Thirst

These are some of the many things I have discovered about Wellington in the past few days:

*Food at the local "Dairy" or grocery store, is ridiculously expensive. A can of corn is 4$.
*Hours of operation can be unpredictable. "5pm-Late" or "Be back in 10 minutes" or just being closed because the owner feels like it, is very common.
*Cafes are rarely ever open on Saturdays.
*Most businesses are closed on Mondays
*Most places close at 4:30.
*Everyone goes out on Saturday nights. Friday-dead
*If you go out Saturday, don't bring a jacket, unless you want to carry it all night, or check it at every place you go. SO, no one wears jackets out on Saturday night.
*Flat Whites are the common coffee drink of choice. Pretty delicious.
*No one dries laundry in a machine. Clothing is strewn across a persons room or racks.
*If you want to ride the bus, you have to flag it down, or it wont stop at the bus stop.
*Liquor is called "Spirits", a much better name.
*Peanut butter here tastes significantly different. There is less sugar or salt or both.
*Ketchup (tomato sauce) is hard to find and one usually has to pay for a side of it.
*The street sewer coverings have neat designs on them.

This week I found some amazing areas of Wellington that I can see myself later calling my home. I discovered Cuba St. most of the places on this street make you think of Empire Records. Near the street, I went to a movie, "Boy". The movie was based on a Maori boy, who spends a few weeks with a father he hasn't seen in many years. I saw the trailer and when the boy mentioned his favorite person in the world was Michael Jackson, I knew I had no other choice but to see the movie. The theater was neat looking with blue chairs and brick walls. I found out they are holding a film festival there in a couple weeks. That could be dangerous for me.

After the movie, my group went to a midnight cafe. This cafe had so many vegan options, I didn't know what to do with myself. I had the most amazing strawberry milkshake. There was also a sweet twilight zone pin ball machine, along with those sit down pacman screens. Yeah, this place made me feel like Molly Ringwald, in Pretty in Pink. The poor kid who is super cool, who works at the coolest record store.

Not far from this midnight cafe place is the greatest bar, called Mighty Mighty. I walked in and instantly fell in love. The group who I was with, was not so pleased. They wanted more of a "lets get plastered, while trying to look hot, and then hook up on the dance floor" bar. After the group left the bar, I decided to call it a night. I already tried to go back with other friends, who would appreciate the bar, but that night an album release party was underway.

The last place I must share is a bar/cafe/eatery called Enigma. located practically across the street from that sweet movie theater. I have decided that it will be my weekly place. There, I had the best veggie lasagna I have ever had, stuffed with celery, beans, carrots, and much more. They serve coffee in bowls. Its the type of place where you can talk with a Friend for hours, do some studying, eat some great food or just people watch.

One of my favorite things about Wellington is that when I cant stand the city life, I can easily and quickly make my way to the mountains, ocean, or rolling hills filled with fog. This is a necessity. To escape to the natural world, so I can find my place again. Hear myself.

I am not home sick. I love the city, I love my studio with its fantastic view. I am excited for my classes. I love that I walk everywhere and can have tea 11 times a day. I love the little nooks that I have found for myself. However, something has been off. This week, I figured it out pretty quickly. Somehow I am one of the oldest people in my group. I have gone to parties where 19 and 20 year olds are asking for ratings of how "hot" they are, and who wants to make out with the make out slut tonight...I think I went through that type of insecure phase for 2 weeks in high school. Many of the people who are my age, want to party and drink every night. Last night we went dancing. I love to dance, more than many things in this world. Initially, I was having a great time. I got fries with my friends, who also shares a love for Lost and Harry Potter, and then we went dancing at two places. I was having a great time, but then I kept slowing down. That night, I decided that its not really any fun to be groped by a stranger. Its wonderful to be sexy and be proud to be a woman, and I like to show that as much as any girl on the dance floor- but I guess I am a prude and don't really think any man is sexy enough just by his dance moves or the way he looks to grope me. I am not that kind of girl. I would rather sit down at a cafe/pub and talk for a few hours and see if I am attracted to his mind. This is not limited to men of interest. I woke up hungry for conversation and discovery. I didn't come here to party (although its important for me to be able to relax and be fun, I get that) I came here to grow and learn and explore. I hoped to come here and find others who wished to grow and explore with me. I love to help people, but I didn't come here to guide people to grow up, and follow people as their learn lessons I have already learned. I have the rest of my life to do that. New Zealand is a time for me to stretch my arms and fingertips and learn as much as I can. I hoped to do this with new friends beside me. I wanted to climb a mountain of discovery, reach the top and feel nothing but happiness...and then look over to my side and share my experience with someone who understands and appreciates the journey, and doesn't just think the view from the top is "nice".

So I was feeling a bit low this morning. I woke up with my first wine head ache. I wanted nothing more than to sleep the morning away. I asked myself if maybe I picked the wrong program. Should I have found a volunteer abroad programme instead? There was some self doubt. However, I promised myself that I would find the Sunday Farmer's Market with one of my favorite friends. SO, I climbed out of the sleeping bag and made the journey. I am so thankful that I did.

I walked around a corner to find so many farm vendors. Everywhere I looked was produce. I could smell the soil still fresh on the carrots. I loved listening to vendor's children, work weighing food and giving change. I bought 6 huge apples, 3 avocados, and 9 kiwi fruits for 7 dollars. I was able to get the better produce thanks to a tip from my friend's Kewi roommate. He told us we cant get there too early, because farmers put anything on the top layer. You don't want to get there too late because then you get the bruised produce. You want to shop between 9 and 9:45. This is what we did and I thank him. On the way home, I tore into a kiwi fruit. I literally didn't speak for 10 minutes and just enjoyed the taste in my mouth, the sunshine on my face and the pleasant walk home. It was the best kiwi fruit I have ever tasted. This morning, the farmer's market quenched my thirst.

I began to think of all the people I will meet in my philosophy, religion and sociology classes, my global leadership programme, and the tramping club that I am signing up for tomorrow. Ive only been here a week. I already feel at home in my room, and the little nooks around the city. Now is the time to grow and embrace my activities. I cant wait to grow and learn from others around me. I anticipate finding those moments, people, places, that will quench my thirst.