Oceania – Page 7 – In Foreign Parts

April 12, 2008September 21, 2017

First day of my break

And it couldn’t go better, really! I went out to lunch with both flatmates and a couple of Rathy’s friends, to this place called ‘Strawberry Fare’. They specialise in desserts, so of course I had to try one after my pasta. Rathy and I shared the yummiest chocolate cake ever – it was really moist and came with raspberry and passionfruit sauce as well as icecream. Just… too delicious for words!

Afterwards I wandered along the waterfront before coming back home, enjoying the beautiful day and all the people. Tonight I might go out with Rathy and some of her friends, if I’m not too tired – right now I feel as if I could fall asleep in a heartbeat, from all that food and sunshine… 🙂

April 7, 2008September 21, 2017

Blessed freedom…

I still have uni this week, but no more deadlines until May 19, which is a load off my mind. I do have plans to do uni stuff over the break, but it does feel nice not to be under so much pressure. Anyway, just thought I’d share some recent photos.

First, my new hair without the benefits of a straightening iron:

Then, a couple of pics from when I last saw Kathrin before she left New Zealand – it was on St. Patrick’s Day, hence the decorations on Cuba St:

And lastly, a photo taken Easter Saturday at the San Francisco Bathhouse, out dancing with my flatmate Jessica and Philip from CouchSurfing, who I showed around Wellington that day:

April 3, 2008September 21, 2017

Not much to tell

I’m a tiny bit stressed, as I don’t really like having one deadline after the other (essays, group work, bargaining workshop) – I get frazzled if I don’t have days in my calendar with nothing to do. But things will quiet down considerably after next Monday, so I’m just trying to make it through in one piece until then. However, this afternoon I went to the hairdresser instead of writing assignments (probably not the best planning on my part, but I’d been looking forward to it for weeks so I didn’t want to postpone), and tonight I’ll go out for dinner with both my flatmates, which is a first.

So, instead of news, have some pictures taken with my webcam. Among other things I’m enjoying here is the freedom to experiment a bit in an environment where no one cares – which has led to some new clothes and (just this afternoon) new hair:

Obviously it’ll look quite different with my natural wave, so expect some photos of that in a couple of days. 🙂

March 23, 2008September 21, 2017

Happy Easter!

I’m enjoying my long weekend – too much so, probably, as I haven’t been working on my assignments as I should. Yesterday I showed a German/Australian traveller who’d contacted me on Couchsurfing around Wellington, and in the evening I convinced him and my flatmate Jessica to go dancing at the San Francisco Bathhouse, one of the few places that stayed open until after midnight. (Easter is one of the few holidays where most shops are actually closed, as are most bars and clubs, because they’re not allowed to serve alcohol.) I’d been dying to go, as it was an indie party, playing a lot of the kind of music that I enjoy rocking out to in my room sometimes. It was fun – there was a really diverse mix of people there, and the fact that New Zealand has a smoking ban in all public places made it even more enjoyable.

This morning I got up, had a nice breakfast with a brioche and an NZ-style ‘Hot Cross Bun’ (with cinammon and raisins, quite yummy), and then went to church. It was a really good Easter service and I really enjoyed it. It also reminded me of one of the few Bible verses I actually know by heart, and I looked it up in English:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

On that note, enjoy your long weekend! 🙂

March 17, 2008September 21, 2017

Feeling better

Finally started working on the next assignment. Also, met up with Kathrin one more time before she leaves NZ tomorrow. Aww, now all three of my first uni friends here are gone. 🙁

Anyway, main reason for this post – I found a really cool clip of the All Blacks (NZ rugby team) doing a haka, a Maori war dance. There are many different kinds of haka, but this one (Ka Mate Ka Mate) has become more or less the “default” version. VERY impressive, even more so when they’re doing it right in front of you…

Also, this commercial, in which gingerbread men perform the haka, is hilarious!

March 15, 2008September 21, 2017

Meh.

I’m a bit sick. I’ve been feeling under the weather for several days, just a bit feverish and generally uncomfortable. It wasn’t bad enough not to go to uni, but today my head’s feeling really stuffy and I can’t concentrate on all the uni stuff I should be doing. So I’m drinking a lot of tea, watching ‘Gilmore Girls’ on DVD and potter around the internet. Pity, as the weather is really gorgeous – the perfect summer day.

Btw, we’re now three again in the flat. Rathy (originally from Singapore) arrived Wednesday night. She’s really nice, very social, and I think I’ll enjoy living with her and Jessica.

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Listening to: Fall Out Boy – Grand Theft Autumn – (remix)
via FoxyTunes

March 11, 2008September 21, 2017

Confetti everywhere! :)

I went to pick up a package from Sandra and Pascal this morning (for some reason they don’t deliver parcels, even when you’re home) – it was a Fasnacht (see link on the left)/birthday combo, which made me grin like a loon when I saw all the confetti and the “Schnitzelbängg” (political ballad-type poems). Thanks so much, guys, in case you’re reading this! (Also for the chocolate, as I’ve yet to find an adequate substitute here… *g*)

In other news, my parents are moving today. This is such a strange prospect for me, the thought that the place I call “home” just… won’t be there anymore. Or, well, it’ll be there, but it won’t be mine anymore. Oh well, that’s life – constantly changing.

Anyway, have some photos from the dinner I had at my place last week, with Adeline (from China), Meredith (from Korea), JV (from India) and Dan (the lone kiwi). We ate lots of cheese, in the form of fondue (ready-made, sent by my mom) and raclette (that’s the small candle-lit thingie on the table), and had a really good time.

March 7, 2008September 21, 2017

Off to see a man about a tattoo

I’ve been planning to get another tattoo while I’m here for a long time – my friend Sandi (who’s an illustrator and really good at it) drew an image I’d had in my mind for years and two friends recommended a tattoo artist here in Wellington. Turns out Roger’s is right down the street from my place, which is quite convenient, as arranging everything takes a bit of doing, because he’s very popular (you can find a link to his website on the left). Now I’ll finally be able to talk to him personally about my ideas and then we can hopefully arrange a date to get it done.

Other than that it’s been a quiet week since Anna left. I’m supposed to write my first assignment this weekend – luckily it’s only a short one. However, as my mom pointed out to me on the phone on Thursday, I haven’t shared my schedule for this semester yet, so here it is:

HRIR 305 – Recruitment & Selection: Tuesday, 2.40-4.30pm / Friday, 2.40-3.30pm
HRIR 307 – Training & Development: Wednesday 4.40-6.30pm / Friday 4.40-5.30pm
HRIR 302 – Employment Agreements: Thursday 10.30am-12.20pm / Friday 10.30-11.20am

In all three papers I have to do 2 or 3 assignments, which will keep me quite busy through the semester, plus final exams in June. After that I’ll have fulfilled all requirements for my Diploma – so all I have to do is stay on the ball and not fail… 🙂

March 1, 2008September 21, 2017

Quick update

I started the new semester this week. The three classes I’m taking are going to keep me busy, but hopefully not quite as stressed as the summer papers did. Anna left this morning and took the ferry to the South Island. One of my flatmates is moving out this weekend, and tomorrow evening I’m having some friends over for fondue. Also, I uploaded the 260 or so pictures from the last couple of weeks, most notably of course from my trip. You can see them here, in my Flickr album.

February 24, 2008September 21, 2017

Back home

Home in Wellington, obviously. 🙂

Friday night, after a windy day which we ended with yummy Thai food in Whitianga, the weather got really bad, so we weren’t too sad to leave. Anna and I drove down from Coromandel in two days, stopping the night at Taupo. The highlight definitely was a stop at Kerosene Creek near Rotorua, where we luxuriated in the natural hot water. One of the most wonderfully relaxing experiences ever – and completely free!

Now we’re at my place, where Anna’s going to stay for a few days before traveling on to the South Island. For me, uni will start on Tuesday. Hopefully I’ll find a good rhythm soon. I’ll also post my photos from the trip soonish – I just have to sort through them and delete some of the dozens of dolphin pictures I took in Paihia… *g*