The rhythmic noise of the drum set let my usually stoic sleep end and I know exactly where I am: In Wellington. Not for a week, now. No, this time it is for a real long time…
I used to think I have spend quite a deal in New Zealand already, but looking out to nine and a half months at a single place, I get close to anxious.
So, how do I feel then? A great question, which entails an expressive answer:
Cat hair is all over my shirt, they just are too cuddly. My head is full of all the good things I lived through the last days. Starting with a heartfelt farewell by my flatmates in Hastings, continuing with a road trip through the splendorous and borderline unreal landscape up to the enthusiastic welcome by the family. I digest fish’n’chips (they have it every friday 🙂 ) and the piece of chocolate cake. It is late and I just watched some stand up comedy together with the host dad alongside some tea. It is hard to make out the humour between the shift of both, accent and culture. But in the end we had a few good laughs, which counts.
I am not cold, though my hands and feet are constantly cold. That is going to be soothed by the electric blanket, though. Isn’t that bliss in the cold nights? 😀 Just turn a switch and you have a warm surface waiting for you underneath the comfy sheets… I already missed this piece of luxury that one week back in Hastings. 😀
Indeed, it feels good to finish a chapter, also considering that I have seen the whole harvest period and every variety of apples being picked. When on top the seasons play along, you get an even stronger sense of closure. For it became autumn now. Most of the hot summer I spent on the orchard, but the last days featured yellow and also falling leaves and golden light of the sun. Thus, the last pages of the chapter ‘Working life in Hastings’ almost look romantic…
I am having enough of this and am happy to leave the apple picking behind. Even though it looked quite nice in the end…
Did you know that apples could be crispy, most literally?
The last variety: Pacific Rose
Every day on my way to work I had a muesli bar for breakfast and always put the wrapper into the centre console. Now this harvest didn’t disappoint. 😀
All in all I feel confident in what I do, as my way of life was dearly held with my flatmates, it seems. So there’s no question the times in my new home are going to be great.
What really changed are the living conditions. Until now I provided solely for myself, but quickly adapted to share shower gel and shampoo, buying milk on the family’s tab (I actually not once bought milk for myself here) and to not worrying about the next power bill while having a longer shower. A mind-blowing fact about water: It is ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! Only heating it up costs, depending on the way of doing it (electric or gas), a greater or lesser amount and even the wastewater is free of charge. 😀
When I was picking up the boy from school, which is only 5 minutes from the house, I came to realise once again what flash of a neighbourhood we live in. Fulminant house fronts, high fences and fine cars grace this suburb of the capital. I am more than happy to be this close to the little big city. I think that describes Wellington best. You never feel lost, but you can also explore new exciting places every time. 🙂
Courtenay Place is one of the most popular streets of Wellington
I think the biggest challenge will be to get the kids away from the ever-present screen. For school, both of the older ones have their own laptop and iPod and smartphones are all around and are known to reliably catch all the attention.
If any of you smart parents, siblings, au pairs or educators out here have any valid methods: Let me know. I am going to need all the tricks up my sleeve. 😉
I hope to spend more time blogging in the time to come, as now we approach the actual, the interesting part. And there’s much more going on as opposed to only working and doing not much for the rest of the day. Now more excitement and more variety is in order! And I want to be the last one to keep you from catching up on all that… 😉
