Royal New Zealand Ballet....

For a brief time, many years ago, I took ballet lessons. I never excelled at it, or any kind of dance, but I enjoyed my classes immensely. Since then I've had relatively few opportunities to see ballet live. I'm very happy to report, as you might expect, that we can see the Royal NZ Ballet all throughout the year here in Wellington!! Just another perk when you're living in the city. :)

Several weeks ago I kept seeing a poster around town advertising a ballet show called NYC: Three Short Ballets from the Big Apple. It sounded like fun so we hunted down the tickets, figured out where the theater was located and went this past weekend.

The locale was an old stage theater complete with several balconies. We found our way to our seats and took in the view. In a word: trippy. With no railings or dividers separating the rows from each other it almost appeared as though you could stand up and tumble straight down into the rows below the balconies. Um, I'm pretty sure it wasn't up to code but I guess they wanted to maintain the original intergrity of the place.

Trippiness aside the ballets were wonderful! Each distinct from the others but all very interesting and beautiful in their own way. The first was very traditional and we read in the program that it was 'technically demanding' - I thought to myself, "Aren't they all technically demanding?". Following the first program was a short break when you could leave your seat to get a drink or 'nibbles'. I was most surprised to see theater employees toting coolers of ice cream as if they were selling concessions up and down the rows at a baseball game. Was it always customary to serve ice cream at the ballet? :) Apparently, in NZ it is! After everyone was shooed back into their seats we settled in for the second ballet. I've never seen anything like it. For it was nothing like the traditional fare we had just watched in the first segment. This one opened on a stage set up to look like a dance studio. Instead of seeing just the stage with everything hidden behind the curtain you saw lights and the 'behind the scenes' aspects of a set that the audience never sees. The dancers were dressed as if they were coming into the studio for a day of practice. All black leotards and girls with wild hair, flying loose. The production looked like a work in progress with dancers running across the stage, costumes being wheeled about all while small groups focused on their dancing. Like I said, it was like nothing I'd ever seen.

With a second break in the action we set out to get some ice cream. We fought our way to the beginning of the line to pay and then returned to our seats for the third and final ballet. This one was somewhat a mixture of the traditional and not-so-traditional that we had seen in the first two. Except that this time there were several segments that showcased a single dancer at a time. Amazing!! I was particularly impressed with one of the principal dancers (from the US, actually) - she was so beautiful, a redhead. :)

I felt as though I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, trying desperately to soak up every bit of what I was seeing on the stage. Showcased in three very different ballets we saw the grace, poise and incredible athleticism that ballet dancers exude. Such an amazing experience - my words don't do it justice.

Can I see some ID?....

Sure, you can. Because we both have our Victoria University Staff ID cards and our NZ driver's licenses (see below). Though the thought still terrifies me, we are legal to drive here. I'm very, very ok with the fact that we don't have a car. Yet. :)

Speaking of ID, last weekend we strolled down to the pub to take in a rugby match. Upon arrival the bouncer stopped us and asked for my ID. As I was shuffling through my purse Tim started to pull out his wallet only to be told that he "was good" (didn't need to show ID). The guy turned to me and said, "You look under 25 so I need to check yours". I whipped out my shiny, new NZ driver's license and he let us through. We were a bit surprised by all this because for one, Tim has the baby face of the two of us, and two, the drinking age is 18, so getting carded is the exception not the rule.

The match was awesome! The Hurricanes played a close game all the way up until the end. I was sure that we wouldn't take home the win when in the last minute of the game they scored a try (it's like the rugby equivalent to a touchdown in American football)! The place went wild (as did we)! Since moving away from MN (and the MN Wild) I have yet to spend time in a bar, watching a game, where I was surrounded by fellow fans. It. Was. Awesome!

Ice cream....

The last few days have been rainy and 'cold'. I put that in quotes because, well, 'cold' in Wellington is not really cold. The temps have been around 12 C (it makes my head hurt but I'm starting to get the hang of this Celcius thing....so that's about 53 F) and by any Wellingtonian's definition this is frigid weather. Frigid. I can't tell you how many people I've seen bundled in down jackets, teeth a-chattering. Maybe for the first time ever I'm feeling thankful for the perspective (on what constitutes cold weather) from living in places like Montana, Minnesota and North Dakota. For it was in those places that I've spent the vast majority of my life thus far, bundled against the cold and always on my way to get ice cream. Now I don't know if this is an artifact of living in the Midwest or just something that my family did. We were always buying ice cream at the grocery store or going through the Dairy Queen drive-thru in subzero degree weather.

I was reminded of all those times slurping ice cream in the dead of winter when Tim and I ventured out and about the other day. Amongst the downclad throngs of shivering people on the sidewalks we stopped for some ice cream. It was delicious and made me think of home. :)

Back in the saddle again....

This past week I started work at the university as a tutor. Back in the US we know this title as TA or teaching assistant. I'm helping out, by teaching lab sections, with a research methods course in the psychology department. While the material isn't the most scintillating I'm happy to say that the first week went very well. I have four sections of twenty and I'm determined to learn names....should be interesting as it's never been a talent of mine. I know, great quality to have in a teacher. :)

I was nervous and excited to meet my students for the first time but that was all for naught. As soon as I stood up to start talking in each section I felt at home and at ease in front of the class. I never, never, thought I would be a person who would feel comfortable speaking in front of others but, alas, it has happened. Out of everyone I'm the most surprised about this. :)

After I was done leading my first section I walked away from the classroom with a smile on my face. I felt energized and was looking forward to meeting the other sections. During the five weeks that we've been here I think I've felt most at home in the classroom. I'm happy 'to find myself' a little bit in this new place. :)

Hurricanes...

Don't worry, I'm not referring to the tropical storm but to the Wellington rugby team, the Hurricanes. :) As avid hockey fans we were saddened to find out that hockey doesn't really exist in NZ. At least not on a national scale. Even so we decided that we would give rugby a try and see if it could serve as a temporary replacement for our beloved hockey. With that said, last night we ventured downtown to watch the game at a local bar. What we found was what you would expect from any bar except the fact that one area had a row of recliners in front of a row of flat screens. Yes, recliners. We figured next time we should come earlier and get a cushier seating option. :) Instead we found a high top table and settled in for the two, 40 minute halves of the match. With the commentary on we were able to follow most of what was happening. It was an exciting match, the score was the entire time but we ended up losing to the so-far-undefeated Highlanders. All in all we had a good time and are looking forward to watching the next match which will be next week. The following week the Hurricanes will be back in Wellington to host a game and we're thinking that we might attend! :) Pictures to follow if we do.

Camaro, how I love thee....

It's no secret that I have a not-so-small crush on the Chevy Camaro. This has been going on since they included a concept car in the first Transformers movie. I figured that there would no possibility that I would see any Camaros here and I'm happy to say that I was wrong.

The other day I was walking down the street, past one of the car dealerships, and there it was. A grey, with black stripes, Hennessey HPE550 Camaro. I couldn't believe it. I actully stopped dead in my tracks. It goes without saying that I had to stop and drool for a few minutes. Sexy as can be and left hand drive to beat. Ah, it reminded me of home. :) After wiping the drool from my face, just for fun, I glanced at the sign that gave the details and price. Ok, so we know that everything is more expensive here and this was an aftermarket edition. But still the sticker shock was staggering. In the US you can buy this car for about $62K, a pretty penny. If you wanted to take this grey beauty home it would cost you 110K. 110K! And no joke this price was advertised as a great "driveaway" deal. :)

Walking around Wellington....

We spent this past Saturday, out and about, walking around Wellington and enjoying the gorgeous weather. Now remember that we're transitioning out of summer and into fall so the warm days are becoming fewer and farther between. Although to us it doesn't feel as though the temperatures has fluctuated much (13 - 21 C, that's about 55 - 70 F). Slowly but surely I'm starting to learn Celsius. :)

These are a few of the things we saw down at the harbor.

These are helicopters used for tours around the Wellington area. It was cool watching them land and take off.

We discovered a shop where you can rent bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, inline skates, etc. There's even a rock wall to climb. Tim wants to try the paddleboards and I want to try my hand at climbing the rock wall. :)

Just in case you have to go. :)

Check out the boats. Police and all.

After walking a bit further we saw these. Any guesses as to what they are?

We had no idea either. Then we walked around to check them out and what do you know? They're restrooms. Hmmm. Interesting....but really cool on the inside. :)

Cool patterns, colors and textures on so many buildings around town.

Later we stopped by Mac's Brewbar for a cold one and a snack. Can you tell which one is the cider? I'm not used to finding cider on tap - it's been a nice surprise. :)

Mac's has a really interesting mix of decor as you can see by the suspended lighting fixtures and backdrop for the bar. It's one of our new favorite places. :)

One month in....

It was four weeks ago today that we stepped onto NZ soil to embark on this grand adventure. Can you believe it? At first the time seemed to pass slowly. Well, that is no longer the case. I feel as though the weekdays fly by and the weekends zoom past even faster. But you know what? So far (and this won't always be the case) we've been able to take a break on the weekends. I know, it's what normal people do. They work during the week and rest on the weekend. Well, in Bozeman we worked during the week and the majority of the weekend as well. Now that we have a little time can you imagine our delight to be able to wake up whenever, walk down to a cafe for brunch and then do whatever we want for the rest of the day?! It's like vacation for us workaholics except that we're not on vacation. We're home. Amazing! :)

I really wanted to share some of the things we've accomplished in four weeks. Here goes the list....

• We have found a flat and outfitted it with the necessities to cook, clean and do laundry. Just so you know being able to do these things in your own home is totally awesome. Admittedly, I took 'having these things in place' for granted back in the US.
• We've managed to find homes for our five bags worth of stuff (this is where being creative comes in handy). It's no easy feat in such a small place but we figured it out!! Thanks to some stylish storage containers and an ottoman that doubles as a storage unit).
• We've received IRD (tax) numbers so we can get paid for the work we do while we're here - hooray!
• We've set up a bank account and have matching debit cards. :)
• Tim has started work in the lab at the uni.
• I have resubmitted my application for the PhD program in Psychology. And while I don't have the official 'good news' yet everyone is treating me as if I'm a member of the department already. It's cool.
• While I'm waiting for news of my acceptance to arrive (hopefully at the end of the month) I have secured work at the uni as a 'tutor' (i.e. TA, teaching assistant) for a research design course in the Psych department. I have four sections of 20 students and we start on Monday. :)
• We've discovered and sampled some of the many indian restaurants in the city center. Yum!
• After weeks, yes weeks, we finally have internet at home. So. Awesome!
• We've been walking fiends ever since we got here. I love it!
• We're learning the bus system so that if the weather is rainy we don't have to hike up the hill to campus in a downpour. Yes! With that said we have Snapper cards (bus credits).
• We've applied for driver's licenses (but have not received them yet). I know, we don't have a car but we wanted to get our NZ ID cards since we're going to be spending some time here. If we decide to rent a car for a trip or, in the distant future, buy a car we'll be set. Technically, we can drive with our US licenses for the first year. To be clear, I have no desire to drive here. The traffic isn't that bad, it's not that. It's the fact that the cars are right hand drive. Think about that craziness for a minute (although out of everyone I think Paul would appreciate this). Wait, wait, wait the fun doesn't stop there. Not only are you on the right side of the car you are driving on the left side of the road. Yeah. I've put it out of my mind. At this point I'm content to walk, figure out the bus and/or train. :)
• We're loving the cafes that are everywhere!
• We're happy to report that our Kindle Fire works here (we weren't sure if it would or not, we were expecting 'not'). This fact is a lifesaver for me as book lover. Last weekend we checked out a bookstore and I was crushed. I knew the books, like most everything else, would be more expensive. However, I did not expect them to be TWICE as expensive. (Frowny face) With that said the Kindle is my new favorite friend for reading. Books were always a treat for me but I cannot, for the life of me, justify $30 for a trade paperback (they'd be about $14-15 in the US).
• To feed my book habit we are also working on completing the applications for our library cards. :)
• We've become big fans of the weekly farmer's markets. So many good freshies and at reasonable prices.
• We're learning the city. Timmy picked up the 'grid' right away. For me it took a bit longer but now I feel as though I know my way around. It's a good feeling. :)

So there you have it. Four weeks into our time here and we are doing well. I was sure that this would be the case but when you move to another country you never really know what is going to happen. Heck, you never know what is going to happen no matter what you're doing! :) But yes, we are well and hope you are too!! :)

Local slang.....

At home we might exclaim that something awesome is "sweet". But in NZ you will encounter individuals expressing the same sentiment by saying, "sweet as". It's like comparing whatever you're talking about to something else that is awesome. "It's sweet as...(the coolest thing you can think of)". But you don't actually fill in the blank. You just say, "sweet as". After going out to dinner last night with the guys (and one girl) from Tim's lab group I feel as though I have a better understanding of how to use this kiwi (more on this word below) phrase. :) The idea can be extended by putting the word "as" after other verbs and adjectives (see clip below).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA

So watch out that you don't get "beached as". It's dangerous stuff. :)

Ah yes, the word kiwi. Before moving to NZ I knew a "kiwi" to be a small, fuzzy, green (inside), fruit. Here you can use it three ways (that I know of).

1. kiwi: smallish fruit as described above (usually distinguished from the other definitions as kiwifruit).
2. kiwi: a person from New Zealand (not derogatory).
3. kiwi: smallish, flightless bird that is totally adorable (see photo below, sadly we haven't seen any yet).

Coffee...

So we're not the biggest coffee drinkers on the planet but we're already in love with the 'coffee shop' obsession here in NZ. On every corner there is a coffee shop and they all offer coffees, teas and sweet and savory treats. What's different is that there's no drip coffee to be found. Anywhere. The coffee drinks are all espresso based so every shop has it's own espresso machine going nonstop. All I can say is that they've mastered the art of making foam and it's amazing. I've never had anything like it. For those of you who know me well you're probably wondering why I'm blogging about coffee when I'm obsessed with chai tea. To my great delight (I didn't know if chai would be on the menu here or if it would be any good if it was) the chai here is like nothing I've ever experienced. I never thought I would say it but I am happy to pass up a Starbucks chai (there are three Starbucks close by) for a chai made at one of the other coffee shops. I guess I've just found a new way to enjoy something that I love. :) Tim is more hard core than me and loves the cappuccinos.

Cinema...

As most of you know Tim and I love going to the movies. During our time in Bozeman we saw movie after movie, sometimes several in a single week. So now that we've been in Wellington for a couple weeks we decided to see Safehouse with Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington. We walked down to the theater and purchased tickets for a showing later that day. After walking around and grabbing a bite for lunch we returned. Tickets stubs in hand we found our way to theater #8. We the first to arrive and found a smallish theater with comfy chairs in each row. On the aisle seats there were numbers and letters like you would find in a stage theater. I eyed these suspiciously, certain that we didn't purchase specific seats in a movie theater. Being the only ones in the place we decided on some seats in the middle about half way up. Soon two guys entered the theater and came and sat right next to Tim. We found this strange. I mean, "ok, why would you sit right next to a complete stranger when you could sit anywhere in the place?". On a whim we decided to ask about the possibility of assigned seating. Tim turned to the guy next to him and asked, "Do you have to sit in the seat specified on your ticket?". He answered, "Yes". What?! Perplexed but wanting to successfully navigate this new home of ours we looked at our tickets and started searching for our assigned seats. This is tricky when you can't see the numbers on the seats whatsoever because they are mostly concealed by the upholstery on each chair. In the end, with the help of a flashlight app on my old Android, we found seats J8 and J9. This was especially challenging because, for some reason unbeknownst to us, they decided to skip row "I" and just move on to "J". Hmmm. Still pondering that one.

All in all the experience was just that. An experience. :) Bizarre to us but commonplace to every Wellingtonian. Just like it would be strange for them to see a movie in the US and pick a seat.

The movie was good - we'd recommend it. As it came out of the US it felt a bit like home. American English accents and all. :)