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Hello Everyone!!!

I've arrived in New Zealand safe and sound! All I got between Vancouver and
LA was a lousy warm cup of orange juice. My flight was delayed so I actually
didn't leave until six pm. I discovered my cell phone worked in LA. I spent
most of my three hour wait there outside on a bridge smoking my face off. My
flight from LA to NZ was delayed a half hour. I had dinner at one am. (beef
ravioli) it was fairly decent. I didn't drink to oblivion, but I did enjoy a
glass of white wine. I got a whole row of seats all to myself. An asian girl
was in front of me. The flight attendant, after breakfast before landing
said to her, you have to bring this to the galley ( her food tray) because I
don't have time. YOU MUST BRING THIS TO THE GALLEY FOR ME I DON'T HAVE TIME!
she said it a lot. what a bitch. The other flight attendant on my side of the
plane kept walking right past me. The air conditioning helped me face the
cold when I got here.

My flight arrived early and Patrick was late meeting
me by five minutes. The taxi cost fifty N. Z. dollars!!! In the airplane
magazine the cost of a cab to downtown auckland should have been forty
dollars. . . They both said it was traffic (yeah right).

I got in, unpacked, looked around the teeny tiny apartment, checked out the view, and then we
went out and looked at the shops! I got a pair of pink boots with pompom
laces! They're very cute!

We had lunch and patrick went to work for the
afternoon. The school is on three different levels in the building. The
elevator doesn't go to the floor he works on, but he can take the elevator
down. It's strange and complicated. He works with a real variety of people.

One girl he works with has a lemon tree and gave him a sack full of lemons.
They're darker and less bitter than the ones at home. I came back to the
apartment (which is like being on the corner of Robson and Denman, or a
block past Denman) and had a long hot shower and a nap. Patrick took me to
some swank seafood restaurant for dinner. They talk a lot about the great
seafood here, but really, it's all about meat and potatoes. They're high on
the protein and filler. I haven't seen a salad for less than fifteen bucks.
and the salad isn't really salad, it's smoked chicken, cheese, nuts and a
couple greens to make it look green. . .

The next day I took 'the link' which
is a bus, and went to Newmarket on Broadway (which is like west fourth or
west broadway) and looked at the shops. I found the pier one equivalent.
it's called Freedom. I got pink flannel giraffe pajamas.

it's so cold here.
Patrick did pick up a space heater. I wish I brought my winter coat though.
It's not freezing, there's no snow or ice, and I've seen evidence of rain,
but it's pretty quick when it does.

I met some of our neighbors. I looked
all over for a coffee pot. They mostly have espresso makers and foamers, you
know, big time expensive coffee makers. I'm going to have to get one. Other
coffee pots aren't pots but will make one or two cups at a time. Then there
are the ones you pour boiling water into and press the grounds down. I don't
remember what they are called. I brought the camera with me yesterday but
didn't take any pictures. I met patrick at work and we went to a 'pre
showing' of dodge ball. it wasn't that great. there was one line in there
about washing your hands and I laughed so hard and long and tried to stop
and ended up snorting. it was kind of embarrassing. the pre showing was in a
mini version of a theater. patrick says when he owns a mansion, he's going
to have this kind of room in it - his own private theater. it was pretty
cool. We went to some mediterranean place for dinner, it was pretty good.
again with the bizarre salad though. . .I'll have to find a grocery store
and see how it compares if I buy my own leafy greens.

It's very hilly here,
kind of like north vancouver. My legs are pretty achy. I think it's because
i've gotten used to driving and haven't done a lot of walking lately.
So far, I love it here. it's a little chilly, but the people are nice, the
things are beautiful, the shopping is fun, the views are fantastic, and I'm
no longer living out of my suitcases. There's the same old downtown
creatures, pigeons, seagulls, people sleeping on benches, people playing
some instrument for cash, busses. here though, you have to stick out your
arm and 'hail' the bus or it'll just pass you by. and the driver will give
you change back. and you don't get transfers. they got toony shops, except I
guess they aren't called toonies here. The dishwasher is half the size of
our dishwashers. it's pretty cute. patrick said he's seen two of them
stacked up on each other. crazy. The toilets are a little different for
those of you who are curious, there is no circular motion, just a heck of a
lot of noise and splashing and bubbles. They're shaped a little differently.
without central heating, the seats are usually cold. *ihatethat*

Today I'm going to meet patrick for lunch, sign all my paperwork for permits
visas etc and get that ball rolling. tomorrow his work has set up a laser
tag day or something. on sunday we're doing a winery tour!!! yay. I think
we're supposed to do something tonight, but I don't remember.

I miss you all very much, and I'm not homesick as of yet. I'm not sure if I
will be. It's an adventure so far, and I'm really enjoying myself. I'm
particularly happy that I don't have jet lag. My eyes are feeling a little
dry, but some adjustment is to be expected eh

WISH YOU WERE HERE!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!! MISS YOU!!!

hugz and kisses

April