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Vines and grapes and wines, oh my! I'm working on a vineyard in Raukawa (R-ow-kawa), Maraekakaho (Ma-rye-ka-ka-hoe) near Hastings (only a half hour drive from Meeanee, where I was doing strawberries), and learning heaps about grape growing, winemaking, stock trading and general viticulture. George was able to hook me up with not only a job, but free […] …staying put. For a few more days, at least. Found out that the strawberries would be finishing completely this weekend, and decided it'd be nicer to stay and finish off the season with the rest of the workers than dash off Thursday for points unknown. Plus, I'd been procrastinating in the “plans” department. It's been […] This is my routine. The alarm goes off at five, or five-thirty, an hour before the start of work. I have to prepare myself, have to wake up fast and steel my nerves against the cold and wet that await me outside the tent. It’s been dropping to about 14 degrees celsius (55ish fahrenheit) every […] My present to myself: a toe that is NOT broken! Hurrah! Also, orthopedic insoles that will correct the way that I walk and therefore make my achilles stop hurting me when I hike. In general, my experience with the NZ medical world has been incredibly positive. The entire affair (clinic visit, x-ray, one physiologist visit, […] Here it is, another week gone by between entries. Another eventful week! I left Jasmine's on Thursday, after an incredibly relaxing and warm three days in her company and the company of various other members of her family. I got to hike “The Mount,” or Mt. Maunganui (Mon-gah-noo-e), which is a curious round, tall dome […] is that they let you fall completely into sleep. There's something about a backpacker's bed that keeps you just on the edge of deep, refreshing rest, as if the collected consciousnesses of all the people who've slept in the bed before you are needling at you, thinking at you, reminding you that this bed is not yours […] Free internet! For a little while, anyway. Okay, so back to my weekend mountain retreat. It was exactly what I needed. After the stress of leaving Maureen's, to have two days of quiet and vigorous exercise in my favorite type of setting was like aloe to sunburned skin. And then meeting Mark – oh, what […] Only seven days have passed, but the world has been reversed. German boys – done. Buh-bye. Yucky, depressing feelings of loneliness – adios. Say hello instead to CAR, MOUNTAINS, and SELF-SUFFICIENCY! It's been an eventful week. I've got a lot to fit in, and no money to pay for extra time, so bear with me […] For the first time in two weeks, I find myself with cheap and unlimited internet access! Hooray! Not free, but I'm willing to pay for the chance to get fully caught up on emails and journaling without feeling like I have to rush so that Maureen can get back online. I'm back in Auckland (the […] Drove the tractor in the orchards for two hours this morning, mowing down the five foot tall (seriously) grass, while C, C, and Maureen picked fruit to fill an order. About a half hour in, it started to sprinkle, and only got worse from there. Soaked, sopping, drenched, cold, and covered with bugs and bits […] |
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