Last week was my birthday. I am official 23 years old everywhere. I never thought I would be celebrating my Birthday on the other side of the world. But I did, and my Birthday lasted three days. Monday was my Kiwi Birthday, Tuesday was my Canadian Birthday, and Wednesday was when everyone got paid, so friends, roomates and I went to this amazing Mexican place on Cuba st. called "The Flying Burrito Brothers."
To our surprise it was the Independence of Mexico last Wednesday and a Mariachi band played as we deviled into our steaming mexican food. Best Mexican I've had in a while. It went down well with our pitcher of margaritas. After dinner a drunken mariachi band played and we enjoyed our tequila and I enjoyed my tequila as a 23 year old.
Turning 23 doesn't feel any different, but I feel like there is now a certain personal standard that has just appeared. I've learned from my mistakes in the past and feel comfortable with my decisions and my decision making... as I say with my new piercing. No really, I feel good being 23 and I think I feek confident because I'm doing fine surviving here in New Zealand and I'm just enjoying everything as it comes. No planning, just living in the moment. Today I ran out of minutes for my phone, but I don't care. I'm down to my last $0.39 in my kiwi bank account, but I don't care. I'm just going with it. Learning as I go. 2 months down two to go.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Fellowship-like scenery
*This blog entry is dedicated to Kayla Babin*
Walking down a bike trail from the Wellington Lookout I came across some scenery that reminded me of scenes from the Fellowship of the ring. So here is the pathway after the hobbits fall down that hill and find mushrooms. Oh look some hobbit feet.
Walking down a bike trail from the Wellington Lookout I came across some scenery that reminded me of scenes from the Fellowship of the ring. So here is the pathway after the hobbits fall down that hill and find mushrooms. Oh look some hobbit feet.
Wellington Lookout
I live at the bottom of the hill that the Wellington Lookout is at the top of. It only took half an hour to hike up the zigzag path to reach the top. The hike, in sandals, was worth the trouble. Though I think I will be up there a couple times just beacsue I forgot JLP, The city looks a bit smoggy and it's so beautiful. Who wouldn't want to go twice? The next time I go I will make sure to wear more appropriate footwear.
New Work
This past wednesday I had the day off. Reflecting on my last blog entry I decided that I needed a new job. I didn't work my butt of this past year to come to New Zealand to wash dishes. Though I am grateful to of obtained a job so quickly and have someone nice enough to hire me, the work wasn't worth my time.
So being that I had the day off, I got dress up in my best clothes, brushed my hair and set off in search for a new job. Determined like hell, I dropped off at least 10 resumes on Cuba st. and Lambton Quay. I was browsing around Lambton Quay when I heard my cellphone ring. As I still feel new to the country I find it weird to receive calls. To my surprise it was the manager from the Body Shop on Cuba st. She called and asked if I could drop by the store. She had been away the whole week on a work vacation. Cause I am used to Body Shop products, after working in the hot kitchen and smelling..reaking of deep fryer I would sneak into the Body Shop to get a little bit of luxury back in my life. I would wash my face and then put on face cream, hemp hand cream and a body spray. While I "freshened up" I would be talking with the ladies and the manager that worked there.
Working to my advantage, when I ended up going by the shop last wednesday I walked in and was instantly offered a job. Bam just like that. Made my day. I left feeling exhilarated. I must of had a joker smile, devilishly happy. I typed up my resignation for Bristol and handed it in.
The next shift I had at Bristol I was found by my Boss and he wanted to have a word with me. So he pretty much wasn't too happy I was leaving and gave my shifts to the new person. My first reaction was "so does that mean I can leave?" No Pig Belly trays for me anymore! Walking out of there felt amazing. I've never been asked to leave a job before. I couldn't help but giggle as I made my way home. It felt nice, knowing that I wanted to go on this trip and I made it happen, I got a place to live and a job ...and I got it. Then I wanted a job upgrade.... got it. Briliant.
So being that I had the day off, I got dress up in my best clothes, brushed my hair and set off in search for a new job. Determined like hell, I dropped off at least 10 resumes on Cuba st. and Lambton Quay. I was browsing around Lambton Quay when I heard my cellphone ring. As I still feel new to the country I find it weird to receive calls. To my surprise it was the manager from the Body Shop on Cuba st. She called and asked if I could drop by the store. She had been away the whole week on a work vacation. Cause I am used to Body Shop products, after working in the hot kitchen and smelling..reaking of deep fryer I would sneak into the Body Shop to get a little bit of luxury back in my life. I would wash my face and then put on face cream, hemp hand cream and a body spray. While I "freshened up" I would be talking with the ladies and the manager that worked there.
Working to my advantage, when I ended up going by the shop last wednesday I walked in and was instantly offered a job. Bam just like that. Made my day. I left feeling exhilarated. I must of had a joker smile, devilishly happy. I typed up my resignation for Bristol and handed it in.
The next shift I had at Bristol I was found by my Boss and he wanted to have a word with me. So he pretty much wasn't too happy I was leaving and gave my shifts to the new person. My first reaction was "so does that mean I can leave?" No Pig Belly trays for me anymore! Walking out of there felt amazing. I've never been asked to leave a job before. I couldn't help but giggle as I made my way home. It felt nice, knowing that I wanted to go on this trip and I made it happen, I got a place to live and a job ...and I got it. Then I wanted a job upgrade.... got it. Briliant.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Down the Rabbit Hole.
This past week was one of my roommates 23rd birthday. He decided to throw a party in the theme of Alice in Wonderland. Now that it is the morning after I can definitly say it is now on my list of top parties. What an amazing fucking night. Meet so many people, danced all night, had some "Eat me" cakes...heheheh and just had a fantastic time. Everyone was in costume and it good spirits. At one point of the night I laughed uncontrolabley. Dancing in the middle of our living room I looked to my left and saw two red cards dancing, and all the characters of the story partying in my flat. My roomates had sweet costumes. Mike was the March Hair, Jim (b-day boy) was the Mad Hatter, Hannah and her friend were Twidle D and Tweedle Dum (The sexy versions of course, and I was Alice. alice from the Tim Burton version after she was hidden by the MadHatter in his tea cup and he changed her outfit before she came out. My costume cost me $35 in total. $20 for the wicked wig and then $15 for the rest. We made our drinks in teapots and drank from tea cups. Enjoy images from the night.
Work
I have been really lucky to find a job and a place to live so quickly. I am of course grateful that I have the means to support myself and to pay for life's necessities, but it doesn't change the fact that I hate my job.
I work at two different restaurants. The job is okay but here are the pros and cons.
Pros
-Free coffee, tea, drinks (on and off work)
-I get to cook myself a free meal every shift, which cuts down on groceries
-The majority of the people I work with are awesome. Everyone is in their twenties, either uni students, travellers, or homegrown Kiwi's.
-Get to take a break when I feel fit.
Cons
-losing finger prints due to hands being submerged in water 5 days a week (thank god hemp hand cream was invented, thank you Body Shop)
-though I don't have to work with customers, I do have to work sometimes with my boss.
-I clean, wash dishes non stop.
-I'm tall and am hunched over to wash the dishes, my back is sore from this
-I am left to degrime gross caked on pig belly fat trays. For some reason people like pig belly fat...ewww.
-I have become an expert at washing, peeling, and cutting bags upon bags of potatoes.
-I clean grease off the walls and pipes.
-the kitchen is hot, due to deep fryers.
-Because of deepfryers, I always leave work smelling eau de fastfood
Yes I know it doesn't seem that bad, but when I wash these dishes for hours I am reminded of being 17 again and doing the exact same job. Just feels like $35000 down the drain. But I must remind myself that it's only for the next month and a bit and then I am free. I guess I have been so spoiled and the realities of life are just sinking in. Definately motivates me to drive for better things and to get cracking on finding a better job when I come home. This will definately be the last dish washing job I will EVER have again.
I couldn't help but wish I was a witch when I was scrubbing the grease off the walls. I wanted to curse my miserable boss and his little dog too....wait I don't think he has a dog.
Work is shit, but living here and taking care of myself independently is sweet as. I love living with my roomates and having the place to myself sometimes. So even though I work majority of the week, it just makes me appreciate the time I do get to spend away from work. Makes me not want to waste my time on useless, meaningless things that deprive me from more fullfilling things. Like finishing books, exploring the city, checking out new bands or just living in the moment. I'm getting better at this.
I work at two different restaurants. The job is okay but here are the pros and cons.
Pros
-Free coffee, tea, drinks (on and off work)
-I get to cook myself a free meal every shift, which cuts down on groceries
-The majority of the people I work with are awesome. Everyone is in their twenties, either uni students, travellers, or homegrown Kiwi's.
-Get to take a break when I feel fit.
Cons
-losing finger prints due to hands being submerged in water 5 days a week (thank god hemp hand cream was invented, thank you Body Shop)
-though I don't have to work with customers, I do have to work sometimes with my boss.
-I clean, wash dishes non stop.
-I'm tall and am hunched over to wash the dishes, my back is sore from this
-I am left to degrime gross caked on pig belly fat trays. For some reason people like pig belly fat...ewww.
-I have become an expert at washing, peeling, and cutting bags upon bags of potatoes.
-I clean grease off the walls and pipes.
-the kitchen is hot, due to deep fryers.
-Because of deepfryers, I always leave work smelling eau de fastfood
Yes I know it doesn't seem that bad, but when I wash these dishes for hours I am reminded of being 17 again and doing the exact same job. Just feels like $35000 down the drain. But I must remind myself that it's only for the next month and a bit and then I am free. I guess I have been so spoiled and the realities of life are just sinking in. Definately motivates me to drive for better things and to get cracking on finding a better job when I come home. This will definately be the last dish washing job I will EVER have again.
I couldn't help but wish I was a witch when I was scrubbing the grease off the walls. I wanted to curse my miserable boss and his little dog too....wait I don't think he has a dog.
Work is shit, but living here and taking care of myself independently is sweet as. I love living with my roomates and having the place to myself sometimes. So even though I work majority of the week, it just makes me appreciate the time I do get to spend away from work. Makes me not want to waste my time on useless, meaningless things that deprive me from more fullfilling things. Like finishing books, exploring the city, checking out new bands or just living in the moment. I'm getting better at this.
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