The Amazing Lew Zealand

Hey, all. Wow! Three weeks and I'm already bad about keeping this up. Sorry if you're checking on it frequently. I'm not, evidently.
I'm still trying to get my footing here in Nelson. It's interesting how, when I had planned this all out, I sort of expected to get off the plane, land a good job, and resume life as normal - normal in this case being an approximation of life in Minneapolis. It's taking a bit longer than that.
First off, as a disclaimer, I'd like to say that I'm unaccustomed to writing about myself. Or, more specifically, writing about myself in a way that details the day-to-day stuff. In a way, when one writes, one is always writing about oneself. Anyway, I find it hard to establish tone sometimes, as my thoughts on the events of my life tend to vary; I'm a waffler when it comes to describing the merits of any given day of my life, and I can sound quite unimpressed at times when I'm hitting the roof with joy. I think I've been hesitating to write out of apprehension that what I say - or the way in which I put it down - will cause worry. Uh, basically, I'm having a blast, so don't worry when I tell you that:
I haven't found a job, which is the main stressor in my life. I've had one interview for the several jobs to which I've applied, and had a trial run for same this afternoon. It's a barista position at Zumo, my favorite Nelson coffee shop. I went in about an hour ago and made some coffees for the manager. She seemed very nice, but was cryptic about her thoughts on my efforts. I'm aware that I made what looked like some rookie mistakes when I was messing around behind the bar pulling shots, but the drink that I presented at the end was a good one. I think. She said they'll be calling back some of the more promising candidates for some actual trial time, making coffee for customers and working the register and things. I left unsure of whether to expect a call. As Corina's pointed out, if they're interested, great; if they're not, well, there are plenty of other jobs.
I'm glad that I've moved to a new place well prepared. It's occurred to me that I've never moved anywhere outside of the Twin Cities until this point, so it stands to reason that there's unexpected nervousness to be felt. I've enjoyed the time that I've been here, but I don't know whether I expected it to feel so different from the last time I was here. Then, I was on vacation, and on a generous budget, but I had my entire life in Minneapolis to return to. There are many things to do to keep oneself entertained in Nelson, but this doesn't feel like vacation, because it isn't. I'm not sure precisely when that hit me, but now that is has, the shift of mindset has really helped me. This is no dire situation, I just have to keep trying and keep applying.
And, of course, although I miss you all - and I really do, doubly so since I got to see so many of you over the holidays - I am with Corina, and that fills my heart. I'm not kidding, my lady is fantastic.
There's a whole bunch of everyday stuff that continues to blow me away, too. Did you know that there are places in the world where you can get up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, run a couple kilometers to the beach, on THE PACIFIC OCEAN, swim in it, run back home, shower, and have another cup of coffee? If you're unemployed, anyway, or a very early riser, and you have an hour and a half every morning to monkey around like that. (Did you also know that the ocean can be very cold in the morning?) I've been trying to do this about three times a week, and it makes my entire day better. I'm out and about exploring a little, and that feels good. I'm feeling a small but growing sense of propriety in this place, and that's vital for adaptation.
You might also be interested to know that the sun here is very bright, and very hot, and in the summertime it sticks around for a long time. The sun is A Thing, and demands consideration: despite all the sunblock with which I coat myself daily, my freckles are starting to connect. I wake up around eight, when the sun hits the bedroom window, and owing also to Corina's schedule, usually go to bed shortly after the sun sets. Getting exercise and closing the day well-sunned leaves me nicely tired.
In short, I've been leading a very charmed life these past three weeks. I'd like some work, please, to shake that up a bit, but I can't really complain about much of anything. I've started a personal project, which has kept my mind occupied, and I've already read several books, but there's something about working for others - and not just the pay, although that grants a sense of accomplishment - that revitalizes me more than most things.
I hope all of you are well. I understand that the weather in Minneapolis has finally become January-standard horrendous, so my sympathy lies with all of ya. Feel free to write me if you like! I've heard from lots of you, and I appreciate it. Stay warm, Northern Hemispherers.

Out there and havin' fun, in the warm California New Zealand sun.

Hello! How are you!
I've been in Nelson now for almost two weeks. I've had a very easygoing life so far. Most days, I get up whenever the sun hits our bedroom windows (usually 830 or 900), head downstairs, start up my laptop, and put the coffee pot on the stove. After a cup of coffee and some time to check my email, I drink a glass of water, stretch, and put on my running shoes. Then I head around the corner from our little house on Washington Rd. and jog up the hill on Arrow St. to Quebec Rd.
Today, I took the camera with me to document my regular walk/run up to the cliffs and back. It's incredibly convenient, as my path makes a loop that spits me out, via a walkway parallel to the street, back onto Washington Rd. about four blocks from our house. That said, the origin of these photos isn't that interesting - I'm running up a big hill and back down the other side - but the scenery is great. On the way up, there's a great view of Nelson. As Quebec Rd. curves toward the top of the hill and I'm heading roughly west (I think), the trees open up to a slice of the ocean. And finally, after I hit the top, the water is in full view as I make my way back down the hill.
Presented below is a mini photo documentary of my path.

The view up Arrow St.





Curving onto Quebec Rd.



A view of the group of apartments where we live.








Some views of Nelson from about halfway up the hill.





Some views from Quebec Rd., facing away from the water.



At the end of Quebec Rd., some shots from the crest of Princes Dr.
Looking down the hill on Princes Dr. This is where I'm going next. It's steep enough that I kinda roll my ankles if I try to run straight down it. Being from Minneapolis, I am not used to hills like these.






More shots of progress down the hill.

The turn down to

here, the walkway that leads back to Washington Rd., where we live.


Washington Rd.

A picture of our, uh, apartment complex. We live in a unit that comprises maaaaybe a quarter of this.

Home! A view of our little courtyard. It looks a lot nicer when we've extended that flash new umbrella we bought over the weekend.

And that's about that. I'm getting back into running, and it's gotten a lot easier since I started over a week ago. Getting to the top of the hill and seeing the ocean is a huge motivator; I'm not much of a photographer, but the view is majestic.

Other than that, there's not a whole lot to report. I've started applying to jobs, and I've got one small freelance project going back in Minnesota. I've been spending the rest of my time getting some exercise, reading, drawing, and enjoying Corina's company. I'm happy! Now I just need to start making some money.
Hope you're all well. Feel free to comment on this if you're reading it, or write me an email or a note on the Facebook. Miss you guys.

Sunshine

It's a beautiful day in Nelson. The first one we've had since I arrived, actually. It's nothing but clear blue skies as far as I can see. I can't find cause to complain either way, really; I've loved the overcast, spottily rainy weather we've had the last four days, but it's great to see old Nelson as bright and cheerful as it was the last time I visited.
I went for a run this morning, and it was more arduous than I'd expected. I guess I should clarify: as Corina and I are living in an area called Washington Valley, the only non-hilly direction I can take when leaving the house leads me straight into town. As such, I headed up into the hills around the house, and as a result, my "run" was pretty intermittent. Turns out cycling uses muscles far different from hill climbing, and I wore myself out very quickly trying to travel at any speed faster than a walk. Certainly got my heart rate up for a good thirty minutes, though.
I'm easing into life here. I feel as though I'm continually experiencing deja vu, I guess mostly as a result of having dreamed of being here for so long. That said, I do have many awakening moments throughout each day, when I think to look around and then realize that this place really is different from Minneapolis.
For one, I'll have to wake up pretty soon and find myself employment. One thing I'd conveniently forgotten is that everything here is bought at a premium. I'm not worried about it, but the rate at which one must spend money here is a good motivator to continue the search for work.
For two, more interestingly, we just don't have this kind of landscape back home. There are familiar trees for certain, but they mingle with huge ferns and palms and tall grasses all the way up the hill. I'll take photos of all of this, I promise; right now, you'll have to settle for a shot of the view from our couch.
For three, the insects are strange. Our courtyard is covered (without hyperbole, yes, covered) at certain times of the day with these tiny bugs whose backs are covered in a tuft of fur that looks like dandelion seeds. Their backs are arched like those plastic carnival toy frogs with the tab on their backs, the ones you can make hop across the room; and if you put your finger at their backs, they hop in the same way. They also have a habit of hopping from the trees and the roof, and plummet straight down at the ground. At first I confused them for raindrops. They're completely harmless, and I get a big kick out of them. Also, less impressively, there are flies. Lots and lots and lots of flies. The windows here don't have screens, so if we want a breeze to pass through the house, we have to accept the presence of a few extra tenants. (It's alright, though - Corina keeps a big can of Raid at hand.)
Not much else to report yet, really. Everyone here has been warm and welcoming, and I'm grateful for that. I'm happy here, and excited to see what happens in the next week. Hope you're all well.

Arrival!

Happy New Year to all. I've arrived in New Zealand safely and soundly. The brief rundown, for those of you to whom I've not yet written, is that everything's gone very well at this point! I'm here, and I appear to be in good condition.
For the first, all of the timing on my flights was spot-on. I had plenty of time in San Francisco to leave security and retrieve my international boarding passes - a task at which I was initially annoyed, as the United agent in Minneapolis confusingly refused to issue boarding passes for flights outside the U.S. due to her aroused suspicion at the inspection of my work visa - and, upon reentering security, again found time to eat some airport sushi and have a short rest at the gate before boarding the long flight. The twelve and a half hour flight from San Fran to Auckland passed quickly (and groggily) thanks to the Advil PM I received in a Christmas care package from the lovely Laura Fulk, and before I knew it I was zombie-ing from the international terminal to the domestic through heavy rainfall. It was a short island hop to Nelson on a Bombardier Q300 through more rain, and I was excited out of my mind to land and meet my lovely ladyfriend once again.
Corina and I spent a couple hours at her brother and sister-in-law's house in Stoke, just outside of Nelson proper, watching Corina's nephew, Ozzy. Despite being a little coldish, he was in high spirits; and whether or not he remembered me from my last visit, we took to each other quickly. He's a hilarious little one-year-old, and a real high-energy little brute. I like him.
The rain cleared mid-day on New Year's Eve, and after Corina and I ventured into town for the Saturday market, we wandered a few blocks with her father, got some coffee, and returned home to prep for the night.
Corina's dad (Dennis), her grandfather (Ed) and his girlfriend (Dot) came around to pick us up, and Corina and I spent New Year's Eve back out in Stoke at Damien and Celia's. Several of their friends came over with their kids, and we had a very low-key night complete with a beautiful sunset (photo above).
Yesterday, as is typical of a New Year's Day, Corina and I did practically nothing. We made it into town for lunch with her friends Ren and Jo; it was lovely to meet them, and as a bonus I got my first taste of fish in the orange roughy with cajun potatoes and green beans I ordered at the restaurant. After lunch, we swung by the supermarket, then spent the afternoon lying around reading.
It's been a very relaxed time thus far. I'm getting a nagging itch at the back of my mind, meant to remind me that very soon it's time for a job search, but right now I feel very much like I've returned to the most wonderful vacation I could ask for.
I hope you're all finding 2012 to be wonderful, or at least agreeable. My hopes are running high right now. All seems to be wonderful.