I have heard of Clement's loss recently. I am speech-less; I am learning of life's sudden endings; I am learning to cherish every moment of my life, while making a positive impact on other's. Thanks Clement Tsai for the great memories we shared together! May you rest in peace, for you will forever be in our minds and heart.
Yesterday, Alissa and I drove out to Ohakune to get some lunch. We had discovered a hidden Forest Walk which was waaaayyyy kool. All those native vegetation really reminded me of how amazing nature and New Zealand really is! (Yes, New Zealand is more like a jungle in it's native state). There was a river there. It was feeding the forest with life and while carrying the dead leaves on it's trail. Life really is like a river-- you can not step into the same river twice and how each passing droplet of water or a debris is renewed. Anyhow, it reminded us of how trivial responsibility really is! It is all made up by us; we don't need to be stressed out by our something we have forged. It is also interesting to note that wikipedia deems the US culture as "need to be fiscally responsible and has the need to obtain economical independence right after college". That is the reason why no Americans really ever take a "gap year" or just run up and travel. It would be irresponsible in American culture. It made me really think how Alissa (grew up in a cultural mecca or San Jose) never really had friends that had strong oppositions for her to get up and go to NZ, whereas, I had almost offensive opposition (by friends...not parents). I remember I was talking to a friend during spring and was asked what I was going to do after college...I also asked the same. My buddy replied "preparing and saving up to go to a professional graduate school!" My response--"dunno, but going to NZ for a while, dunno when I'll come back". The response I got was "you're crazy, you're really going to take poor Alissa to NZ? without knowing what to do? you have no money jon, and a student loan, you're irresponsible". Crazy huh? I used to think I was irresponsible for coming here...now i dont.
two nights ago was an anti-ball party. The moutain had a "ball" but it was too expensive so we dressed up to go to Taz's massive party. It was a lot of fun! the theme was "ridiculous" so I dressed up ridiculous and taped a little cardboard ninja on my head. Alissa had a towel and a bra. A friend of ours dressed up like a dragon.
Anyhow, I gotta go, c ya!
Btw, canada's policy with work permits has gone ape shit crazy because of the olympics so I heard preference will be given to NZ, Canadians, australians and the english for work first. So I don't think canada will happen. Maybe Colorado? Maybe san fran? maybe japan? or stay here? or go to fiji? I dunno yet, but we'll see where life takes us as long as we do something Legen...wait for it....DARY!!!!! (that was for you Herrera).
bye
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More Animals
I'm not sure if I mentioned the night Jon brought home a puppy claiming it was lost. That night the thing kept puking and then eating its throw up. And in the morning it turned out that the dog just liked to roam around and wasn't lost at all. Well, that was a while ago, But Kalai remembered that incident. Last night, Kalai brought us a little baby bird that she said had fallen out of its nest and needed a place to sleep until the rescue organization would be open in the morning. So for a night we took care of little "Poo-poo." (That name was courtesy of Amy's creative mind.) We have decided Poo-poo is a girl because she is very beautiful. She spent the night with us, but when she heard family chirping in the morning, she flew around all flustered and called to her bird friends. So we took her outside and she kept calling till another bird came and accompanied her away. It was rather cute. Jon has decided that animals just use us for a nice place to sleep for a night.
Yesterday, our friend Joel, whose house we have taken to invading when we are bored, got himself evicted. The whole thing was pretty stupid. He was defending a friend against the manager who was insisting that the guy move at 10 am when he was clearly going to be at work. Joel said: "Doing that's being an asshole." And then he was told he would have to move out. I'm pretty sure Joel is the one person I would never have expected this to come to. He is probably the least offensive, most soft-spoken guy in the world. But, this just adds to the reasons why living at The Park is like living in a war between staff at the Mountain, and management at The Park. New battles strike up all the time, and Jon and I get stuck in the middle of it because I work at the mountain and he works at The Park.
Having said that, everyone here is sort of getting antsy to leave. The snow is so slushy that people opt out of going skiing on their off days, and drive to nearby towns instead. (Those are the only two options of entertainment.) There is a REAL waterfall in middle of one of the slopes, and it is not uncommon to encounter little streams, and rocks are jutting out of the snow everywhere. People are being asked if they want to end their contracts for work early because it looks like the season is heading to a close. I think they are hoping to get another month out of it. We'll see if the snow plays along. Either way it doesn't really matter for us. When there is no more work for us to do on the mountain, I'll share the hours Jon is doing at the Park, and we can have the rest of the week to travel around and do touristy things.
That is all for now!
Jalissa
Yesterday, our friend Joel, whose house we have taken to invading when we are bored, got himself evicted. The whole thing was pretty stupid. He was defending a friend against the manager who was insisting that the guy move at 10 am when he was clearly going to be at work. Joel said: "Doing that's being an asshole." And then he was told he would have to move out. I'm pretty sure Joel is the one person I would never have expected this to come to. He is probably the least offensive, most soft-spoken guy in the world. But, this just adds to the reasons why living at The Park is like living in a war between staff at the Mountain, and management at The Park. New battles strike up all the time, and Jon and I get stuck in the middle of it because I work at the mountain and he works at The Park.
Having said that, everyone here is sort of getting antsy to leave. The snow is so slushy that people opt out of going skiing on their off days, and drive to nearby towns instead. (Those are the only two options of entertainment.) There is a REAL waterfall in middle of one of the slopes, and it is not uncommon to encounter little streams, and rocks are jutting out of the snow everywhere. People are being asked if they want to end their contracts for work early because it looks like the season is heading to a close. I think they are hoping to get another month out of it. We'll see if the snow plays along. Either way it doesn't really matter for us. When there is no more work for us to do on the mountain, I'll share the hours Jon is doing at the Park, and we can have the rest of the week to travel around and do touristy things.
That is all for now!
Jalissa
Monday, September 7, 2009
Funny story:
Yesterday, Jon and I were going to go skiing at Whakapapa as usual on a beautiful day off. Then we realized that our car wasn't going to make it up the mountain with the amount of gas (or Petrol, as they say here) that was in our car. No worries, we'll just stop by the gas station and get some, right? WRONG. Um, the gas station was out of gas. That's New Zealand for you. And the nearest gas station is in Ohakune, 35 km away from our current location. Here's a tip, fill up a gas can with Petrol, and carry it with you always. You never know when you will simply not be able to get what you need!
Anyways, it wasn't a problem for us. We did indeed have to drive 35km out of our way just to get gas, though. So instead of driving the hour it would have taken us to get back on track, we just went skiing on the other side of the mountain, called Turoa. Dude, the drive to Turoa is just beautiful! The road curves through all kinds of foresty vegetation. The drive that takes me to work at Whakapapa is entirely fields with sheep, and then fields of lava rocks. That's all. When I found out that the people working on the other side get to have that drive to work, I felt cheated. So we had a great time just getting there. And once there, we had a great time attempting jumps on the little terrain park. It was the perfect balance since Jon is more comfortable jumping on things than I am, and I am more comfortable skiing than he is. So it evened out.
It was a really good day. Yay!
Jalissa
Yesterday, Jon and I were going to go skiing at Whakapapa as usual on a beautiful day off. Then we realized that our car wasn't going to make it up the mountain with the amount of gas (or Petrol, as they say here) that was in our car. No worries, we'll just stop by the gas station and get some, right? WRONG. Um, the gas station was out of gas. That's New Zealand for you. And the nearest gas station is in Ohakune, 35 km away from our current location. Here's a tip, fill up a gas can with Petrol, and carry it with you always. You never know when you will simply not be able to get what you need!
Anyways, it wasn't a problem for us. We did indeed have to drive 35km out of our way just to get gas, though. So instead of driving the hour it would have taken us to get back on track, we just went skiing on the other side of the mountain, called Turoa. Dude, the drive to Turoa is just beautiful! The road curves through all kinds of foresty vegetation. The drive that takes me to work at Whakapapa is entirely fields with sheep, and then fields of lava rocks. That's all. When I found out that the people working on the other side get to have that drive to work, I felt cheated. So we had a great time just getting there. And once there, we had a great time attempting jumps on the little terrain park. It was the perfect balance since Jon is more comfortable jumping on things than I am, and I am more comfortable skiing than he is. So it evened out.
It was a really good day. Yay!
Jalissa
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The "Gangsta" Party
Last night, The Park hosted a party that was gangsta themed. WOW. I never realized how removed New Zealanders are from the Hip Hop culture. You wouldn't believe how many horribly wrong stereotypes they have about "gangstas."
1. Josh, my supervisor at Rentals, calls my Hip Hop music "clone music" because all the beats sounds the same to him, and he can't tell the people apart that listen to that music. Wow is that a statement you would not feel comfortable saying in the US or what!!!!
2. Some people came to the party looking like members of the Mafia, with suits and guns.
3. Their version of Rap involves Eminem and Biggie. THAT'S ALL. I think we listened to an entire album of Eminem's music that night. I don't know any bar or club that would play music by Eminem unless it just came out and featured Akon in it. They are in love with "Gangster's Paradise." I haven't heard that song since I was 10.
4. My collection of music is apparently a bit too "Gangster" for New Zealanders. People would rather listen to Techno and Pop. (Hehe)
5. When I came to the party with Corn Rows, you wouldn't believe how many people thought I was REALLY "GANGSTA". (I was wearing the ski pants that my work issued me, and a sweatshirt). People at Rentals never stop telling me that I am gangsta. I find that very amusing. I don't even think they know what they are saying. I keep trying to explain that I am from the suburbs of California, but I don't think they care about that.
6. People threw around sensitive subjects like "dressing like a blood or a crip" and "whic gnag sign is this?" I was thoroughly embarrassed for all of us most of that night. It was awesome.
Anyways, I just had to mention that. Otherwise it was a really fun night with lots of dancing and then a hangover at work the next day. Fridays at work are starting to suck.
You all have a great day/night!
Jalissa
1. Josh, my supervisor at Rentals, calls my Hip Hop music "clone music" because all the beats sounds the same to him, and he can't tell the people apart that listen to that music. Wow is that a statement you would not feel comfortable saying in the US or what!!!!
2. Some people came to the party looking like members of the Mafia, with suits and guns.
3. Their version of Rap involves Eminem and Biggie. THAT'S ALL. I think we listened to an entire album of Eminem's music that night. I don't know any bar or club that would play music by Eminem unless it just came out and featured Akon in it. They are in love with "Gangster's Paradise." I haven't heard that song since I was 10.
4. My collection of music is apparently a bit too "Gangster" for New Zealanders. People would rather listen to Techno and Pop. (Hehe)
5. When I came to the party with Corn Rows, you wouldn't believe how many people thought I was REALLY "GANGSTA". (I was wearing the ski pants that my work issued me, and a sweatshirt). People at Rentals never stop telling me that I am gangsta. I find that very amusing. I don't even think they know what they are saying. I keep trying to explain that I am from the suburbs of California, but I don't think they care about that.
6. People threw around sensitive subjects like "dressing like a blood or a crip" and "whic gnag sign is this?" I was thoroughly embarrassed for all of us most of that night. It was awesome.
Anyways, I just had to mention that. Otherwise it was a really fun night with lots of dancing and then a hangover at work the next day. Fridays at work are starting to suck.
You all have a great day/night!
Jalissa
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