I'm a survivor

In case you hadn't heard, I'm here. While the currency exchange rate is in my favor, the prices of most things in NZ are still obscenely high. The money that I brought, which seemed like so much before, isn't going to afford me too much. A place to stay, groceries, and mostly low-end attractions. I'm making some exceptions for black water rafting in the glow worm caves, and possibly swimming with the dolphins. We'll see.

Here are pictures of my party!



Aaaaaand back to New Zealand. It took me three full days to figure out which side of the sidewalk to walk on. Seriously! I became very self-conscious about it! I mean, I know that down here you drive on the left, so does that mean that you also walk on the left? The answer, I have learned, is yes.

The last two nights I stayed at a hostel that strongly resembled a college dorm, and I was getting sad because with all of the sexual tension, none of the girls were interested in talking to me, and the boys with the flipped-up collars would only talk long enough to decide if they would be able to get it on. (As they say.) Tonight, though, I've transferred to the hostel a half-block down, and things are much better. I'm in a room with two enthusiastic German girls who say things like, "He just told us to get a wan [van]!" and "Oh, I'm just pissing [kidding]." It's great.

Tonight I eat pasta in the kitchen and drink a bottle of wine while watching The Poseidon Something followed by The Davinci Code. Neither of these movies particularly interest me, but the people are fun, and it should be good to kick back and rest before I head up north tomorrow.

P.S. It has been rather chilly here, much to my disappointment.