Back in Auckland!

                My last few days home consisted of last minute errands and packing – and by packing, I mean watching Krissy pack for me while Trevor played with my makeup to give himself a bloody lip and two black eyes. I of course over indulged on Sunday dinner with the excuse that it would be my last one in awhile, although I’ve obviously never needed a reason to do so before. Monday flew by and before I knew it, it was Tuesday morning and my flight was at 3. I actually left the house on time and didn’t forget anything! I checked my bags, went through security, and found my gate right away. I was so nervous to fly out of JFK alone, but it wasn’t bad at all. I sat in the lobby for about an hour bored out of my mind so I gave in and bought a book at the airport – Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang – which caused me to laugh out loud in the lobby and on the plane a few times. People stared. I had an aisle seat which was nice and I sat next to a Muslim woman who copied everything I did. I ordered cookies, she saw me open and eat them, and then had the flight attendant go back and get her some too. When they came back around, she got the cookies again, but I ordered pretzels and she then watched me eat those too and asked for pretzels as well. It was interesting. For some reason, I thought the flight was only four hours. It wasn’t. It was six and I got very bored. For awhile, I played a trivia game by myself on the television screen in front of me, and then eventually other people joined and I kept losing to TAHITI in 22F…damn TAHITI. 

We finally landed in California about 40 minutes early and again I breezed through baggage claim and finding Qantas to check in for my international flight. Sam was waiting by our gate and by this time I was starving, so for our last meal in the United States we went to…..Chili’s. It was that or Burger King. The flight to Auckland was very nice due to some Ambien – out of the 13 hour flight I slept for 10 of it. We got into Auckland at around 9AM and instead of the rainbows and fireworks I was expecting upon my arrival back, it was raining and really cold! We took a cab to our hotel which had some serious false online advertising with its apartment pictures, but oh well. 

Right away we went apartment hunting since we only had the hotel for two nights. Of course, we had a backup plan in case we didn’t find anything the first few days though: being homeless. We went around to all the realtor companies and set up appointments for the following day and saw one apartment the same day. The entire building was Asian, and it was kind of a far walk to Queen Street, the main street and the Viaduct, which is where I am currently hoping to get a job so we passed. After running a few more errands such as opening a bank account and buying wine, we went back to the hotel to get ready to go out. We chose our wine based on the most important quality indicator: cheap price. Needless to say, it was actually painful to drink and I am turned off of white wine for the moment and the damage may be permanent. We had to go out that night though because our friend Niall who used to study here and live at Huia had also moved back here and was supposed to stay until the end of December. He ended up getting a job interview back home in Ireland so this was his last weekend in Auckland. We went out to Father Ted’s and everything seemed just like old times!

The next day, I was still a little off with the time difference and it also didn’t help that neither Sam or I had a watch or phone to tell the time, but I woke up convinced we had overslept for our apartment viewings and woke Sam up while I was freaking out. Our apartment viewings were at 11 – it was 6:45AM…...After we finally got up later at the right time, we saw an apartment right on Queen Street in the Volt complex. It is kind of small but it had two double bedrooms with a bathroom, washer dryer, small common room with a kitchenette, and a balcony with a view of the Skytower!  (PICTURES COMING SOON) And we could move in that day so we signed right then and there! It is a little overwhelming thinking about paying bills for rent and electricity and internet. It definitely makes me more appreciative of home and I actually make sure to turn off the lights whenever I leave the house (Krissy would be so proud). I had to buy an internet plan for about $25 dollars a month which only lasts about 10 hours a month! So if I’m not online much this is probably why. We moved out of the hotel and into our apartment. It was reeaaally fun carrying my one-wheeled suitcase into the complex. I looked like a giant mess for sure, definitely made an entrance. We then went to the Warehouse, which is basically their version of Target and get a bunch of things for the apartment. We spent the rest of the day settling in, and I unpacked my clothes and put them in my room, which is more like a closet, literally. I think it’s the size of the walk-in closet Meg and I had in our dorm senior year. Loyola definitely spoiled us. I had to keep all of my clothes on my bed because there was really nowhere to put it. 

Then packing took a back burner to going out again for Niall’s last night in Auckland. Sam and I got ready and headed to Father Ted’s again. We were the first ones there and the bar was filled with Rocky Horror Picture Show characters and they were playing the songs from the movie! (For those of you who don’t know, Glee recently did a Rocky Horror Picture Show episode and I just downloaded the songs and am mildly obsessed with them) Anyway, the reason they were there is because they are putting on the show for the next two weeks up the street so Sam and I are going to try and get tickets. Poor Sam wasn’t as “tipsy” as I was and had to stand there and watch as I sang and danced to the songs – apparently there’s an actual dance to the Time Warp song, who knew? We also had numerous creepers come up to us. One old guy basically motioned how short I was when I walked in and then asked if he could literally pick me up Another guy wouldn’t leave Sam alone - she tried everything from ignoring him to telling him she just snarfed. Finally Niall, his friend Jake, and three other people from Huia showed up and we were hanging out. I also happened to make friends with the bouncer, trying to convince him I would also make a very good bouncer. He let me card people and yell at anyone who stepped outside with a drink. I think I could definitely make a living out of it, besides the few people who just ignored me when I asked for their I.D. One guy even straight up just laughed. 

Sunday, was more errands! Nothing too exciting, but we picked up a few pamphlets and books about Auckland and things to do in/near the area. We also bought a calendar to make planning things easier which Sam has become obsessed with. We are attending a “Taste of Auckland” festival this week and she literally spent a good five minutes debating how to write it in the calendar – if she should put “Taste of Auckland” or Auckland Food Festival. She finally settled with “Taste of Auckland” Food Festival I believe. Anyway, I’m scared to write in it or even look at it for fear she’ll freak out. 

Today is now Monday and we finally went job searching. We applied at about five bars. They all asked us if we had any bartending experience at all, to which we said no. Sooo, it looks promising, obviously. I also applied at a retail store called dotti, just to have some sort of income coming in. Hopefully, it works out! We do have a trial shift set up at a bar called Fox’s, so who knows? I’m actually looking forward to getting a job, hopefully making some new friends there, and just feeling completely settled in. For now, the weather is beautiful – not quite summer yet, but still gorgeous - the people are so friendly, and it’s just nice to be back!