It's a beatiful day. Not a cloud in sight. I think I'm gonna be alright!

Today, after two days of wind and rain (wind strong enough to knock our Internet out), I woke up to the first blue NZ sky I've seen. IT WAS SO STUNNING!! This country is truly amazing. I was walking around in jeans and a long-sleeve shirt (which I got teased for "Awww CALIGIRL! A t-shirt would have done just fine!"). It was about 53 degrees but a total cloudless sky. It felt like a perfect Northern California winter day. :)


Last night, Haydn took me to this Mongolian BBQ (All-You-Can Eat! I was stuffed after 3 bowls...mmm!) place in the heart of Wellington city. He extended an invitation with some of his work buddies from the pool I'm training at. It was hysterical. Kiwis are very humorous, love to laugh, and LOVE to tease. They had no problem with me joining, as their attitude is very much the more the merrier. By the way, Kiwis tease you when they like you. THE LIKE ME ALOT! Jim, my boss from EL MO, showed up from the airport (he was coming from the south island) towards the end of dinner. It was so nice to see a familiar face and a familiar voice (one where I don't have to guess what they are saying because the accent is so thick.) Haydn, Jim, and I then proceeded to a local pub called Mortheith's to enjoy my first NZ brew and to watch Women's NetBall on the tellie! (Netball...think WNBA). I then came home and slept through the whole night.

This morning I woke up at around 8am and proceeded to Haydn's pool to get in the water for some on-hands training. It was ALOT of fun. I forgot how much I miss being in the water with the kids. Actually, I sorta ended up training my trainer (they don't nearly have the training the Australian Swim School gave me....They are usually in the pool after a quick CPR class and a couple hours of hands-on instruction). Haydn wants me to give a workshop on better technique and reason why certain drills are used. He also said I'll probably be the best instructor at WRAC (the main pool I'll be teaching at). It was really nice to pass their expectations and to know I'll do okay in the teaching department.

The kids are ADORABLE! They are extremely polite and quiet but once I made them laugh they open up. I had one girl in the first class I assisted in ask me (in her NZ accent) "Are you going to be my teacher during term?" It broke my heart to tell her "No. That I have to help other kids" and she gave me hug a hug goodbye. So CUTE! The kids also have alot more freedom in the pool and the instructors are really relaxed in their teaching methods. Not all the drills have to be perfect. I know I'm going to struggle with this aspect because the Australian Swim School was all about 100% perfection....to the point that was it was annoying! (Duff- you would LOVE teaching here. Every time I had a class today, I thought of you and how much you would enjoy this.)

So after training, Haydn took me to get my bank account so I can start getting paid (WEE!) for training. All banking is done electronic here. Its really nice, actually. No paper statements. Just one card and website does the trick. After that, we walked around Johnsonville (the town with the pool I'm training in and just south of where I'm living). It is really cute, and because it was a STUNNING day, it was nice and a ton of people were out biking and walking. Haydn then went to the bakery to get some "pies" (I'll explain later) for his instructors because it's their last day of Holiday break.

So, we headed back to the pool and the instructors (all girls, ages 16-20) sat around eating "pies" (Think chicken pot pies BUT BETTER!! They have steak and cheese in them and served warm!) They were asking me questions about the States and freaked out when they found out I lived in "THE OC" *rolls eyes*. I then disappointed them in telling them they didn't even film the show in Orange County, and Laguna Beach (the MTV show) accounts for about .1% of the population of Orange County. (By the way, the LOVED my Tropical Twist Gum...haha. Please send more!!) The girls really like me and asked me to stay at the Johnsonville pool. Maybe, if I don't like the size and impersonal ways of WRAC, I might transfer.)

Haydn is by far been my greatest allie. He has driven me around, answered my questions, given me driving tips, helped me grocery shop, gone with me to the bank, and just made me laugh. He is a great guy from Winchester, England. He understands what it's like to be in a new place, not knowing anyone. He has really helped me adjust to being here. I am blessed to have him around and willing to help.

So, after training, Haydn dropped me off at home where I quickly changed before Jim came to pick me up to look at a house for him and his wife (their house sold in less then 2 weeks. I KNOW! I couldn't believe it either!) and to head up to the pool at Raumati. The house was really nice with not one, but two great views of the a bay and the Pacific Ocean. View in the back and the front. I would have purchased it in a heartbeat just for that alone, but it wasn't what Jim is looking for.

After that, Jim and I made the 30 minute drive up Pacific Coast Highway 1 (yes....just like CA) to Raumati and it had to be one of the most beautiful drives I've ever seen. It made me want a video camera so I could show everyone. It was crystal blue sky and water, rocky coast line, and a couple of islands doting the coast. The sun was so bright that I had to cover my eyes, even with sunglasses. The view was so clear you could see the South Island (which Jim says is really rare). I finally saw sheep!! Coastline on your left. Hilly farmland on your right. Jim kept laughing at me because I was excited "AAH! SHEEP!" "MORE SHEEP!" "WOW! I'm IN NEW ZEALAND!!" Anyways, I get to make this drive everyday so this will definitely be "ME TIME." Relax. Enjoy the view. Listen to some music (Buffett will be PERFECT!).

We arrived at the pool in Raumati and it is right on the coast (it is a 50 yard walk from the pool front door to the beach). Jim took me upstairs where a restaurant called the "Waterfront' sits above the pool. I then proceeded to meet the President of the club team which I will be working for. It was really intimating because I had no idea what my job title was or what I'll be doing. I'm considered a Head Coach for the pool and I even have a few high school kids under me as my Assistant Coaches. I'm still Jim's Assistant Coach but basically I have about 40-60 kids a night from 5-7pm and I administer drills and keep the kids moving. (After the meeting I ran down to the beach and snapped a few pictures of the sunset. Some of the brightest colors I've ever seen. The pictures don't express how amazing it truly was. I will post the pictures as soon as I collect more on my camera.)

After practice, where I met a few of the kids, Jim took myself, Chris (another coach from CA), his cousin (Seko, female and same age as me), and Seko's boyfriend, to an Asian fusion restaurant called "The Monsoon". The food was FANTASTIC!! I had buttered chicken (think curry). We then walked a few blocks to a pub called Molly Moldones for a drink and to tell funny stories and have great conversation. Chris and Seko's Boyfriend then had to leave so Jim, Seko, and I walk to another pub called Kitty O'Shea to check out a really great 90's cover band. It was fun to see what the city looks like on a Friday night. I'm working so much so I know I won't even get near the city anytime soon, so it was really nice to enjoy an evening out and to make some new friends.
(By the way, at the right everyone is feeding me I'm going to be a fatso when I get home. The food is increditable here, and I haven't even had lamb and Kiwi pie yet!)

I'm now sitting here, answering some emails. I get to sleep in tomorrow (GOODIE!) and play around the house in the morning. Jim is picking me up for a swim meet so I can keep him company and then he is taking me to go see Harry Potter (even though I haven't seen the other ones) at this theater called the Golden Lounge. This place is amazing, from what I heard. It has lazy boy chairs and you can order WHATEVER you want, when you want it. You want chocolate cheesecake? Done! You want a glass of wine every hour? Done! It is about 30$ a ticket but it is all you can eat, drink, and enjoy. (WHY DON'T WE HAVE THESE IN THE STATES?!?)

Thank you for reading this LONG blog. I've done alot the past couple of days and its hard to pop on the Internet for 5 or 10mins like I did at home. I actually have to make time to sit down for a few hours. I start work on Monday so it will even be harder but I will have the evenings off (but a whole lot that will do being it will be 1am your time). Anyways, LOVE YOU ALL!!

BRRR!!

Okay, I've never in my life seen my breath INSIDE a house! That is, by far, one of the biggest things I will have to adjust to.

I slept through the whole night last night. WEE! No Jetlag! And awoke to Haydn and Katrin in the kitchen at 8am. It was strange having to be bright and sunny, because we all know that I am NOT a morning person. We all had some tea and Haydn and I went on our marry way to a community pool about 5mins from here.

I observed a few of the Learn To Swim (ages 5+) and Preschool groups. The pool, by the way, is quite chilly, the instructors even have to wear spring wetsuits. I'm not looking forward to getting in tomorrow. (This is NOT my permanent pool. Just my training pool because Haydn works there and it is close to the flat).

After 4 hours of observation (BTW Duffi: their uniforms are worse then Australian Swim Schools...BRIGHT NEON Orange rash guards and polo shirts!) Haydn took me to the market to get some basic food (sandwich makings, cereal, milk, juice, apples, yogurt, etc.) and dropped me off at home (can I call it "home"?). So I have the place to myself and it is really quiet. Made a couple of calls (with calling cards....LOVING THEM! Thanks, DAD!), unpacked, and now I'm sitting here with a cup of blackberry tea (my 4th cup of the day).

Tonight, Haydn is taking me to a Mongolian BBQ (all-you-can-eat) to meet a few of the coaches and Jim. Tomorrow, I get in some more training, head up to Raumati for MORE training and meet MORE coaches, get my cell phone (I'm not going to be using mine here at all...so don't leave any text or voice messages), and set-up a bank account. I'm hoping that Saturday and Sunday I can see some of the sites that Wellington has to offer.

CHEERS!

By the way, I will try and get pictures up as soon as I get my computer working.

Cheers!

Well, after a really LONG day of traveling (approx 26 hours), I am finally sitting on the couch with my flatmates watching tv. (CSI Miami, to be exact).

The flight really wasn't that bad. Yes, the food was HORRIBLE (roast beef for dinner, dry sandwich for snack, and burnt pancakes for breakfast), but the initial flight was quick and painless. I slept about 7 hours and my seatmates were really entertaining (We watched a few episodes of season 3 of 24 together on their laptop). Their names were Joe and Josh and they were on their way to Sydney to look for film schools. I also meet a kid named Cade who was on his way to study aboard. It was also his first time out of the country and we were both nervous wrecks. I hope, eventually I can meet up with all 3 guys down the line. We all kept each other company on a 15 hour flight.

I had a 3 hour layover in Sydney and I sat in the terminal and watched the sunrise. It was really amazing. I kept saying to myself "I'M IN SYDNEY!". I had this family from Auckland join me in waiting for our flights. They had four kids and they were a great family. Gave me a fantastic first impression of the Kiwis. They invited me up to their dairy ranch if I ever make it up north.

I flew into Wellington at around 3:00. As we were landing I looked out the window and there was the brightest, biggest, full rainbow I've ever seen in my LIFE! (Which was very calming because the flight was insane. I'm never nervous flying and even had a to white knuckle the armrests as the plane move and shook with the wind) The city actually really looks like San Fran...ex: Big building on water, houses small and close together. Haydn, one of my flatmates, picked my up at the airport and we headed right over to the Wellington Regional Aquatics Centre to meet my boss, Ali Hill, and a few of my co-workers. I had a fantastic welcome to a chorus of "Hey. CASEY!!!" and that made me feel really special. The pool is HUGE! I start training tomorrow....bright at early at 9:00am.

Haydn and I then went to the market, which yes looks like our markets, to pick up groceries for dinner and to get me some shampoo, conditioner, etc. We then proceeded to our place in Newlands, where I met my other flatmates, Frazer and Katrin. The area looks very much like Orange. Its VERY quiet. As I'm typing this the only thing I can hear is the wind. Haydn made chili and bread for dinner and it was the best meal I've had in awhile. Could be because I haven't had a decent meal in 25 hours AND that its freezing cold and chili and tea hit the spot.

My flatmates are really nice. I think Katrin is happy to have another girl around. Frazer is head of the lifeguards at the pool I'll be working at in Wellington, Haydn works as instructor at another community pool, and Katrin is a lifeguard at the same pool Frazer and I will be working at (she is also in nursing school). They are all very mellow and I hope I didn't scare them off with my nervous chit-chatter.

The house is two stories. There is two bedrooms one the first floor (one of which is mine, the other is Haydn's), a office, and a sitting area attached to the kitchen. Upstairs is a loft area to watch TV and Katrin and Frazers room (they have been dating for 2+ years). The place is VERY cold, as 99% of the houses in NZ don't have central heating/AC. My room is small but not horrible. Jim, my other boss/boss from ELMO, got a bed to my roomies about 2 days ago because he felt bad about me sleeping on the floor. I have a closet, a mirror, and it has 3 windows. I need a dresser and hangers, and Katrin said we can go look at a IKEA-esque place called the "Warehouse" (think the Target of NZ) on Saturday.

Currently, I'm waiting for Haydn to come back from a meeting because I left a bag with my flannel sock monkey pjs in it. Tomorrow I take on the adventure of grocery shopping and seeing Jim.

I miss everyone lots. Saying goodbye to my family had to be the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But I know this trip is the best thing for me and myself and my future.

Just so you all know, my computer is having issues connecting to the wireless (something about the IP address.....BRIAN?!?!? jk) so I'll be using Haydn's computer till I can (or someone else) can get it up and running.

CHEERS!

PS I hoping that it clears up in the next few days so I can 1) get some sunshine and 2) see some stars and the southern cross.

PSS It is SOOO Green! The water is a blue I've never seen before, even in Hawaii. And the Sky is so clean and clear. It really is amazing. Now...if it could only be 75 degrees, I'd be SET!

This is it..... *tear*

Before

After

Well, here it is! 24 hours till my departure. It has been a crazy week full of errands, luncheons, dinners, bonfires, beach days, and going out (oh, and one strange day of fighting off the stomach flu). It feels like just six months ago I was telling everyone "Hey, I'm going to New Zealand" and now the goodbyes are final as well as the hugs.

Packing was quite the adventure. My friend, Kristin, came over to be my "Yes. No. EWW" girl and declared I wear way to many boy's clothes. Four hours later, I did got a majority of my clothes into one suitcase (I am still taking two). Thank the Lord for vacuum seal bags :)

Everything has really fallin' into place with my trip. I do have a station wagon to drive around in and after a big scare about a roof over my head, I now have a place to live in a county just 15 minutes from the city called Newland. It's a little house on a cul-de-sac and I'm rooming with a few other coaches that I'm going to be working with (I'll definitely get pictures up as soon as I can).

So, tomorrow Dad and I are heading off to the beach for one last goodbye to warm weather, then I'm going to grab some In-and-Out and then off to LAX to get all boo-boo faced while saying good-bye to my dad.

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes, the cards, and the prayers. I greatly appreciate it and it definitely calms my nerves. It has been an amazing "summer/post-college retirement" and I'm so glad I have such great family and friends. LOVE YOU ALL!

So, here it goes (some last minute info):

Address:

Casey Finnegan

#13a Kingsbridge Pl

Newlands, Wellington

6037 New Zealand

Email: cbfinnegan@hotmail.com

AIM: SunsetWonder1

Skype: cbfinnegan

(Skype is a video web chat that is totally FREE!

You just need a webcam and a mic and we can chat for hours)

Well, that's it. Next time I write I'll be in my room, in my house, in Wellington, in New Zealand, in the Southern Hemisphere.

ALOHA!

Oooo!

Happy First Day Of WINTER! Opps....wrong hemisphere. I gotta get in the right mind-set, ya know.

So Happy First Day of Summer.

Forget the Butterflies! I have a dinosaur with wings in my tummy!

First of all, MEXICO WAS AWESOME! My mom, step-dad, and I had an absolute blast in Rocky Point. I was pleasantly surprised in the stunning beauty of the beach and you could even shop without leaving your towel! Thanks Mom and Dave for such an amazing trip. Love you, both!

With 21 days left of Summer ("AHH!!"), I'm really getting into the home stretch for my trip. The good-byes are starting. I hugged my mommy goodbye at a Phoenix airport, trying not to be boo-boo faced. My planner is filled with last ditch efforts to hang out with friends. Surf outings, BBQ beach parties, movie nights, time with family and country line-dancing are being crammed into a few short days. My friends are starting sentences with "Oh, we need to do this before you leave!" or "Oh, you'll be gone before then."

I'm in a slight nesting period. I feel like if I don't do something right the VERY second I think about it, it will slip my mind to be lost. I've already been to Target three times this week. I have a notebook of reminders and to do lists. I'm driving myself bananas! I just wish the huge-o Tyrannosaurus Rex with wings, that lives in my stomach, would go away.

Life in a Suitcase

I'm getting into the home stretch with 5 weeks left until my departure (technically, it's less then a month with my week-long trip to Mexico with my mom and step-dad).
I've started to kinda, sorta pack. Instead of doing the typical "switching closets" (aka winter clothes to spring clothes), I'm throwing everything I want to take to NZ on our spare bed. Now, I repeat, everything I WANT to take....not everything I'm going to need. How do you pack your life into two large suitcases (that need to weigh under 50 lbs.)? So far, just my shoes fill a large suitcase.

My friend, Kristin, is an avid world traveler, including a extended time spent in Europe. She's offered (or did I recruit?) her services as my "official packer-helper". She's already looked at me and offered the tip of "Do you honestly need four pink sweaters?" My thoughts are: YES, because they are all different and special...and I know somewhere during my trip I will think to myself "I wish I had pink sweater #3 for tonight!" But that's sacrifice.

So, my question to you is: Any packing tips? I already have the vacuum seal bags that you squeeze all the air out. I know to wear my heaviest stuff on the plane (sweat pants, uggs, sweatshirt, black ski jacket....it's going to be a warm drive to LAX in July, but at least I'll be toasty in NZ!). I want to know the BEST tips and tricks. For example, my dad's co-worker offered the advice of FedEx-ing my undergarments and speedos ahead of time...it would $ but save alot of space.

So, whatca got?