First things first if you're buying a car in NZ make sure the clutch works! This statement will be explained momentarily, but ill give a brief rundown of what has happened since my last post. Also apologies for the wait, I'll get to that as well.
As you have probably already guessed I am finally in NZ. I say finally because the epic flight through god knows how many timezones and across the international dateline ( I think) takes a certain toll on you. But I'm here and I can't really complain.
NZ is awesome. That may sound like a proper tourist remark, but unless you've been here your opinion doesn't count, like the awesome Maori dude I sat next to on the plane said "All the pictures and stuff don't even come close" and its true. Even before I got to the mountain I was in awe of this place. Granted this may have had something to do with the Sky Tower in Auckland, which although looking like a giant hypodermic needle is really very impressive.
However, not as impressive as Mount Ruapehu. Even without snow the volcano looks absolutely fantastic and after all the effort it took to get here from Auckland I am so glad that it does.
As I said earlier buying a car with a clutch that works is imperative to any road trip. That's why when Jeremy, the lovely car that my friend bought, broke down 200 odd kilometres away from our final destination life got a little difficult. To cut a long story short we ended up having to rent a car to get me to my job interview in National Park costing a remarkable amount of monies for the time I would have it. Jeremy had to be towed by the New Zealand AA who would then phone say it would cost a fortune to fix (about two-thirds the cost of the car to begin with) so me and my friend went back and got the car scrapped to cut our losses. We then hitched back to Nat Park where I bought a 19 year old Mitsubishi Lancer promptly named Harmony. Exciting stuff this road tripping to the mountain ain't it?
During all of this I also had to do my job interview. It was a really chilled out affair with a tour of both shops and a little chat about experience and such like, but in the end I got the job so I am now officially a rental/retail assistant and ski technician for Ski Biz Ski & Snowboard.
I organised all the interview and stuff before I left but it has to be said that is possible to get a job just by rocking up here and saying I'm here for the season and ill do anything. I have a few friends who have done just that: two are now snowboard instructors and one has work in a ski shop and cafe. Basically they need workers and you need work so with a little negotiation its possible to get the hours you need to survive and if your lucky fantastic staff bonuses like free season passes and discounts on retail.
Right, I apologise for the epicness and delay of this edition, but life is a little hectic over here just now and I'm also working 7 days a week as its the school holidays and the busiest time of the season so far and internet access is hard to find when I have time to write. However, never fear as internet access will improve at the lodge I'm staying at (that is to say there will actually be internet access) so I will be able to update things more often. That being said I'm a busy boy so delays may be possible.
As usual fire any questions at me in the comments section and ill try and reply as soon as possible.
Much love.
However, not as impressive as Mount Ruapehu. Even without snow the volcano looks absolutely fantastic and after all the effort it took to get here from Auckland I am so glad that it does.
As I said earlier buying a car with a clutch that works is imperative to any road trip. That's why when Jeremy, the lovely car that my friend bought, broke down 200 odd kilometres away from our final destination life got a little difficult. To cut a long story short we ended up having to rent a car to get me to my job interview in National Park costing a remarkable amount of monies for the time I would have it. Jeremy had to be towed by the New Zealand AA who would then phone say it would cost a fortune to fix (about two-thirds the cost of the car to begin with) so me and my friend went back and got the car scrapped to cut our losses. We then hitched back to Nat Park where I bought a 19 year old Mitsubishi Lancer promptly named Harmony. Exciting stuff this road tripping to the mountain ain't it?
During all of this I also had to do my job interview. It was a really chilled out affair with a tour of both shops and a little chat about experience and such like, but in the end I got the job so I am now officially a rental/retail assistant and ski technician for Ski Biz Ski & Snowboard.
I organised all the interview and stuff before I left but it has to be said that is possible to get a job just by rocking up here and saying I'm here for the season and ill do anything. I have a few friends who have done just that: two are now snowboard instructors and one has work in a ski shop and cafe. Basically they need workers and you need work so with a little negotiation its possible to get the hours you need to survive and if your lucky fantastic staff bonuses like free season passes and discounts on retail.
Right, I apologise for the epicness and delay of this edition, but life is a little hectic over here just now and I'm also working 7 days a week as its the school holidays and the busiest time of the season so far and internet access is hard to find when I have time to write. However, never fear as internet access will improve at the lodge I'm staying at (that is to say there will actually be internet access) so I will be able to update things more often. That being said I'm a busy boy so delays may be possible.
As usual fire any questions at me in the comments section and ill try and reply as soon as possible.
Much love.
