Napier Home Sweet Home

see all photos »

It feels like its been a little while since adding to the blog... but WE"RE BACK!!! Its been a great 2 weeks... we found work and it WASNT picking blueberries!!!

Long story short- A colleague of my dad's, Peter O'Callaghan, is from NZ and gave us a list of contacts here... so we called a family that lives near where were were blueberry picking, and ended up staying 2 weeks! They had a studio that was separate from the main house which we made home for 2 weeks. Biff and Tony were incredibly generous with us and even set me up with a job at the school she works at!

see all photos »

I, Mairead, worked at 2 different pre-schools. The first was part of a teen parenting center connected with a high school. I was in a classroom with kids 0-2yrs and then another day with the 2-5 year olds. Then I spent the following week at another pre-school down the street falling in love with the cutest little kids!!! At the end of the week they threw me a little goodbye complete with songs and a little present! I had a blast and was SO glad to be doing something other than farm work : )

see all photos »

I, Tyler, worked for a moving company, moving kiwi family's things into and out of containers, similar to the pods we have at home. Through the same staffing agency, I was sent to dismantle a 2 story marquee tent for the NZ horse of the year show.  The hours were long, my back still hurts, and my nose is just starting to peel.  All in all it was a great experience and I am very grateful for the work and just as well I am happy to be done and back to the regular day to day work of driving and keeping Mairead happy.

see all photos »

Before I go any further- I do want you all to know that we did try a "bigger" fruit. We had a day of Apple picking, actually it was 4 hours... Its a heck of a lot more work and takes more talent then I ever imagined!! The day was completely rainy, the ground was all mud, and the job required a lot of going up and down a ladder- which Tyler did all of because I refused to climb to the top of a tree with an enormous bucket bad around my neck! We had a good laugh about it when we finished but we certainly were pretty grumpy for those 4, long hours!

see all photos »

Some Highlights of our time in Napier: 1. Got to experience real NZ home-life by staying with a great family. The oldest daughter is a freshman at a University on the South Island, so we haven't met her yet... but they have a 16 year old boy, James, and another son, Johnny who just turned 14 yesterday. We learned a lot about what it means to be a Kiwi, and how the convicts in Australia stole so many of their native icons (such as pavlova: a meringue dessert). 2. We went to a small town racecourse for a Demolition Derby 3. Discovered McCafe coffees/ Mochas... we need to get these in the US. They are really nice cafes actually IN a McDonalds. Coming from a girl that hates McDonalds normally this means alot!! I was actually excited to go McDonalds! 4. Wine tasting at some wonderful vineyards! 5. Tried the national ice-cream of NZ: Hokey Pokey

see all photos »

We have now made our way South and will write more about that next blog...

Until then- we love and miss you all!!! Keep the messages coming bc we LOVE reading them!!!