Nelson City, taken from the Centre of New Zealand

It’s been awhile, I apologize. When last we spoke, I’d just started my 3-week stint as a housekeeper in a hostel. The job itself was simple enough, if at times a bit logistically frustrating, but with only one more shift left Im happy at how quickly the time has gone by. I know my family has been a little chagrined that Ive been cleaning up after 20-something year old backpackers (my auntie’s words were, “you’re better than this”), but since my choices were a) go home, or b) clean in a hostel, Im glad I went with b.

The hostel itself was really nice, homey even. Definitely not a “party hostel”, the rooms weren’t too big and the clientele was a really great assortment of ages and nationalities. The workers have a flat to themselves next door to the hostel, that while not very well outfitted, at least gave us a little privacy and our own bathroom and kitchen. The first week was a bit rough, as I mentioned, as I was sleeping downstairs were it was noisy and I didnt feel as though I had my own space. The second week the upstairs beds became free and I quickly laid claim to one and almost instantly became MUCH happier.

It seems as though I was right in that I just needed somewhere to go for a few weeks to wait for the fruits of my labour to appear. While I was on the ferry from Wellington to Picton, the company in Christchurch that I interviewed will called to arrange an in-person meeting. They flew me down last week for a second interview, including lunch with the CEO. I think it went well, and they have since asked what my salary requests were. I really want this job, but they told me it would be a few weeks still before they made their decision.

If it doesnt come through, I have a bit of a backup plan. Almost immediately after I arrived in Nelson, I scored a bit of freelance work with an agency in Auckland (ironically, around the corner from my flat in Grey Lynn), and am now awaiting payment on the work that Ive done for them. When that comes in (which should be next week), my plan is to spend a little of it to do a bit of sightseeing (as cheaply as possible, of course!). In the event that I really cant make NZ work for longer and have to go home, I want to be able to say that Ive seen my blessed mountains.

My time here hasnt been all work though, Ive managed to be a little bit social too. Ive been on a few day trips with people that I met on CouchSurfing (one to Cable Bay, another for a drive around the Nelson/Tasman Region), as well as an afternoon roadtrip with my flatmates to Pupu Springs. There are a number of touristy things that Ive not been able to do thanks to my financial straits, but I would very much like to come back in the Spring to go sea kayaking in Abel Tasman Park, and can do the little day trips then.

So what are my next steps? Well, on Sunday morning Im boarding a bus for Christchurch. Where the flight only took 35 minutes, the drive will take almost 9 hours — but from the itinerary, we’ll be going through the Lewis Pass, which means I may FINALLY see the Southern Alps. Im very excited. While not as flash as flying, I really enjoy taking the bus as it allows me to see the countryside up close and personal. I’m staying with my friend Barbara for a week while I try and figure my next steps out.

As I can only stay with her a week, if I need to Im hoping I will be able to CouchSurf with some of the people in the community there. Ive met a few and it seems a vibrant bunch, and think I should be able to find somewhere to stay rather easily. If I dont get the job, and if for some reason the Auckland company delays paying me (something I have to anticipate, considering the problems Ive had in the past with freelance work) Ive lined up another hostel work exchange stint in Oamaru. Im really, unbelievably done with cleaning hostels, but it’s just a means to the end.

PHOTOS!

I cant log into Flickr at the moment (I deleted my cookies, and cant remember my YahooID and password. Ive written asking for help, but so far my pleas are unanswered) but I can still upload through the Uploadr tool, although I cant caption any of the photos. All the same, here they are:

CABLE BAY. These photos are from an afternoon trip that I took with a carfull of CouchSurfers from Christchurch. We met on the site, and it turned out that they were staying at my hostel. I also met one of them, Naiana, at a house party I was at when I was in ChCh, which made everything easier.
NELSON/TASMAN. Another day trip with a CouchSurfer, this was with Myka from Australia. We spent the afternoon driving up the highway into Motueka, Mapua, and into a sweet hippy commune in the middle of nowhere. Somehow I didnt assign a set to these photos, so for now the link leads to my Flickr photostream as I cant log in to move things around (this. is. getting. really. getting. old.)
NELSON CITY. Random shots around town: the cathedral, Centre of NZ, the Chinese Gardens and the Japanese Gardens.

Possibly related posts:

1. Setting sail
2. Breathing room