[ellenmelon]

well, ive been in christchurch for a full 2 weeks now. things are going ok, though money is tight. i cant start working until we're settled in wellington (where we've decided to live even if i dont get into college up there.)
christchurch is in ways exactly the same, and really different.i think the things that have changed arent that obvious to any one but me, as i think its more me thats changed than my surroundings.
some of the malls are bigger (and therefore insane to try and navigate),the city center has tidied up a bit and some shops are moved around/gone.

people i knew before leaving are still living their lives exactly as they were (with a few exceptions) and they make me feel held back in a way. that sounds nasty but i think experiencing life in a different country changes your outlook on life and makes you see things from a different angle.im now at a point in my life that i know exactly what i want to do so im at a different place in my life to some of my peers.

on a waaay lighter note. man,did i miss my wee car that i just got on friday.i missed driving out to sumner (friday night was gorgeous out there, too bad about the boy racers ;) ) and not living my life by a timetable. driving up from timaru was brilliant. i also missed a few foodstuffs and its bliss not paying loads for a bag of pineapple lumps :)
the kiwi accent cracks me up now and its wierd being a "regular" person again, not the token kiwi :( i miss being special!!

dislikes though: petrol (aaaaaargh!) crappy expensive fruit and the very insular nature of the press here. oh how i miss thee bbc and you're no ads and decent news coverage! (the amount of ads here is shocking)

the irish boyfriend has settled in no bother which is great! he met all my mothers side of the family last week at a funeral and he coped grand with the continuous "where are you from" etc questions that i got asked in ireland. its hard to tell yet does he "like" NZ but i think he does..hasnt said otherwise!u (by the by, we had no problems in auck at immigration..very friendly people..)

i definately want to get back "over there" after i finish college. just wanted to get NZ out of my system but i miss ireland and the uk..when i graduate ill have to work there i think cause new zealand is too teensy for what i will be doing!

anyway, just wanted to get my thoughts out on "paper"..hope ye all didnt mind my rambling.



hope you are all enjoying the nearness of summer! its been hot and cold here but at least its not another irish winter!

slán

[Diny]

Excellent post, great to hear views that fly the flag for both sides. Just goes to show that there's positives and negatives about everywhere in the world.

Enjoyed reading your post - please keep us updated.

Diny

[Hannah]

Cool post - thanks! Great fun to read. When you get back to Ireland you'll be able to experience being the token kiwi with the funny accent again! I thought it was hilarious when the kiwis commented on my accent (but i haven't got an accent, it's you guys that have the accent!!!!) and couldn't understand me! I got used to their accent, but the amount of people who couldnt get what i was saying used to cause me much amusement. When my daughter found her first friend (also 8 yrs old) in the house next door to where we were renting I had to chuckle as they spoke to each other through walkie talkie and kept saying 'what?' and 'pardon?'. Eventually they gave up and just played without speaking. still, play doesn't really need words when you are 8!!!

Hope you keep enjoying Welly, and hope Irish boyfriend has heaps of fun until you go back to Ireland. What are you studying out of interest?

[ellenmelon]

Excellent post, great to hear views that fly the flag for both sides. Just goes to show that there's positives and negatives about everywhere in the world.

Enjoyed reading your post - please keep us updated.

Diny

thanks for the comment.ill be the first to admit that i had the rose tinted view of NZ for a while there about a year ago and being back has changed that a bit but im still glad to be back..
:)

[ellenmelon]

Cool post - thanks! Great fun to read. When you get back to Ireland you'll be able to experience being the token kiwi with the funny accent again! I thought it was hilarious when the kiwis commented on my accent (but i haven't got an accent, it's you guys that have the accent!!!!) and couldn't understand me! I got used to their accent, but the amount of people who couldnt get what i was saying used to cause me much amusement. When my daughter found her first friend (also 8 yrs old) in the house next door to where we were renting I had to chuckle as they spoke to each other through walkie talkie and kept saying 'what?' and 'pardon?'. Eventually they gave up and just played without speaking. still, play doesn't really need words when you are 8!!!

Hope you keep enjoying Welly, and hope Irish boyfriend has heaps of fun until you go back to Ireland. What are you studying out of interest?

you're welcome :D the comment about your kids using the walkie talkies cracked me up!! i had to use one on a festival i worked at in ireland and they couldnt understand me!! so funny. at first i was kind of offended but we all laughed about it so its all good :)
not in welly yet (unfortunately?) but will be there in a few weeks from the looks of things.
im going to be studying a (and this is its official, slightly longwinded title) bachelor of performing arts-management.im aiming to get into more of the music festival side of things when ive graduated (hopefully in ireland or england cause there is a lot more work over there..)

[Hannah]

Bachelor of performing arts management eh! You could get some experience in New Plymouth over the festival of lights period!!! (Dec - Feb). Would be a good excuse to visit the best park in NZ!!!!!! (but them i'm a bit biased!)