Blogs from Waitakere, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 2

Oct 31 "Save the Whales, Eat the Japanese" - on a t-shirt I saw on one of the customers yesterday. I've got nothing against the Japanese (except the ones who poach whales), but that's goddamn funny. I've been in New Zealand now for a week, but it seems like so much longer. I've done a lot, seen a lot, and met a lot of people. My first international flight was much less arduous than I thought; twelve hours on a plane and I managed to sleep for the first eight or so (with the help of Xanax). NZ time is 17 hours ahead of US Eastern time so I lost almost a day when I arrived. At customs, you're required to show your passport, explain to them why you're in New Zealand, how long you plan ... read more

It had been a long time between visits to my beloved home country, but I still managed to take Ursula to New Zealand in the same decade I left... just. We arrived at Auckland airport on the morning of December 31st 2009. We immediately made a bee-line to Auckland's one universal spiritual focal point: the café. We managed to stop for breakfast 500 metres short of my mother's house - who I haven't seen for eighteen months - so that I could experience the primal joy that only a well-made coffee and an eggs benedict could possible engender. Ah... home. Now that my mother lives in Titirangi, in West Auckland, I am by genetic association a "westie". This means I wear tight black jeans and have a penchant for heavy metal and big dogs. Ursula and ... read more

After a wicked month in NZ visiting friends and whanau, we're off in three days!!! To those of you we caught up with, thanks (for the beers)! To those of you we didn't, see you in July! Here are some pictures of Jo's parents place in Muriwai. Not sure we want to leave..... First stop Buenos Aires on the 13th. Bring it on.... read more

A year and a half ago, we started to plan a humble trip that was supposed to take us to visit relatives and friends. That small trip ended up being a full round the world journey, touching 6 continents and reaching over 20 countries! The plan is the following: Australia (just a couple of hours in the airport though!), Thailand, China (Hong Kong only), India, Nepal, Jordan (airport again) Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, USA (NYC and LA) Mexico, Chile (airport twice) and finally Argentina before going back to the beginning in Auckland, NZ. Thinking of you people, and how to make this amazing trip a little part of you too, that's how we came to write this blog, where we can reach everybody without having to write ... read more

Jack is very pleased with himself. Apparently the gun comment gave you all heart attacks. The email address we are checking the most is zweberj@augsburg.edu if anyone wants to send us emails. We are in Auckland now, ready to wake up tomorrow and meet the temporary flatmates! As always, we will let you know how it goes!... read more