So, I finally updated the time on the computer, so the posts will reflect NZ time. How confusing!
Got up this morning and decided it was time to accomplish some things! First on the list, a trip to the hospital where Cory will be working. Got to meet some of the people Cory had been talking to on the phone - finally putting a name with a face.
We then drove to a Honda dealer and promptly found two cars at the bottom end of our price range! Hooray! Test drove them both and, as of tomorrow, will have a dark green '97 Accord of our own. Oh, and I drove today too! No major (or minor either) accidents; still definitely nerve-wracking though.
After that, we checked in to the apartment that is ours for two weeks, while we look for something permanent. Two bedrooms, an open area with living room, dining area, and full kitchen. If you crane your neck just right from one of the windows, you can see the ocean.
The woman who owns the complex, Linday, mans the front desk and is a social networking genius (in a good way)... She has so far found every person in our age group that works at the hospital and is working her magic in the rental arena. Fantastic. If I'm not careful, she may have found me a job before I know what's good for me!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Heading toward Tuaranga and the Mount
We woke up this morning to a much calmer view out our hotel window. In reading the morning newspaper, Cory and I were surprised to discover that there had been a "weather bomb" that hit NZ - apparently that is the Kiwi way to say a storm. The AllBlacks (NZ'z rugby team) also got bombed last night - by the Aussies, who just hired a Kiwi favorite to be their coach. Ouch.
We feel asleep early last night (even earlier than my normal early) - still haven't adjusted to that time change apparently. And I didn't eat dinner, which, as you can imagine, means I woke famished and cranky. We wandered down Queen Street and found a coffee shop open and serving pastries. Really, there's not a lot of food I don't like, but I may be in love with all things ensconced in pastry. Yesterday morning, I had an almond croissant; today a ham and cheese brioche. The day before, for lunch, I had a steak and cheese "pie" - I'm going to love these pies! They are served everywhere and are filled with all sort of fillings, sweet and savory. And they're not too big and not too expensive. Yum...
After having gotten myself fed, we decided to take off for Tauranga. Cory has been doing the driving and was feeling brave enough to tackle a freeway. Really, he's doing remarkably well - I don't want to jinx us here, but he's a natural.
The road down was beautiful. Seriously, amazingly, beautiful. And we were just driving down a highway (which is really just a two-lane surfaced road). We also saw kiwi vines (or small trees or bushes - I don't know how to describe them) and other orchards. We got into Tauranga and headed toward Mt. Maunganui. The ocean was very choppy but there were still surfers out.
As of tomorrow, we will be in a temporary apartment that the hospital has set us up with. From there, we can search for a place to live for the rest of the year. And, once we get a car purchased, I have to start driving some. Yikes!
We feel asleep early last night (even earlier than my normal early) - still haven't adjusted to that time change apparently. And I didn't eat dinner, which, as you can imagine, means I woke famished and cranky. We wandered down Queen Street and found a coffee shop open and serving pastries. Really, there's not a lot of food I don't like, but I may be in love with all things ensconced in pastry. Yesterday morning, I had an almond croissant; today a ham and cheese brioche. The day before, for lunch, I had a steak and cheese "pie" - I'm going to love these pies! They are served everywhere and are filled with all sort of fillings, sweet and savory. And they're not too big and not too expensive. Yum...
After having gotten myself fed, we decided to take off for Tauranga. Cory has been doing the driving and was feeling brave enough to tackle a freeway. Really, he's doing remarkably well - I don't want to jinx us here, but he's a natural.
The road down was beautiful. Seriously, amazingly, beautiful. And we were just driving down a highway (which is really just a two-lane surfaced road). We also saw kiwi vines (or small trees or bushes - I don't know how to describe them) and other orchards. We got into Tauranga and headed toward Mt. Maunganui. The ocean was very choppy but there were still surfers out.
As of tomorrow, we will be in a temporary apartment that the hospital has set us up with. From there, we can search for a place to live for the rest of the year. And, once we get a car purchased, I have to start driving some. Yikes!
We've arrived!
And so has a tropical storm. Having never been in a tropical storm, I am slightly disappointed to find that it doesn't feel all that tropical. It is about 12 degrees here (Celsius, of course, and I have no idea what that actually translates to), rainy and windy. But, hey, it's my first tropical storm!
We arrived yesterday, about 5 a.m. local time; after making our way through customs, we stopped and picked up the keys to the rental car. Hilarious, in a frightening sort of way! If you can recall the first time you drove... Add to that the fact you are in a much larger, unfamiliar city. Throw in a few unfamiliar traffic signs. (What does an isocelese triangle mean to you? It's not an arrow, should you begin to think so. Don't worry, you'll catch on.) Oh, and everything is on the opposite side - the steering wheel, the turn signal, and the other drivers! I haven't driven yet, but I am practicing by giving Cory verbal directions to every movement (he swears he doesn't mind). Hopefully that is working, huh?
We arrived yesterday, about 5 a.m. local time; after making our way through customs, we stopped and picked up the keys to the rental car. Hilarious, in a frightening sort of way! If you can recall the first time you drove... Add to that the fact you are in a much larger, unfamiliar city. Throw in a few unfamiliar traffic signs. (What does an isocelese triangle mean to you? It's not an arrow, should you begin to think so. Don't worry, you'll catch on.) Oh, and everything is on the opposite side - the steering wheel, the turn signal, and the other drivers! I haven't driven yet, but I am practicing by giving Cory verbal directions to every movement (he swears he doesn't mind). Hopefully that is working, huh?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Okay, we really are going...
So we sold the house - closed on July 2nd - and are now living in a hotel until we fly out on the 23rd. We've got plane tickets, passports, and baggage. We don't have a visa, a place to live, or a vehicle to drive. Other than that whole pesky visa thing, I think we'll be okay!
We're waiting on the New Zealand Medical Council to provide "registration" of Cory's work in NZ. Until they do that, our visa app just sits here, waiting to be sent in. We actually tried to send it in once, but the Embassy promptly sent it back. We were hoping, I guess, that they'd overlook that little piece. Hmm... Didn't work.
So Cory is studying for boards and I am going to be subbing for summer school and then wrapping up whatever loose ends remain.
The count-down is on!
We're waiting on the New Zealand Medical Council to provide "registration" of Cory's work in NZ. Until they do that, our visa app just sits here, waiting to be sent in. We actually tried to send it in once, but the Embassy promptly sent it back. We were hoping, I guess, that they'd overlook that little piece. Hmm... Didn't work.
So Cory is studying for boards and I am going to be subbing for summer school and then wrapping up whatever loose ends remain.
The count-down is on!
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