Cornwall Park

Another cloudy day. I am waiting for a sunny day to go to Sky Tower, where people say we can see all Auckland. The day was not helping, so I had to think about something else. First thing to do. The laundry (yes, I'm doing it here). It was a piece of cake, and after hang the clothes it took less than two hours to have everything dried (even a jeans). The sun here is really hot. After that I had my toasts with peanut butter (as usual) and I had to decide what to do. Today I was sure that shopping wouldn't be a good choice. The bus I take everyday to come home pass in front of 'Cornwall Park', which I didin't know was a park yet. I thought this place was a volcano, then I decided to walk there today. It was a nice walk, but when I got there and realized it was a park, I've been around it for awhile to see what it looks like. It's a huge park with many families having picnics under the trees, playing ball etc. At the top of the hill there's a monument, believe or not, called Obelisco. I could find a shortcut to get there through the grass, passing between a few sheeps! :) Up there the view was nice, I could see most of the city and, of course, the Sky Tower! :P My way back was through the same path that took me to the top. Many pictures were taken. Tomorrow I'm leaving for my 5 days trip, so I think I'll be out of touch for some days.

Boxing day

Christmas is over and the day didn't seem to be good to visit beaches or places with a nice views. It's been very cloudy and I really thought it was gonna rain today. I was feeling very lazy and the idea to stay home has crossed my mind, anyway I wanted to do some things, so I put my clothes on and went out. The first thing I did was to stop by a ATM (casherpoint) to check if my credit card was working (because I had not used it until now). I don't know if it's good or bad, but it worked! The next thing I did was to take the bus to go downtown, because there were a few things I had to buy (mainly for my 5 days trip, that is this week). It was December 27th, but 'boxing day' here takes 3 days! Most things were being sold with discounts from 10 to 30 percent. Well, in the end I was carring 4 bags, something impossible to see in Novo Hamburgo, just because the credit card really worked out (I hope that in 2009 I can make lots of money to pay the bills)! :P After a 'shopping day', I came back home to have dinner. Lisa's mother (which I can't remember the name) and I had a long conversation about many different things, about Brazil, about New Zealand and the world. She's about 60 years old, and it's not a surprise to me anymore, she has traveled around the whole world. For dinner we have had pork (they eat it a lot here), eggs and fries, but no dessert. I needed something sweet in my mouth, so I walked down to Wendys (a fast food chain very popular here) to have a 'Frosty Shake'. It was all worth it! :) At first I was a little concerned about walking on the streets at night, because, believe me or not, they talk a lot about burglaries here. Anyway, Lisa told me this is a safe area. Back home, I was very tired, but I still wanted to watch a movie, so I turned on my computer and started watching 'Burn After Reading' and something unsual happened ... I slept in the front of my computer. When I woke up, in the middle of the night, I just put the computer on the shelf and then I drop off again!

Mission Bay and ... some other bays

Friday, December 26th, the most beautiful day I could see here in Auckland since I've got here and I had nothing to do in mind. Bus schedule on weekends and holidays is very different from regular week days, but I had to find a way to get to downtown. What would I do there? Well, first we think about getting there, then we think about doing something. I took the wrong way to the train station, which I know is around here, but I don't know exactly where is located. I wasn't lost, but I was not in the right way either, although I found two people waiting for the bus at a bus stop. The name of the bus that was coming: Downtown! After 3 or 4 minutes waiting, I could take it! When I got off the bus I thought it would be interesting to walk down the street (where the harbour is) and see where it goes. Well, I started to recognize some places, they were the places I have seen the other day when Darell took me for a ride (the day that I didn't take my camera with me). I was sure that going that way I would get to the famouse Mission Bay. This was a long walk. I think I have walked about 10 kilometers, but it was all worth it. At some point I saw a big pool, where many people where swimming or taking some sun, that I discover latter to be a public place (imagine a place with a pool nicer than Ok Center, opened to everyone - right, in Brazil it doesn't work)! Still walking I found a Marine, with many Iats. They were not regulat boat, they were huge iats. After taking some pictures I head up to Mission Bay, where I could see some very curious things. The first was a fountain, a very beautiful fountain in the middle of Mission Bay's park, where many children and adults where bathing, enjoying the hot day. On the grass, under the trees, some people were 'camping'. Inidians put their tends on the shadows and take over the place to themselves. The music in Mission Bay was a mix of rap and indian 'hits' (they seem to be crying when singing). The way back would be too long, so I took the bus, in its maximum occupation (that's what I heard from the busdriver). In my way back home I stoped by Newmarket area again. In the morning the place was really crowded. Of course it should be, today is boxing day! Boxing day is the day after Christmas, where almost everything has 20 or 30 percent of discounts! I took a look around and started walking again (walking, walking, walking ... I'm feeling almost like 'Forest Gump'), this time back home. I stoped by 'Countdown supermarket' to buy some supplies (shampoo, conditioner, soap and cream for dried skin :P ). To be honest, I can be called a 'red neck' now, not because I'm from the country, but because my neck is red as blood, once the sun hit it all day long. Tomorrow I'll head downtown again ... to do ... (first we get there, then we think about doing something) :)

Christmas Day

It's Christmas, December 25th! I'm a long way from family and friends, although I'm having a kiwi Christmas over here. In the morning I could see Samuel and Shelby opening their presents. Here, from what I've seen so far, Christmas is all about presents. The living room had presents all over the floor and the kids couldn't stop playing with their new toys. In the afternoon we went to Lisa's sister house to have the Christmas party, where I could meet a few people. The party was at Steven's house (Lisa's sister husband), an amazing place with a wonderful view to the Oceanside. I believe it is in a very rich area of Auckland. At the party I could talk to Steven, his father, his mother, his wife and Lisa's mother. All of them were very kind to me, asking some things about our 'great' country. Quite a few times I felt like a dumb, because Steven's father (I'm sorry, but I'm really bad memorizing names), who I spoke with most of the time, asked me things I had no idea. - Do you have a lot coffee in Brail?- Yes, we have! (this one was easy)- Do you have a lot of rubber in Brazil? (this one didn't make sense to me) Steven's father told he thought that Brazil was one of the main rubber makers in the world, just like Malaysia! I'll maybe show you my ignorance here, but I have no idea about this one. Well, these were only two examples, between many and many things they were talking about. I could get some knowledge from them too, more specifically, about the England, Australia and New Zealand (they don't like the USA, just like most people in the world). What is really fascinating is that many people here have worked for awhile abroad. Darell has worked in Australia for6 years. Steven's father has worked in England for a year. Steven has 3 brothers living in Australia. Lisa's ex-husband told he has lived in Australia, England, Tahiti and somewhere else I don't remember right now. The truth is that everybody here has traveled a lot around the globe (except to Latin America, what's understandable). Besides all the talking there were food, lots of food. What we had was a barbecue with some New Zealander salad (they put peppers on the tomatoes, what makes it a very tasteful salad) and a pork, which was pretty amazing. Following we could have some desserts (at this time my stomach was twice its normal size). At the end of the day I could see two films (old ones) and then I'm here on the bed, ready to finally sleep! :)

Auckland at Christmas Eve - A dead city

December 24th, one day before Christmas! It's the last day at school this week, because we're gonna have a holiday on Thursday and Friday, so it's gonna be a four days off! The Christmas holiday is really not the only holiday around these days. Next week we'll have the exact same situation, a holiday on Thursday and Friday, because of New Year! For the next week I'm gonna take some days off. Yes, that's right, some days off. Some students are going to travel to a few places for a 5 days trip. The destination is Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo (I believe these are all Maori names). We're leaving Monday at 10am and we'll be back Friday around 6pm. There are many nice things to do in these places, but that's something I'm gonna save to tell you latter. Today, after regular classes, junk food lunch and buying an umbrella (very important at this moment) I've been in Newmark area. It's not a shopping mall nor a huge supermarket, although it's a dream for each and every woman in the world. Newmark is an area where the streets have plenty stores with different products (and prices). We entered in a cloth store that seemed very common, where a jacket costs $800! Anyway, they have Nike stores, Adidas, Hugo Boss and so many others. I could not find what I was looking for: a GAP or Guess store. Anyway, walking around Newmark area was worth it, at least I know it's a place where I have to come back! Latter on I went back to Midtown (it's not downtown, but it's really close), where I had to stop by Starbucks once again to dave a Caramel Hot Chocolate! :) Something I didn't mentioned in the last posts is that in Starbucks (by Queen St) there are a few birds going inside and outside the store. It's a great place to go after work, with some classical music playing and some nice seats. I would appreciate one of this in Novo Hamburgo or Sao Leopoldo. I believe that neither in Porto Alegre they have a stylish Starbucks like this one. After a great cup of coffee (in my case it was a hot chocolate, but a cup of coffee fits better in the phrase :P ) I went to the bus stop. It was almost 7pm and Auckland was looking said. The stores were all closed (except the nice Starbucks store) and the streets were almost empty. I have to admit that I was quite nervous and anxious, because I didn't know for sure if the Christmas Eve at my homestay would be tonight or tomorrow. On my way home I felt something really good and interesting. For every person who was getting off the bus, the bus driver was saying some nice words (nothing automatic, like just 'Merry Christmas'). Some people got a 'Take care man', some got a 'don't drink too much on these holidays' and others got a 'have a good time - Merry Christmas'. I found it very interesting, because for a little bit of time, I could see the real Christmas spirit in some people. When I got home I found everybody watching TV and Lisa confirmed, the Christmas celebration will be tomorrow at her sister's house! No more reasons to worry about! Merry Christmas to all! :)

Second day at school ...

Today I had to take the bus to go to school. It was very easy, and everything worked out just fine. In the morning I had a regular class, with some cheeses, Japanese, Russians and Sweden, I guess.
At lunch time I could eat an Italian food (mom, I'm having a very healthy diet here :P) and then I came back to school.
After the afternoon class the weather didn't help much, it was cloudy, but not raining yet. I went to some stores around downtown with my Brazilian friend (always speaking English). There are some very temptation promotions here and each and every dollar I spend hurts (dad, now I understand how you felt when I was in the USA).
I had to buy a dictionary today, because I forgot mine in Brazil. When I got off the store it was raining really bad, and I didn't have an umbrella. Actually, I don't have it even now, and the rain continues. Anyway, I still had a spare time to have a cup of coffee at Star Bucks!
Overall, I got home a little latter than usual (so far). Tonight I got home about 8:40pm. My dinner was made up of two fried eggs, some vegetables and many pieces of meet (and I believe they were pork – it was good).
Tomorrow is the last day we're gonna have class this week, because of the Christmas holiday. Now I'm trying to set up something more interesting to do than walk down the streets and see front stores! :)

First day at school!

First day ... it's like when you're in Elementary School, leaving home for your first day after a long vacation. Today, this is what I was feeling.
Darrell took me to the school in the morning, so I didn't have to take a bus. When I got there I went right to the sixth floor, just like it said in the instructions I received by e-mail. The school occupies a whole building and the floor six is the top floor. It's a very nice huge room, full of sofas and chairs (they have even a piano there, but I didn't feel comfortable to play ... yet) with large windows, so we can see the harbor from there.
Today is the first day for a few, in the case, I and another 4 people. Three Brazilians, one Japanese girl and one Swiss guy. I felt good, because the Brazilians don't speak Portuguese here, and that's exactly what I'm looking for!
After some gathering in the top floor we took a test to know what level we would be. I got a nice result, I'm between level 6 and 7, and the higher level they have here is the level 7.
We got the results and then we went out to eat. What could we eat??? YES, junk food! Mc Donald's appreciates it! Today I could see some crazy things, like people crossing the streets in downtown. It’s a mess, when the pedestrian signal turns to green, they go from everywhere to everywhere in the corners of a street. There are no rules, everything is possible.
In the afternoon I had my first class and it was ... just a class!
The last thing I had to do was to take the bus back home. I took a long time to find the right bus stop!!! When I got in the bus driver asked me where I was going. I thought it was a very stupid question, but after paying $4.75 for a bus ticket I started observing every passenger that got in the bus. The truth is that, here in Auckland, you pay depending on how far you’re going. For a moment, I wish my home stay was closer! :P
Getting home around 7pm I could find a ... BURGER AND FRIES!!! Again, junk food, this time from Wendy’s (another franchise). This was pretty much what I had to say about my fist day at school!

Walks

Sunday is a day that's really hard to find something useful to do. Not different here, at least in the first weekend. I woke up very early, because I went to bed pretty early too. Yesterday I started sleeping around 8:30pm, I guess. I could find out that here, in Auckland, the sun goes down nearly 9pm. In February, Lisa told me, it sets around 10pm! Amazing, no!?
Back on today, I woke up and had my breakfast, then I took off to walk, again. Today I chose a different path, but without a map, once again. No problems, I didn't get lost at all.
All I did was a very long walk through a long avenue that's two blocks away from my home stay. I could see some stores selling cars (Jaguars, Volvo, Audi etc). The prices were silly. If you have $12.000 you can buy a Volkswagen Golf. I saw a Mercedes Benz for sale for $32.000!!!! I hate this country! :P
I was very, very far from home, but then I saw a path across the highway, where I had to go. From that place I could see the Sky Tower again, and now I had my camera with me to register that view!
When I walked back home I could see how long my walk was. It took me 2 and a half hour ... or more! :S
I could see some IT companies! ho ho ho
In the magazine about New Zealand, that I got at the airport, there're two pages talking about 'immigration'. New Zealand needs "skilled workers"! :) Anyway, this is something to think in the future, right now I'm gonna concentrate in my studies!
There's still two things to comment here. Kiwis (New Zealand people) drive on the right side! Another interesting thing is that every car has a stick on the front shield that says when their taxes expire! Yesterday a cop called up our attention because of it ... it was two days late! :P

The "first times"

I'm seeing a lot of new things around here.
Today I woke up very early in the morning. It was 6:30am and I couldn't sleep anymore. Around 7:30am I heard some noise in the kitchen, then I knew someone was up, so I brushed my teeth and Lisa (my host mother) asked me if I wanted something to eat.
In the breakfast I had my first "first time" on the day. It was the first time I was eating a toaster with peanut butter and some very good tea. When I asked Lisa what kind of tea that was, she told me they drink the tea mixed with milk, and that's what made it taste so good. The tea was actually my second "first time" thing here! :P I tried another thing, something I could pass on my toaster, it's something with a spice taste, something called 'marmite'. Lisa told me that this 'marmite' is a very New Zealand thing (kind of typical). It's really hot, I didn't like it so much.
After breakfast I took a walk ... yes, a long walk around the neighborhood. I stop by a payphone to call home. I think my father was not so happy to receive my call, once it was a collect call! Anyway, my mother loved to hear some words from me! :P
The weather was varying from cloudy to rainy, with soft raindrops from the sky! After that I had lunch with the whole 'host family' and latter on Darrel and I started talking while we were watching TV. Darrel is Lisa's mate, a guy who lives in the house and works as a truck driver at night, so it's hard to see him during the week. After awhile we went to the shopping mall to exchange my money. The mall was very crowded, many people were buying presents for Christmas. I could see lots of Indians and Asians (Japanese, Chinese and some other sort of small eyes people). Another thing I had to do was to buy an electricity adaptor to connect the laptop and the camera to the New Zealand electricity system, to reload their batteries. It was hard to find an adaptor, but after visiting 3 stores, we could find what I was looking for! Are you asking me why? Here in New Zealand every electronic device is plugged into electricity by an adaptor that seems to Brazilian’s air conditioner plug.
In the middle of the afternoon Darrel asked me if I liked milk-shakes (with his accent I had to ask him to repeat the 'milk-shake' word three times until I understand it) and I told him YES! We went to KFC (something like Kentucky Fried Chicken) and then he took me to know a little bit of the city. Damn, I didn't took my camera with me, because I could not imagine he would go that far. Another "first time" experiences! At first, he took me to a volcano, in a very high hill, where I could see for the first time downtown and the sky tower. After taht, we went downtown, passing through Mission Bay (amazing place), the harbor (giant) and downtown itself. The traffic is so organized compared to any other I know.
Well, it was pretty much what I did on my third day here in Auckland. I guess there's a lot of good stuff still to come.

The flight, the immigration, the first contact with the family

When we took off Argentina it was all dark, it was night. After dinner I opened the window and I saw some red sky, like a beautiful sunrise or sunset. The next thing I had to do was to sleep, because that was the very beginning of all. I slept a lot and I just wanted to pick out the window, very fast, the lights were off, everybody was sleeping, so no one would notice! At that time I quickly opened the window and the biggest sun I've ever seen hit on my eyes. I close the windows even faster than I had opened it and I could not see a thing for one or two minutes, when my vision started coming back to normal! :P
Some people started standing up to walk a little inside the plane and eat something. I couldn't do anything different, so I ate something and the girl sit beside me told me there were still another 5 hours to get to Auckland!
Wow, another 5 hours!!! It's a lot. We were traveling on a sunny sky all the way now. Sometimes I could realized some ice blocks on the ocean, then I saw that we were close to South Pole. Yes, the route passes close to the South Pole.
I believe I fell asleep again and after that came breakfast and I could see some land! After so long, there it was, land! New Zealand, I believe we were close to Wellington, New Zealand's capital, in the southern North Island.
Another wow here! New Zealand from the sky is a beautiful place. I could see the roads, the mountains, even a volcano covered of snow! It's amazing! The next thing would happen was ... the landing! :)
The landing was very cool, no problems, nothing to complain. By the way, Aerolineas Argentinas is not bad at all! I picked up my bag pack to get out the plane as soon as possible. I was so surprised with the airport. There are magazines and maps for free on the halls and the free shop before the immigration room is huge and amazing.
Immigration was very easy, I just had to show the guy my passport and the letter for my English course, After one minute I was free to go and happier than ever!
At the arrival area, there were a sign with my name. Actually, it was not my name, it was 'E Eckert', but I knew it was for me! :)
A man took me right to my home stay, where I could meet my 'host mother' and her two children, Samuel and Shelby. It was Friday - 9am here in Auckland, Thursday - 4pm in Brazil. I was not so tired, but I could not do much, because I forgot to exchange my US dollars to New Zealand local currency. So, I slept ... a lot!

A little bit of Argentina ...

As I wrote before, I could take some time in Buenos Aires before the long 14 hours journey to Auckland, in New Zealand.
Well, most of what happened I could not write in the last post, because I was in a LAN House, paying for every extra minute! :P
It was a very, very hot day in Buenos Aires. After I wrote the previous text, I bought a '7 up', that after awhile I realized is the same that our Brazilian H2O or Aquarious, and a chocolate 'alfajour', which melt on my hand! :S
All of this happened on my way from the 'Obelisk' back to 'Plaza del mayo'. In Buenos Aires what I could see the most were cabs, but every time I tried to take one, there was someone else already inside. No problems, who knows me can tell how much I like to walk. I don't know how, but with the little map I had on my hands I could go all the way back to the bus station where I had to catch the bus back to the airport on foot.
I was so happy ... It was almost 8pm and I was already at the airport, but what I didn't know was that I could not get back in the transfer area, once I had to check-in againg. In short, I had to wait in the most uncomfortable benches I could ever see! I suggest brazilian's airports to have this type of benches for all 'hermanos' visiting our country!
Not a surprise, once again the flight was delayed, so I had to wait an extra hour to leave.
Well, in the end everything was just fine. At 3:40am the airplane left from Buenos Aires to Auckland.

Short note

I was just reading my last post and I saw that I mentioned that next time I would write, it would be probably from Buenos Aires.
Well, just like I promissed/wrote/mentined, I'm writing from a LAN House, close to the "Obelisk" (Obelisco). I took plenty pictures, but I don't have time to upload them right now.
All I want now is a cold drink and a new t-shirt, because mine is all sweat, so ... see ya!

Almost leaving ...

It's been fast ... very fast!
Now there's only one day left for departure and my luggage is not completely ready yet, but just like most brazilians, I think I'm gonna finish it in the last minute! :P
A few things about the trip that were not said before:
1. The school: Crown Istitute of Studies (Auckland)
2. Accomodation: Homestay
3. Departure from Brazil: December 17th, 2008
4. Return to Brazil: January 18th, 2009

I believe the next post will be from Buenos Aires, where I'll have to wait "only" 12 hours for my flight to Auckland. We'll see how it's gonna be ...

First words

Some people knew, some people didn't. One of my goals for this year was to take a trip somewhere out of Brazil, after 8 years from my last "real trip" to San Diego - California - USA.
The first plan didn't work exactly as I expected, so some arrangements were needed to make this "goal" really succeed.
Now everything is set. The destination will be Auckland, in New Zealand.
I don't know much about the city, country or even the continent (Oceania), but that makes the trip even more exciting! All I could see until now is a lot of pictures (great pictures by the way) showing a great ocean side, nice parks and beautiful buildings.
The details about how long I'm gonna stay and what I'm gonna do there will be here in a few days.
Well, the countdown has now started: 24 days left to departure.