27 Feb 2010

I've been posting a lot of pictures and videos simply because it's easier, cooler, and much more effective in describing this place. It's simply beautiful. Manuel, Nicole, and Michelle live in this cute little house way up high on a hill in Island Bay, Wellington. It's quite a hike to get up to their house (not so bad getting down, but the walk up is a killer), but the view is way worth the trouble. We are in a rare position in Wellington to see the South Island. You can't really see it from anywhere else, but since we're so high up it's easily seen in the distance. It looks a lot like something in Italy or something with the mostly white houses placed nonstrategically on the side of the green hills. The downtown part of it is equally as great, even though it's not quite as beautiful. There are cute little local shops (not many chain stores around here) run by the nicest people you could imagine. Everyone here seems to be in a good mood, which is quite a contrast to the American way - especially in the airports. Even the customs people were super nice to us. It was a great welcome to this country. Today we walked along the coast for an hour or so looking for a place called "Red Rocks." It took us a good hour or so just to get to the coast, so we soon gave up on the attraction and enjoyed the scenery. I can't imagine anything looking better than the coastline anyways. The water here is incredibly blueish green, exactly as it's seen in pictures, and the coastline is rocky and jagged with some slightly blackish sand. We walked through a small town on our way to not going to Red Rocks when we stumbled upon a warehouse full of artists, musicians, and rock climbers all hanging out and drinking coffee. It was an open house where they were looking for someone to rent space in the warehouse, but we had fun just talking to some artists and listening to music while looking at the local art. I hope we meet some of these people again. They seemed like great people.

After walking around the coast and town all day today and yesterday, I'm pretty tired and slightly sunburned. They say the sun is much stronger down here, and I now believe them. You can get burned in the shade if you're there only 15 minutes. Jetlag hasn't really affected me too badly. It's mostly the excessive amounts of walking that is exhausting me. I have already learned a few strange ways of New Zealand. I'll try to remember some for your entertainment...

Always thank the bus driver. "Thank you, driver." It's weird if you don't.

Napkins are serviettes. Bathrooms are toilets. Swimsuits are togs. Sweater are jumpers. Flipflops are jandals. etc.. It's almost like learning a new language.

They don't have Mexican food, ketchup, or hotdogs here. Don't be fooled by imitations.

Driving/owning a car is rare around here. Walking is the way to go. You learn to go without a lot.

You don't have to take a test to get your driver's license. Shawn got one legally for $43. Scary.

Watch out for hedgehogs as you walk the stairs.

The wind is ridiculous here. We have to tie down anything outside, and it's pointless to do your hair before going out. It all ends up looking like a hot mess anyway.

Everything is backwards or upside down. Even the lightswitches.

The weather has been unusually great the last few days. Everyone is out and about enjoying the sun while it lasts. Nicole has been rushing around trying to do laundry and letting it dry before it gets rainy again. Using the dryer is too expensive. I hope that the weather holds up for a while. I'm not too cool with rainy and windy weather, but I guess I'll get used to it very quickly. Manuel said he's rarely seen the weather so clear and consistent. Maybe our presence has changed the climate or something.

I'll think of more to post later about this amazing place. I wish you all could experience it first hand. I'd say to come on over, but the job market is less than desirable. Please pray for jobs for us all. We can't rent a place til we get jobs. The Hobbit won't start for a few months probably, and even then jobs are not guaranteed. Pray for safety (even though this place is probably one of the safest places I've even been) and peace among us. Living with these people for a whole year will be trying and exciting. Pray that God gives us love for eachother.

Thanks for all your support and prayers. Talk to you soon!