were able to just drink and continue to see the sites. Such a surreal and bizarre experience. It was a really fun day!!
Culture shock. I didn't think it would be an issue for me. But there are definitely a lot of little things that add up to create one big confusing and challenging experience.
For example, EVERYONE uses Celsius versus Fahrenheit. Even my hostel mates that barely speak English understand Celsius. It comes up in conversation a lot, so I just downloaded a converter app so that I can understand the context. Personally, I think Fahrenheit makes more sense but my group gives me shit about it all the time.
I still haven't met an American. Turns out Americans rarely do working holidays in NZ. I think this should benefit me in the end since being fluent in English is actually rare. The most popular nationality in the hostel is definitely German. There are tons of Germans and they are all traveling solo but have turned into this giant group of friends, it's insane!! They are also super young, every German I've met is only 18.
Money. I didn't think getting used to the money here would be so difficult but it really is. They use coins much more often than we do in the states because there are 2 dollar and 1 dollar coins. I'm starting to recognize them but I generally have to stand there at the register and look really closely because every piece of money has the Queen on it. AND no tipping in NZ!! I seriously love this because things are already so much more expensive but it also means that if I get a job at a cafe or restaurant I won't be making the extra money I expected.
They drive on the opposite side of the road in NZ. That's not really an issue for me because I will not and should not be driving, BUT as a pedestrian it's tricky. Not only do you have to be super aware when crossing the road you also have to walk on the other side of the sidewalk. I always find myself in the way of people or walking up the wrong side of the stairs. I always aim for the right but should really be on the left side.
There are definitely moments of panic, where I start asking myself why I got myself into this. BUT if I wait it out something new and exciting happens and I forget to stress out.
The pictures below are from a day of just randomly adventuring through Auckland with my hostel-mates. Proof that I have made friends :)
There is so much going on that my brain doesn’t know how to
filter it into a blog, so here are a couple random stories.
Sooooooo glad I didn’t bring a blow dryer or
straightener. I just let my hair go
crazy and it’s been working perfectly.
Vanity is not a trait of hostel hoppers and/or Kiwis. No one wears makeup, I feel so guilty putting
on my mascara in the morning.
I extended my stay at this hostel for 4 more nights. I really don’t want to stay in Auckland but
it seems like the best place to stay while I get everything organized and try
to get a job. Fingers crossed I get an
interview with a vineyard/sculpture garden!! (www.brickbay.co.nz) Plus I have made some friends here. My hostel group is pretty tight and we all
seem to have the same routine and plan so that’s super comforting.
My phone is officially set up with data and a NZ
number. Which is super exciting!!! If anyone wants to contact me, just download
the Viber app and you can text me for FREE!!
I'm here! It took about 36 hours to get from the Reno Tahoe Airport to my hostel in Auckland. The traveling experience was uneventful. I slept a lot and watched a bunch of random TV/movies (international travel has improved a lot since I went to Italy). Met a couple Aussie guys that were super helpful. All the things that seem to be a terrible when traveling were non-issues. My big ass backpack was the third off the carousel (it has a Sunnie on it so it was super easy to spot :)) and customs was easy peasy.
Took a shuttle from the airport to my hostel. The windows were blacked out so I still haven't seen a lot of the classic NZ scenery. My hostel is really nice. I have 2 free nights but I will probably stay for about a week. There are 4 other people in my room. To avoid jet lag I knew I needed to stay up as late as possible so I walked around Auckland with an Italian guy named Nico and a Czech girl named Iva. Auckland is beautiful and busy, it smells and feels like San Francisco. Here are a few pics and my interesting attempt at vlogging!
