Time to get a bank account landing pad for my fat postdoc paycheck. Cue National Band NZed (think "z"). We're getting things setup and homeslice asks if we want an "eftpos" card (That's right. A what? F-possy? F-p...? What?) or a Visa debit card. Some inquiring determines that an "eftpos" allows direct debits at local shops in New Zealand. A Visa debit is what you think it is and work like you think it should. Cue me..."why would anyone get just an EFTPOS card?"
Reply: "Visa debit is new to New Zealand as of July."
....
What? I thought I moved to New Zealand, not 2001.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Arrived
We arrived 1.5 days later. It was 9:30am on Friday. We arrived at our temporary accomodations. All we wanted to do was to shower. That was it. It had been 2 or 3 days since our last hot shower. No. The hot water had just been turned on...Sigh. So we took it to the streets. We walked downtown and took in some sites.
Problem. It is windy here. Second problem. It rains hard. And sideways. We grabbed a huge burger at a local joint. We managed to sign up for cell phone service. Well, kind of. It's a bit different here. And then we grabbed a much needed beer at Macs, down by the water.
When we arrived at our new diggs on Collier Ave., we were cold, wet, and tired. But a hot shower finally awaited us. We managed to stay up to 10pm. Done.
Problem. It is windy here. Second problem. It rains hard. And sideways. We grabbed a huge burger at a local joint. We managed to sign up for cell phone service. Well, kind of. It's a bit different here. And then we grabbed a much needed beer at Macs, down by the water.
When we arrived at our new diggs on Collier Ave., we were cold, wet, and tired. But a hot shower finally awaited us. We managed to stay up to 10pm. Done.
Last minute departure
It's a couple weeks later, but we'll try and document for the 2.5 interested people what we've been up to lately. Let's start from the top.
Random friend (RF) circa September 11: When are you leaving?
Us: Um. Probably in 4 days.
RF: What do you mean "probably"?
Us: Well, we got our visas yesterday, so the 15th feels good.
RF: ....
I probably had about 30 of these conversations. At first I thought this wasn't a big deal, but everyone's consistent reaction made me nervous. Needless to say, the last week before our departure was a stressful scramble. We didn't get our visas until Friday. Sunday I got in touch with the kiwis to buy us tickets (they wouldn't buy them until we had visas). Monday we had tickets. Wednesday we left.
Random friend (RF) circa September 11: When are you leaving?
Us: Um. Probably in 4 days.
RF: What do you mean "probably"?
Us: Well, we got our visas yesterday, so the 15th feels good.
RF: ....
I probably had about 30 of these conversations. At first I thought this wasn't a big deal, but everyone's consistent reaction made me nervous. Needless to say, the last week before our departure was a stressful scramble. We didn't get our visas until Friday. Sunday I got in touch with the kiwis to buy us tickets (they wouldn't buy them until we had visas). Monday we had tickets. Wednesday we left.
A post
It's Friday night. We have no friends. We made a blog.
Details will come in due time. But with our unreliable stolen internet, we're just happy to have this thing up and going.
Details will come in due time. But with our unreliable stolen internet, we're just happy to have this thing up and going.
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