Back in New Zealand
Feb. 10th, 2006 03:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ceitfiannaI slept and slept last night, so now I'm feeling more human though I find myself still a bit tired. The time difference is so huge that so far the only thing I've found that works is just keeping myself busy and active until its time for bed. Now I will try and give a bit of a description of what felt like two or three days of travel from Philadelphia. I started out packing on Tuesday morning and worrying that I'd forget something and worried that I was bringing too much stuff or that I'd be late for my plane. None of these things happened and it all arrived safetly as did I. So around noon, my parents and I went off to the airport, where checking in was easy and my bags were checked all the way through to New Zealand. I then had some time to get a rather dissapointing sandwich in the Philly airport and get on the terribly crowded flight to LA, where I was squished in a middle seat next to a woman with unnaturally pink skin taht matched her shirt, who was nice but kept asking for the time. I tried to read and watched the movie with no sound and finally arrived in LA. I had to transfer to another terminal, but my luggage was already taken care of, but I'd forgotten how annoying airport secruity is especially since this was my first time going through with a laptop. I ended up through alright just worn out.
In LA, the wait was nice and I enjoyed some nuts and started a new book: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell that I reccommend very highly, I haven't finished it yet, but I keep finding excuses to sit down and read, luckily Wellington provides many charming cafes for that purpose. On the plane to New Zealand, I was squished again, in the one of those four people central aisles, so I really didn't get enough sleep at all. But once I was in New Zealand, it felt like coming home. Christchurch was wet and rainy and I had a couple of hours wait before I went to Wellington, so breakfast adn just feeling better.
The best flight of the entire trip was from Christchurch to Welllington on a small litte plane, where I sat in a comfy seat next to the window and knew I'd come to the right place. Though I think my bag was large enough or my stay long enough that Air New Zealand really wanted to be sure of me. I was paged before I got on the plane from LA so they could check my documents, then again in Wellington. In Wellington, I was met and put on a shuttle bus straight to the Clemersons house. Wellington weather decided to be lovely with blue skies and warm weather, for a second I thought I was back in Greece. I settled into their lovely house with a green garden and train right nearby. Then I got on the train and went into town to walk, get lunch by the waterfront and keep myself moving for fear of falling asleep. I met the Clemersons housesitter, Simon, who does internet work and we talked a bit. He reminds a bit of my older brother Aaron except my age, skinnier, more nervous and less sure of himself. So good conversation, but the house felt so weird with all the Clemersons away in Europe. Especially since I keep finding reminders of them and I miss walking with Rowan.
Life is good and Wellington has rained on me a bit, but its all mixed in with sun. My orientation doesn't start until Wednesday so I'm having a nice time just wanderering, devouring my new book in pretty cafes and reacquainting myself with this city that I just really love and enjoy. Soon, I'll be getting ready for a new semester in a new university and I feel ready. I'm still a little tired, but just a matter of adjusting. It feels right to be back in this country of warm people, changable weather and rugby.
In LA, the wait was nice and I enjoyed some nuts and started a new book: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell that I reccommend very highly, I haven't finished it yet, but I keep finding excuses to sit down and read, luckily Wellington provides many charming cafes for that purpose. On the plane to New Zealand, I was squished again, in the one of those four people central aisles, so I really didn't get enough sleep at all. But once I was in New Zealand, it felt like coming home. Christchurch was wet and rainy and I had a couple of hours wait before I went to Wellington, so breakfast adn just feeling better.
The best flight of the entire trip was from Christchurch to Welllington on a small litte plane, where I sat in a comfy seat next to the window and knew I'd come to the right place. Though I think my bag was large enough or my stay long enough that Air New Zealand really wanted to be sure of me. I was paged before I got on the plane from LA so they could check my documents, then again in Wellington. In Wellington, I was met and put on a shuttle bus straight to the Clemersons house. Wellington weather decided to be lovely with blue skies and warm weather, for a second I thought I was back in Greece. I settled into their lovely house with a green garden and train right nearby. Then I got on the train and went into town to walk, get lunch by the waterfront and keep myself moving for fear of falling asleep. I met the Clemersons housesitter, Simon, who does internet work and we talked a bit. He reminds a bit of my older brother Aaron except my age, skinnier, more nervous and less sure of himself. So good conversation, but the house felt so weird with all the Clemersons away in Europe. Especially since I keep finding reminders of them and I miss walking with Rowan.
Life is good and Wellington has rained on me a bit, but its all mixed in with sun. My orientation doesn't start until Wednesday so I'm having a nice time just wanderering, devouring my new book in pretty cafes and reacquainting myself with this city that I just really love and enjoy. Soon, I'll be getting ready for a new semester in a new university and I feel ready. I'm still a little tired, but just a matter of adjusting. It feels right to be back in this country of warm people, changable weather and rugby.
