Paint by numbers, live by vouchers
Trip Start
Nov 07, 2005
1
25
75
Trip End
Nov 04, 2006
Wellington,
New Zealand
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Luckily my next attempt was successful. I was (naively) shocked to learn that here you have to pay to withdraw your own money from your account. It won't be long till they start charging people for walking or breathing.
My first interview (they actually interview you for temp jobs here - very strange and a total waste of time) was for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise - a job to promote a country that I'm not overly fond of - just as well I didn't get it.
In the end, my first week was spent archiving boxes at the Ministry of Health. Ironically, working for the MOH nearly killed me as it was a 1hr walk each way from home. After one morning's walk, I decided getting the bus was the future, at least before noon.
I remembered how much I hate those first days on a temp job where nobody has organized anything for you and you spend most of the first day waiting around doing nothing. During this time I made a mental note to get a job I actually enjoy when I get home, regardless of the pay.
The job was as boring as it sounds but the pay was ok, and I managed to stretch it out for an extra 2 days. The environment was actually pretty relaxed, everyone stopped for "morning tea" at 10:30, and despite not having the internet I managed to pass a lot of time by emailing Simon and getting him to look things up for me instead, whilst discussing boring things like dinner plans and slagging off his co-worker, cabbage.
I even grew to like the little "coach" things which popped up on my screen every few minutes with a wise proverb, despite having been scared of them at first cos in my experience when your computer beeps at you its not a good sign.
My next job is at the bank who wouldn't give me a bank account, and after that I'll be working at the hospital which I'm not overly keen on cos its full of sick people but I can't be too fussy when I'm so broke.
Wellington is nice enough, but the relentless/unrelentless (?) wind can get a bit much, especially when you're trying to carry bagfuls of shopping home. Our lives are pretty much dictated by using whatever vouchers we can find for shopping/cinema/video rental.
The flat is good. I was luckily able to just move into the place Simon had already found, and no one seems to mind that too much yet. It reminds me of Uni as everyone has a lockable bedroom door, and the building is mostly full of students, although that just makes me feel old now.
The flatmates consist of 2 Kiwi guys, a French couple and an English guy. They're good enough. Presents or strange newspaper cuttings are welcome to be sent, as Simon is currently getting more post than me and I don't want him to feel superior, so if you want my address let me know.
