HI HI HI!!
Sooooo ya. Sorry it took so long to get up another post. I've been just chillin here in Wanaka for almost 2 weeks now. Met a bunch of real rad kids in the hostel here "The Purple Cow" and we've just been taking our time enjoying each day and taking it slow. We went down to the park by the lake the other day. They have a super duper Dino slide!!! Ya so that took up a good half of that day hahaha! We've also been going on a few hikes around the lake here which has provided for some pretty sweet photo opportunities (I'll post those once we get wi fi).
It's been pretty nice weather, sunny and usually around 7-10 degrees Celsius (you figure it out). Handed my CV (resume) in to a bunch of shops and restaurants around town but few are hiring at this point in the season and there are about a bajillion people out looking for jobs too at the moment. Also been running all around Wanaka looking at houses for rent. Luckily there are lots because so many people rent seasonally. But ya a couple of days ago it got a lot busier.
My aussie friend Laura and I had to figure out if we wanted to move into this house with some people and just didn't feel super great about it. So we had to decide on Sunday. Sunday evening rolled around and Laura went and looked at yet another house and still didn't really want to move in to that other house. We found out later that same night that we had been approved to rent this nice house up on the hill and were crazy relieved to hear it! We move in tomorrow with some traveling friends from the hostel and I'm so stoked to finally be able to unpack and settle into a routine, as well as not having to pay nightly for a place to sleep!
That night I went to church and was just so happy to have a place to live and was just praying for a job next. We split into small groups and all got to know each other and I had them pray for me about my job situation.
The next day I received a call from a house rental company for a job as a housekeeper. So I had an interview the next day! They pretty much just said that if I wanted to work with them I could and that I could decide the following week after looking at a house and what our responsibilities would be. Later that evening I went to the internet place to check my email and had received an email from one of the big guns (Ross) up at Treble Cone ski field to call him. It was about 5pm so I gave him a ring and he told me that if I was still interested in working up there that I should meet at the bus stop at 7am. HECK YES!! For a time that was not known for being a hiring time in Wanaka I was crazy lucky! 2 job offers in 1 day?? The big man really is listening!!
What to choose... what to choose... So I am now a lift operator at Treble Cone ski field!!! I've worked 7-4 for the past 3 days just training and getting introduced to the equipment. Got to climb around on the big machines and push all those official looking buttons which was pretty rad! Today we had to get to the bottom of the quad which is situated on the back of the mountain. They cannot download people on the chair so guess what I got to do... I got my first couple runs of the season on June 18th!! It was not groomed so real lumpy and inconsistent but whatever. Snowboarding is snowboarding. And coming down the front side at the end of the day was nice and groomed :D The view from the top is incredible as well as the fact that we get up the mountain before the sun even rises. Got some pics to show you all soon! It snowed a little at the top today but we're looking at a rainy forecast and are supposed to open on Thursday so it might be a little sketchy!
But I love you all soooo much and hope you feel I have you all up to date. Stay warm in that summer weather of yours and pray for snow for me!!
L.O.V.E.
~Kaits
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
N Zed #1
Hey Guys!
I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to hear what I've been up to in New Zealand... Not really I know but I like to think so :) So I arrived some days ago to a rainy Christchurch.
Christchurch is a city of about 350,000 people and I stayed in a women-only hostel there. I explored the city there for 2 days but it was fairly small and only really needed one. I checked out the cathedral that was in the middle of town and built in the mid 1800s which was pretty rad. Also checked out some of the art galleries, which were free, and the botanical gardens and such. I was actually really surprised by the huge British influence that has hold there. Oh and they drive on the left side of the street too which has taken some getting used to. I still have to remind myself to walk on the left side of the sidewalk from time to time. From there I took the naked bus, that's right that's the name, down to Queenstown which took about 8 hours by bus. The scenery was gorgeous though and reminded me of why I'm here. I'll get pics up soon I just have to use a different computer for the internet here and internet is pretty expensive.
On the bus we stopped at a few pretty sweet landmarks like Lake Tekapo which was breathtaking and Wanaka was on the way as well. Started to see the mountains and all of the new snow that has just arrived! Met a couple of girls on the bus so that was cool and ended up in a hostel near the lake in Queenstown after dusk.
Queenstown is pretty sweet. It's a city of about 15,000 people that is set up right on the lake which was beautiful as well of course. I ended up in a room with 5 other girls and spent a day and two nights with them. Most people I have met have been from the UK, Germany, or Australia. Not too many Americans backpack around as I expected. The girls were pretty cool and were off finding jobs and a place to live during the day so I explored a little on my own. Walked around the lake a bit and saw the Remarkables, which is a huge rocky mountain range like the Tetons, that raises straight out of the lake. It was so funny to me that something so far away and so foreign can seem so familiar. The town is bustling with young backpackers looking for a thrill. Queenstown was the site of the very first bungee jump ever and people go there for an adrenaline rush basically. You can go up the Gondola and do some luge type stuff, bungee jump, skydive, jet boat, pretty much anything that will scare the pants off of you. I think I'll come back once I've made some friends in Wanaka to do all of that. But left for Wanaka this morning. Arrived around 11 and checked into the Purple Cow hostel which just has a park and skate park between itself and the lake.
You wouldn't believe how amazing this place is. A lot like Tahoe with the small town and the main strip right across from the lake. Huge mountains that rise out of the lake across the lake which I could just stare at for hours. Set up a banking account here and next couple of steps are getting a phone, a job, and a place to live. Looks like I've come about the right time for a job, I hope. They said they will probably start hiring in the next couple of weeks for the winter season so cross your fingers for me!
Mostly I've been just hanging out with God. Spending a couple hours in the Word every day and praying a lot. I've put this trip in his hands and know that if I'm supposed to get a job and a place to live it'll all happen in his time and not mine. It's been so cool though learning about him and me and our relationship just growing and blossoming. Looking around it's easy to see that He just had a blast making New Zealand because I just look around me and marvel everywhere I look. Hope everyone is well. Miss you guys! And will try to keep you guys updated as life continues in NZed!
Love love love,
Kaits
I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to hear what I've been up to in New Zealand... Not really I know but I like to think so :) So I arrived some days ago to a rainy Christchurch.
Christchurch is a city of about 350,000 people and I stayed in a women-only hostel there. I explored the city there for 2 days but it was fairly small and only really needed one. I checked out the cathedral that was in the middle of town and built in the mid 1800s which was pretty rad. Also checked out some of the art galleries, which were free, and the botanical gardens and such. I was actually really surprised by the huge British influence that has hold there. Oh and they drive on the left side of the street too which has taken some getting used to. I still have to remind myself to walk on the left side of the sidewalk from time to time. From there I took the naked bus, that's right that's the name, down to Queenstown which took about 8 hours by bus. The scenery was gorgeous though and reminded me of why I'm here. I'll get pics up soon I just have to use a different computer for the internet here and internet is pretty expensive.
On the bus we stopped at a few pretty sweet landmarks like Lake Tekapo which was breathtaking and Wanaka was on the way as well. Started to see the mountains and all of the new snow that has just arrived! Met a couple of girls on the bus so that was cool and ended up in a hostel near the lake in Queenstown after dusk.
Queenstown is pretty sweet. It's a city of about 15,000 people that is set up right on the lake which was beautiful as well of course. I ended up in a room with 5 other girls and spent a day and two nights with them. Most people I have met have been from the UK, Germany, or Australia. Not too many Americans backpack around as I expected. The girls were pretty cool and were off finding jobs and a place to live during the day so I explored a little on my own. Walked around the lake a bit and saw the Remarkables, which is a huge rocky mountain range like the Tetons, that raises straight out of the lake. It was so funny to me that something so far away and so foreign can seem so familiar. The town is bustling with young backpackers looking for a thrill. Queenstown was the site of the very first bungee jump ever and people go there for an adrenaline rush basically. You can go up the Gondola and do some luge type stuff, bungee jump, skydive, jet boat, pretty much anything that will scare the pants off of you. I think I'll come back once I've made some friends in Wanaka to do all of that. But left for Wanaka this morning. Arrived around 11 and checked into the Purple Cow hostel which just has a park and skate park between itself and the lake.
You wouldn't believe how amazing this place is. A lot like Tahoe with the small town and the main strip right across from the lake. Huge mountains that rise out of the lake across the lake which I could just stare at for hours. Set up a banking account here and next couple of steps are getting a phone, a job, and a place to live. Looks like I've come about the right time for a job, I hope. They said they will probably start hiring in the next couple of weeks for the winter season so cross your fingers for me!
Mostly I've been just hanging out with God. Spending a couple hours in the Word every day and praying a lot. I've put this trip in his hands and know that if I'm supposed to get a job and a place to live it'll all happen in his time and not mine. It's been so cool though learning about him and me and our relationship just growing and blossoming. Looking around it's easy to see that He just had a blast making New Zealand because I just look around me and marvel everywhere I look. Hope everyone is well. Miss you guys! And will try to keep you guys updated as life continues in NZed!
Love love love,
Kaits
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