So this weekend was definitely not boring!
Friday after work, Gunhild (another Dane who works on the same floor as me) and I went to the train station to wait for Gigi and Sara who were on the train from Masterton. The train however was so full, that they dumped a bunch of passengers including Sara into buses so they could drive over the mountains instead. All this moving people around delayed the train which Gigi was still in by an hour and 15 minutes, but at 6:15 we were finally gathered in Wellington and ln our way towards the bus towarda Gunhild's place.
The girls got ready, with their showers, makeup, clothes swapping and shoe picking, and eventually we were ready to go back into the city and party all night long, and so we did.
We didn't really know where to go except around Courtney Place, which was a great idea. There is nothing but clubs and bars in that area, so we had fun all night walking around and trying most of them. We got drunk and danced, and that's about all that went on friday night/saturday morning.
Saturday afternoon was spent in the garden, playing badminton and other beach games that Jenn and Barry, Gunhild's hosts, had in a little bag full of toys. Since noone else was home to do it, us danes decided took some potatoes and a really good Danish persille-sovs, om nom nom!
After we had eaten, Jenn took us all to Zealandia, a sanctuary for some of New Zealands hunted wild like the Kiwi, that can't defend itself against cats, dogs and other animals imported by the Brits back some few hundred years ago. It was a really great trip but unfortunately it's hard to take good pictures on a nightwalk, which is when the Kiwi is out, together with their indigigeneous reptile, frog and the glow worm. A funny little fella that glows bright blue at night to attract little insects and eat them.
Sunday we spent sleeping late again, except for Gigi who got up early and went home. The rest of went on a drive down the south end of the north island with Barry as our tour guide, telling us a lot about the earthquake fault lines in Wellington. Then we dropped Nena, a german backpacker, off at a cloister or something, at least she was handed over to Sister Lucy. Barry then told us it was a community that used to have schools, daycare, hospital, church and much more but have had to cut down due to the decreasing amount sisters in community.
Today, monday, it's time for another week of work! But it won't be boring, that's for sure.
Pictures will come a little later.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Rugby - Hurricanes vs Crusaders
So, as I posted earlier, Gigi and I was going to a Rugby match,
The busride there was pretty average, nothing big happened. So we got out and found ourselves at Tui brewery, I never heard of it before, but whatever. Gigi and I walked over to the bar and found a big sign: "NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES HERE - COFFEE SODAS AND MORE"... Bugger. Apparently that was all in the tent a little away. So we went and got ourselves a can of Tui, 440ml 4% ale, really good taste. Then we followed the masses towards the stadium. Everywhere around us we saw that the local rednecks had emptied their fields for sheep to put up signs saying: "CARPARKING $5".
We finished our beer and walked inside (no liquids allowed upon entering), and saw a lady selling yellow and orange buckets with slits cut into them so people could wear them as hats, which apparently quite a few people decided to do.
Not knowing what to do, with still another 90 minutes to go before the match would start, we went and got 6 beers to share, oh yeah and 1 more each from the free voucher we got on the bus. We found a spot and sat down as close to the field as possible, with our noses touching the string that marked 'no trespassing' line. A game between two 'for fun' teams was going on but ended shortly after we got there.
As we got closer to kick-off, we got more and more aware of how good an idea it was to get a spot early on. People were gathering and now in 3 layers all the way around as Hurricanes and Crusaders started getting on the field to warm up.
Right before kick-off, the two mascots arrived by helicopter to the middle of the field, they came out and greeted their teams (opposite from where we were of course :s). Anyways, quite spectacular.
Initially, the game wasn't actually that interesting, both Gigi and I spent more time talking to people around us, especially one lady who sat down next to us. Her name is Jay and she owns a bar in Petone (really close to where I live in Belmont) right across the street from Domino's. So I have to go there at some point and say hi. The game went on, after an initial lead by the Hurricanes 3-0, the Crusaders quickly made field goal to a lead of 3-7. From then on, it went pretty bad for the Hurricanes, but, we still had fun after chucking down 3 or 4 beers each at this point, and people around us probably a little ahead, the mood was good. During the break, there was lots of fun things going on.
First a guy ran in and climbed the goal until security shook it and he decided to come down, he did however manage to complete his goal, putting a yellow bucket on the top of the pole. Meanwhile some guys were undressing and ran into the field to start doing the a haka. Security wasn't too harsh on them so a couple of their friends joined in including a bunch of girls. Eventually they gave up and wandered back to their spots, but nice intermission. When they were discussing a proper consequence with the guards, a group of sumo-wrestlers attempted to fill the field and dance to LFMAO's "Sexy and I know it", but once again security spoiled the fun and they didn't even make it out of the pit. Would have loved to see that though. 2 made it out on the field and started dancing but security punctured their blown-up suits and walked them back to the pit.
The game resumed and quickly it turned into 19-3, then 19-8 and stayed there till the end of the match. Gigi and I continued with our beer. We decided to ditch the game at that point and go get some food, a hotdog, Kiwi-style. Bread cut open in the top, add fried onions, put in sausage and then a thick line of ketchup and mustard in a zig-zag line down the top of the sausage. Spiced with a Tui, you got a good meal!
After that we started heading home. We went to the bus where we waited for a while, I was still disappointed that the merchandise store was closed all day (possible there was one in the VIP-area but I wouldn't know, couldn't go there), so I couldn't get a Hurricanes jersey. I know they lost but they're from Wellington so I'd like to support them.
Gigi and I went home and went to KFC for another well-deserved meal there, oh yeah, that's where we ate breakfast. After that, we headed on down to Liquorland (by this time Gigi was calling it Legoland 'cause she was quite drunk) because from the tickets we had discount coupons for a crate of TUI beer. It wasn't until we were in the cool room that we found out what size of beer it was we had a discount coupon for, a crate of 12 x 745ml glass bottled-in-a-wooden-box beer. That was heavy. So we walked out and found a bench to sit and enjoy my birthday cake.
After that, we dragged the cake home, and just hung out the rest of the evening. Today which is my birthday by the way (at least here in New Zealand), I'm going to spend going home to Belmont, and get ready for work tomorrow.
The busride there was pretty average, nothing big happened. So we got out and found ourselves at Tui brewery, I never heard of it before, but whatever. Gigi and I walked over to the bar and found a big sign: "NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES HERE - COFFEE SODAS AND MORE"... Bugger. Apparently that was all in the tent a little away. So we went and got ourselves a can of Tui, 440ml 4% ale, really good taste. Then we followed the masses towards the stadium. Everywhere around us we saw that the local rednecks had emptied their fields for sheep to put up signs saying: "CARPARKING $5".
We finished our beer and walked inside (no liquids allowed upon entering), and saw a lady selling yellow and orange buckets with slits cut into them so people could wear them as hats, which apparently quite a few people decided to do.
Not knowing what to do, with still another 90 minutes to go before the match would start, we went and got 6 beers to share, oh yeah and 1 more each from the free voucher we got on the bus. We found a spot and sat down as close to the field as possible, with our noses touching the string that marked 'no trespassing' line. A game between two 'for fun' teams was going on but ended shortly after we got there.As we got closer to kick-off, we got more and more aware of how good an idea it was to get a spot early on. People were gathering and now in 3 layers all the way around as Hurricanes and Crusaders started getting on the field to warm up.
Right before kick-off, the two mascots arrived by helicopter to the middle of the field, they came out and greeted their teams (opposite from where we were of course :s). Anyways, quite spectacular.
Initially, the game wasn't actually that interesting, both Gigi and I spent more time talking to people around us, especially one lady who sat down next to us. Her name is Jay and she owns a bar in Petone (really close to where I live in Belmont) right across the street from Domino's. So I have to go there at some point and say hi. The game went on, after an initial lead by the Hurricanes 3-0, the Crusaders quickly made field goal to a lead of 3-7. From then on, it went pretty bad for the Hurricanes, but, we still had fun after chucking down 3 or 4 beers each at this point, and people around us probably a little ahead, the mood was good. During the break, there was lots of fun things going on.
 |
| It looks like I'm not enjoying it but the sun was in my eyes |
The game resumed and quickly it turned into 19-3, then 19-8 and stayed there till the end of the match. Gigi and I continued with our beer. We decided to ditch the game at that point and go get some food, a hotdog, Kiwi-style. Bread cut open in the top, add fried onions, put in sausage and then a thick line of ketchup and mustard in a zig-zag line down the top of the sausage. Spiced with a Tui, you got a good meal!
After that we started heading home. We went to the bus where we waited for a while, I was still disappointed that the merchandise store was closed all day (possible there was one in the VIP-area but I wouldn't know, couldn't go there), so I couldn't get a Hurricanes jersey. I know they lost but they're from Wellington so I'd like to support them.Gigi and I went home and went to KFC for another well-deserved meal there, oh yeah, that's where we ate breakfast. After that, we headed on down to Liquorland (by this time Gigi was calling it Legoland 'cause she was quite drunk) because from the tickets we had discount coupons for a crate of TUI beer. It wasn't until we were in the cool room that we found out what size of beer it was we had a discount coupon for, a crate of 12 x 745ml glass bottled-in-a-wooden-box beer. That was heavy. So we walked out and found a bench to sit and enjoy my birthday cake.
After that, we dragged the cake home, and just hung out the rest of the evening. Today which is my birthday by the way (at least here in New Zealand), I'm going to spend going home to Belmont, and get ready for work tomorrow.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Weekend with Gigi
So, I'm now in Wairarapa at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort. It's a nice hotel where Gigi is interning. The plan for the weekend is to go see a Rugby match between Hurricanes and Crusaders. Gigi's pretty sure one of the teams are staying at the hotel, but were not sure which one. Possibly the Hurricanes though as the hotel staff is rooting for them.
This hotel is far out in the middle of nowhere, so me being hungry wasn't a good thing last night, as Gigi doesn't really cook, I just had to check out what the fridge had to offer.
2 potatoes, a tomato, an onion, a leek, and a big orange potato-like thing.
I peeled the potatoes and the orange thing and boiled them. Chopped up half an onion and the rest, and fried it all. When the potatoes were done I fried them too.
It was delicious, and whatever that orange thing was, it tasted well. Even for Gigi and I, who both love meat.
This hotel is far out in the middle of nowhere, so me being hungry wasn't a good thing last night, as Gigi doesn't really cook, I just had to check out what the fridge had to offer.
2 potatoes, a tomato, an onion, a leek, and a big orange potato-like thing.
I peeled the potatoes and the orange thing and boiled them. Chopped up half an onion and the rest, and fried it all. When the potatoes were done I fried them too.
It was delicious, and whatever that orange thing was, it tasted well. Even for Gigi and I, who both love meat.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Weekend update
So it's been a wee while since I last updated, I'm not dead, just so you know.
I previously posted about Educa, the company I work for, well Nathan and I are getting along very well and the job is both fun and interesting. Unfortunately I can not share details but I like it there, the environment is great at the office, lots of friendly people.
Wellington is a cool city, and I prefer it over Auckland. Auckland seems very uptight, over-polished and stressed where Wellington is more down to earth and relaxed.
Thursday and friday I worked. Thursday I met up with Gene Brumby, a Pro Tour (Magic: The Gathering) player and his friend Chips (I think was his nickname? Not sure) in Brooklyn where he lives. We played some games and talked about his trip to Honolulu to play and hopefully win a lot! (Best of luck mate!). Friday after work Nathan and I went out for a beer and after that he dropped me off at home (Robyn's place).
Saturday I slept long, because I could, then Robyn was going shopping and took me to the train station, where I then headed off to Wellington. I went to Pulsar Max, a store where geeks who like to play Magic, can hang out. I entered a tourney and had fun with the locals. I met a guy called Charlie, and while we were playing a game, he checked his phone for messages, one his friends have invited him to play at Toi Whakaari, I asked if I could come because my last train had already left. We went there and saw Tom Keeper Passes, a really fun and interesting play about society, very well thought through and played. Despite their low budget (I assume), they did an amazing job!
After the play we went to Charlie's, watched a movie and went to bed. Sunday morning we went back to the store and did another tourney. Eventually Charlie had to leave so I decided to head home, around 5:30 or so.
Now, the only way to ge directly home is to take the schoolbus, schoolbuses naturally don't run on sundays, so I had to take an alternate route. On the 83 to Queensgate, Lower Hutt, from where I'd wait 40 minutes to get on the 150 towards Kelson. The short story is that I wasn't home until 7:40, after walking from Speedy's Reserve and up the hill to Robyn's. Here was Richard, Robyn's friend, with his kids. They only just finished eating so they cooked some more for me which was really nice of them. So I had my own little buffet with salad, rice, sausages, mushrooms, corn and beer.
Monday february 6, was a national holiday, celebrating Waitangi Day, the day when Maori (the people who lived here 'first') came to peace with the brits, accepting the Queen of England as their ruler. So I slept long again.
Around afternoon, Robyn asked if I wanted to go for a drive, I didn't have anything else to do so I went with her, a good choice. We went up a hill, I took some pictures of the landscape and we continued, Robyn was going to say hi to her daughter. So we drove to her place. They had kids all over the place, turned out the pool was out and that's where all the screaming was coming from, 3 kids (around 6-8 I guess) was swimming and jumping in and out, they had fun. In the garden was Robyn's daughter, husband and some of their friends sitting and drinking wine, and 5 minutes later, dinner was server. Quite awesome, considering that we didn't really plan anything for food. We talked lots and had fun, then went back home.
All in all, lots of things going on all the time, New Zealand is quite fantastic.
I would have liked to attach some images, but the internet is really slow, so, not this time :s
I previously posted about Educa, the company I work for, well Nathan and I are getting along very well and the job is both fun and interesting. Unfortunately I can not share details but I like it there, the environment is great at the office, lots of friendly people.
Wellington is a cool city, and I prefer it over Auckland. Auckland seems very uptight, over-polished and stressed where Wellington is more down to earth and relaxed.
Thursday and friday I worked. Thursday I met up with Gene Brumby, a Pro Tour (Magic: The Gathering) player and his friend Chips (I think was his nickname? Not sure) in Brooklyn where he lives. We played some games and talked about his trip to Honolulu to play and hopefully win a lot! (Best of luck mate!). Friday after work Nathan and I went out for a beer and after that he dropped me off at home (Robyn's place).
Saturday I slept long, because I could, then Robyn was going shopping and took me to the train station, where I then headed off to Wellington. I went to Pulsar Max, a store where geeks who like to play Magic, can hang out. I entered a tourney and had fun with the locals. I met a guy called Charlie, and while we were playing a game, he checked his phone for messages, one his friends have invited him to play at Toi Whakaari, I asked if I could come because my last train had already left. We went there and saw Tom Keeper Passes, a really fun and interesting play about society, very well thought through and played. Despite their low budget (I assume), they did an amazing job!
After the play we went to Charlie's, watched a movie and went to bed. Sunday morning we went back to the store and did another tourney. Eventually Charlie had to leave so I decided to head home, around 5:30 or so.
Now, the only way to ge directly home is to take the schoolbus, schoolbuses naturally don't run on sundays, so I had to take an alternate route. On the 83 to Queensgate, Lower Hutt, from where I'd wait 40 minutes to get on the 150 towards Kelson. The short story is that I wasn't home until 7:40, after walking from Speedy's Reserve and up the hill to Robyn's. Here was Richard, Robyn's friend, with his kids. They only just finished eating so they cooked some more for me which was really nice of them. So I had my own little buffet with salad, rice, sausages, mushrooms, corn and beer.
Monday february 6, was a national holiday, celebrating Waitangi Day, the day when Maori (the people who lived here 'first') came to peace with the brits, accepting the Queen of England as their ruler. So I slept long again.
Around afternoon, Robyn asked if I wanted to go for a drive, I didn't have anything else to do so I went with her, a good choice. We went up a hill, I took some pictures of the landscape and we continued, Robyn was going to say hi to her daughter. So we drove to her place. They had kids all over the place, turned out the pool was out and that's where all the screaming was coming from, 3 kids (around 6-8 I guess) was swimming and jumping in and out, they had fun. In the garden was Robyn's daughter, husband and some of their friends sitting and drinking wine, and 5 minutes later, dinner was server. Quite awesome, considering that we didn't really plan anything for food. We talked lots and had fun, then went back home.
All in all, lots of things going on all the time, New Zealand is quite fantastic.
I would have liked to attach some images, but the internet is really slow, so, not this time :s
Thursday, February 2, 2012
More China
So Robyn's been there and thought she'd get her grandson an amazing little piece of Farreri-branded merchandise, it's a mobile phone yes.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Educa
So for someone like me who never heard of this until now, I just thought I'd introduce this to everyone, so you get a basic understand of what the company I work at does.
Educa is their name, referring to "Education", specifically "Early Childhood Education" or ECE. Many schools, daycares and kindergartens have a system for tracking the learning and growing up of the kids they take care of. This is usually a physical folder with paper and sometimes pictures stored at the institution, rarely accessible to the parents.
Educa is all online, where the parents and the teachers have easy access from any device with internet, can upload pictures and share learning stories that their kids participate in. That way, parents get to track the development of their kid, in an easy way.
If you want to know a little more, check out the website at www.educa.co.nz
Educa is located at 50 Manners Street, as part of Creative HQ. Creative HQ is basically an incubator for small start-up companies in Wellington. They have strategists, marketing people, finance people and other start-uppers in the building with expertise within many different areas to use during a start-up process.
Educa is their name, referring to "Education", specifically "Early Childhood Education" or ECE. Many schools, daycares and kindergartens have a system for tracking the learning and growing up of the kids they take care of. This is usually a physical folder with paper and sometimes pictures stored at the institution, rarely accessible to the parents.
Educa is all online, where the parents and the teachers have easy access from any device with internet, can upload pictures and share learning stories that their kids participate in. That way, parents get to track the development of their kid, in an easy way.
If you want to know a little more, check out the website at www.educa.co.nz
Educa is located at 50 Manners Street, as part of Creative HQ. Creative HQ is basically an incubator for small start-up companies in Wellington. They have strategists, marketing people, finance people and other start-uppers in the building with expertise within many different areas to use during a start-up process.
Warm Welcome Wellington - What?!
So Gigi and I got out of bed, rushed to the bus station, and got aboard (considering I was dragging along a female I consider 45 minutes from wake-up to bus station fast).
Auckland to Wellington went smooth, Jetstar hasn't been as terrible as expected. We got to sit on row 2 for some reason so we're pretty good, getting off first and everything. My only problem was the amount of legspace (about 5 cm less than 'normal' airlines), and this weird buzzing sound that the airplane made once the engines turned on. Thanks again to China Southern Airlines for providing me with an airplane survival kit, the earplugs came in handy once again!
In Wellington Gigi and I took a shuttle (cheapest) to the train station. It was pouring rain even before we landed and it is still raining outside (it's 10 in the evening at the time of writing). After I ran across a big street for 2 cheeseburgers for her, we said goodbye to eachother. I then proceeded to Creative HQ where I'll be working for 3 months, to meet up with Nathan and get introduced.
I'll talk more about my job, the things that I'm allowed to say, in case any competitors snaps up my blog, in a later post. It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to get my hands dirty (not like in the picture below though!).
If you want to know more about the company and what they do, check out the website: www.educa.co.nz
Apparently that kinda thing is big down here ('apparently' because I never heard of anything like it existing in Europe or US, maybe because I don't have kids yet.
For now I'll just leave you with this children's book cover I stumbled upon in a magazine, seemingly teaching kids about the great terror that puberty can be for some.
When the weather clears up I'll make sure to take some pictures from the balcony where I live, Robyn's house is amazing.
Auckland to Wellington went smooth, Jetstar hasn't been as terrible as expected. We got to sit on row 2 for some reason so we're pretty good, getting off first and everything. My only problem was the amount of legspace (about 5 cm less than 'normal' airlines), and this weird buzzing sound that the airplane made once the engines turned on. Thanks again to China Southern Airlines for providing me with an airplane survival kit, the earplugs came in handy once again!
In Wellington Gigi and I took a shuttle (cheapest) to the train station. It was pouring rain even before we landed and it is still raining outside (it's 10 in the evening at the time of writing). After I ran across a big street for 2 cheeseburgers for her, we said goodbye to eachother. I then proceeded to Creative HQ where I'll be working for 3 months, to meet up with Nathan and get introduced.
I'll talk more about my job, the things that I'm allowed to say, in case any competitors snaps up my blog, in a later post. It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to get my hands dirty (not like in the picture below though!).
If you want to know more about the company and what they do, check out the website: www.educa.co.nz
Apparently that kinda thing is big down here ('apparently' because I never heard of anything like it existing in Europe or US, maybe because I don't have kids yet.
For now I'll just leave you with this children's book cover I stumbled upon in a magazine, seemingly teaching kids about the great terror that puberty can be for some.
When the weather clears up I'll make sure to take some pictures from the balcony where I live, Robyn's house is amazing.
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