So, it's time to update. Where was I... Ah yes, we'd just arrived in Auckland and were both massively upset having spent twenty-nine hours travelling and having slept for about four of them, we were jet lagged, old-fashioned-tired and away from home. So having gotten into the hotel, The Quadrant, eaten a packet of Snakajacks and a king sized bag of Revels, we were asleep by seven.
The next morning, having awoken at about six in the morning after a blissful and uneventful sleep we contacted home. The first is always the hardest, when the sudden realisation that you aren't going to see the people on the screen, in the flesh, for a long time. In this state we decided to go down to breakfast, free in the deal we purchased along with our room. So we filled up on bowls of coco-pops and vegamite on toast, home comforts that made me feel better almost immediately. Well, in the cold rainy light of the city anyway.
We explored the first day, walking around the town aimlessly as we searched for coffee and something to have for lunch. The main street that captured our attention was not Queens Street, the main street of the city, but the High Street, the smaller, a little more characteristic street behind the main one, typically London in feeling as many large cities are. The problem was, that as soon as we found the places we liked, the more hesitant we were to look around much more... So we got a wide and undetailed glance at the city. Walking around the centre, we couldn't really see the New Zealand that we had psyched ourselves up for. There was no green, no mountains, only the Harbour that presented a rather clearer look at the sea than we'd see in England.
The second day took us to the Auckland Art Gallery. Lauren is the expert, and I supposed if I hadn't been mortally embarrassed having had to remove my bag from my back and carry it by hand, for what reason I wasn't sure and too far into the building to bother taking back to the reception. Uncomfortable and red faced I walked past the art, sometimes appreciated other times not, due to my lack of and unappreciation of culture and art. It's awful I know, but I did like some of it. Most of it, in fact, I just don't know if I deserved it...
The week flew by as we attempted to get over our jet lag, going into the town, buying food and browsing shops.
One day, having brought iced coffee we were sat by a fountain, enjoying the first of our New Zealand sun when a group of teenagers approached us... or rather, the slightly covered area in which we were sat.
"We want to light some cones, don't mind do you?" One of them asked.
"Um, no." We replied, slightly unsure to what exactly they were referring. What the hell were cones? Oh, we realised, when the mutilated bottle, looking very much like a bong, and the tobacco like substance was brought out. Weed. We politely declined the offer to join them and sat talking to them about the differences of home and NZ. We found little really, most of the swear words were the same, the varying levels of patriotism, the home life. They were nice though, offering advice as to where we should go and what we should do in the country and the city, they themselves were from a little further up North and not natives of Auckland, but seemed comfortable enough there.
Aside from this chance meeting, little else happened, a few days before our departure we ceased going down to breakfast, having been asked whether or not we still got the breakfast for free. We were sure we did... She went to check and was ages. We waited in awkward silence. We had to go and ask if it was okay to eat. It was. We didn't go down for breakfast again. Instead we stayed in our room and watched as the Kiwi's lost the America's Cup...
We left a few days later and were on our way to Warkworth. We were excited. We were about to start our first helpx. We had corresponded with Val a lot and knew that we were going to be welcomed warmly by her. Of course we were nervous, and still pretty homesick, but we had a hunch we would be well looked after. For those of you that don't know what helpxing is, it's volunteering. We volunteer our help for bed and board. While we still, so far have brought our own food whilst living with her, she cooks and prepares the main meals. Choice!
We arrived in the picturesque little town of Warkworth, and having been quickly reminded of several small similar towns back home we figured, yeah, we'd be quite at home there. We were greeted by a grinning woman dressed in purple and donning a red hat. She had warned us that she would be in such attire as she didn't want to frighten us. She's a Red Hat. A member of a WI fund raising group. She was lovely and made us feel at home immediately. She quickly began to share local news and information with us and was really and truly interested in what we were like as people.
I think we disappointed her with our lack of interests and hobbies. Guilty of boringness we tried to think of things that might make us a little more interesting. Naturally we came up blank.
Here we again had a bout of homesickness. It's difficult, but we're hoping that things will start to get better.
Warkworth was a pretty little riverside town and when we weren't helping Val tidy up her garden a little bit, we were probably walking around the town. In the week staying with her we visited Matakana, a tiny place that had a market going on. We brought waffles. I can't get them out of my head and every place we have been to since, I have been in search of them. I want more!!
Val also took us for a drive to see some of the local sights and for the first time we were really struck by the beauty that is New Zealand. Something we definitely didn't find in Auckland.
We're really looking forward now to seeing more of the country, and it's beautiful sights. But for now we're off to Hamilton.
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