Possibly the BEST christmas EVER

Merry Christmas!!!!!

It's boxing day for me actually but you get the idea.

My Franz Josef, New Zealand christmas was very possibly the best christmas yet. I've always wanted to go a year without celebrating christmas. I always wanted to just go away and be alone for it; skip all the drama and hubbub and whatnot. Not that I'm a christmas grump; I just find the whole thing over-rated, anti-climactic, and even a little bit shallow. I love my family and enjoy the getting together part of it, I LOVE my christmas carols and the decorations. It's just the stress part of it I can more than do without, and the commercial side of it that makes me feel sad and jaded.

But here, there are no stores and I have no tv. I didn't get anything but good cheer and love for christmas and that's all I wanted.

On christmas eve I worked until 9pm, went to visit a friend and bought myself a bottle of gin, then visited some more friends and watched a bit of Bridget Jones' Diary (one of my favorite movies) while eating their food (they made me do it!). After that the "festivities" began: I headed to the bar where there was supposed to be a raging party - there wasn't. But I danced up a storm none-the-less while I waited for more people to show up. Once they did, I managed to get eveyone on the balcony singing christmas carols at the top of our lungs! At midnight the bar had to close because in NZ you can't buy/sell alcohol on christmas day. There was a plan to head out the Glacier Compound (the little group of flats where I live) for a keg party - and party we did, singing carols all the way there. Any group of people on the street that we past were told to follow for the celebration. by the time we got to the appointed house it was a huge group! I can't remember the last house party I went to (oh wait, yes I do, it was at Guin and Ryan's old house - good times...). Anyways, the party was off the hook and I loved it. Every once in a while you would just hear a group of people burst into singing christmas carols, and yes, I was almost always in that group. There were even people on the roof! Hilarious!

The next day I got up to feed the kitten next door and played with him while talking to Chelsey on the phone. That's what christmas should be. Simple and genuine. I felt so content, I didn't want for anything else. I also got a call from one of the girls I became friends with here who left. It was so unexpected and so incredibly sweet! I was elated! In the afternoon I went to a place called the Forks where some friends were swimming, then we went to lake Okarito to watch a cricket game between the Forks folks and the Okarito people. It was beautiful - both in weather and sentimentality. The whole time I felt so happy and warm just to be there. It was awesome. For dinner we came home, I just did my own thing which was a bit lonely. I was really tired too from drinking during the day so I ended up taking a nap until like 10pm. Then I just went next door and played with the kitten and watched some tv alone. It was good though. I felt ok.

So that's it. One for the history books of mine. Today I'll just relax - it's raining again too. Tomorrow I'm going skydiving if the weather holds out. I'll blog about that too once I get a chance. I hope everyone at home has a wonderful christmas. Savour every moment that you can. I'm thinking of you and with you all in spirit!

love Chelsea

merry merry chrisssssssstmasssssssssss

this pre-christmas update includes information on the following:
1) job decisions made
2)roomates and neighbors
3)new and old friends
4)things I can't remember that I wanted to say thatI will hopefully remember at the end

#1 - After much debate I've decided to stay in Franz Josef. I surprised even myself with that one. The main reason being that I came to NZ to live my dream and going from one mediocre job to another isn't living a dream at all. The job in Queenstown paid less and I guess that was the second reason for not taking it. While I would have been in a place that actually had life happening in it, with real stores and things to do; I would have had my own car to use on the weekends and would have been living in a central location of the south island - I would have also being paying more for rent and spending my money more in general on things I can do at home. I realized that I would just be living a normal average existance in a really pretty place. It seemed counter to what I had set out to do. Living in Franz Josef however means living in a place that I don't always love and finding ways to make the most of it. The best part is that I'm actaully very happy here even when I'm not! Yay me.

#2 - The day I came home from Queenstown I had a new roommate. I'm not thrilled about it, but I am getting used to it. She's actaully quite nice and a true west-coast Kiwi from Greymouth. She's only here for 5 weeks and I remind myself of that when I'm wiping up water of the bathroom floor... There is one other new roommate in my unit - my neighbor got a kitten for christmas!!! I met him today and he's adorable. I haven't played with a kitten in such a long time I actually forgot what it was like. He's so small!!!! Expect to see more pictures soon.

#3 - on the bus coming back from Queenstown I met a bunch of people that I'll never forget thanks to a flat tire. One of the guys was even from Calgary! It was great. I was excited right fromthe start to have a flat tire. I was half-asleep when we started hearing a thumping sound then stopped. When I realized what was happening I exclaimed "what an adventure!" and everyone laughed. Someone said "if a flat tire is an adventure to you, you must come from a very boring place"..... If only they lived in Franz Josef... It was cool though, everyone got out and introduced themselves to one another. It was an interesting mix of people and we were all quite positive despite being delayed an hour and a half. There were even 3 buddist monks with us! People were getting pictures taken together and interviewing one another on camcorders. I love when stuff like that happens because thats when real life happens. You are forced to give up your plans and go with whatever happens. Some choose to enjoy it, and many others do not. I'm proud to say I was thrilled by it - perhaps I'm staying true to my dream after all.

#4 - shoot. I didn't really remember.... ummmmm.... I saw my first glow worm the other night walking home from the bar. I live at the end of a dirt road with no street lights so I carry a flash light with me all the time. I had seen something glowing a few nights before but on this particular night it had been rainning and I was soaked from jumping in puddles. I figured I was wet anyways so why not wonder into the bush? It was really neat to see up close. .... hmm, what else... well I'm sorta dating someone. But I'm not going to talk about it. Ha!... nothing else really to report. OH YEAH! The french-canadian girl that I was travelling with in Paihia is in Franz and got a job at the bar I frequent. She starts wednesday (kareoke night!) and lives here now! I'm very excited about that. Oh, also I might buy a car. And I'm going skydivng on the 27th hopefully. And I'm going home to do some baking..... and I'm sending out christmas cards that you'l probably get in january some time.

and I miss and love you all.
I hope everyone has a warm, happy, and healthy christmas! I will blog again next year :P

love Chelsea

ahhhhhh HA!

Can you believe it?! I'm updating again. Incredible.

My last night in Queenstown. I'll be heading back to Franz Josef in the early morning. Today I took the gondola up to the top of a mountain then did a cool luge thing a couple times. I'm a bit too tired to explain it, sorry. Rest assured I had a good time. I also had my interview today for a mobile massage company. It went well and the job offer is on the table if I want it. I just need some time to consider my options. I wouldn't mind living here though. It's dry for starters, ha ha! There is life here and a climbing gym. There's even outdoor climbing if I want to go. I think I wouldn't have too much trouble making friends either. Soooooo I'm leaning towards yes... but I'm extremely indecisive and, as I told my dad yesterday on the phone, in 15 minutes I'll change my mind again so it's not even worth talking about right now. Give it some time... I will take the liberty of looking for potential places to live just to get an idea of what I can expect to pay for rent. Queenstown is quite expensive.

Speaking of expensive, I also took advantage of a little retail therapy. Since I've arrive in NZ I've gained at least 10 lbs - not even exaggerating! So all the clothes that I brought that I was so excited to wear doesn't fit me nicely anymore and I've been feeling very blah. I treated myself to some spiffy new running shoes and a pink skipping rope. I'm looking forward to getting off my ass and burning some blubber.

That's it for now. I am putting up more pictures as I type this (multi-tasking genious that I am) so check those out. Keep warm Edmonton (and to the rest of my loved ones across Canada).

love!

heh heh

so......

I'm clearly not going to finish my previous post because a) I've forgotten what I really wanted to say and b) it's kinda boring if you're not me. Mainly I just want everyone, where ever they are, to take a look into the history of the people around them and the places they live in. It'll be great, I promise.

The latest news is this:

I have now done my first week of full-time work at the hot pools. I work sorta odd hours that prevent me from being productive in terms of blog/email up keep, or keeping proper groceries stocked. The week was good and I even got two tips! (tipping in NZ isn't common practice and generally only comes from north americans). My feelings towards Franz Josef have been improving as my friendships are developing. If it weren't for the people I'd be looooooong gone.

At the moment I'm in Queenstown for a mini getaway before the busy season starts and they don't let me leave. My contract at GHP has been changed from 4 days on 3 days off, to 5 days on 2 days off - which is a huge piss-off because that was one of the main appeals of the job to get the 3 days off in a row for "tiki tours". So, I saw this as my last chance for a little while to get out. It came just in time too because it has been pouring rain for the last several days. My shoes finally have a chance to dry out.

There is one other reason I'm in Queenstown. I have a job interview for a mobile massage company. This way I can also see how I like Queenstown before moving all the way over here. This place is beautiful, btw. I'm seriously considering it. But I must wait and see how the interview goes tomorrow evening. Keep your fingers crossed!

One last thing, I'm finally going to catch up on my pictures. They may be a bit out of order but you can see shots of where I work (BEST office in town) my new flat the day I moved in, some of my friends here in town, and the ever popular kareoke night! Enjoy :)

ps. the title of my previous blog was just a translation of a maori saying that made me laugh. I haven't lost my mind quite yet.

Are you listening or are your ears painted on for decoration?

first: I'm sorry for all the forthcoming typos. I have to hurry because I am behind schedule in my day (for 2 very good reasons) and will thus mash the keyboard in a hasty effort to blog. Think of it as a fun game of mad libs...

What has been going on:

1) I'm not longer sick (though I think my allergies are kicking in but that's tolerable).

2) I have moved from the moldy 6-person-3-bedroom house and into a two bedroom unit of a dulpex in a place I loveling refer to as the Compound.

3) I went to a fascinating cultural experience on tuesday and wednesday that was not only quite exclusive, but very inspirational.

ok so I have nothing more to say about #1. So #2, the compound is named as such because it is owned by the company that owns the hot pools that I work at. That company is called Ngai Tahu Tourism. They also own the Glacier Guides which is a company that takes thousands of tourists on to the Franz Josef glacier each year. For anyone who may not know, it's the glacier that makes Franz Josef a big toursit stop on the map. I have yet to visit the glacier. Anyways, the compound is mostly for the glacier guides to live in seeing as there are so many (on a side note, the glacier guides, or GG's, are renowned for their habit of sleeping with as many customers as possible and passing along a wide variety of STI's. More about that later perhaps). My place is one of the best units you can get on the compound because it's right near the front so it gets a bit more sunlight than the others that are nestled into the rainforest. The compound itself is just on the edge of thise edge or a town. In fact, the paved road ends block away fromthe drive to the compound and there are no street lights after that point so I've taken to carrying a flashlight (which doubles as a blunt weapon when walking home in the middle of the night). The place itself actually smells like pee. I'm working of fixing that. But I have space in the fridge for my food - I can even use the freezer! I have a room ALLLLL to myself, AND I have hot water. Why am I braging about things that should be standard? ... I'll let you answer that for yourself.... At the moment I don't have a roommate so I'm living alone. I needed to get out of the other place. I love the girls that I lived and worked with, but I need my space and alone time and there was none of that there. I didn't even have a proper shelf in the cupboard or the fridge! My neighbors at the new place are girls so that's good. Soon I will have a roommate and hopefully it will be a fellow massage therapist or at least a girl... or at least not an asshole (they smell).

#3!!!!!! This is the really exciting part for me. Ngai Tahu Tourism is owned by the Ngai Tahu iwi, or maori tribe. For that reason, I asked when I was hired if I would have the oportunity to take part in cultural events or something. I was extremely lucky in getting invited to a marae (pronounced "mar-eye") which is a maori meeting house. They are considered private property and you aren't aloud to go in one without an invitation. There are also protocol that you need to follow while you are there. I'm not sure how best to describe it, I want to say it's like a church but it isn't. But it is sacred and the main part of the building I was in was full of the most amazing carvings I have EVER seen. They were magnificent. I wanted to trace all the lines with my fingers. There where no cameras aloud obviously but I will try to find some pictures in books in the furture. The two days that we were there we talked about maori history and the history of Makaawhio ("mah-kah-fee-yo") which is like a sub-tribe of Ngai Tahu I guess. We also learned about the Te Reo Maori language and how to pronounce things properly. Many places in NZ still have their maori names so that was an important one. The language itself is experiencing a revival over the last two generations since it has been put back into schools, but when NZ was fist colonized it only took them one generation to learn english then 3 generation to lose te reo maori. It's still not a language thats used for everyday communication so it's forced to evolve to include modern things like computers and texting. We also talked about some of the maori stories of creation - my favorite! I love that kind of stuff!

(ah crap! I have to go! I'm such a slow typer! I will continue this blog tomorrow... sorry!)