Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Living Abroad in New Zealand

On Jauary 18 we fly from LAX once more to New Zealand.  We have traveled extensively in both 2008 and 2010 throughout both the north and south islands.  Obviously, since we are returning again, we are hooked on both the country and its friendly residents, the Kiwis.  This trip we are relocating to NZ until March 30. 

By definition, "living abroad" appears to have no time requirement.  Bill and I have rented an assortment of cottages, flats, houses, and historic apartments in a variety of countries for one or two weeks at a time, never feeling we had moved abroad but were visiting or vacationing. 

Only last winter, we spent two weeks in a gorgeous 17th century two bed-room flat overlooking the medieval streets of Montpellier, France.  We shopped in the local markets and stores, visited the local museums and monuments, drove out to visit Carcassonne and Nimes, and attempted to strike up conversations with the locals, a task made difficult by our modest fluency in French.  We had some unique adventures.  Bill ordered lamb kidneys one evening (by mistake) and enjoyed seeing them flambe'd at the table more than eating them.  We also "broke" the "techno toilet" in the master bath.  If you want to read more about that trip and previous ones, go to our other blog site:  www.readingbetweenthewines.blogspot.com 

On our upcoming trip to New Zealand, we are renting a condo in Picton, a small town on the north coast of the south island.  We will stay there for the entire ten weeks while making short day trips to spots we want to hike, eat, or taste wine.  The famous Marlborough wine district is only a thirty minute drive south.  We will take longer trips to Wellington by ferry or to Abel Tasman National Park, but Picton will be our home.  If you'd like to see our condo, you can do a virtual trip on-line, www.holidayhouses.co.nz/18451, or come for a real visit while we are there.  

Considering the lack of a language barrier and the friendliness of the "natives," we hope to make new friends, find the farmers' markets, learn the Haka, do a little fishing, try out new recipes, and live like  Kiwis.  I'll let you know how it works!  Hopefully, we'll find a community center, some classes in Maori language and culture, a tennis and/or bridge game, and some hiking/walking buddies.  We're hoping for warm summer weather in the southern hemisphere and lots of fresh summer vegies. 

Stay in touch by checking this blogsite or subscribing in the box provided above.  I'll probably be posting every two or three days with pictures and videos of Bill (more likely me) doing the Haka.  You can also reach us, as always, by e-mail.

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