So after a trying arrival at the L.A. airport and a bit of yelling and two beers later it was time to board the plane. I got on the plane and headed down the aisle past all the well to dos in first class (which I am seriously going to look into for my next long haul flight) and I neared my seat. Now, on a huge air craft for long haul flights there is a row of three seats from the window on both sides and a row of four in the middle. I was sitting second from the aisle in the middle set of four. I was nestled between a fat Samoan guy and a weirdo from New Zealand that smelled bad and may or may not have been touching himself under his blanket. I was very much hoping for an empty row or something, or possibly that my episode with William would make him inclined to bump me up to first class or something. But no, I got to spend the 13 hour duration of the flight jammed in between these two. Usually I never ever sleep on planes, I have a very hard time, although this time around I actually slept quite a bit. It is amazing what a little wine and Benedryl will do for you! The wine and beer are free on the long haul flights over international waters, so a few glasses of wine and a few Benedryl later I was fast asleep. I also did like the touch screen on the back of the headrest in front of me. Instead of the crappy in flight movie being played for all I got to choose my own crappy in flight movie. I had my choice from several movies and TV shows to watch as well as a number of interactive games like; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Pac Man, Tetris, Bejeweled etc. The part I liked the most was when you wanted to order a drink or snacks or something you just put your order in on your touch screen and in a few minutes someone was there with your order. It was much better then having to call over the stewardess, ask her for whatever and then wait for her to bring it back. I am seriously considering trying to save enough money for first class on my next long haul flight though. It is on my bucket list to fly first class, and it would be a great investment for a long haul like 13 hours.
I arrived in Auckland just after 6am on the 31st, loosing the 30th all together. I cleared the New Zealand customs without a hitch and proceeded to the arrivals where I was met by my new families father, Julian. It wasn't a super long drive from the airport to the house, and in no time I was at my new house. I surprisingly wasn't too tired right off the top, but I did desperately want a shower. So I cleaned myself up a bit and got settled in. The place where I am staying is a little shed type building in the garden. Basically what it is is a bedroom with a bathroom and then I come inside to eat. It is all legit, and not shed like at all, and it is nice to have my own space. The only thing that takes some getting used to is the toilet sink. Yea, I know what you are thinking, but here's how it works. The toilet tank has a tap on the top so when I flush the toilet the tap runs. I have a pee, then flush the toilet and wash my hands with the running tap water and sometimes brush my teeth etc. Then the waste water fills the back of the toilet and that is used to flush the toilet. It is a green way to save on water consumption. Once the Au Pair that is there now leaves, I will move into the house and the bathroom is regular in there. Although the toilet takes some getting used to I do really enjoy having my own space for now.
After settling in I decided to go exploring in Auckland. Isabelle, the current aupair, said she was headed in to town later in the day, but I didn't think I would have the energy for that later so I opted to go it alone in the morning. We live only 2kms from downtown Auckland, so it was a nice little walk into the city. It seems to be such a green city with lots of parks, trees, and vegetation all around. I am looking forward to exploring the many parks and extinct volcanoes around the city in my time off. This also makes for great times for Tia and I around with lots of places to see and do. I walked around the city centre and got a good feel for the place, and I also went to the Magic Bus booking office. Isabelle told me about this tour company, and I had never heard of it before. I had looked up some tours before I came and had planned on booking one. I looked up the Magic bus online and it had a great deal on a national bus pass that expired at midnight that day. This tour is 17 days long and I got it for $499.00. That excludes my accommodation, but all in it will work out to be about the same as the other tour that was just of the North Island. Then when I return it will be the end of April and I will start work shortly after that. Luckily for you guys I will be able to hopefully knock off a fair amount of my to do list!
I walked around downtown for a while exploring different areas. At one point I was standing waiting to cross the road at the lights and when the light changed the intersection exploded with people walking this way and that! We have them in parts of Canada too, but I always forget about all cross intersections. This is where all the lights switch to cross allowing pedestrians to cross in whatever direction they like, even diagonally. Also I kept almost bumping into people and then I realized the same thing happened to me in Australia too. I was walking against the flow of traffic because I am from North America. We drift to the right side where people down here drift to the left. I would catch myself drifting to the right and have to remember to go back on the left. These are all things I have to get used to again.
So after my first day of exploring I came back to the house and was home along for a while. After a skype date with my favourite cousin Amy, I decided that I should just give in to the jet lag and take a short nap. I went to my room and laid down at about 5:30pm. I set my alarm for 6:30pm because I didn't want to sleep straight through and be wide awake at some silly hour. So I went to sleep. At 10:46pm I woke up in a daze wondering where I was and realized it was dark out. I looked at the clock and I saw the time so I got up, brushed my teeth and climbed back in bed. I think I put myself into some sort of jet lagged coma. I slept through until the morning and got up around 7:15am only to realize that I had arrive on the eve of time change day so it was actually 6:15am. Since then I have been up all day and now it is 8:00pm, I will be going to sleep very soon. After I post this I will be posting pictures from my first few hours in Auckland.
Also, I started checking things off my list today, so once I can see straight I will write and post pictures of what I did on the list :)
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