A Lot To Add

So, a lot to say since the last post.  We have found that the access to internet in New Zealand isn't as wide spread as the US.  I take that back, it's wide spread... it's not as "free".  So, now that we finally are connected at our apartment we can post again!  I apologize for the lengthy post, but A LOT has happened since the last post.


First.  We got a car and an apartment.  It was a big first couple of steps.  So, here it is.  First, the apartment.  We used "Trade Me" to find an apartment.  "Trade Me" is basically "Craig's List" of New Zealand.  We looked at 6 places, and had a hard time deciding.  When we finally did, I have to admit, a big winning factor was that only one of the apartments wasn't on a ridiculously winding steep road.  For those of you in Louisville, I'm talking about literally driving Locke Lane, except worse, imagine it going up a mountain.  Aside from the lack of suicide drives, it has a beautiful view of the ocean and quite a bit of space.  Our new digs are in Maupuia... which is pronounced (well at least by the foreigners like us) is MA-POO-YA.  Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but neither does Loo-vule, and I managed to grow up with that one.  Here are some pics of our modest 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house... okay, we aren't all set up and cleaned up yet, but the view doesn't change, so we'll start with that (keep in mind, it's winter, so things aren't exactly vibrant yet, but come on, it's the ocean).  I'll post a separate blog with some pictures of the actual apartment... and the weird toilet too (more about that below)

There are many differences in what you get in a place in NZ versus US, but none of them are significant.  Except for maybe the toilets.  I haven't "flushed" since we got here... everything is push buttons.  It was weird the first time, and still doesn't feel normal.  There are buttons at the top of every toilet, and you push to flush.  Doesn't exactly make it easy to use the "if I use my foot to push the flusher I won't get covered in as many germs" technic that so many of us use.  Unless you are REALLY flexible, you have to get used to the fact that you have no choice but to use your finger (or some toilet paper covering your finger if you are a germ freak).  I decided to ask about the toilet buttons when we were walking through our apartment with our now landlord Graham.  Very nice guy, maybe 50, and loving the laughs he is getting from listening to our foreigner lingo (lets just say they don't use the term loveseat, make sure to say 2 seater if you don't want to get a weird look).  Here is how it went:

I finally asked my landlord a question I had since I got here and was pretty sure I knew the answer for, it was hilarious.  Why are there two buttons to flush the toilet.  His answer, the smaller one is for a small one...a pee... the large one... (at this point he kind of giggled) I stopped him there, because I was afraid I couldn't keep a straight face.  We all know what the larger one is for

Okay, the car, this will be quick.  We looked at a lot of places for cheap but reliable cars.  We landed on a Red (well, some parts are more similar to pink due to "oxidized" paint which made it cheaper than it should have been, bonus for us!) Honda Orthia.  For all of you saying, "What the hell is that", I said the same thing.  It is a Honda station wagon.  It will very much work for what we need it for.  Here is a quick picture of our new car, which we fittingly named, "Orthia" (geez, we are so original and clever it kills me).  

Lastly, we will leave you with some beautiful landscapes (on the next blog we will also post some videos).  We just picked up Belle. Originally, we had planned to be in Christchurch (it's a city, not a church).  Then, the tectonic plates messed up our plans by literally sending enough earthquakes to cripple the city.  So, while our plans moved us to Wellington, it didn't change that we had already paid the deposit to the quaratine in Chirstchurch.  So Elliot, Orthia, and myself took a roadtrip this weekend.  We took the 3 hour ferry from the North island to the South island, drove another 5 hours to Christchuch, and got to see some AMAZING scenery along the way.  Elliot lovingly named the Ferry the "Water Trolley".

 

Lastly, Michelle and Alice (or any other west siders), this is for you.  On the way we stopped in the cozy town of Cheviot... more sheep than people.  Ahhhhh, feels like the next stop should be Delhi