still going strong
Current mood: restless
Where to begin?! Yesterday marked 10 months on these islands I surprisingly realized. I now live in Queenstown, New Zealand. It's a small ski town similar to Breckenridge in the states. A party town if you're looking to party, but also pretty cool.
It's very close to the ski hills, hiking trails, mountain biking trails (actually did that with Dave, flatmate, the day after I moved in… 4 hours mountain biking… very intense… very humbling as I literally fell in the water almost every time we had a river crossing- not so easy on a bike!), the lake, everything! It is the adventure capital of the world and caters to adventure enthusiasts- bungee jumping off bridges, skydiving, jet boating, canyon swinging, etc. I have lived here two months and only had a job for 3 weeks of that (so hard to find a job until the ski hills open and the town gets busier)!
But- now I'm working hard- the town has picked up and it is busy busy busy.
I got a job at a 5star hotel as a concierge, a ski concierge two days a week (go-to gal for snow conditions, transport to mountain, rentals, etc) and regular concierge 3 days a week.
I really love this town. Been tons of fun already, and it's just the beginning.
The town is busy allright! There are people everywhere. Last week was Winterfest where I got to see some very cool kiwi bands and two mountains (both within a half hour- 45 minute drive) nearby are open. There were parades and rail jams on the mountains and many activities to occupy everyone in Queenstown.
I will be snowboarding this season, so we'll see how that goes! Bought one so I'm committed to the season! It's been painful so far (literally- the bum, knees, wrists…) but I'm learning! Been up about 4 days already and there will be many more to come. Thought it was time to learn something new on the mountain (not that i'm anywhere near done learning about skiing!)
I'm working as a ski concierge at a 5 star hotel in town. Still learning the ropes a bit… but it keeps me entertained I guess. I have to be much more professional than I did working at a bar in Nelson! (no more "inappropriate touching Thursday"s… a weekly occurrence in Nelson, but we make up for it at the bars I suppose…)
Monty's bar for Chris' last night before heading back to England
Surreal bar with Dave and Amy
me before dancing until 5am...
My flatmates are fabulous. I live with Kain and Liza (partners, kiwi, 28 and 29), and Dave (26, English). We have an amazing view of the mountains, liza and kain's two cats, and fires in the fireplace every night as there is no central heating here! (heating blanket, space heater, and two duvets on my bed do their best... but sometimes it's still cold!) We all get along really well and it feels good here. We take turns cooking for each other and i've learned a thing or two in the kitchen! It's fun to eat together- it's always a feast- real good, healthy food, and a lot of it!
We eat very well and now Thursdays have a new meaning (along with inappropriate touching of course). We all usually hang out and drink a little and listen to house music (Kain's favourite). The music's not what I generally listen to but it's fun to widen my musical knowledge and the company is good. Out on the town with them is also particularly fun.
Last week it snowed and snowed and snowed and I couldn't drive my car up the hill to my house! I live up a steep hill and that makes the views fabulous and the walk home from town a workout. We built jumps and I took pictures as the flatmates and friends snowboarded down the street.
A visiting friend got particularly creative:
I think I've turned into a person that I wouldn't recognize a few years back. I'm still learning, always will be. I'm enjoying my time here and changing my opinions on a lot of things. I feel really lucky because I have a few really close friends here and feel at home in New Zealand.
I've made the decision to extend my visa and stay in new zealand at least until October when the ski season ends. After that, who knows?! Maybe Australia for a few months, maybe a year, maybe back to the states to save for and then go to grad school, maybe i'll get a degree in new zealand... my plans change every day. But i do know, i'll be here until october at least, quite possibly longer (start saving so you can visit if you ever want to see me again! only kidding... kind of). This country is amazing- an outdoor lover's mecca! It's really easy to settle into life here, and i've made it my home.
Who knows what happens next…?!
Not me... but I don't mind.
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