The last day of my internship allready. We have the Monday morning meeting, where I explain what I have done while doing my placement. I baked a pie on the weekend, which is very popular. I make sure that all my documents are archived and cleared. Then Rebekah drops me of at the airport. Since Whanganui airport is not very big, I only have to wait five minutes. Together with two toddlers, we look at the planes, but we must wait for the big plane arrives (the first plane was one for two people). The mothers I conclude that the big plane not that big. Bram lands safely and we hop into a taxi to return to Whanganui. First I give a tour of the museum, then we have lunch. On the way back we hop by the glass blowing gallery and the paddleboat museum Waimarie. Bram gets a tour of the museum and the depot, and he gets to meet all my colleagues. At afternoon tea, I really have to say goodbyes. From the museum I get a signed copy of Te Ara Tapu, a book published by the museum about their Māori collection. The next day Bram gets the grand tour of Whanganui, so we climb Durie Hill, visit the Sarjeant Gallery and stroll through the city. The campervan is delivered this morning we have to pack. It is more work than you expect considering that I was only aloud one suitcase on the plane. If the van is there, the guy who brought it back on the plane and we packed everything it is time to hit the road. We leave for the Whanganui River Road, which I can not not ride as I've 'lived' in Whanganui. The motto of the road 'it's all about the journey', which is quite true. It's a very nice small road. Halfway we stay on a tiny camping spot (read - a grass field with a toilet and a tap), not a soul in sight. Since there is only one way we move on the next day. En route we stop at a mill, a marae and the monastery. The last 20 km of the road is not sealed, never, or because they are working on it, no clue... It's raining and the road is still narrow. Fortunately we are not stuck in the mud.
We drive to Whakapapa Village. Again a new experience as it is snowing (this gives me the feeling that it snows in the summer, what is nonsense, but is again proving that my biorhythms are slightly confused). We visit the visitor center on the volcanoes. One of them is quite famous, Mount Ngauruhoe. No bells ring? Probably Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings does! In the snow we walk to a waterfall. Snow in a kind of rainforest, it remains strange. We want to drive to Palmerston North. We are barely of the mountain as the lights on the dashboard flicks on. We stop at the petrol station, what ends up in a lot of phone calls, which ultimately leads us to be towed away. The radiator broke down, a bearing or something. These must be ordered and since it is Saturday that will take some time. There is another campervan brought from Auckland so we can continue. Unfortunately Auckland is about 450 km away, so we have to wait a while. After dark we drive to a campsite, we will continue tomorrow. We drive to Palmy, where we visit Te Manawa and make a short walk. Unfortunately there is nothing open on Sunday. The next day we visit the Rugby Museum, it will be moved to Te Manawa, so currently there is only half of the collection present. The man makes more than good. He is so proud of the Rugby Museum and so on. It's a pity we can not see the new museum. This one is really cute and old-fashioned, and it's the new one will probably be state of the art. We hit the road again and drive to Wellington. We have just enough time for one lap, but tomorrow we will get a better sight of things.
I updated the photo's again.
3 July 2011
It is already over, my last week in the museum is over. It was quite an exciting week. Monday there was an opening of the Lampe collection. Mr. Lampe is a local photographer, from the beginning of the previous century. His collection is with help of his daughter and granddaughter purchased by the museum. That was celebrated, which meant that a number of speeches were given, we had a drink and a tour was given through the Sergeants gallery. This is another museum in the same park as the Whanganui Regional Museum, they have currently the exhibition on loan. I did not say clearly that I would go there, and when I returned home my flatmates were considering to set up a search party. It could not be right that I was not back yet.On Tuesday there was an evening in the museum, which was celebrating Puanga again, I already have written previously about that, in that context there was a film screening. First, they gave an introduction to Māori culture and the history around here. That was interesting, but hard to follow if you know nothing of the local history. It is also te reo Maori (the language), it exists of the vowels and the h, m, n, p, r, t and w, which makes it really hard to remember the names, they seem pretty much alike! After the introduction, there was a film shown about the acquisition of another batch of photos. These were of a much lesser-known photographer found by someone in a suitcase in the house of a deceased mother. In these pictures were mostly Maori, which is in itself remarkable, but they where also partly the Maori 'at home'. These photos would be auctioned first, but posterity has put a stop to that. The entire collection was finally purchased by the museum. Using all local agencies to gather the money together.It has been told several times that it is not always safe in Whanganui. When I came out of the library last week that once again "proven". A bicycle, helmet at the handlebars, and the lock neatly stowed under the seat and the owner nowhere in sight ... very unsafe...
I learned this week that we not only have an apple tree in the garden but also one with lemons and mandarins (2 different trees ;) ) A little late, but still fun, feels very exotic. The chicken does not think the garden exotic, inside is much nicer. So all the time we do nothing but taking the chuck back outside again.
I have also discovered a new fruit, the Paw Paw, I think it comes from Fiji and I found it tastes like a cross between a melon and mango.This is probably the last regular update, Bram's somewhere in the plane over Armenia or in that region at the moment. I'm going to pick him up tomorrow morning from the airport. Then the two us will go roaming around the north island, so we must wait and see if we can find internet access and plug (in the average bar I can never actually discover the electricity hole). But we will do our best. As you can see, the McDonald's continues to make it possible...
25 June 2011
Lovely, in the boss' time, well actually together with the boss, to Te Manawa. Now you are probably wondering what Te Manawa is... guess what a MUSEUM! They call themselves a science, art and history museum. Rebekah, the other intern is working on the exhibition Good Nature. It will have some terrariums with fish, insects and other local critters. In Te Manawa they have the exhibition Awa (river) with living creatures. Eric had a lunch appointment, so we could drive with him to the museum. The drive to Palmy (Palmerston North (do not ask me where Palmerston South or Middle, or simply Palmerston is)) was fun. Just to see something different than the circle in Whanganui that I can make on my bike. The museum itself was refreshing. I tend to see Whanganui Regional Museum as standard for all the museums in New Zealand. Which is defiantly not true. Te Manawa has certainly a much larger budget. They do not really have a large collection (as I have heard) and it is a lot more flashy. The exhibit was fun, and instructive, as we had trouble to find the creatures in the aquaria. The tank with insects was truly gigantic, but so dark it was impossible to see the wētā inside. Rebekah and I had lunch together and then went to the art department. When Eric finished his appointment so it was time to return to Whanganui.
Before we went to Te Manawa, I had a big laugh. The museum had a (small) canon, (yes a shooting one) lent to another museum. They came to bring it back, whether we could help lifting it? They came with a van with inside the canon, but the ramp is calculated on a truck. The planks to roll it out of the van did not really work between the car and the platform. The people who came to bring the canon back were three girls, and the canon was loaded into the van by five! movers. In our museum only work four men and Erik was nowhere to be found. Ultimately, at the cost of the other museum they had to get a moving company to get the thing inside.
This morning I went to see the Waimarie, a boat and Whanganuies pride. It's a (small) paddle boat which was build in 1850 or so. It was used to supply settlements along the Awa as there was no road. It sails during the summer and in the school holidays but now only the museum was open. It was cute, a lot of cutting and pasting, but the boats they are restoring are really nice.
After strolling along the Awa, I had lunch, kumara chips really must be imported, so if someone wants to set up a business, this is your chance, you have a customer! And if the lovely waitress gives me the password of the network, I can put this piece online, and everyone is up to date again.
I have been the tourist again so the result will be on Picasa!
This morning I went to see the Waimarie, a boat and Whanganuies pride. It's a (small) paddle boat which was build in 1850 or so. It was used to supply settlements along the Awa as there was no road. It sails during the summer and in the school holidays but now only the museum was open. It was cute, a lot of cutting and pasting, but the boats they are restoring are really nice.
After strolling along the Awa, I had lunch, kumara chips really must be imported, so if someone wants to set up a business, this is your chance, you have a customer! And if the lovely waitress gives me the password of the network, I can put this piece online, and everyone is up to date again.
I have been the tourist again so the result will be on Picasa!
19 June 2011
Everyone expects a nice piece of me, with exciting stuff. I what if I do not write this week, but leave it all to you, and you will write to me...
The past week went as usual, last Monday the new logos arrived. This time it was clear that Jeff was coming over here, so we were all in the right place. He has created three concepts, but actually we immediately decided that only two of them where good enough. It remains a bit strange to be on the other side of the table. So with these concepts we started the visitor research. To get results, there are not many museum visitors, I went with the three gateway students (who do an internship during their high school) to the streets to interview people. That's not my favourite job, but you get used to it. After a full day running after people, I do now a hour every day during lunch. And all my flatmates have to do it as well, and they love it... ;)
On Thursday, someone from the newspaper interviewed me, about the re-branding. Well, they started with Eric, the director, and Yvonne, the administrative assistant suggested that the project is mine, so they should interview me as well. No sooner said than done, so on Thursday morning my picture was taken. Saturday, I was on page 3 of the newspaper... Yet another first time. The newspaper is archived here in the museum, so I will go into the the annals as well. The full text on the website of the Wanganui Chronicle, a will put a picture of the article with the photo's.
Yesterday I went to the market, which is held every Saturday. It's a bit of everything, vegetables, handicrafts and so on. In the Arts and Craft Center you could do Raku. This meant that you picked a a pre-baked but not glazed object which you painted. Then it went for half an hour in the oven. If they removed it it was red-hot, then they put it in sawdust, with a can over it. After a few minutes, they put into water and washed it. For me it's become a tile, for logistical reasons. It remains fascinating that the glazing has such a different colour before they heat it...
Andrew had brought back a puppy, which gave us all an interesting night. At first he was completely starved, then he kept on running laps through the house. He went with the other dog into the room in which Ben and Sarah went to bed. There he kept on running. When they got fed up with him, they put him in the hallway. There he shredded the waste spread through the house. Eventually locked in the bathroom. It meant that Andrew was sweeping the room at four o'clock (then he goes to work). I was not entirely awake next morning at work. I myself was not really up during the night but still did not sleep very well.
Yesterday a baked pie (vlaai). Which tasted pretty nice. Only the inside was still a bit fluid, but that certainly did not affect the taste. Ben and Andrew gave thumbs up and immediately began to suggest that maybe it would be nice to have a layer custard with the boysenberries or ... Very subtle.
11 June 2011
And another week has passed, time flies! When I came back last week from the pool it was quite busy. Susan, the mother of Andrew and Sarah, was visiting. The men were stretched, with a friend, under the cars (it is really necessary to take all wheels of the car off and apart, and then put them back on). Susan asked if I wanted to go to the beach. I wanted to, so the two of us drove to Kai Iwi beach. That was a ride of about 15 kilometre. On the way we have driven trough Benson Botanic gardens. There we saw a kingfisher, apparently very special. We parked the car, we walked to the beach. It is a sandy beach but Susan said it is iron sand. The sand is blackish. The beach is 20 meters wide and then the cliffs go straight up. These are made of clay, they can once in a while come down. In some places it seems like some rocks come are sticking out of the sand, but these are bits of clay. Pretty crazy.
Halfway there came water running down from the cliff. This caused a bit of a problem, eventually I had to take of my hiking shoes and go barefoot through the water. It was 30 centimeters deep and flowing very fast. In combination with very slippery stones, a bit scary.
When we returned it was already dark, it turned out I had forgotten my key and my flatmates were gone. Andrew's window was still open, so I decided to climbe through. That sounds a lot more elegant than it was. The window was slightly too high to go trough it gracefully, and his bed stands under the window (I had very dirty feet, and I did not want to put them on it). I ended up with hurting my hand, so now I can say that I "can not do anything about it, because I have a hole in my hand." Not recommended on your right palm, pretty annoying. But I can add something to my list "try before you die".
Monday I was of, it was Queens day. Confusing at first because Pentecost and Ascension are no days off. They can do a course in how to celebrate, nothing really was happening. There is even less going on than on an ordinary Sunday. Therefore I got on the bike and drove to Virginia Lake. It is a park-like forest surrounding a (surprise) lake. In about forty-five minutes you can walk around. Halfway through I made a start on my thesis. The view was inspiring.
The rest of the week went on as usual, next week the design of the brand will come in, and everything is prepared to do some visitor research. There is another intern now as well, she is working on an exhibition design. Nice, because now I'm not alone in the office. Thursday I wanted to cycle back from the supermarket when I realized that I had a flat tire. I had wondered why it seemed like I cycled through semolina (hmm, with strawberry sauce wish that was true) but it was a bummer. A blessing in disguise was that Ben had just departed from his work around the corner and he has a pickup. So it was calling, lifting, driving and finished (even though they are very antisocial and bad for the environment kind of useful at moments like this). I got up early at Friday, so me and bike could take a lift back to town, (why auto mechanics always start at dawn is a mystery) to the bicycle repair shop (the men do have two chainsaws but no pump, very logical). Then I got on Saturday on the bike only to find out halfway that my tire was flat again. I can tell you, luckily I did not get across anybody I knew at the 3.5 km I still had to go, because I would not have been very nice company. Anyway, I have now a new tire and tube, and the glass which was probably in the tire the first time came out (shouldn't they check for that when they are putting a new tube in?). So now I'm up and running again, uhm cycling, uhm push biking.
Yesterday evening I finished crocheting the Zpagetti bag. It keeps on giving a lot of attention doing something like that. He looks pretty good if I say so myself. And in my button for the hole.
Oh, I did eat a new fruit, a Tamarillo, kind of sour, but refreshing. And I posted some new pics!
5 june 2011
Good morning! From McDonalds! A thing for me really, on Sunday morning at eight o'clock sitting in McDonalds... I currently do not have internet at the house where I am staying nor at the museum, not amusing. Anyway, luckily McDonalds is worldwide nearly the same so free internet. There is a McCafe so I am actually having a cup of tea in an actual cup, nice. And a lot of people to watch, so a lot of fun while writing.
This time I will not complain about the weather, I think I left bit of a false impression. The rainy days have been mainly during the weekend, and in my office is very small, high, frosted-glass windows so I do not get to see al lot of he sun... So it is not so bad. This week it does get a bit colder, though during the last month it has never been so warm here as this year, since they have started recording in 1930. Last Friday was the first time I wore my winter coat when I cycled to the museum.
Actually I should have started with wishing Hari Puanga to everyone. If I am not mistaking, it means Happy New Year in Māori. Literally it means Happy Star. Yesterday, Saturday, July 4th it was Puanga. They celebrate the ending of harvest and that the community is ready for winter. This means that birds and fish have been caught and stored as are the potatoes and so on. It is always celebrated the first new moon of the cold period. After the appearance of Puanga, one of the stars of the belt of Orion (as I have understood it right). I went last week to a lecture given by Awhina, on the subject, but I was slightly late (it was during working hours). The whole event is celebrated through a big party with lots of food.
In the museum three students of high school are doing an internship (12 weeks long every Tuesday). They try to raise funds for their end school year excursion. Because of the celebration, they sold Hangi. So I have had a Hangi dinner yesterday. Well probably now everyone is wants to know what a Hangi is... I did put a picture on line, but I must add that it tasted better than it looks. It is pork, chicken and lamb with pumpkin, carrot silverbeet (what looked like large spinach leaves and (the name says it all) a bit like cabbage), potato, kumara (sweet potato (very yummy)) and a type of steamed egg-dough mixture. The traditional thing is, that they cook it by making a hole in the ground, in which they put all the ingredients, which they cover with hot stones. Well I am not a huge meat fan, but it tasted pretty good (at least much better than most things I ate in South Africa!). I did love the Rewana bread, a cross between bread and cake and dessert, steamed pudding, which I would have called steamed cake (chocolate with a little cinnamon-like taste) with custard on top. All in all it is still fun to eat traditional food on a traditional celebration. And while I picked it up I had immediately a nice chat to one of the ladies, how I did knew they were selling Hangi, and what I do in the museum ...
On the way back with my "sorry the bags are a bit Soggy" they were not leaking yet, but the description was striking, I met the mother of one of my house mates. At the middle of the street, I did not meet her before, but taking a picture of the street sign did the trick. So again I had a nice chat, across the street (she was still in the car and I was riding my bike).
Yesterday I also went to a glass blowing workshop. Whanganui is known for its glass blowing, and the 'university college' has a training glass blower. There is a workshop, a large pit where they are working and you can sit around and watch. And of course, buy things, but I think glass is not very convenient to take home. Quite nice, I must say, although my budget did not quite allow it;)
And now I go to the pool for my jobs, my overdue work on the Internet make it and let everyone know how I was. So it is all good!
Oh, yesterday I had a chicken in the living room, I think she came to see if there was something nice to eat. Unfortunately for her I just vacuum cleaned. Specially for Lise a photo, although she was already out (my camera was in my room).
The Māori classes already have begun to pay off, I can already make sentences! The things that I can say are sometimes a bit funny... But that does not really matter. Aha kei au? Kei i tītero to McDonalds. Or: 'what are you doing' I am writing in the McDonalds. The classes are really nice. They are not really used to learning other languages, and I am the youngest by far. So now I'm in the advanced group. Is it fun to put on your CV languages; Dutch, English, Afrikaans, Maori, German and French great opportunity for a nice conversation while soliciting...
Anyway, my tea and milk are (independently of each other) finished so I am going swimming!
PS José has sent me a link with the white Kiwi (in the reactions of the last piece) Really cute, and not born that far away from me!
Sunday 29th of May
We had to work hard this week, we had to finish the design brief for the graphic design company this week. I worked on it with Eric. It describes what we want in the new logo, and all the other things that will become the "brand" of the museum. It was a big change, to be on the other side of the table for a change, until now I only received the briefs.
On the day of the appointment, I was told that Dale (a colleague) would walk with me to the office of the graphic designers. No sooner said than done, as we walked into the office, we got some strange looks. Jeff, with whom we had the meeting just wandered of towards the museum. At that time the phone rings, that Eric and Jeff are at the museum. So it took us a while before everyone arrived at the same office. The meeting itself was nice, it was the thing we worked towards. So now we'll have to wait and see with what they come up...
I left to go to the museum, when Ben's dog came out with me. Then he came along towards town and eventually all the way up to the museum. I had an appointment, so I left the dog in front of the museum to rest and I went inside. As more people came in, everyone wondered from who that labrador was. Eventually he was allowed inside, to catch his breath, and we ended up bringing him back with the car. Positive point is that he now listens to me (but I wish he had done that at once, that would have saved me a very red head).
Saturday was the weather was crazy again, blue one moment, the next rain, and then blue again. It did give some nice rainbows! I "paddled" into the city. Along the way I have been taking somewhat fanatically pictures of some plants (the last with flowers, most trees are losing their leaves already).
In a neighborhood of Whanganui, called Durie Hill, you can go, with a tunnel, about 200 meters into the mountain, where you end up at a door, with behind it an elevator. It is really interesting. This construction was built to make the climb to the district easier. Once up, you can climb into a tower, which was erected for the victims of the World Wars (many New Zealanders have fought in Europe, etc. as part of the British army). On top you have a beautiful view, of the sea, city and mountains.
It was time for a quick snack, my lunch consisted of a piece Hummingbirdcake. Hmm, cake with banana, pineapple and pecans. Then I wondered to the museum where there was a concert. I accidentally came in at exactly the right moment. The concert was titled Letters Home. There were letters read from a soldier, who had gone to fight in World War II in Europe from Whanganui. The letters came from the collection, interspersed with songs. One of my colleagues sang in Maori, otherwise it was a bit British (sorry Claire). Anyway I brought the average age down by about 100 years, but it was fun. Everyone enjoyed it so that's always fun.
New photo's and a film of singing in Maori online!
Sunday May 22nd
Time flies, it is again Sunday and it rains again. Although I should say "pissing hard". The beginning of the week I spent as "usual" in the museum. I did show one of my colleagues how Photoshop works. That was the easy part, how to get to her was more difficult. They are somewhere behind the storage, and I had no idea how to get there. Fortunately, someone could give me some directions.
This week I decided that I would eat all the fruit that I did not know at the supermarket. I ended up with a kiwano, a persimmon and a feijoa, probably they have more but this a start. The most interesting thing is that none of them actually growing here from origin. A kiwano tastes a bit like a cucumber with a hint of lemon. A persimmon is a kind of tough super-sweet peach and a feijoa tastes a bit like a cross between a grape and a very mild lemon. I think I like the feijoa the best, they are really yummy.
On Friday I drove with Sandi to Wellington. This was a ride of 177 kilometres. It took us more than 2 hours and 30 minutes to get there. We went to drop off large photos to be scanned, and we took another box back. As Sandi had said before we left, it was not really make much sense that I was there, but it was a beautiful ride. Once we arrived at the company we (especially me), got a tour and afterwards we had lunch. Then we made our way back again. It was really nice to see some more of the environment. As I came by plane, so I just saw everything from far above.
On Saturday morning I started to explore the main street a little further. After some shopping I cycled back home. There me and Ben made a fire to burn the waste. Ben (that's my room mate) was paged by job, if I wanted I could come with. I wanted to, so I can now say I towed my first car. Over here they will tow you away if you have committed a serious offence, like driving far too fast or drunk driving. Ben works at the towing company and had weekend shift. So we have loaded a car on the truck and just drove away (the owner had already disappeared).
The forecast for today was the occasional rainstorm, I guess they could have said that it would be occasionally dry. In between the rain I went to the Sarjeant Gallery. This gallery is in the same park as "my" (or as they know it here The) museum. They have a collection of modern art. It is a big difference with the museum. After that I went swimming (I'm grumbling that it rains, so I go swimming ...) and took a different route "home" for a change.
By the way, some new pictures again.
Sunday, May 15th
My first week is over. It's been a good week. After I had been to the museum on Monday I walked to the supermarket and back to the hostel. In the hostel I ate and called the person from whom I might rent a room. He picks me up so that saves me a long walk. I have a look at the room and decide to hire it. I am neatly delivered back again at the hostel, where I dive into my bed.
In the morning I get picked up by someone from the museum. Everyone keeps on being surprised that I do not suffer so much from a jetlag. In the museum I start to write my proposal. During lunch I do some shopping and then I continue with the work again. At night I get my suitcase and my roommate picks me up. I get everything in my room, it is nice if you do not constantly need to dig in your suitcase. It is an early night again.
The next morning I get dropped at the museum by my other roommate. There I get all the documents about the research what has already been done. So I go to work. It appears that at noon on Thursday there is always afternoon tea. Nice, someone brought something homemade. After the tea Awhina (one of my colleagues) teaches Māori, especially for some colleagues, if I want I can join. Well that sounds like fun, so I want to. They are still beginners, so we learn numbers. So now I can say I am wha mā rua tekau.
On Friday, my roommates got me a bike. So I cycle in half an hour to the museum, where someone told me that I am obliged to wear a helmet, oops, luckily I'm not arrested. In the museum I start to settle in already. I start to write down my ideas, what the museum can do differently. That's quite interesting work and I have many ideas. I cycled back, with helmet, when my chain got off. It’s no fun I can tell you when you are on your way home. This evening I finally don’t have to have a very early night.
In the morning I get picked up by someone from the museum. Everyone keeps on being surprised that I do not suffer so much from a jetlag. In the museum I start to write my proposal. During lunch I do some shopping and then I continue with the work again. At night I get my suitcase and my roommate picks me up. I get everything in my room, it is nice if you do not constantly need to dig in your suitcase. It is an early night again.
The next morning I get dropped at the museum by my other roommate. There I get all the documents about the research what has already been done. So I go to work. It appears that at noon on Thursday there is always afternoon tea. Nice, someone brought something homemade. After the tea Awhina (one of my colleagues) teaches Māori, especially for some colleagues, if I want I can join. Well that sounds like fun, so I want to. They are still beginners, so we learn numbers. So now I can say I am wha mā rua tekau.
On Friday, my roommates got me a bike. So I cycle in half an hour to the museum, where someone told me that I am obliged to wear a helmet, oops, luckily I'm not arrested. In the museum I start to settle in already. I start to write down my ideas, what the museum can do differently. That's quite interesting work and I have many ideas. I cycled back, with helmet, when my chain got off. It’s no fun I can tell you when you are on your way home. This evening I finally don’t have to have a very early night.
On Saturday I get on my bike and to the city. First to the tourist office and then to the market. I eat a very ‘traditional’ crepe. Then I do some shopping, without my computer on my back, I can at least take along some more stuff.
Today starts with wonderful New Zealand weather, it is raining cats and dogs. On the other hand it is good that I can do some final work on Audience Development. Luckily it is the last bits and bobs. Once I am finished doing all the things you do on Sunday morning my roommate offers me to drop me off at the pool (they find all that bicycling a bit weird, since you have cars, everything is sooooo far, and it is raining...). At the pool I start with my personal fit plan. In a hour 80 laps, I was quite surprised by myself, I did not think I would do that good. It was a pity though that the last lap I really smashed my head against the side. It is crazy, in the twenty five (rua tekau mā rima) meter pool you can stand everywhere, and people literally do aqua jogging, running circles in the water.
Anyway, I have put some new pictures online, see below, though today the sky is a bit less blue.
Wednesday May 11
At last on my way to Schiphol. I can check with a machine, and my suitcase is eaten automatically into another. You don't even need to talk to anybody. Then trough customs and into airplane number one. When everyone is ready, they think at Heatrow that we should be patient a little longer, because it is so full over there :s . But, patience is a virtue, so in the end we take of. Of course I get to take a long walk to the bus to another terminal and then walk again. After customs (which is already the second time), I get new boarding passes and then have to wait. Because it will take some time before I get something to eat, I take go to Nero. There I bought a very nice cup of tea and a piece of chocolate cake. Then of course another long walk to the plane. The flight is far from full, so when it's time to get some sleep, I can deposit myself on three chairs.
In Hong Kong, we are all chased out off the plane. Including all the hand luggage. And then, guess what, through customs again. The airport of Hong Kong is quite warm, and perfect for a stroll. Unfortunately, this is not my destination jet, so I have to get back on the plane. It is now considerably fuller, and in this time zone it is evening again so we get dinner. This time I did not sleep much, and unfortunately than it takes a long time, flying. However I'm now up to date again with the number of films watched.
We start to land, and I get to see New Zealand for the first time. In Auckland we need to go through customs again, and this fourth time, they think I am so criminal that the whole system crashes... After some patience and a different computer I can finally get out of no-mans-land into New Zealand. Literally, because all bags must be collected and newly checked in. Then you have to walk, in about 12 minutes along the blue line to get to the domestic flights. I thought I had had all types of planes now, but I was wrong, with about 10 other people I step into a plane where no more than 20 fit in. It's quite nice though, because it flies not so high, so I get a fine view of New Zealand from the sky.
In Wanganui I'm picked up by the curator of the museum. She brings me to the hostel, initially the wrong one, but luckily we found that out before we carried my suitcase upon all the stairs to the front door. Then I can finally get in the shower, which is considered necessary after all this time. After I got refreshed I will be picked to meet with the staff of the museum.
In the museum I got the grand tour of the Director, he has a lot plans of how the museum should change. It's a (little) old fashioned (lot's of the 60ties) and there are loads of topics presented after each other. Afterwards I get a tour of the storage, which is always nice. I walk to the supermarket and from there back to the hostel. After I've eaten something I get picked up to take a look in the room that I am going to rent. I end up with not only a room, but also a bicycle. Pretty nice as a car is a bit expensive and I'm already done with relying on people with a car (there isn't much public transport in Wanganui). Back in the hostel, it is time to go to bed.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Nearly there, Sunday, May 8, I will get on the plane. It is a flight of about 28 hours, first to London, then to Hong Kong, then to Auckland and then to Wanganui. Due to the time difference I will only get there at May 10th.
I already have my bags packed (pretty crazy to get all your winter clothes to with this beautiful weather outside) and my visa in my passport. Dotting the i's always takes the longest, but in any case I am really looking forward to go!
(Oh, the photos below are from the trip to Berlin with school, until I got something better!)
Thursday, April 4, 2011
Woehoe!
Woehoe, it worked out, I got an internship in Whanganui in New Zealand. I will do this at Whanganui Regional Museum (http://www.wanganui-museum.org.nz/). Yesterday we booked a ticket, and I will leave on May 8. The internship will be a period of 8 weeks. Afterwards I will be going on vacation through the country along with Bram. So now I am very busy with visas, housing and everything else which comes with a far and long journey. And of course the final classes at college. Fortunately it all with a nice goal in mind, so, so far so good!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Since I will be doing an internship, and this may happen elsewhere than in the Netherlands, and for some reason people want to know what I am up to, I started this blog. With everything you want to know, and if it works some pictures. But first I have to get a place, so everyone keep your fingers crossed!
