Land of the Long White Cloud

Country number 2! Just want to take a minute to first say how lucky we are to see new parts of this wide world, and thanks to all our framily (thats friends and family people) who helped us get here - especially assistance with packing, $, moving and organizing. You da best.
Arrived in Auckland, New Zealand to see a smiling Kit Sidwell, a fellow Camp Kennolyn slave of 2005, who kindly scooped us from the airport and took us to Burgerfuel for epic burgers and kumara chips (sweet potato french fries). Met his flat mates Adam and Karen (also kiwis) and Cecelia (Argentinean). They live on the N. shore in Birkenhead, and the next day we drove to Karekare beach where they filmed the movie The Piano. It was gorgeous.
Christmas was the first for me and Koos both to be away from our respective framilies, and it was weird. We hung our gnome hats upside down as stockings. Missed the traditions but after hearing one million xmas songs in Samoa, we were glad to skip all the hullaballoo (that might be the first time I've ever used that word) and just run around, be merry and have some cocktails. On the 26th came Boxing Day, and Casa de Kit had a lua'u themed barbie including a whole lamb on a spit that Kit spent like 8 hrs roasting. He also made his own coconut bra, polished and all. Met some great kiwis and one drunk S. African guy who explained to me in detail what various things and activities would cost in rand (South African currency) and what that would be in kiwi dollars. Koos saved me from him and we grubbed delish food and got rave reviews on our cali avo bean dip.
Went out one night with Kit and his buddies Nathan and Aitor, who live in the raddest pad ever that was once a convent. Made funky margs, hung out on the balcony overlooking the Sky Tower and the Auckland city lights before walking to P road and going to a couple weird bars. Word to the wise - if Koos ever dares you to dance with a guy who is the only one dancing (somewhat off beat) on a small stage, think twice because he might end up being deaf and you'll feel really bad so you'll just keep dancing with him while your friends think, wow why are you still dancing with that leather jacket guy? Just some friendly advice.........
On the downside all the mossie bites I got in Samoa came back to haunt me - one swelled up to a boil while we were there but eventually went away and is now a pink scar (grrrreat) and another on my upper outside right thigh (specific enough?) started to hurt really bad and increased in size, heat and redness. Ladies and gentleman we have a staph infection. Got some antibiotics that didn't work at all. I toughed it out for awhile but when it started waking me up with the pain, oozing pus and blood right thru the bandages and Cecelia (a nurse) and Koos encouraged another trip to the doc, I went. By this time the swollen red part was the size of a football and the open wound the size of a walnut (hopefully none of you are eating), and it hurt all the time. The nurse had to squeeze the hell out of it and it hurt like whoa. At least I got stronger drugs. Props to Koos for dressing my nasty staph for many many days.
On a less disgusting note we drove down to Raglan Surf Club where Kit's cousin Olly lifeguards. Slept in the first aid room with parts of CPR dummies (adult and infant, both creepy). Beautiful beach with hang gliders flying overhead, windsurfers, etc. New Years Eve was spent at the pub at a Hotel where we rocked out to a great 80's cover band and met a German zimmerman (carpenter) who only has 2 outfits - vun for going out and vun for vorking. See my facebook pics for a shot of him - guy in the top hat. Had fun drinking with Kit, Olly, Jill, Koos as well as many people I'll never see again but will always have drunk pictures with. Oh met 2 brothers from Santa Cruz, one who is a freshman at UCLA! Go Bruins. So... Cheers to 09! Found some safety equipment in Raglan, it being the Santa Cruz of NZ, and frollicked in some meadows. SAweet.
Back in Auckland we got addicted to a TV show (not telling which) and started watching marathons with Adam and Cecelia. Went to Auckland Museum where we saw Sue, the most complete T Rex skeleton, some great Maori art and a cultural show with an impressive haka.
Much appreciation to Kit for adopting us and sharing a lot of fun facts about Kiwiland. Currently reading: Angela's Ashes. Sigh. So sad. With my leg healin up nicely we finally departed for our first Wwoof experience - more updates soon. And thanks for reading - if anyone other than my parents and Gwen are actually checking this from time to time that is just even more super. Hope everyone is off to a fine new year. Much love from Aotearoa.