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Hello again,
Things are good, I am in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the suburb of Bishopdale for those who know ChCh. I've been here nearly 2 months, yes, I know I am slow at updating this blog, sorry!
Before leaving South Korea, I had been in contact with many rugby clubs in Auckland and ChCh. I wanted to play high level rugby and experience a Kiwi lifestyle with a nice crew. I was recommended by various parties to head to ChCh for a more fun experience than the big city. Sadly, the level of rugby is not as high as Auckland where most of the Black Ferns (National team players) are located. There are a few Black Ferns in the league here and they are easily recognizable not only by their skills but by their sheer size!
So I arrived in ChCh in mid-March and was met at the airport by new landlord/flatmate/team manager Sonya and 2 of my new Burnside teammates. It was a Saturday and the Crusaders (the professional rugby team based in ChCh) were playing that night. Our Burnside coaches kindly donated Sonya and I some sweet tickets for the game! What a great way
to start my stay here. I had been loosely following the Super 14 competition (Australian, South African and Kiwi teams battling for the title over a few months) in South Korea and it was amazing to see a game live! It is completely different. It looks much bigger and more professional on TV. The jet lag hit me pretty hard and I could barely keep my eyes open so we headed straight home after the game. In the next few days, I searched for a job, went to interviews, walked my way to places and tested the public transportation system.
I also started my rugby training. There's a brand-new YMCA gym opened recently which is about 8 minutes walk from the house (now 3 minutes bike). It has been awsome! The facilities are great and there are spinning and pilates classes that coincide with my schedule. I was hoping to find a job close enough to walk and I luckily found a barrista/server job in a Cafe/Deli and Garden Centre. The place is called Terra Viva. It's very nice and almost always busy so time goes by fast. It takes me about 7 minutes to bike there and they
House Party
Yes, those are chips. Only in NZ! feed me lunch! Heaven!
Rugby has also been underway for a while now. We have played 5 games, we won 3 and lost 2. There are a few great players on the team but most girls are inexperienced youngsters. Some of them have amazing potential and I hope to see them achieve it this season. There are 9 teams in our league and after the first round of games, they will split the top four into Div.1 and the bottom five into Div.2 (It's all tentative, nothing confirmed). Our goal for now is to make it into the top 4. We have a decent chance. I'm getting a little frustrated as the level of play is much lower than I expected so I am eager for the representative season to start. I have sent my application for the Canterbury provincial team and I hope to hear from the coaches soon. That's where the fun (and all the Black Ferns) will begin!
So for the last 2 months, I have been training and working, that's about it. We went golfing one weekend which was quite fun even though I came out as the biggest loser. I also was invited
Poppy
Poppy, in the corner by the door where she's supposed to stay but of course she never does! to my flatmate Sonya's family's farm in Amberley for Easter and that was awsome. We ate copious amounts of mum food, we went for a walk with the two dogs (one of them is Sonya's, her name is Poppy), we relaxed and watched rugby with her parents and brothers and sister. It was nice to have a bit of a family weekend. On Saturday nights, all the teams (9-10 of them I think) head to the clubrooms by the 7 rugby fields. Players of the day for each team are honored and often there is rugby to watch on tv. Sometimes we head to a house party after the clubrooms or we go out in town for some clubbing or some fundraising.
Last week, I was off on Wednesday and instead of going to my pilates class, I headed to Rob's (one of my coaches) farm on the ourskirts of town and I helped him out. He runs a few businesses so I packed some boxes for him, we went out and delivered a ball of hay with a tractor to some far away cattle, we transferred cattle from pasture to pasture with a 4WD (quatre-roue). It was interesting
Crusaders
It's a big even when the Crusaders play at home, I managed to attend 3 games before they got eliminated in the semis. but not really a day off so Rob paid me in food (they are onto me already!). I got this huge pig roast (from one of my other coach Strew's pigs) and some nice new potatoes. Sonya and I had a feast last Sunday night! We are still eating the leftovers too, no cooking this week. This weekend, we have a team (Kangaroo) court session after the clubrooms, I can't wait to see if it compares to Westie's court session in Seoul!
So there was my update, now you know what life is like for me in New Zealand. It's quite simple and falling into a routine but things are well. I hope all of you are doing good and I miss you all.
Hope to see you soon,
XXMarie-EveXX
KIWI SLANG: Well, I am getting used to the kiwi accent but I still have some issues with the slang. Here are a few examples:
I don't "think" something is nice, I "reckon".
People don't thank me, they say "Tah"
I don't get my ankles taped, I get them "strapped"
There are a lot more but I can't think right now so I
must write again!
KIWI FOOD: Marmite (yeast spread similar to Vegemite), Milo (chocolate flavored energy drink similar to Nestle Quick), Pies, all kinds all all sizes at all timirs of the day or night! Lamb, lamb and more lamb!
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Annie
non-member comment
About time!
It's about time we get an entry! We miss you!! Great to hear life is well! xox