Category: Country

This week’s been quite exciting – not only did I have a test on Thursday and am currently writing a 1500 word assignment for tomorrow, but I also had to decide where to move to. The flat I viewed Wednesday evening turned out to be really nice, as was the girl who showed it to me, so suddenly I had two really good options. Admittedly, I was a bit scared to go flatting with two strangers instead of living on my own, but in the end (after a couple of emergency hand-holding phone calls with the parents) I decided to give it a go.

The flat is a bit farther away than I am now, but not much, so I can still walk everywhere. Not only will it be cheaper than getting my own studio, but it’ll also be another new experience for me, as in the past I’ve only lived with my family and with a close friend. I’ll be signing the contract tomorrow evening, so wish me luck! 🙂

In other news, this morning I went to the Christian Revival Church that the guys I met in Wanaka invited me to. I liked it and think I’ll try to go there more often. People there seem very friendly and I’ve exchange mobile numbers with a girl I might have coffee with sometime. But now I should really get offline again – the assignment is only about halfway done…

[tags]accomodation, moving, church, uni[/tags]

After a wonderful weekend (photographic evidence will follow), today started less than wonderful, with humid heat and cramps (the joys of being a woman…) to accompany a long lecture and tutorial. However, I did get my grades for the Human Resources paper I took before Christmas – a very satisfactory A-. Now, if only I can manage a semi-decent effort for the test I have coming up the day after tomorrow in Organisational Behaviour…

But anyway, after uni was finally over, I went to view a flat right in the city centre, on the famous Cuba St (where there are loads of bars, tattoo shops and cafés). Then I went home to a nice hot water bottle, before heading out to check out a listing I’d seen this morning on TradeMe (the NZ version of eBay, where you can find anything from the usual auctions over cars to flats and houses). This turned out a very good find: a studio with all the amenities I have now, in a building above the shopping/business district, with several floors assigned specifically to students. Rent for students is about the same as I would pay if I stayed where I am now – and I’d even be a bit closer to campus!

They apparently still have lots of vacancies, so I’m taking the luxury of checking out another flat tomorrow evening, which would be shared but cheaper, before giving them my application. I’ll also wait to cancel Loafer’s Lodge until Thursday or Friday, I think. I did quite like it there, but the price was just a bit high for the location and the shared facilities.

So yes, unless I hear from the university accomodation services tomorrow that I can stay where I’m now, I’m pretty sure I’m moving the first weekend of February. I’ve even got a car organised – Dan, one of the guys I met in Wanaka, has generously offered his services as a chauffeur. Life is good! 🙂

[tags]moving, accomodation, uni, wellington[/tags]

I’ll be spending the weekend with Denise and her family in New Plymouth. Looking very much forward to that, although I’ll also have to at least try and get some studying done – I have a test and an essay coming up next week. Still, I really wanted to use the chance to go up there again and this is the last of my four-day weekends this semester that I’m free.

Wishing everyone a good weekend!

[tags]taranaki, friends, uni[/tags]

Had my first viewing today. Furnished one-bedroom flats or studios aren’t very common and furnished rooms in flats even less so, so I don’t expect to find a place as nice as Education House. Still, I don’t think I’ll send in the application for this one unless I really have to – small, dark, no desk (only a fold-out thingie), no chair, no cooker (you’re allowed to install your own hotplates) and costs more than I pay now. Good thing I have another viewing booked for tomorrow afternoon – the location is less ideal, but it should still be doable (3.5km to uni instead of 1.7km), and it’s cheaper. So keep your fingers crossed, yes?

[tags]accomodation, moving, wellington[/tags]

I spent the whole day on the bus traveling along the coast from Franz Josef, but I didn’t mind at all, as it’s one of the most stunning parts of coastline ever. I’d done the same trip before, but I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing the cliffs, the beaches and ocean…

Now I’m dead tired and think I’ll fall into bed soon. Franz Josef was fun – I used the short amount of time I had there to the best of my abilities and went for some short walks around the base of the glacier. Then I met up with Kevin, a friend I’d met online who works there, and we had a good time. So I’m definitely glad I stopped there – might even have to go back for a real glacier tour one of these days.

I don’t have the time to see anything of Nelson, however, but I already checked out some of the sights last time and I might be back to go to the Abel Tasman National Park that’s very close to here. At the moment it’s incredibly busy – everyone seems to want to use the holidays to enjoy the scenery and the summer weather at the beach.

Tomorrow I’m catching a bus to Picton, where I’ll have a couple of hours to kill before the ferry back to Wellington leaves. So next time you’ll hear from me, it’ll be back at my place… Good night for now! 🙂