Happy Thanksgiving!

 

We made it to New Zealand! We are 21 hours ahead of Seattle. We had a fantastic Mexican feast for Thanksgiving yesterday! Currently we are staying in a small beach town at the foot of Mount Maunganui, and when I say the foot, I mean our apartment’s balcony is 50 meters away from the base. It’s a beautiful active volcano with a herd of sheep grazing a quarter of the way up. Alex and I sit out on the balcony watching and listening to them bleat each morning.

 

We arrived in NZ after a full day at the Universal theme park in LA, followed by an overnight 14 hour flight. We landed in Auckland, rented a car and drove ourselves thirty minutes into the city on the opposite side of the road, only to discover upon arrival at our hotel that we couldn’t check in for another 4 hours. So we found a spot next to a movie theatre/mall and laid down on the Astroturf to rest until we could check in. Four weird American zombies.

 

We spent a second day and night in the city of Auckland, near two of their 8 universities, then drove 4 hours down the coast to the Bay of Plenty. The countryside is as beautiful as the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings films lead you to imagine. In many ways it feels a lot like Issaquah--beautiful mountains, nice people, the small but growing vibe of the 90s. It’s easy to forget we are down under until someone speaks or we bump into unexpected differences.

 

The second night in Auckland we went to dinner. At the end of the meal, we waited for the bill. And we waited and waited. Alex and I both tried to get the waitresses attention but to no avail. This went on for quite a while, finally Alex flagged her down and asked her for the bill and we paid. Then last night we went out to dinner again and the same thing occurred. The waitress was super attentive until our plates had been cleared and then she was totally absent. Didn’t stop by, no bill, nothing. Eventually I managed to catch her attention and asked how payment works. Apparently the staff just know which table you are at, so when you are finished you walk up, they hand you your bill at that point and you pay.

 

The credit card machine asked me if I wanted to do a tip, I said yes and then it asked me to input something that didn’t make sense, so I asked the cashier. She replied, “Oh no, you don’t want to do that” in her lovely NZ accent, cancelled my attempt to tip and ran the card through. I had heard you don’t tip in restaurants, but then it asked, so…. Learning as we go.

 

The NZ accent is fun, not surprising it's a lot like the Australian accent. We have had a few confused moments due to pronunciation. Yesterday the gal at the ice cream shop asked the kids what kind of sauce they wanted on their ice cream, but it sounds like source which threw Aresa off.

 

In the Uber in Auckland the driver was telling us great places to go on the island. “Have you been to the block b****es [rhymes with Witches]?” he asked. The kids snap to attention, I see Alex in the front seat turn his head, eyes wide in surprise. I’m in the back working to decipher what he is talking about. I wonder if he means witches? He couldn’t have just said what we think he said. Finally, I get black out of block, and sand out of sond, then wonder if he means sandwiches (still jetlagged). Finally, we have enough context to realize he is saying black sand beaches. We were all trying not to snicker at our own confusion.

 

New Zealand is very conscious about electricity usage. Every single outlet has a switch that turns it on and off. The house rules for this Airbnb request that we turn the stove and other appliances (not the fridge) off when not in use. They promote putting clothes on a line to dry instead of using the dryer. Water on the other hand doesn’t seem to be an issue, they have plenty of hot water and great pressure. None of the spitting that passes for a shower in LA/Las Vegas.

 

Today it is warm, but pouring down rain so it was a good day to be inside and regroup. We are chipping away at homework and designing. As I write this I am coaching Eliot through writing a persuasive essay. Aresa is crunching through finding percentages. And Alex is mumbling at his computer in the corner.

 

The kids are happy to be here, but the lack of routine means their fuse is short. That combined with so many other unknowns, means I am quick to impatience as well. Yesterday Eliot accidentally spilled his smoothly in my shoe and I came unglued. :) Alex travels for a living so he is not as disjointed by change and unknowns as the rest of us—not to mention his capacity to tune out is impressive. I’ve read that after two weeks people start to settle in and adjust, my fingers are crossed.

 

Overall the beauty and slower pace here are exactly what I was hoping for. I love the small nuanced differences. Hopefully we will find some locals to talk to and learn more.

 

Much love from down under,

 

h