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Today I broke down and bawled my eyes out. I'm homesick. Almost every day
Patrick says something about what he hates about New Zealand, like traffic,
driving, the food, paying a dollar for an extra ketchup packet (but it's
called tomato sauce here or wattie's), the rain, some of the people etc. I
keep trying to be positive about it, but it's wearing me down. I love my new
job, I even love our apartment (as tiny as it is), the shops, trying new
things, travelling around and exploring. I miss my friends, I miss our
restaurants, I miss feeling confident when I'm driving. Patrick's a little
nervous still about driving on the wrong side of the car and road.

This week went really well. I got a pink and white hello kitty steering
wheel cover and I love it!~!

I got my first paycheck (we get paid on
tuesdays - weird eh?), had a staff meeting on monday, had three birthday
cakes this week at work!!! and the head teacher's last day was on friday,
and we went out saturday night to celebrate her birthday. They are all
pretty young and they were all surprised that I'm thirty and a mother.

We drove everywhere on Saturday while househunting. This place is really
lovely (auckland and the surrounding region). We found a fabulous tiny cafe
that serves organic vegetarian meals and it was great! After being severely
disappointed at the choices of furnished flats for rent, we went to the
Auckland zoo. it's HUGE! Because we went so late in the afternoon, and
because we wanted to save the best for last, we missed the pridelands. We
didn't get to see the elephants, zebras and we couldn't find any kiwis in
the kiwi house. the animals apparently get put away (to bed or fed) at four
pm. It's a gorgeous zoo though, and they say they are excellent breeders of
endangered animals.

I'm not sure how many of you have seen my book "the red tree" by shaun tan,
but I managed to pick up another book that he's illustrated called "the
rabbits" written by john marsden. it's excellent. The really creepy thing
was that we watched 'rabbit proof fence' right after I got it. maybe that's
why I'm so depressed. they are both to do with people moving in and taking
over australia - and stealing their children.

maybe I just need to go out and buy some new shoes or a handbag or
something. I know I need new pants.

patrick says it's raining sideways - NO UP!!

oh right, last night we went to some creole cajun mexican joint that serves
papadums. We ordered fajitas to share (here they are called totalitos). We
got ONE tortilla. one. we had to order a second one. We'd brought a bottle
of wine, since it was a byo wine only place, but we'd left it in the car.
there is a two dollar fifty cent uncorking fee.

patrick left the camera cable at work, so I'm not sending any pictures
today. sunday's really the only day that I have time to write about what's
going on.

apparently it's cheaper to go to australia than it is to go to the south
island of nz. we haven't booked anything as of yet, but we better visit
australia dammit.

HEY L.A. did you know that 'furkids' is a politically correct term for
animals living within a household as part of the family (aka spoiled pets)?
The term was coined by US journalist Christine Winter while reporting on pet
insurance policies in 2000. you can check it out at

www.naturaldogtreats.com/newsarchives.html

although, I'm not positive because I haven't visited the site

patrick's going to play ultimate again today. I'm not going this time. The
people were really nice, a lot of foreigners - people from the states,
finland, sweden etc

still no word on my nzqa / work permit / work visa. I need to get an ird
number for taxes and I need my passport to do that, and that's at
immigration for my permit/visa stuff. I need a bank account too.

I miss you very very much
love hugs and kisses

April (Mom)

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