Well 25 hours of travel and 14 hours of sleep (post travel) and we're here. The flights over were about what you would expect. I travel pretty well, but I forget that the rest of my family can't just fall asleep in 2 minutes or less like I can. Still they survived and seem to be all good now.
Wellington is (I'm told) at the height of its beauty right now. Mid-summer is all sun shine and cool breezes on the sparkling harbor. Morning mist barely veiled the far shores. I still look at it all like I am only seeing it on TV. I have gone through so many changes to arrive here that I feel almost like I can not take these moments. But I am sure that will pass. This is only the first 30 hours of being here!
Virtually every experience is a little game of "find what is different". Ketchup here is sweeter--like a sweet pickle in tomato sauce. Everyone has an accent except me. Some changes are bigger like it is summer here, they drive on the left and there are mountains and oceans in the same view. Other changes are very slight but still ever present.
All my phones work fabulously to call home. I suspect I'll be calling lots of folks lots and lots.
The apartment they gave us is very modern, but certainly smaller than we are used to. Gabe asked to have some kid playmates in the first 12 hours of arrival. However this downtown location has nearly all conveniences except other kids to play with. We are starting our look for more permanent homes tomorrow.
We have been given a few bags of starter groceries. Apparently Kiwi's are mad for orange juice as we've been gifted about 2 gallons. They also must love a curious little substance called Marmite. I'm not entirely sure what Marmite is... it came in a jar roughly the size of a jar of peanut butter and has roughly the same consistency only it is dark brown and not in the least bit sweet. It might be described as worchester sauce in paste form. I am not sure what you would eat it with. The bread here is better than I've tasted in Kansas. The eggs were so fresh that one still had feather fluff on it. They also had flame orange yolks. I guess I think they were still chicken eggs... They tasted normal.
I am typing to you now on my new work issues T61 laptop. It seems alright--a little quirky.
Amy is whipping up some spagetti in the micro-sized kitchen. The first day seems a complete success. Tomorrow our "relocation consultant" is picking us up at 10 AM for "orientation." I think that is code for city tour and possible house hunting.
See y'all later!
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