Ready to go!
Our clothes were drying and the suitcases almost all packed...let's go!
Everything is packed, hello Auckland!
We're checked in at Christchurch domestic airport and just went through the security. Next stop is Auckland :) and our departure is in an hour...
We said good bye to Louise, my best friend, who gave us a ride here. It was hard, I don't know when I see her again. But I know that she will have a fantastic time the rest of here stay in NZ!! <3
Talk to you soon!
One week @ the Keri Juice Factory
All day long; putting eight empty plastic bottles on the band at the time. Could be pretty stressful...
Christchurch
185 Empty Chairs in Christchurch. All unique in memory of the loss of lives in the Earthquake on 22nd February 2011.
Wednesday 29th May 2013
I have NO idea where to start updating you about our life here in NZ... I know there are weeks ago since I told you about what we're up to, how work is in Christchurch, how my final assignment in Business English went and so on. I guess I have to start somewhere and just tell you a little about everything, and more will come when I get home. We are actually leaving NZ in exactly three weeks today. Crazy!!
We have done SO MUCH since we left Nelson for the second time the 10th May. We drove along the west coast of the South Island, past Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika. Stopped at the Pancake Rocks and slowly made our way to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. From there we continued down to Wanaka and Queenstown. Places we liked a lot. We past stunning places and stopped the car everywhere. The weather was definitely on our side and we had crystal clear, blue sky and sunny weather almost every day. Driving in the Southerns Alps was amazing. All the mountains, covered with snow...unbelivable beautiful.
After discovering the South Island, with our lovely green car "Pärlan" of course, we finally ended up i Christchurch and that is where we are at the moment. Louise, my sweet friend, is also here and we have had time to hang out with her and meet all her friends, like Dan and Martina.
I finished my final assignment in Business English our second day here and I got my mark for the course the other day. I got a B (=VG) and I am really proud of myself. I have learned SO much during those months and I guess that I am impressed that I could focus on studying while we have been travelling around and working.
When we decided to drive up to Christchurch (already more than two weeks before our flight to Auckland) our mission was to get a job. So, the first day here we visited Coverstaff and was booked in for an interview. Everything went fast this time and after the weekend we started our new job in a juice factory. Pretty long days, that started at 05.30am every morning, but we at least earned some money and got to know a totally new business. Fun experience!
During the time here we have been to our first Rugby game ever. The Crusaders (from Christchurch) played against The Blues (from Auckland). The Crusaders won even though the weather was everything else than nice... it rained all evening!
We have also gone on some other small adventures from here. Last weekend we visited Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & SPA together with Louise and Dan and this past Saturday we drove to Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula and enjoyed the beautiful winter weather.
Believe it or not, it S N O W E D here yesterday. This morning it was all white on house roofs and a special feeling went through my body. Swedes are in love with snow, I am at least, especially after not experiencing a long winter like a lot of you back home have.
Anyway, I need to go soon. Like I said, not much time left on this adventure. It has been a great time and I am, once again, very happy that I got the opportunity to do this. But, I really look forward to go home, just in time for the Swedish summer, which I love. But for the first time ever, I feel like I am done....I have been out travelling for about four years and I look forward to settle down (where ever that will be, just time tells).
So, we are enjoying ourselves this last week here. Becuase there are no work for us, we are spending a lot of time at the gym, Les Mills. Vidde found a great deal, 14 days for 14NZD, for two people!!!
On Saturday morning we fly to Auckland to spend the weekend there and on Monday 3rd June we're going to Tonga, for two weeks. We call it vacation, from vacation. Can't wait!!
SEE YOU SOON!
Love,
Frida
So much to say!
I really do! I have a lot to write about but no real time right now... I've got a cold and have a final assignment to finish before Friday.
We're leaving Queenstown today, for the east coast and then Christchurch. I can't wait to see my lovely friend Louise there, veery soon!!
I guess I have to update you a lot more, but not now, have to leave :)
Love,
Frida
Pancake Rocks, the West Coast!
NZ's longest swingbridge, 110m!
On the road again...
Let's go. Time to leave Nelson, for the second time this week...
Here we come Greymouth and the West coast!
Simply beautiful
Back @ the Shortbread Cottage, in Nelson
We are back in Nelson again, at the Shortbread Cottage = our home away from home for three weeks.
We left the morning after Vidde's birthday, brought all our stuff AND Amanda, Simon and all THEIR things in our lovely car. Our plan was to drive up north, to the very top of the South Island. After a stop at our favorite supermarket, Pack n'Save, we were all ready to go.
We drove along the Tasman National Park and passed Takaka and Collingswood, both small villages. The hostel that we had booked in advance, The Innlet, was placed in the middle of nowhere, in the forest, north of Collingswood. The Innlet is nowadays a hostel, but before we heaed that it was a milk farm. A pretty old, run down and cold place. Nothing to do at the hostel, except from relaxing, so we walked down to the beach and spent the afternoon walking around, finding shells :) That evening we played a lot of cards in front of the fire place, drank cups of tea and had a great time with our friends before we went to bed in our share room.
Yesterday morning we woke up early, had breakfast and made picnic. We drove up to the Farewell Spit. This is a narrow sand spit, located at the northern end of the South Island. It is possible to walk about 4km out on the spit, and so did we. It really was a beautiful walk in the warm morning sun, and at some places it looked like we were out walking in the desert. Amazing!
Later that day we went to Wharariki Beach, which probably is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We parked the car and walked about 20 minutes over rolling farmland before we reached the beach. Incredible. We spent hours there. Walked around, enjoyed the sunshine (we were lucky, crystal clear blue sky and sunny, even though it is winter here now), dipped our toes in the ocean, watched the baby seals play and had a nice lunch together. Great day!!
Me and Vidde had planned to continue drive south, so we dropped Amanda and Simon in Takaka on our way back. We really wanted to sleep well, so we drove back to the Shortbread Cottage in Nelson, and this is where we are at the moment.
The plan is to keep on going south, on the west coast of the South Island tomorrow morning. Our goal is to reach Westport and stay there for one night. Make stops on the way in Punakaiki and see the Pancake Rocks.
I have studied A LOT today, assignment #8 is going to be done Friday next week and then I AM DONE :) I have learned so much and it has really been an interesting course.
Now it is time to go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients for dinner. We are having chicken made in the oven, with vegetables, tomato sause and pasta.
Love,
Frida
Chocolate cake for Vidde
Vidde's 23rd Birthday
The 6th May was Vidde's birthday. We celebrated from early morning and I woke him up with a chocolate cake, served with fresh slizes of pineapple and kiwi. I lighted two candles, that said; 23 and walked in to our room and of course and did my best and sang Happy Birthday in Swedish (and I woke up the rest in our room too).
I had prepared breakfast in the kitchen, so we enjoyed that for a while before we got ready for a little walk. Amanda and Simon joined us and we went up to the Centre of New Zealand. There is a stunning view over Nelson from the top and even though we didn't have very pleasant weather this day, we saw far. Anyway, Simon and Amanda went down before us and me and Vidde had a little picnic up there!
In Nelson there is a Swedish Bakery located in town. I brought Vidde to the café after a warm shower at the Shortbread Cottage. The owner is married to a Swede, so we spoke a little swedish while we ordered a cinnamon bun, a chocolate biskvi and "flädersaft". Like a real swedish "födelsedagskalas" (=birthday party) haha.
Simon and Amanda was suppose to leave Nelson this day, but there bus never showed up, so we all had a great night together. We prepared a very NICE dinner; good meat, roasted potatoes and vegetables, feta cheese sause, served with red wine and tasty cheeses for dessert. Yummy!
I enjoyed Vidde's birthday a lot and I think he did too! He is definitely worth ALL the BEST!!! <3
The Chark Club
Yesterday night we went to The Chark Club here in Nelson to play pool and drink a couple of beers with Amanda and Simon. I of course always have to go for crushed apple cider (=gluten free) instead of beer, but I like it... It turned out to be a fun night out with great company :)
Today is Saturday and we started this morning with a walk down town to Solo Hairdressing. Vidde got a haircut :) lookng good, and I had time to read some magazines. On our way back to the hostel, we stopped at the Saturday Market. Did not really find anything we wanted to buy, but always nice to just have a look at all the stands, arts and crafts, vegetables and fruits.
It is probably our last weekend in Nelson now. Because I haven't got any work :( we're planning to leave on maybe Tuesday. We'll see. We have another upcoming birthday...Vidde turns 23 on Monday, so first of all celebrate the "big day" :)
Have a nice weekend, and once again; Happy Birthday Mom <3
Happy Birthday Mom
Today, Saturday the 4th May, it's my mom's birthday....so this is for you mother;
H a p p y B i r t h d a y to the mother of all mothers <3 I LOVE you today and ALWAYS and I can't wait until I get back home and we're togeter again!
A beautiful photo of a beautiful family <3 I miss you all!
The Grampians
It turned out to be a good exercise this morning!! :)
Me and Amanda (from Canada) are the depressed housewives here, with no jobs...so we decided to walk from central Nelson and our hostel, through the Cathedral Grounds (a beautiful chruch) until we reached the Fairfield House. From there we took the summit track all the way up The Grampians. It is a nice, sometimes pretty steep, walk up the round hill and the return walk took us about two hours. Very nice and the look out was amazing.
Late lunch, a couple of cups hot tea, time in the couch in front of the fireplace, studying and talking to my friend Louise in the phone (who is in Christchurch, looking for job at the moment)... that pretty much summarises my day!
Stunning view of Nelson from the top!
Morning silence
I love it. The house is empty, either people are already at work or still sleeping. Vidde left around 7am and I was not tired enough to go back to sleep. Instead I put comfortable clothes on and warm socks (it is sooo cold during night here) and made my way to our cozy livingroom and called my amazing mother on Skype... I think that we talked for about one hour, and I enjoyed every single minute. My mom is so much more than just my mother. She is a close friend of mine and I can talk to her about e v e r y t h i n g <3 Definately a great way to start this Thursday!
It has been a strange, long week. Still NO JOB, which means that I have studied a lot (I think I am pretty much done with assignment #7) and been outside a lot. Tuesday and Wednesday was warm and sunny, so a couple of hours outside was very nice. Either I go for a run in the morning or a nice walk around down town Nelson or in the parks/gardens.
Yesterday I had this meeting with SSL Laundry at 1pm. It took about 40min to walk there and of course 40min to walk back...so a nice time outside! The meeting was about one hour long and we went through everything about the company, safety, emergency actions and so on. We were also shown all the different positions where we will work, if we get job through Coverstaff. Interesting place, and now I am just waiting for them to call and ask me to come :)
Before it starts rain today, (we're expecting a rainy day) I am heading out for a powerwalk with Amanda!
Talk to you later!
Love,
Frida
