In Review

As we wrap up our second week in New Zealand, I wanted to take a post to reflect on our time here so far.

Weather:  

Whenever I told anyone it would be spring when we arrived, they all got that far away look as they thought about the perfect spring day that anyone only experiences for about 3 days a year anyways and said, "That sounds wonderful."  Let me tell you, it was definitely still winter when we got here.

Spring and sunshine are starting to peek out, and when they do it is lovely, but we have certainly had our share of 'England days' as we call them.  Low grey clouds, cold and drizzly.  I really have never seen lower hanging clouds.  I can see why the Maori named New Zealand Aotearoa, meaning 'The Land of the Long White Cloud'.  Our recent trip to Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, a ridged mountain formation from volcanic explosions, proved this.  Heading up the summit road to catch the beautiful views of the harbor was harder than expected.  Again, we drove through clouds that gave us views like this:

Nothing like driving in the clouds!

but every so often they would clear and give us views like this:

View of a bay from summit road

You can see why they chose New Zealand to film Lord of the Rings!

More on that trip here.

You really know it's bad when everyone tells you, oh yes, what a really bad spring we're having, it's just dreadful isn't it? Normally by this time it's warm and gorgeous.  It's getting better though, not as frigid.  Today was nice and sunny so I figured why not put the laundry outside on our clothesline? 2 hours later we were bringing them in from the rain to out in the dryer anyways. Come on spring!

Electricity: 

The cold in the beginning was compounded by the fact there there is no central heat (or AC) in the house- and we only have a space heater and an electric blanket to keep us warm inside.  It has been like living in a refridgerator.  But really, I have to microwave nutella in order to be able to spread it.  

The bill is handled very differently as well, it's more like a prepaid phone.  You take your electricity card to a local retailer (in our case The Mad Butcher) that can load it for you.  Once home, you stick it into your electricity slot and it will keep track of how much you have left/ how much you are using per hour.  So, you can see your spending in real time. For example, when we have nothing on we were using 3 cents an hour, but once we start cooking or shower (water is electrically heated so $$) it jumps to 60 cents an hour.

Driving/Roads:  

First off, yes, driving on the 'wrong' side of the road has been an adjustment, but really it's their left-turn yield rule that has given us some confusion.  If you are turning left (like making a right turn in the states) and someone wants to turn right across traffic onto the same street, you are supposed to stop and let the turn before you. Provided that if there is more than one lane there is no one coming in the other. Confused yet? I'm still trying to figure it out, especially since apparently only half of New Zealanders follow it and /or understand it themselves. I heard they are working on repealing it... Good.


On the other hand, crossing the street was also an adjustment and we still occasionally do the double-take and look both ways constantly while crossing.  But we're getting better: look right (Rachel), look left (Ludlow). At least that's how I remember it!

Interestingly enough, I haven't seen too many stop signs but rather "give way signs." I guess that would come naturally from a country with a good number of traffic circles.  At least they don't stop at the round a bouts. Also, I have yet to see any numbered streets.  They all have names, and in some cases it can be a bit hard to understand.  Every time we get a name from someone, we have to ask them to spell it.

Me (over phone):     "Where do you live?"

                              "21 Safeye street."

Me (looking at map):"um, could you spell that for me?"

                              "Okay.. S-a-pp-h-i-r-e"

Ooh, she's saying sapphire. Wow, I just asked her how to spell sapphire. 

But you have to, because you definitely dont want to have to call back.  (as highlighted by the case where Wells had to call back and ask a guy to spell 'mansuth' or Main South Road. Then you just feel really silly.) Really didn't think it would be this hard to understand the accents, but I guess out of context...

Not Available in New Zealand:

In an attempt to stay up to date with all of our US shows and the sort, we have run into many an unwelcoming end.  As we learned in Europe, Netflix and Hulu do not work outside of the US.  Neither does Pandora. We have been lucky enough to get to watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report to keep us up on things back home, albiet it is 2 days later over here by the time its online.   

And on the bright side we are getting amusing adverts like this one:

You can't make this stuff up.

Jobs:  

Unfortunately, it has been a bit slow on the job front.  I had e-mailed a couple of places before I left so I had an interview the first Monday we were here.  I got really excited since it was a marketing company and it would not just be a job here, but a great resume builder too.  I never did get a call back which has bummed me out for a bit, but he did say that he had over 100 applicants for the few available positions.  As the company was just re-opening their branch in Christchurch after their building was flattened during the earthquake in February, I can definitely see how they would be interested in hiring local.  I hadn't thought about the sudden unemployment that hit the city with the earthquake.  I am determined though, and I have applied to a few other places since being here-- and, i have an interview for a new bar opening nearby on Monday. Fingers crossed!

Oswald:

I know everyone is interested in hearing about this little guy, or show we say Houdini, but he really deserves his own post (coming soon!).

But for now:

Oooh, yeah, gotta love that belly rub

Cheers!