The last 7 days....

The last week has been a complete whirlwind of emotions. I am extremely lucky to have really awesome friends and parents that ate 100 meals out with me before leaving. Thank you to those of you who spent your life savings because I guilted you into non-stop bonding. There were lots of tears shed before leaving, as it is hard to say bye when you don't know when you will be returning. I am thankful that my friends Genny, John, Valerie, Hardin and my parents were all able to enjoy a big lunch in New Orleans before I left.

I flew from New Orleans to LA and had a 24 hour layover. It worked out perfect because my brother flew down from San Francisco and we were able to spend some time with our cousins, Chris and Julie. I also was able to meet up with a friend that I made 5 years ago in New Zealand. She is from Denmark and we met while here. Then when I was in Germany she came and spent a week with me. She was studying in San Diego this semester so I told her I would be in LA. The day before I got in she sent me a message saying she was there. It was a really unexpected surprise! We met for a drink and laughed about funny stories and the ridiculous things we did on our last trip. It got me so anxious to get back that I couldn't wait to get on the plane!

I arrived in NZ on Monday morning and my friend Joe picked me up at the airport. He works here in Queenstown at a hotel and had been working the night shift, so he went home to sleep and I wandered about the town. I had forgotten how touristy it is here. Even though I am a tourist, I am not really a fan of tourists. It's really irritating when people stand in the middle of the sidewalk to stare at their maps. I mean go somewhere that is not in the middle of everyone's way. People forget how to cross the street, they forget manners and basically get on my last nerve :)

Another thing about New Zealand is that it is really expensive. Everything. Last night I was at the supermarket and a 12 pack of Heinaken is NZ$36.50 and NZ$3.00 for a candy bar. Either I will get real skinny because I can't afford those things or I will get real skinny because I will make a candy bar a meal. In all honesty, I don't see getting skinny in the plans because I found an incredible burger place already. Joe told me it was the worlds best burger. I cannot bring myself to say that because nothing will top a big juicy Callaghan's burger. However, this burger was HUGE. The patty was thing, but it was large. The bread was amazing and it was covered in aioli. I added avocado! Aioli could have been what made it though. Aioli is the greatest thing in the world. I might even eat aioli and french fries for every meal. It's not like aioli you will find in the US because that is mayonnaise based. That place may be my downfall because the burger is NZ$12. Which isn't bad considering tax is included in everything already, you don't tip and the US dollar is worth a tad more than the NZ. So I find great value in that deal.

Yesterday Joe and I went walking along a trail on the Shotover River and bowling! If the weather holds out today we will go on a trail that is on the other side of the river. I have been job searching, but I am thinking I want to make my way up north a bit and work on a vineyard. Most of those jobs don't start for a couple months though so I need to find something temporary in the meantime. I saw a job posting to drive for Green Cabs. I am DYING to do that!!! Can't you see me sporting people around town in a lime green Prius? It would be so fun! However, you have to have a P certification and I am sure that is costly and timely. I do plan to check into it though. I guess that way if all else fails when I move home I could drive for Yellow Cab. Coffee is a big thing here as well and they like their fancy drinks, so I would like to work in a coffee shop. Ok so that's all for now....I of course have more to say, but am trying to learn to keep my conversations to a minimum!