First month in New Zealand

It’s already a month since I landed in Auckland, but it feels like 6 months to me… and still haven’t seen much! But I’ve managed to achieve my first goal, I've passed my CELTA, so I’m “almost” officially and over the paper, a teacher. It has been very hard, much more than I’d imagined it, but it’s worth the effort. Now it’s time to travel a bit and look for a job. Unfortunately, my options here are very limited because the visa, so I’ll have to go for my second option, Asia. But before that I’ll travel around the country, I would never forgive myself for coming all this far and leaving before having seen all the marvelous places out there, although my priority is my economy (I know, very sad, but it’s the truth) I’ll travel until a job offer arrives.

Auckland is a city of contrasts, the weather, the people, the food… In one day you can have all 4 seasons, it’s a bit annoying when you are trying to plan something, because one day it’ll be sunny and hot and the following day it will be pouring down with rain. So, a good pair of shoes, not too hot or opened; a jacket, no too thin or thick; an umbrella or a raincoat, will be your best allies here.

The young kiwis remind me at those English ones that visit Ibiza every summer. The mixture of cultures is inevitable, Asians, Kiwis, Maoris, Polynesians, Europeans, Indians, Latin-Americans and Saudis’ get together in different pubs all around the city after their English classes or jobs. The wide pavements, that remind you of New York, are half empty even on pick hour, you can really hear the birds singing, and only two things interrupt that, almost silence, the music at the photography shop in Queen St and the fire brigade sirens. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen them or heard them since I got here, but I never see smoke!!!

You can travel around the city center by bus for free and taking a bus from my place to my school, which is a 15 minute’s walk, it costs only 0.30 euro cents! You can eat one of the best sushi meals from 9 dollars (5 euros). You can visit the museum and art gallery for free, donations apply. The city is full of convenience stores, but we have one supermarket, yes just one in the entire city which is cheaper and has everything.

It’s almost Xmas and the atmosphere here it’s pretty much nonexistent, but as my friend Marius says, it might be better that way, so we don’t get to miss our families so much. Our super plan’s a BBQ at the beach! What better idea for a sunny Xmas?! And after that, I want to go to the place where sunrise’s first on earth, that’s my plan for New Year’s, what do you think?!

Kia Ora to New Zealand

Finally, I'm hereeeeee!!!! To be honest I can't believe it, it's a dream come true, how many can say something like that, ey?! This is the first post of this trip and, although I know that many of you were waiting for this moment, I must say there is not much to tell... Luckily, I'll soon be able to include many more photos and interesting experiences, but do not forget that my first 4 weeks here I'll be studying, so I wont have much time left for other things.

Many of you have asked me what my first impressions are, well the truth is that are very positive. Auckland is a big city, modern, with history but empty!!! hahahahaha, yeeeessss, the truth is that for one of the main city's in the country, it's very deserted, bear in mind that I'm compering it with big city's like London or Barcelona, I think Ibiza it's more crowded!!!! So I don't want to even imagine how busy the other city's will be. Lets not forget that in this country there are only 4 million inhabitants, most of them in this city, so lets see what the others will be like. Despite that, Spanish and Argentinian have managed to get a good spot here, my God we are like plagues!!!! This days I've been at the Public Library, because the free Wi-fi, don't take me wrong :p but is where I have met the first Spanish people and where I'm surrounded by Argentinians and Germans.

I have a small room very near the city centre, and although I'm suppose to be shearing the flat with 2 other people it's not totally like that. Only last night I met my neighbour, the other room is empty, the girl is from Russia and she has been here for over a month now, so she has made friends from her class and they are going to share a flat, she goes to the same school I'll be going from Monday. In my room there's only a double bed, a big cupboard (no hungers) and a mini desk for the computer, but no chair!!!! But I do have 3 big windows and a lot of natural light, the views are no good... There's no cutlery or plates, so I had to buy plastic ones (my brothers dream, use and throw away, hahahahahaha).

Today I have been to my school, it has been very interesting, but the thought of starting on Monday and that I'll soon have to give my first class has made me nervous, I really hope everything will work out fine, it's been a long way to get here! I've also been to immigration to find out more about the visas, there are not many options, I must get a job offer first before asking for the working visa, so fingers cross everyone, please!!!

Regarding the course, the little I know for now is that will only be 6 students, which is good. I know there are 3 newzealanders, one Brazilian and another "Spanish of the World", apparently he is galician but he speaks German, my teacher thinks that his parents immigrated to Germany, anyway, sounds interesting.

Regarding the food, I can't tell much yet, besides the fact that's pact with Asian restaurants, the influence here is tremendous, I think that the Asian population it's almost the 50%. And about Maoris, I have seen some, but mostly are Polynesian, to be honest I find them difficult to distinguish... I've decided that all those that look like rugby players are Maori, just because for them it's an honor...

Another thing that I've found curious and someone a¡had already mentioned, is fashion, practically nonexistent... people don't follow any fashion in particular like in other big city's, it's more like "wear anything", you don't see copy's ones of the others, there are many tacky people, surfer style, hippie and then the Japanese and their own particular style... Anyway, I think I like the idea, it's "free style" so no space for criticism!!!

Back on track...

After one of the most difficult seasons of my 18 years at Ibiza Airport, I'm glad to say it's about to end... Things have happened that I never thought I would have to suffer, but at the end of the day they will end up in the memory box with all the others, I have so many that I could even right a book! But finally the moment to turn the page has arrived. Those have been the best years of my life and I have a lot of good memories but I don't have the same passion anymore, so it's about time to give chance to other ideas that have been on the back of my mind for too long... or at least I need to try.

The decision is done, I'm starting a new journey... once more it's taking me far away from my roots, family and friends but I'll be visiting New Zealand, one of my dreams!!!
In November I'll start a journey in a country of contrasts, nature and culture of opportunities. The first 4 weeks I'll be studying in Auckland, the Cambridge University Certificate CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) the after that I'll look for a job in NZ, my first option, although I also bear in mind country's like Indonesia and South Korea... so wile something turns up I'll be travelling around "The Earth of the White Cloud"

So I hope to see you around my blogg because I believe this is going to be one of the best trips of my life... you'll have a lot to see and read... so I need you keeping me company...

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES STARTS WITH A SINGLE STEP...

... And some times you have to stop to think what the next step is going to be!

It's been a while since my last post and not because nothing interesting has happened to me, most likely the opposite.

Next week I’ll be back in Ibiza for the season… it’s not that I was totally homesick, is just that my plans have suffered some alterations, hahahahaha

A month and a half ago I decided to give up the job why I came to London on the first place, the job which was going to give me the money and freedom for doing other things like going to the gym, volunteering, get to know more of my favourite city, travelling… of course I also came because I wanted to help the people I was going to work with and so I did for 3 months, but thanks to them and the job itself I realised I wasn’t doing any of the things I intended to when coming to London!

I found my self locked in a room anywhere in UK watching the world going pass my window. The bad weather helped me feeling better, watching snowing through the window of your cosy and warm room it’s always better… but when sunny days began the outside activities also started, not mine, but all of yours! I was still locked in watching the world though my window. Luckily someone brought me my laptop so my world opened up a lot more, but unfortunately that only made things worse! Watching the photos, comments, excursions, ect of all of you on Facebook… how much I hated it!

Anyway, I decided to look into the situation and find a different solution so I started sending many and many CV from my locked little place. But what made me take the decision of risking the only job I had to through my self into the adventure of being one more in a city like this one and start looking for a job?! Simple, the fact that I almost los few interviews because I was working with a client at the time!!! So I took my savings and with the biggest help from my family and in particular of a very good friend who offered me a room in his house… I landed in London!

I thought it would only take me a few days, but obviously I was wrong! Don’t get me wrong, I had offers and those where followed but interviews, but none worked out!

So as I was approaching my dead line and I was running out of money, I decided to take my last shot.

I probably should’ve done it lot earlier, I know many will think like that and they might be right, but we all make mistakes, don’t we?! All this time I had been focusing my search just in those jobs related with my skills, I thought that if I could not find it then it wasn’t my moment. But I was so much willing to stay in London that it wasn’t until a very close person asked me: Ana, what do you want, to be able to stay in London or get the ideal job?! That I realised that I had mistaken my purpose! What did I do?! Start looking for pubs and restaurant jobs, which I had already done but with my airport CV and not so intensively, but who is going to hire you with that kind of background?! But I don’t have waitressing experience, at all! I wouldn’t mind working in a pub, I always liked the idea but because I don’t have any experience I dismiss it. That here it is not a problem, the experience appears from no where, like it did with me and in a way that the following day I had 2 job interviews!!! But as I’ve already said, it was too late…

Anyway, 2 weeks ago I thought that if I had to go back to Ibiza I wouldn’t try this kid of adventure again, but I’ve learned so much of it and now I know how I must do it that it is very possible that I’ll be trying it again after the summer season, cause what else is there to do in Ibiza, tell me?!

Once things are over it is easier to say I could’ve done things differently, true! But I prefer making my live a little more complicated, hahahaha

My stories will continue from Ibiza, because it’s also part of the journey and who know what has the future ready for me, I only know that I will never become obsessed with it ever again, because what ever it has to be it will be!

Jenn Koo Yeh Polska (Thank You Poland)

After a non conventional Xmas, working at “someone else” house, a different New Year, special and “New”, few weeks working for not very nice people and some other totally the opposite, the moment for a mini and more than deserving holydays had arrived. How I had already told you in other occasions, my friend Ola, had invited to me Poland, I can say is a wonderful country, people is really kind and despite the cold it’s well worth the visit.

I left London on the 28 th of January at 0610 am, so I had to spend the night in a B&B at Stansted. The owners are Australian and very nice couple, I totally recommend it for hose of you having to make a stop over at this airport and they count with a shuttle service at mostly any time, I had to leave at 0430 am and the man had gone to bed around 0100 am cause he had a pick up. I had dinner at the only pub in the little village accompanied of a glass of white wine and the tranquillity of being on holydays. After a nice chat to the pub owner I had a wonderful dinner but I had to leave soon for an early night… In the morning and just with one cup of coffee I had a very disturbing experience at the security control, but I won’t go down that way because it’s not worth it!!! Anyway, 2 hours flight destination Gdansk where minus 11 degrees where expecting me, although it didn’t feel that cold at all. Ola came to fetch me; we went to the centre of town for breakfast and to make some time until we could go to our mini flat at Mariacka street, one of the nicest streets of Gdansk old town. This street is full of Amber shops, so there’s no better place to go shopping and for a walk.

One of the towns close to Gdansk is Sopot, a part from being Ola’s home town, it’s also considered one of the best holyday, party and tourism towns in Poland… nothing to do with Ibiza, not full of constructions and a historical harbour (on the photo). We spend the weekend near a lake at the Kaszuby area, with Ola’s friends, they all share the same hobby, they prepare 4x4 and then they go all together on excursions or trips, but this time they where celebrating to B’Days and they rented a house for the occasion, there was 30 of us, so you can imagine the party. We also had the opportunity to see a video of their last trip to Mongolia, amazing!

I spend 8 days in Poland, but I had such a great experience that it seemed like a month to me. The return to work was hard but now feels like an eternity since I got back!!! Anyway, must earn a bit of money for my next trips, although I’ve already bought my flight tickets for Island that one is still a little far a way, September! Next, Joaquin, my mother and my brother are visiting so I’ll have few free days to spend time with them.

Already 2 months in UK!!!

Yes, just 2 months and seems like an eternity!!!! And please don’t take that wrong, I’m not saying it has been a bad experience because is totally the opposite.

Which is my evaluation of this past 2 months?! Positive and it couldn’t be another way. Obviously there are up & downs, but nothing serious or with out solution. For first time in years I’m enjoying my free time, even though is less that I would like it to be, but I can assure you that I try to get the best out of it. I’m learning a lot of this experience and the job, but thanks to it, what I’m most learning is to get to know me lot more and what my future goals are. I have the time to think about them but most of all put them into practice, thanks to the big possibilities this country can offer you, something it was pretty much impossible in Ibiza. I could dream and wish of doing things, but the frustration for not being able to achieve any of them, was the hardest part. So now that I can see all the opportunities I have I can only think where do I start from?!

I’m making many decisions regarding my future, decisions I’ll let you all know at the right time. But in any case you won’t have to wait long long for the first news, sorry but this is how it works, JE!

What I can tell you is that I’ll be going to Poland end of January, I’ll be going to my friends house, Ola. We’ll be spending the weekend somewhere out in the countryside with, most likely, minus 20 degrees! A group of her friends spend some of there free time working on 4x4 and then they go on extreme excursions, we’ll see what the experience is like and I’ll do loads of photos so you can get an idea, because I’ve seen videos and still not so sure… jijiji

Many of you have asked me when I’ll be going back to Ibiza, I can now tell you, that unless I need to go for some particular reason, which it doesn’t look like that at all for now, I won’t be going before august and that is depending on how much money I’ve been able to safe.

Anyway 2 moths, up for the next 7!!!!!

Happy New Year and welcome to our "Ñ"

Happy New Year to @ll!!!

As you can see I have our dearest "ñ" back with me!!! Thanks to 2 nice souls who have come to visit London for few days, I've been able to meet again with my lap top and I'm so happy that I've decided to dedicate this post to it!!!

But I will also tell you how my Xmas ended. As, I already mentioned before, I was going to spend New Years Eve in London with several friends, but at last it was just Susana and me, but we had a great time.

We did the shopping for dinner that we prepared at hers in Oval, then we got all dressed up as we would in Spain and we tuck off to the centre to see the fireworks they throw from the London Eye, every year. We had checked on the website what time was the best one to go into the best zone, basically, we had to try and be there before 8 pm!!! Yes, we spend 4 hours in the cold night until midnight to have our grapes and to see the fireworks and no, we are not crazy!!! Or if we are, then another 70000 people are too. The truth is that it was a great experience. After dinner and all nicely dressed up, we tucked the tube to Waterloo with the intention to change towards Westminster and from there just few steps to Westminster Bridge, between Big Ben and London Eye. But when we got to Waterloo the announcements where informing that the train wouldn’t stop at Westminster because it was already closed and it was only 7:30 pm! So we had to walk, not that it is a very long distance, but it is if you are on hi heals and you can not use the shortcuts because they where closed… I just wanted to dye and my feet where dead already.

Anyway, we where lucky and we managed to enter the zone which was limited to certain amount of public, we could not have better views! So, now, time to wait! At least we had our “spirits” to keep us worm, but the atmosphere was very helpful too! After being there for a while we started talking to a couple from Sevilla, with whom we ended up waiting and eating our grapes.

Fireworks where great, they lasted for over 10 minutes and people was very cheering! We had our grapes by our own “dongs” because it was impossible to listen to Big Bens ones, but we eat them all looking at it and just on time!

Afterwards we had to start heading back and decide where we were going to go for a drink, but everything was so busy including the tube, that my feet had have enough, but we still managed to get back just after 2:00 am. Never ever more on hi heals!!! Besides, we were pretty much the only ones who have decided to get dressed up and everyone else were wearing worm clothing, while we were on our nice dresses that no one could see because it was so cold that we wouldn’t dear taking our coats off!! I believe that these Londoners get lot more dressed up on working days that they did for New Years Eve.

And the 1^st of January arrived; we met with Diego to celebrate the New Year, once more! Back again to Waterloo for a work along the Thames, this time with my trainers!!! We toasted with champagne and we realized all the rubbish that was left over from the night before, for the poor guys to clean up...