Workin' for a Livin'...

Today I was introduced to Cafe Roma. Not coincidentally, today I also had a moment of lemon-induced transcendence. Cafe Roma is a "long black" espresso pull with a twist of lemon, served with a side of hot water. David, that barista at my new job made me this little delight for my first day of work.Ed, a dutch expat, owns Bakery, the creatively named establishment where I now sell breads and pastries. Ed took me on to give himself more time in the evenings to spend with his five year old daughter.

The cafe has a distinctly European feel, and it's proprietor takes a great deal of pride in the quality of his goods.

I've also started working at one of our flat's favorite haunts: Indian Spice, home of $10 curry Mondays. Auckland-born Terry is a short Maori woman who manages the joint and happily offered me a job when I casually inquired last Monday.

Indian Spice has seven tables and two hindi chefs: one naan chef and Mama who does the curries. There's also a spastic roundish geology student who helps out. His name is Tel. Between the five of us we manage pretty well.

Yesterday we day tripped out to St. Kilda beach and played in the sand a bit. Tori took some beautiful pictures.

Salute the sea.

Resistance sprints with monster kelp.

Training (baby steps). Contingency plan no. 1 if med school falls through = Cirque du Sol-Ass

Ms. Sarah Phillips. The pride of her Majesty and the rest of the U.K.

Cirque du Sol-Ass the sequel.

Brother Matty is is a perpetual state of stoked. Between the sun, surf, and scenery this bro's stoke-o-meter has been off the charts for months now.

Cliffy the vegan ninja acrobat. His parents were dancers or wizards or something like that….either way I'm pretty sure I will edge him out when it comes time for Cirque du Sol-Ass tryouts.

I thought I would leave you with this guy, an ad to convince Australians to invade New Zealand.

My next post will be dedicated to detailing how and why NZed is like the wild wild west and how rugged, leather-handed Robert Redford babies are shepherding and cowboying their way through life down here. Either that or why kiwis wear pantyhose with jean shorts.

Holey Ozone, it's Lovely Here!!!

Wanaka is perfect. It has the most delightful ski town charm and is nestled right on the shores of Lake Wanaka to boot. Wanaka is the base camp for six internationally rated ski areas and the largest heli-skiing area outside of North America. It is also surrounded by vineyards that produce some of the world's best pinot noir. If there is something else one could look for in a town I'm just not seeing it.

After renting some Rossis at a ski shop, we scaled the xthousand vertical feet to Cardrona's base. The snow was hard, too hard for the buttery edges on our skis, but it was sunny and the views were spectacular. There was an alpine race that day and at the sight of the mini racers Tori and I waxed nostalgic. We were also lucky enough to benefit from the gaping hole in the ozone--goggle tans in half the time!!!

The sky is always bluer on the other side of the equator...

Dunedin sits at the base of the Otago Peninsula, a mountainous bit of land dotted with sheepies and farm houses. Yesterday we took a very scenic drive out the peninsula stopping along the way at Sandfly Bay bay to oogle some seals and run around on the sand dunes.

From September 24, 2011

At the very tip of the peninsula, Taiaroa Head, there is an albatross colony. Unfortunately we missed the last tour of the day, but the view from the rocky bluffs was stunning, and we got a look at some other birds.

Tori had a field trip this morning with her nautical studies class. They went out on the ocean again, so she got seasick again and is now upstairs sleeping it off.

Since Tori was busy, I tagged along with Cliffy and Jono to the farmer's market and then on to Oamaru with Jono to get some new snowboard laces for our ski trip tomorrow. The drive was gorgeous, the fields were most green, and the mountains off on the horizon still had snow up top, which gives me a bit of hope for good snow tomorrow, despite it being so late in the season. (Side note: we are expecting a front to bring snow into Dunedin tonight)

Being the sweet tour guide that he is, Jono was sure to pull over at the extra scenic parts and point out the good surfing beaches. We even swung by his old boarding school and had a chat with his principal.

Tonight is an especially big night for World Cup Rugby here in Dunedin. England will play Romania at the new stadium here in town; the POMs of 480 Leith are excited about that. And New Zealand plays France; after being edged out of the 2007 RWC quarter finals by the French 18-20 the kiwis are ready to settle the score, or taking a Maori perspective, to restore ever important balance.

From September 24, 2011

So far, so cold...

So yesterday I accomplished responsible, grownup things: opened bank account, bought a phone, applied for tax I.D. number, took a photo for a national I.D. card. After these fun errands I wandered around downtown, and I found a Macpac store. After that I blacked out, and the next thing I remember I was the proud new owner of electric blue merino wool panties.

Later that same evening Tori and I went out for curry night with the usual suspects of 480 Leith St. North: Maria the Portugese pro-surfer, Monika the stylish Slovak, Annie the ginger-Kiwi, Caroline the baby-faced daughter of the Dirty Jers.

Today I ended up at the hippest cafe in town—The Fix. After ordering my long black, I asked if they needed any extra hands behind the counter. As it turns out, they might, so tomorrow morning I'm headed back there to meet with Kev and maybe start my time as a barista sista.

In other news it has been cold as, hence the woolly panties (I think).