N Zeding It

So you say "what's that summer like anyhow?"

2010-01-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

What's summer like while all you peeps are in your winter? Well. It's.... different. It's not hot I'll tell you that! (as the above photos shows--this was taken one summer night biking back from the store!)

I will borrow a quote from Mark Twain that says something along the lines of ..."The coldest winter I ever had was the summer I spent in San Francisco" Only, change San Fran to Dunedin and that's what is going on here.

But--they can't be blamed for false advertising as New Zealand, or Aotearoa as the Maori call it means "Land of the Long White Cloud" for a pretty good reason. It does seem to always be.....overcast? But beautiful nonetheless!

So, now that my rainy summer rant is over, lets get to the things that are being discovered:

There are two significant things that Darren and I discovered over the summer holidays. The first, Milford Sound and the Second, bun-less hotdogs. The latter of the two a source of stress for the hungry soul searcher who has gone three to four hours beyond appropriate hunger allowance.

For scale of this amazing fiordland, spot the boat in the water. That boat is a cruise ship!

Darren and I took a nature cruise and were blown away by the beauty of it.Of course the day before we went to see it the weather was horrible and even the drive proved to be nerve racking as the entire two hour drive up was enshrouded in clouds....but as you can see, the clouds are burning off and the views are coming out!!

This is on the way to Te Anau and the Milford Sound. It is true that all the clouds and storms make for extremely dramatic views and silent moments. It is true that the rawness of New Zealand has enough power to shut the mouth and open the eyes. This photo was taken at 9pm, as it stays light in the summertime until 11pm!

This is a real street sign in Te Anau and yes, it does guide you to the street where all the Chinese food restaurants are--which is where we ate our delicious Christmas meal.

These are the most amazing flowers. They remind me of Blue Bonnets from Texas. The only problem is whenever I see them, and there are many, I stop to smell them and then I have a wicked allergy attack.

Ok. So beyond going to Milford Sound and Christchurch and Auckland and Sydney and Te Anau in the last two months (I admit it, Dron went to Oz, not me)....we have also been enjoying the local cuisine. Which, if I may be honest is something I have had the hardest time adapting to. I basically carry salt with me and know that being a Kiwi means I pay a lot of money for food that will leave me hungry anyways and feeling unsatisfied. And that's putting it nicely! Take for example this next photo:

This is a meal that consists of two hot dogs and potato salad (that cream color brain looking stuff). Now, as I previously mentioned I had passed my appropriate hunger level about two to three hours before getting this meal. You can imagine my surprise when I got two wieners without buns! Who eats the hot dog without the bun!!! Well, I can't say for sure the Kiwi's do because this was served by Germans at a German restaurant, but I can say the following converstaion did not make me happy:

Me (upon seeing the bun-less wieners): Oh.
Darren: Oh no (because he knows me better than I know myself sometimes)
Me: Um...are you going to bring out the buns?
German Waitress: Buns? Zwat? Zwat you want?
Me: A bun? Like a hot dog bun?

...mind you this is a typical American moment.....

German Waitress: Zwat?
Me: Like bread (cupping my hands like a bun)....bread that I can put the sausage in?
German Waitress: Zwat?
Darren: Oh dear
Me (getting frusterated): Like toast, bread, a bun, something to hold the hotdog in?
German Waitress: Ah, you wantz za toast?
Me: Yes, that would be awesome!
German Waitress: For two yez?
Me: Yes Please.

.....she goes away and returns with one piece of white bread that isn't toasted:

I take a photo. eat it. and walk away because this wasn't the best moment for me and eating a hot dog.

Christchurch!

2009-12-01T23:05:00.001-08:00

..away I have gone. Kind of strange to be in a foreighn country and have Darren in one part and me in another. I am training for my new role in life as YOUR travel consultant at Flight Centre -- www.flightcentre.co.nz --- and you should all book your travel through me.

Christchurch is what I am looking for and it will be hard to get back to Dunedin! They are so friendly here, happpy, smiling, and even though it's raining like mad here and quite gray, I find that I can tolerate it more!

Oh....going back is going to be hard.

I can't add any photos as of yet, but more are on the way. In the mean time we should reflect on the fact that yesterday was the first offical day of summer!....and I bet it's warmer where you are than it is here where I am. Ha! Who would have thought...

more to come later.

In the mean time, answer me this:

When you come across tourists, what is the most annoying thing you have had happen in the encounter with them?

I am most certainly a tourist here, but not really, because I have the offical bank card and no real Kiwi expects that when I whip it out.

Just Desserts

2009-11-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

While all my family and friends are chowing down on tasty turkey, home-cooked ham, and pleasing pumpkin pie... I am eating a salad and bread. It's not your average Thanksgiving in New Zealand simply because New Zealanders have no clue today (well, today for you yesterday for me) is supposed to be spent with the family giving thanks. Interestingly enough I had a conversation with a woman who was trying to get into contact with some Americans and she was frustrated because they weren't getting back to her. I had to explain that all of America is on halt for the day, or two, and it's not that they are trying to ignore the people located on the bottom right of the world atlas.

Anyway. This blog is about Desserts. And the Kiwis love there sweet desserts. The are known for relishing in sweet jelly roles, sticky date and ginger pudding, and most famously, their prized Lolly Cake.

We should take moment together and understand what Lolly cake is: An infusion of Fruit Puffs (yes don't we all know what that is?), slightly chewy marshmallows that are fruity tasting (probably not with natural flavors), malt biscuit and coconut. If you want to read more about it, or make your own go here.

It looks like this:

....and it tastes like this

as in...not good. Those big yellow things are the fruit flavored marshmallows and the look on my face is saying "this..this cake here in my hand is a favorite among the Kiwis? Oy."

Now. While you are sipping cranberry cocktails and spiced cider I am over here (or down here) sipping on Ginger Beer. A non-alcoholic drink made from sugar, ginger, lemon and water. It's FANTASTIC! It looks like this (you will have to watch to see)

I also made ginger cookies from this recipe and they are SOOO freaking good. I was surprised and a little disappointed however when I took some to my mates at Trade Aid and they said "Ah, yee, Whut ahh these?...Ginger cookies eh? Don't ya know it's spring? These a bit more winter no? Ah Well, Good On ya, thanks mate" chomp chomp chomp smile. They seemed confused as to why I, their token American, made fall and winter like cookies when it's 25C outside.

I need to adjust my internal clock to think summer: summertime cookies, salad, drinks and desserts.

So. the point of this blog is to let you Merican folks know that no, I am not consuming loads of delicious goodies and Thanksgiving turkey. I'm not even going out of my way to eat dessert in honor of you up there, at this hour, chowing down (this is because, don't forget, the desserts here...are....different). BUT
I am enjoying Ginger Beer and wishing everyone up in the NW, The NOBO, the SOCAL, and the Kentuck-Land a happy happy Thanksgiving.

Hope you are all enjoying families and friends and eating well for Darren and I!

Smorgasboard of Color

2009-11-22T23:59:00.000-08:00

Well. It appears that everything is bigger Down Under. And brighter too. (i'm talking flowers and spring time people). While all you people are dealing with wind and rain and snow, I am getting settled in to increasingly warmer weather. Don't worry, I'm not bragging too much about going into summer, the summers here are apparently short, sweet, simple, and cold. Mark Twain said that "the coldest winter of my life was the summer I spent in San Francisco." I think this may be how I feel about summer here. Many things are different about Dunedin New Zealand and San Francisco, but from what I hear, the other day when it was 22C outside, that, and all it's warmth, was summer. Yippy!

I am sure the Dunedinites must be kidding right?

Well, back to everything being bigger, brighter, bolder here. It must be a law that if you own a house, you also are the manager, planter, weeder, and grower of a world class garden. Seriously. Every house on our block is inhabited by a green thumb. And...I would like to say, even my house, because I've eaten three strawberries and will soon have tomotoes, capsicum (what they call it here), and cucumbers... if it warms up more.

Here are a few of the photos I have taken of the neighborhood:

It truly is amazing how big and bright everything is here. The colors are more intense than you could imagine. The reds are nameless shades I'm sure and the blues, purples, and blacks, change into turquoise, byzantine, and Prussian blue depending on the angle of light. Everynight Darren and I venture down to the beach, toss the rugby ball and gawk at the obscene sizes of Peonies that have transformed from precisely pink to wonderfully white. We also just saw the most gargantuan roses I have ever laid my eyes on. I have to put more batteries in the camera and be sure to capture it. Trust me. It will blow your mind when you come and visit next spring and see for yourself! Happy Fall Folks! It's springtime here and I'm loving it!

Adventures with Neighbors

2009-11-11T20:45:00.000-08:00

Exciting things happened this week!

One: I didn't become overwhelmed by the fact that I am jobless and friendless!

Two: This could be because the week was full of oddball activities and events

Our neighbor Thomas, who lives on the floor above, is a hippy. He doesn't know it, and neither would you if you saw him cruise past you on his BMW motorcycle or in his shiny red imported sports car from Italy.

Thomas is German. His son his German as well, but sounds like a kiwi in true form.

Anyway...through haggling prices at his garage sale, we discovered that he too brews beer BUT he gets his water from a spring shooting out from the road in the hillsides not too far from town. We were intrigued. Is there still a place in the world where one can quench his/her thirst from the gurgling creeks of the earth? And it doen't have to come from here and won't give you Beaver Fever? Of course there is...in New Zealand! Where water flows fresh and everything smells like daisies!

Thomas invites Darren and I to accompany him to fill up his water jugs. We are thinking that there will be a trek through mud and thick bush to get this pure water. And to our surprise, we pull the red roadster to the side of the road, cross the traffic and there she is...a beautiful crisp, clear stream shooting out into a horse trough.

After filling up the 18 jugs and two water tanks, Thomas continues down the road to get his milk. Not from the store--but from the udder side of a cow! It's like going back into time. The three of us there, buying milk from a cheery cheeked farmer whose eyebrows hang low and unkempt. I feel nostalgia. I feel like I am straying off the beaten path. I feel like I am meeting the locals (who are transplants from America btw). I feel comfortable. And then I realize this path has been blazed--it's only how people for centuries have done things! I'm just catching onto the trend!

We also picked up some fresh churned icecream and maybe next time some freshly butchered meat...if we really want to be hardcore.

So now we have water from the hills, milk from the cow and...

Next stop: a bee farmer who gave us a wicked deal on 6kilos of honey. Now, if you're like me. You haven't a clue what 6kilos is. Here you go. That's a lot of honey! But it was such an awesome deal and we were still burning on nostalgia in hippy land, so why not eh?

So now we have water from the hills, milk and icecream form the cow, honey from the bee farmer and...

Next stop: the local pub--Thomas's fav and old haunt. It's a building that's been around over a hundred years and all the patrons tease and jab at eachother in between sips of tasty brew. It's the first place in all of New Zealand where we find some good, quality brew and with Thomas, I at least feel like I can be looked at as a transient local, and not some dang Merican who don't belong in the local pub! The new friends we meet are older yes, but are welcoming and happy to meet newbies. One man especially stood out. Magnus, a true Kiwi and South Islander who is in his 70s, a bit on the cranky side, but with a humor that makes him agreeable. Just the fact that his name is Magnus makes him cool. But, add that he has thick accent and looks like a sailor fresh off the boat makes it hard not to ask him to take a photo with me. I refrain. I have manners after all!

So now we have water from the hills, milk and icecream form the cow, honey from the bee farmer and are sitting back and relaxing with the locals and Thomas. Our new German friend who is moving out and away in just a few months.

Yes. It was a good day.

My Milkshake brings NO boys, or girls, to the yard

2009-11-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

It's finally warming up here in Dunedin in what has now gone down into history as the coldest October in all of New Zealand records. During one warm day I had an overwhelming urge for a milkshake. So, Darren and I set out for one thinking, this can't take too long. And in fact, it did not.

The Scene: A 7-11 type place that is smaller and more locally owned.
The Actors: Ma (owner of the Ma and Pa shop)
Adi--that's me
Darren--that's my hubby

Adi: Hi there, I was told by the baker across the street that you have milkshakes?
Ma: ya, ya I can make one up for you
Adi: Awesome, what are your flavors?
Ma: Carmel, chocolate, raspberry....
Adi: I think I will just take Vanilla

...this is where it becomes clear that a milkshake may be something other than a milkshake...

Ma: Vanilla?! (with a very quizzical look on her face) Um, we don't have that flavor
Adi: Huh? (with a very quizzical look on her face)
Ma: Huh?
Darren: Huh?
Adi: What flavor is the ice cream? Is it just vanilla and then add flavor?
Ma: Oh, you want ice cream in it?
Adi:Huh? (with a very quizzical look on her face)
Adi: What do you mean by that?
Ma: Well, I can put ice cream in there, but surly you don't just want ice cream and milk?
Adi: Um, what exactly is a milkshake to you?

(mind you this is all very friendly)

Ma: What's a milkshake to you?
Adi: (looking at Darren) Um, I think we may be talking about different things, I just want a vanilla milkshake. How do you make a milkshake?
Ma: Well I just put a table spoon of ice cream in the cup, then fill it with milk, and put it under the mixer. Believe me, if I put anymore ice cream in the milkshake, it will blow the motor out!
Adi: Ok....well....
Ma: How do you make milkshakes?
Adi: With lots of icecream, a dab of milk and some white syrup (don't think she knows about Karo)
Ma: Oh.
Adi: Well.... maybe I will try yours.
Ma: You'll have to get a flavor
Adi: Chocolate (looking to darren thinking this is not going to be good)

Ma starts blending the milkshake and it sounds sloppy and slushy..like there is nothing in there but milk. She adds a pump or two of chocolate flavoring and voila!

Adi: Oh..it's very.... frothy.

Not wanting to offend her, I pay for the milkshake and grab some chips because maybe what I was really wanting in the first place was some sour cream and onion chips...which are very good here.

The lesson....getting a milkshake in New Zealand means that you are getting just that: Milk, shaken up, with some flavoring. And, if you pay extra they will throw in some ice cream. It's essentially a melted frosty if you get the chocolate flavor!

The picture sums it up.

It's Time to Get Down With It

2009-10-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

We've been here for a little over three weeks now. It's time to get down with it and blog.

Things on my mind:

If you want to know what I am currently expereincing, think about spring time in the Ol' Pacific Northwest. Overcast, rain, sprinkles, and more overcast. When it is sunny, it's glorious. And Kiwis like to be out in it. They will close up shop early, pack the picnic to the park, and really live it up with the sun.

In Boulder when it was sunny I often thought "I should be out in this, but Hey, it's going to be sunny tomorrow, so I'll take a nap" Well, that's changed. And now, when it's sunny, I am OUT and we are IN it.

Things are settling down and from now on I will most likely post observations and what not. Remembering to take my camera with me is essential because there are loads of photo opportunities. Now, if I could just learn how to take photos under the big grey thing hanging above. Sure moves fast across the sky, sure doesn't make my photos look too appealing.

I should also mention that a woman passed me the other day in the library (where I have been many times now!) and she smelt of happiness and care. She mixed it with childhood and simplicity and of hanging on to grandma's arm while she sand in church. Grandma--when I smelt your perfume on her, it was a moment of peacefulness and knowing that soon, I will eventually find the rhythm and the peace.

People most commonly ask me if I am homesick or if I am lonely--which I originally said would be the biggest issue with me. But I must confess, I am neither. The biggest thing that I am is feeling is unsure about where to work and what to do to fill my time from 9am-5pm. That, is a struggle. But, please know that I am not lonely and I am doing great.

Darren--well he is just doing superb. He loves works, loves my home cooking, loves going to the beach with me everynight and is just so easy to please.

I am fortunate. I am on the adventure. I am in New Zealand for 23 months now (just a little under or just a tad bit over). And so far, we are really living it up. Next post: Queestown and the infamous Milkshake incident.

The WannabeKiwi