Yes, Its Been 5 Months

alright. here's the deal. i hate blogging. i am not a blogger. i don't own a computer. it is costing my precious dinero to be writing this now (and missing my bus, so it is costing me sleep as well).

i will now embark on a brief summary of each month, chosing special events and people.

diciembre:
- turned the big 2-5. celebrated with kylie and her husband rico. kylie is definitely one of my closest friends here in welly. shes 33, a vet nurse, a trained fashion designer and pretty much the coolest
- christmas in summer. totally weird, but great. worked part of the day. celebrated baby jesus witht the family i lived with in early nov.

enero:
- beach day pretty much everyday. scorching, lyall, princess, the nude one, oriental. basically, have come to realise that i always need to live by the ocean.
-worked on average 120-140 a fortnight most of nov, dec, and jan. for all you yanks out there, a fortnight is two weeks.

febrero (i think i spelled that wrong):
- the wellington 7's. big 2 day rugby tournament. new zealand lost, i think the brits won. but on the second night of the tourn, there is a HUGE block party on courtenay place, the main drag of road where the night life occurs. totally sweet. and really hot out.
- the mom came to visit. it was awesome. we hung in wellington and then did a whirlwind tour of the south island. did a big old loop. we rented a car and i drove the entire distance. it was tiring, but really beautiful as well. we went to picton, nelson, greymouth, franz joseph and fox glacier, wanaka, queenstown, dunedin, christchurch, kiakoura, and ended back in picton. in 6 days.
- thanksgiving in february. the mamasita and i but on a thanksgiving dinner for mis amigos in karori. about 30 people. it was delicious. and stress free. and expensive. we decided to celebrate t-day together because i will most likely be here again next year.

marzo:
- kimi ora camp. the dude i support at work, reuben, had school camp in the beginning of march and his school invited me along. it was without a doubt one of coolest experiences of my life. the majority of these kids are in wheelchairs, but that does not stop them, their parents or teachers from doing pretty much anything. they went swimming, horsebackriding, watersliding, boating, rock climbing and HEAPS of other stuff. it was very special for me to spend that time with reuben.
- new gay best friend!! brandon, and i love him. we met because my cousin is dating his friend in the states (he is from san fran, i know i know). he is here on a working holiday visa is well. we totally hit it off, and get along really well. AND he is half mexican. i now have someone i can speak spanish to.

abril:
- i was offered a job working at reuben's school as a T.A.. i am really excited and want to take it, but there has been some complications with my visa renewal. i hope to at least to continue relieving, or able to work something out with the school. no matter what, i will continue to work my current job as a support worker, but i might cut back my hours so i can work full time as a teacher's aide.
- loads of new friends. nathalie (german here on same visa) and caroline are from reuben's school, kimi ora. they are wonderful and i love spending time with them. those are the main ones, the rest are aquintances, for now.
- since feb, there is free pool on wed nights at a bar called hotel bristol. love it.

other favourite things:
- i pass parliament everday going to and from work.
- i actually live in new zealand.
- newtown. my favourite neighbourhood in wellington. i am looking for flats there. sick of living in karori. too far out, and my roommates are a bit older than me (31 and 40). newtown is full of life, and karori is full of old rich people. if i wanted that, i should have stayed in geneva.
- peirced my nose. yes, and i like it.
-reading heaps of awesome books. brave new world, sons and lovers, clockwork orange (which is invading my dreams, and freaking me out a bit), some short stories by albert camus, and fides et ratio (again. letter by PJP II).
- sudoku and crosswords. but i love them anywhere.
- rugby!
- cuba street. awesome cafes and bars.
- indian food.
- the fact that i live on the ocean (or harbour really) and that i am also surrounded by hills. and drive about 20 mins north and you can see snow-capped mountains. pretty sweet.
- reuben. the kid makes my day.
- the kiwi accent. sexy!
- driving on the left. i cant help but feel cool.

things i miss from the old u.s. of a:
-portillos.
- having a car. good ole chupes. rest in peace old friend.
- people.
- triscuit crackers. the rosemary and olive oil ones.
- JEOPARDY!!! you have NO idea. i havent seen an episode since last august. i might just die.
- i know i said people already, but i hate that everyone's lives are changing and moving on and i dont get to be apart of it. so lets make a deal. everything stay the same until i get back, ok? no more babies or marriages or crap like that until i return.
- family.
- the chicago skyline.
- MY BED!

ok, i hope that informs you somewhat of whats going on in my life. i will try to update more. so maybe again in june?

oh yeah, i am applying for a new visa/work permit. i am going for a two year one. but basically, i dont have a return ticket to the states and am not entirely sure when i will come back. and when i do, it will be for a visit and not for good. the goal is to visit in mid-september thru mid-october. we shall see what happens with my visa/job/money.

love to all,

jewels