Yesterday me and Dan moved all my stuff from the residence hall to the flat. Afterwards I dove right in, unpacked and bought a couple of things I needed. I’m more or less all set up now, including some color on the walls (as it’s pretty much all grey-in-grey). That’s the good thing about carrying all my stuff with me – this room already feels like home…
One of my photos (of the Chocolate Fish Café) ended up in an online guide to Wellington.
[tags]wellington, photos, travel, restaurants[/tags]
There was an emergency house meeting just now, because apparently a guy who lived here committed suicide this morning. I don’t think I ever met him, but it is a very disturbing thought that someone ended his life here in my building.
They offer counseling, and RAs (Residential Advisors) will be around, plus a priest will come tomorrow morning and bless/cleanse the place where it happened (a janitor’s bathroom, so not a place most residents ever see). I don’t think I’ll need it, but it does affect me quite a bit. I think it will make it easier to move out.
[tags]bad news, accomodation, suicide, grief[/tags]
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]
On Saturday we went up the coast to Tongapurutu (or something like that) – amid absolutely breathtaking scenery the six of us enjoyed a wonderful day! You can also find a couple of photos from last week, when I had to say goodbye to Masumi, who injured her knee and went back home to Japan a bit earlier than planned.
> More in my Flickr album.
[tags]taranaki, friends[/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]
In my case this mostly means that I should be doing homework for class. However, so far I haven’t even cracked open the book. 🙂 Instead, this morning I met up with Denise and some of her family at Te Papa, the beautiful museum at the waterfront. I’m planning to go up to New Plymouth next weekend – I should still be able to get some studying done, and I don’t know when the next opportunity will present itself.
What else has been going on? Yesterday, I’ve filled out an application at Loafer’s Lodge. I’m not completely happy, as it’s the same price as I am paying now, but farther from the centre (and uni – it’d mean bye bye easy walking distance), smaller and with shared kitchen/bathrooms. Still, it’s brand new, the manager is really nice and I like the atmosphere. Plus, there are so few furnished options around, it’s a clear case of beggars can’t be choosers.
I’ve also been hanging out with some friends, most notably Tony from down the hall, who is on a plane to Australia as I type, so we made the most of our short acquaintance. Have I mentioned that I love the waterfront? Because I use every opportunity to go there. 🙂
[tags]wellington, friends, moving, accomodation[/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’ve uploaded the photos I took during my trip on the South Island to my New Zealand album – lots of good memories there…
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In other news, I’ve started looking for a place to stay the rest of my time here. I’m on several waitlists for university accomodation, but I don’t want to risk being without a room come February, when hordes of students will descend upon Wellington… I’d prefer to keep living on my own, but I’m also considering flatting. The fact that it needs to be furnished makes things a little more complicated.
[tags]south island, moving, accomodation, travel[/tags]
