We're all going Crazy!

So, what happens on a Friday with 8 weeks of work and chlorinated water being absorbed through the pores of your skin for hours each day? The staff gets silly! Ma, one of my dearly loved co-workers, got drafted to an Australian rugby team (he was named Player of the Year Under 21 in New Zealand) and today was his last day. While half the staff distracted him by taking him to someones house to hang out, Ali, Jo, and I ran to get the cheapest toilet paper possible and took the next hour writing on his car with whiteboard marker and toilet papering his car. Me...and my TWO bosses....toilet papering! This would have never have taken flight in the states. Can you imagine? I spent the whole time giggling to myself as Ali and I crawled on the ground to rolled rolls back and forth to each other. Ma bursted out in giggles when he saw his car and then it took six of us to push him in the pool (which is a normal tradition at WRAC). On roll 8 out of twelve....we weren't even close to being done yet!

Currently, I'm laying in Jim's master bedroom with the windows open and listening to the sound of rolling waves, overlooking the ocean and stars. Both dogs are laying at my feet, snoring away and I have happily channel surfed through 100+ and smiled as I agreed there was nothing on television! I love house sitting! I grabbed a large pizza for dinner (and to last me through the rest of the weekend) and came to the house and took the dogs on an hour long sunset walk. During this walk I literally only saw one living soul and I couldn't believe it! Don't these people know they have a stunning beach and it's SUNSET at their door step!?! I am going to primp myself this weekend....facial, pedicure, movies, junk food. WEE!

Off to bed!

Don't cry for me California!

Thanksgiving was existent this year, even in Kiwi-land! I spent my Friday/your Thursday talking to family and a few friends, which I am truly thankful for, and Saturday was spent cooking and heading over to Nicky's, where we did a full Thanksgiving feast! We had about 10 people there, Yanks, Poms, and Kiwis and it was really nice. Sure, it wasn't home, but it was cool. Nicky's First Turkey and all the fixings!
Can't beat a Thanksgiving meal at 6pm and having it still be light out!

We are getting into full-swing of summer. It is stunningly gorgeous EVERY day and the sun is shinning till about 8:30pm. It is sooo nice. After Thanksgiving dinner a few of us headed out into town for some drinks and for the first time since I've been here I didn't have to wear my jacket! It was great!

This weekend I'm housing sitting for Jim while he goes to the States to spend some time with his wife. I am really looking forward to it. A beach house to myself for a WHOLE 4 days! Internet, cable tv, walks on the beach, dogs, and junk food! I'm so excited. Work is going to suck with him being gone. I have to coach his kids as well as mine. That's going to get interesting since we have about 3 different levels going at once.

There are only 2.5 weeks till the end of term! YES!! Then I head to the south island for 5 days with Nicky and her family, and I'm super stoked about that. So, keep checking back for pictures.

Gobble! Gobble!

Thanksgiving has come and gone, for me at least. Today, I wished everyone I knew a "Happy Thanksgiving" and their reply was "What's Thanksgiving?!?" I then had to explain the Santa Maria, Pilgrims and Indians, and then ended with "...and then we took their land! Let's EAT!" I didn't really do anything special today, but tomorrow I am webcaming with my family which I have been excited about all week! (I will try not to bawl this time, but no promises) Saturday, Nicky is throwing a Thanksgiving dinner with a turkey and everything, so don't feel to sad for me.

Since I don't get to say what I'm thankful for at the table this year, I will say it in my blog.

....I am thankful for....

....all the words of wisdom, emails, calls, letters that I receive on a daily bases from my family and friends. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm 7,000 miles away from home due to all the great things I get from people. The world doesn't feel like such a big place and I don't feel so alone and small in it.

.....the support I receive from everyone. Without it, I probably wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes here, let alone 5 months! Everyone has been really understanding in the meaning of this adventure and what it meant to me as a developing human being and the molding of my character as an adult. (AHHH! Being an ADULT!!)

....my family. I knew how thankful I was before I left but being here realized how much of a backbone you are all for me. You are my oxygen and without the love from you I would die. I love you.

Everyone have a Fantastic Thanksgiving. Eat lots of turkey, have a piece of pie for me (Grandma's Tollhouse!), and go play some American football!

Just a quick update:

Just spending a Saturday night at home. It was a really busy two weeks at work due to a school coming in everyday between 12-1, so that meant no break. (This makes eating lunch really interesting. "I got 3 minutes to eat an entire PB&J sandwich. I need MILK, STAT!") But it's money, right?

Bekki, the other American on staff and one of my bosses, resigned due to travel expenses. (She lives up near Raumati) A bunch of the staff went out for drinks last night to our favorite place, Hope Brothers. I was on call today and actually had to go in and teach Preschool this morning. I really didn't mind because it ended up being alot of my kids from last term ("Miss Casey!") and I get payed 7 hours for 3 hours of work. (2 for being on call and 5 to actually work).

The Latest News is I'm quitting Raumati in December and I'm going to go full time at WRAC. I'm going to try and find a place within walking distance of the pool so that means NO gas expenses and NO car expenses. It will be the first time I've ever had a job that ends before 5pm! I'm bummed that I have to quit at Raumati but I'm spending about $450 on gas each month which is more then one of my paychecks. The kids are great and I'll be sad to see them go.

Anyways, here are a few more pictures from the Napier roadtrip. Have a great weekend!

Just trying to hitchhike on a back country road in the middle of New Zealand.

Really stopping to smell the roses.

ROADTRIP!

My American friend, James, told me a few weeks ago "Casey, I'm taking you to Napier because you need to see New Zealand. You are going to go home and tell everyone how great it is and truly, you're only seeing places that involve chlorinated water!" So, this weekend we headed off for the four hour drive to the east coast of the island to a town called Napier on Hawke's Bay.

James has to be one of the best road trip buddies I've ever had. We took the off-beaten path on the way to Napier and found great little roads with FANTASTIC views. We basically looked at the map and said "Lets take this road!" New Zealand is so green it is hard to capture in a photo. It looks like God just layed out a green blanket. And I now understand when people say "New Zealand has more sheep then people" they REALLY mean it! We saw white sheep, black sheep, brown cows, black cows, lambs, pigs, and roadkill....lots of animals here in NZ.
The random road where I learned how to throw a rugby ball on.
The view from the other side of the world.
Hahaha. I thought this was pretty funny considering the turmoil of our government in the US.

Now before you look at the pictures of Napier, I have to give you a little background info. Napier was destroyed in 1931 by a 7.9 earthquake that lasted over 2.5 minutes (oh, and 525 aftershocks in the two weeks after). Fires then broke out and burned for over 3 days. The town was wiped out. So, during the rebuilding process the buildings took on a "new", modern look and Napier is now OFFICIALLY known as "The Art Deco Capital of the World". Not having any idea what Art Deco was, I have to admit it was REALLY cool! It feels like you're dropped into the 1930's (think Downtown Orange....but a WHOLE town!). There are old fashion vintage stores and the town lays right on the water. The weather was great ALL weekend. YAY! I finally wore shorts!




I thought this was a cool shot of the fountain at night James and I went to the museum and learned all about the earthquake and alot about Maori history, walked the beach, ate ice cream, and walked around the town. We looked for really cool views, went exploring in the art deco suburbs, and checked out art gallery's. We also went to a "Pa", which is a Maori battle ground and fort. It was really neat looking at these pieces of wood that have been standing for hundreds of years.
"Mom and Dad, the Maori people caught me. Please send Del Taco and magazines."


On the way home on Sunday, we just drove. We headed over to Te Mata Peak to check out the view and what a view it was.

From the base of Te Mata Peak (over 100 Meters).
The View off Te Mata

Then on the way home, we took a 2 hour detour and discovered this beach that was just beautiful. It reminded me of Maui....long white sandy beach with green cliffs on the side. Now, if only I could be that warm!

Overall, it was an amazing trip and I want to thank James for taking me and showing me apart of New Zealand. I have a TON of other pictures, which I will make a part of my album when I get home. But in the meantime it is time for bed and work (*groan*) tomorrow. Sorry I'm not writing as so much. I thought I would spare you the yucky details of my job....you know, getting booger snot on me, being bitten, and simply exhausted all the time. NIGHT!

P.S. My ipod got wet last week. Just another electronic that hates me. It is now dead. Great. No music. May it Rest in Peace.

4th of July in November?

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! It is the New Zealand version of the 4th of July. Everyone shoots fireworks in their street and the city of Wellington has a huge firework show over the water. I guess it's pretty cool but I still have to work at Raumati tonight and I won't end up even close to Wellington by 8pm.

I had a pretty interesting weekend. I was feeling really homesick this weekend, mainly because my whole family has gathered in Orange County to celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. I webcamed with my mom for the first time on Friday night and then on Saturday I got to webcam with the whole family all at once. My little cousins are getting really big and it was cute for them to wave and say "Hi Casey!" I pretty much cried through the whole 30 minutes of web chatting because I didn't realize how much I do miss my family. Being so far away from home it doesn't do any good to think about how much you miss them so you stick the homesickness to the back of your brain. It was a real blessing to be able to see them and I hope with the holiday season around the corner I'll get to do it again.

I found out one of my closest friends from back home is going to be in Auckland at the end of November/early December and I couldn't be more ecstatic. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the friends I've made here. We laugh together and hang out, but it's different. We don't have a history, they don't really know the REAL me. So a few days with Erin will be really reassuring and comforting.

The next two weeks will be crazy. We have a school coming in for two weeks so I'll be working pretty much 9-3 in the water, straight through, with no breaks. I actually like working that way...makes the day go by faster, even if I do crash out asleep at 8pm.

Time to go play with some fire!