Hello out there! It's been so long, too long, since I have written here. I apologize for keeping you all hanging out there. It's funny how once your life settles down a bit you tend to get wrapped up in the day to day. I have had lots of time to update but for some reason I guess I haven't felt like as many exciting things have happened, even though thats not the case. Less movement in a physical sense but just as many great things have been happening since moving to Wellington. I'll get into a bit of an overview of the last 2 months of living here...
So I think I left off by saying that once I arrived in Wellington, it only took me a week to find a job and a place to live. It actually only took me 2 days to find the job! I got into Wellington early one morning and went to stay with a woman named Amy. Amy and I had never met before I came to stay with her in Wellington. One of our mutual friends who I had worked with back in Melbourne set us up. From the moment I met Amy she treated me like we always knew each other. She shared her home and showed me around the city and made sure I met lots of people to befriend as well. I am sure that most of the good things that have happened to me since coming to Wellington were mostly due to having such an amazing host and such a great introduction to the city.
From the get go I decided that if it was meant to be, it would be. I would look for a job and a place to live and if it happened, then I would stay, and if not, onwards to the next city/town/place. So, on my second day in the city, I went out with a handful of resumes and started handing them out to every cafe that I thought looked like a nice place to bake. I walked along Cuba street, which is a main popular street in the city that has lots of cafes and restaurants on it. I was also just touring around and getting to know the city. I walked into a little used bookstore called Quilters Bookshop. It was really beautiful and had a cafe attached to it. While browsing through the books I overheard a woman in the cafe say "yep, we do all of the baking here, I am the baker" to a customer. So I decided to just check and see if they needed someone. I went over and said, "Hi, you do all of the baking here? Any chance you need another baker?" really thinking that of course they probably wouldn't since she just told that man that SHE was the baker. She said "Yea! Want to come in tomorrow for a trial?" And that was that! Immediately Agnes, the afore mentioned baker and I, hit it off. She is Canadian and has been living in New Zealand for the past 8 years or so with her Kiwi husband and their two children. Before living in Wellington she had her own chocolate shop in Christchurch and before living in New Zealand she lived in Japan. She is a very talented pastry chef and a hilarious human being. I came in the next morning for a trial shift where I showed her I could make a decent muffin and chocolate chip cookie. I was hired and the next week I started. The cafe is called Milk Crate and is very VERY small. The kitchen it self is more like a big closet, just large enough to fit a standard house oven and a sink. We produce lots of beautiful cakes and tasty treats from it though, and some of the best coffee in the whole city.
From there, I found a small room to sublet for 6 weeks from a German student and then during that time period found the house that I am renting in now. The house that I am in now is one of the best things that happened to me since moving here. It is just outside of the city, a walk along the bays and up a massive hill. I live with 6 other people, all ranging between 23 and 30 and all creative and welcoming. I knew it was the right place for me to live when I came to check it out and Dayle one of my housemates was playing accordion and I noticed there were 3 pianos in the living room. We have weekly sunday night feasts where everyone cooks something in our big kitchen and we drink lots of wine and eat lots of cheese. The house is very big and has incredible views of the ocean and the city. We have 3 separate decks that are longing to be used once the weather is warm enough. It's still so strange being in winter rather than summer in August.
Wellington itself is like a great big town. It reminds me of New Orleans a bit in that everyone knows everyone and there is a good spirit about. There is great live music (although sorry but New Orleans will always win the best in that category) and beautiful beaches all along the city. It is in no way like New Orleans in that it is extremely hilly and very clean- and SO safe! You are always just five minutes away from some beautiful hiking path that will take you up through the bush in the mountains or along the water. There is great Malaysian food and the best coffee I have had anywhere. I used to say that about Melbourne but now I am torn. I never thought I would drink black coffee in my life but Wellington has done it to me. I drink long blacks and every once in awhile a piccolo or "roady" as they are called at the cafe I work in, which is like a double shot of espresso and half the amount of milk that comes in a latte.
I already feel so settled down in a way and have met so many great people living here. I have taken up spinning wool! I bought a beautiful spinning wheel and have a friend teaching me who has been spinning for a few years now. I figure the country of sheep is probably the best place a person can learn such a skill. Also, I am just about to start a new baking venture where I will be doing a lot more creative stuff...it is still just in the beginning stages, so I will have to write more about that next time. That is a overview of what big changes have happened in the last couple of months. I no longer feel as homesick but I am always thinking of you all back home. Until next time! Also, will try to put up some photos soon.
