September 21st, 2005:

It has been a long two weeks since i have arrived in New Zealand. The
sights out here have been amazing, and the days seem to slowly go by.
Life seems to be slowing down, and I am finding myself enjoying what
feels like an additional 6hours each day.

Today I am on a train headed to Wellington. The capital of New
Zealand, and the second largest city next to Auckland. Which I found
to be overwhelming, ugly, and just not the New Zealand that I came
for. The locals all agree with me, and suggested I travel south,
because the further south you go, the more relaxed the people are.
With any luck i might find some yoga studios down here, i really
would love to pick up a mat.

I just left the Chateau, one of the oldest and most historic hotels in
New Zealand. Built a mere 75 years ago, and on a world national park,
it holds a lot of memories, and possess a lot of character. The job
being offered sounded wonderful. 50 bucks a week covered rent, three
meals a day, seven days a week. endless opportunity to learn and grow
in the hospitality industry, and unlimited potential to save money
since it is located in the middle of freakin nowhere... well it is
right up against Mt. Doom (Lord of the Rings)... But i decided to turn
down the job after seeing how terrible the customer service was, how
old and aged the hotel rooms were, and finally after seeing the total
dump that they wanted me to stay in! Absolutely appalling.

On the way from the Chateau to the train station, an employee drove me
in his cousins car. I learned about how a large number of his family
members worked there, along with his girlfriend of 23 years, and their
18yr old son. As the american that i am, i blurted out something
about being married for so long, and he quickly corrected me. For 23
years these two have been dating passionately, they have an 18yr old
son, and never once became engaged. Trying to understand i tried to
figure out if perhaps this person not being religious didn't want to
bother with the marriage ritual. But to him, the only thing that comes
after marriage is the divorce papers. He feared getting in an argument
and the threat of divorce arising, then push come to shove and they
are divorced, more out of a show of ego than reason. Instead he
prefers to go for a walk, or fishing for a day or two to let
everything calm down and then coming back to his girlfriend, instead
of a wife.... .... then I was informed that on their 23rd anniversary
they discussed getting married on their 25th anniversary... it was
rather cute and romantic how he described their talk, and how he
brought it up... almost as if setting her right... .... i continually
wonder, if one is not religious, then what is the point of getting
married, this gentleman made it very clear that you don't need
marriage to stay together and that he has never thought about another
woman in the past 23yrs....

as i go from hospitality job offer to hospitality job offer, i think i
am starting to realize that if i want to enjoy the new Zealand
culture, hospitality is the last place i should be working. it is full
of transient workers, and visitors from around the world. Thus far, i
feel that i have seen very little of the culture that i came to see.
... its a good thing i've become mr. spontaneous ; - )

will send pics soon