i'll start with magnificence:
i'll continue with the daily such-and-such...everything is going really well now...now that i'm not working at that god awful call center anymore. i really hope they crash and burn. that's some some extra bad mojo there! to be honest i'm not all that upset about being bad at that job. there are worse things that could happen.
*****
making friends, having fun going out. our friend tarsh from australia is the bomb! we've gone to sombreros, a delicious mexican spot right by her work. also this tasty little indian place in the "mall" (think a very small version of a mall...but more like a strip mall, but in a mall setting. you can get everything from food, to a tattoo, to a haircut, to some fabulous lingerie). tarsh also introduced us to this awesome bar/club, subculture. the first night we went they were playing awesome music...interesting shenanigans ensued. everyone has to have a night where they're just a hot shitty mess :)
the second night...not so good. theory: people here definitely prefer the techno trash version of music...now, don't get me wrong, i'm all about good house music, i can embrace it...but it's gotta be good. the dancing...well, now that's just something i don't think i'm gonna be able to get used to. if you can move to the music me likes...everyone enjoys a nice beat. however, spastically jumping around and convulsing...it's just not for me. i wish you could see this.
getting to know the town...there's still a lot of food to eat, bars to sample, and outdoor activities to love! this place really is beautiful. for example, check out these awesome pictures from queenstown gardens (more pictures to come on this)! absolutely lovely, no?
*****
what is this job i have mentioned?...
the suspense is over!...so since monday i've been the new face of ZEST! ha! it's a lunch bar literally 5-10 minutes walk from my house. LOVE IT!
so you may be asking...lauren, really? did you quit your job at u.va. to be a lunch bar girl...well...yeah, i guess i did. when i say it, sometimes it sounds crazy. and yes, maybe it actually is crazy. but we all already know i'm insane.
i do miss being on salary...yeah...i'm really, really starting to miss that pay check...that state pay wasn't even all that, lord knows i was so bad at saving...but overall, sometimes you're able to get to enjoy yourself more when life's not all about your job. i won't lie, it has been really rough gettin my standin-all-fuckin-day-long-legs back again...it's been a while since workin at the bakery and the chocolate shop...but to be honest, i'm relishing the highschool/college-type-job-no-responsibility-ish!
so more about the job...zest is a local spot. it's not in the center of town which means we get a lot less tourist than other parts of town. it's on gorge road
and is more like a thoroughfare where townies stop for breakfast, smoko and lunch. it's also literally directly across the street from the high school...wakatipu high school to be exact...the kids run over for their breaks...yeah, fuckin kids. but they're all pretty nice. already starting to get to know the regulars and what they get.
when i graduated in 2008 with my useless spanish/anthropolgy b.a. i wasn't really expecting much. but i never imagined in my wildest dreams i'd be asking kiwi laborers and high school students, "do you want chips (aka, fries) with that?" but hey...i'm in fucking new zealand! i get off at 4 pm, and it doesn't get dark until 9 pm right now. i have the rest of the day to enjoy walks in the park or go down the road to enjoy our beautiful little valley. NO WEEKEND WORK! love it. so who knows how long i'll stay at this job. for now i really am enjoying myself. the boss lady is great! she started at the mediterranean market...it's literally like heaven (y'all know how much i love grocery shopping)! she continues to do all the cakes/patries for them. and there's anouva, she is an absolutely beautiful person! already trying to visit brazil with her when she goes back home! YES! anyhoo, anouva is boss lady's right hand (why do we say right...when we all know that the left is so much better!? lefties unite! i digress). everything they make is delicious!
check out this adorable welcome present they gave me. and yes, it was delicious!
so if you're ever passing through gorge road, come on into zest...i can make you a delicious bacon, egg and cheese muffin, or fish and chips, how about a latte? :)
*****
you have to remember this is all with the goal of enjoying the great outdoors here. hiking...aka trammping, i much prefer their term for the activity!
"what'd you today lala?"
~ "well i was trammpin up and down the mountain all day long! all day long!"
rock climbing!? kayaking!? the list is endless in this town. i'm so looking forward to ski season, haha yes, it's gonna be a while. miss coco's gonna teach me snowboarding. extra stoked on the awesomeness that will ensue. now which mountain shall i buy a pass to? NZ Ski
i'm also learning other skills...note this awesomely FREAKY photo! lovelove! i know how to tint eyelashes now!
in short. all is set. i'm loving my situation. as my dear friend said, there's plenty of time for real life "fake bullshit." i'm sure my situation here will change. change is, as we know, a constant. looking forward to really start exploring this insanely awesome place, as we've already discussed. all about the daily beauty.
i miss you so much!
love,
lala
p.s. what's next on the agenda? look forward to --> "would you like to take a virtual tour of my life? (or just come visit me)" we'll be taking a tour filled with pictures and exciting-ness through queenstown. also to come, a post detailing all the hilarious shit that you just can't get anywhere else. here's to getting to know nz.
