Playing catch-up.

I realize that, since my last outpouring of blog posts, I’ve been quite lax on keeping up-to-date with things. I guess all that writing all at once takes more of a toll on a person than you realize. But I know if I don’t keep up with this, I’ll fall behind and then eventually give up on it. So are you ready for the past week in under 1500 words?? Here we go.

Monday:
After passing out after getting home Sunday night, my alarm (naturally) didn’t go off Monday morning. Luckily, I woke up at 8:37, with just enough time to throw clothes on and get up to campus just in time for class. Then I came home, took a shower, did the dishes, and found a spare moment to unpack from the weekend.

After class that evening, I managed to drag myself to New World in the rain. I didn’t want to go, but I had nothing to eat for dinner; not even any bread. So I spent $70 on yummy food, and stopped for a sub at Subway on the way home. But my favorite purchase of the night? Starburst “Babies.” They are just what they sound like – Starburst gummy candies in the shape of babies. And we’re not talking Sour Patch Kids that vaguely resemble humans… no, these are smiling, diapered babies that you eat. Brilliant.

Tuesday:
I had my first essay due – a critical analysis for Travel Writing. I was quite happy with the final product, and hope that my lecturer likes it, too. If not though, oh well. Who actually studies during study abroad? ;^) (Just kidding, Dad!)

After class, I had volunteered to help out with a local Amazing Race game. A PR firm downtown (at least, I gather that they’re a PR firm) was hosting the game for its employees. One of the girls who was in charge of setting it up is in my Pop Culture class, so she asked me to help out. I’m supposed to get paid for it ($15 an hour under the table), so I figured why not.

I ended up having to sit by the bucket fountain on Cuba Street for 3 ½ hours, waiting to hand teams clues after they counted how many times the buckets dumped water in a minute. It certainly wasn’t hard work, and I enjoyed the people watching, but it was so cooooold. It was a nice sunny day, but, because of the configuration of Cuba Street, none of the warmth from the sun actually made it down to me. By 6:30, I was so glad to get out of there!

That, and an old drunk Maori man called Pete was trying to convince me to go to a bar with him, so I was really happy to have an excuse to leave my post. Earlier, Pete had been bothering a kid playing Bob Dylan songs a bit further down the street. The kid was good – he looked and sounded just like Dylan, and was at least mildly entertaining, so I felt bad for him. But he made quite a few bucks playing, so I could only summon so much sympathy.

The people of Wellington are interesting to watch. I saw everything from a little Asian boy falling on his bum, to loads of skateboarders trying to pull “cool” tricks, to little girls carrying orange smiley face balloons that Mom got for them at the “Register to Vote” van, to teens sporting ripped tights and Chucks, to many guys in skinny jeans and button-up sweaters, al la Mr. Rogers. I suppose there are worse ways I could have spent an evening.

Wednesday:
When I wasn’t in Pop Culture class talking about (and watching) Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I began to arduous task of posting blog entries and uploading pictures. As you can tell, I have finally (now that’s it’s Friday) finished. Thanks God.

After I couldn’t stand to stare at my computer screen any longer (i.e. around dinner time), Jamie, Andrea, Jess and I sought out dinner together. We all were headed to an amateur comedy night a bit later on, so we decided to do dinner first. We ended up at a Malaysian place, and I had some sort of chicken and crunchy noodles. The noodles weirded me out, because they were cooked, but still crunchy. Oh those Malaysians.

After dinner, we made our way to the Wellington Comedy Club. Which actually moonlights as about six other things, under the official name of the San Francisco Bath House down on Cuba Street. We got there early, paid our $5 cover, and listened to the end of an acoustic set by a duo called Soulja. It was a guy and a girl who did covers of really sad and depressing songs. Perhaps not the best right before comedians!

At 8 p.m., the comedy started. The MC was a local comedian, who has apparently won some prestigious NZ comedy award, and who also apparently had a viral infection in his lungs (he kept mentioning both of these things, so I just have to assume they are both true). He was funny, and began his little bit by engaging in some banter with a couple of girls who were on their cell phones. He also made fun of Ohio (once he found out our group, sitting front-row, was from there), and also made fun of Lord of the Rings. Apparently he played an extra orc in the Battle of the Pelennor fields, though, so I suppose he can make fun if he wants. It is interesting, though, how many random LotR references I come across in day-to-day life.

The 10 rookie comedians ranged from bad to mediocre. The MC (I’ve forgotten his name!) made the show. The only rookie I really liked was the very last one. He was a young, tall, moustached man who was clearly shaking with nerves. But he was hilarious. He told his jokes one after another in a monotone while sitting in a chair. But they were great. My favorite was his observation about the people who say that living by the saying “An eye for an eye” will leave the whole world blind. This guy doesn’t agree. He asked Jess to help him out with his joke. “Okay, I take your eye,” he started. “Go ahead, close your eye. Now you take my eye.” He closed his eye. “Now I take your other eye.” Jess closed her other eye. “And now you’re blind, and I win.” Ha! It was probably funnier if you’d been there…

I don’t remember all the other comedians as well… there were two women, and Irishman, a Maori guy, and some other oddballs, but none of them really stood out. But it was still lots of fun! We may have to go there more often.

On our way home, we walked by this nearly empty karaoke bar, and Jamie and I decided we needed to sing a cheesy boyband song. But we probably picked the wrong bar. The few people in the place were clearly regulars, and all Maori. We got carded the moment we walked in, and got yelled at for putting our feet up on the coffee tables. Jamie and I were going to sing “Summer Girls” by LFO, but our names didn’t come up before 11:30, and so we decided to call it a night. We’ve found another karaoke place on Courtenay Place, and will have to try that out, instead.

Thursday:
I spent the whole day writing another essay. It was not exciting.

I took a walk down Cuba Street, and bought some boots. I know I shouldn’t have, but they were on sale, and everyone wears them here. They called to me.

At night, I watched TV with the girls (like every night). This included watching 20/20, which this week featured a segment on Lisa Lewis, a famous single mom and stripper. They showed clips of her stripping, as well as her being a news anchor on “Naked News.” Once again, lots and lots of boobs (and more!) on primetime TV. Ah, New Zealand.

Friday:
That’s today! I’m all caught up! Today I went up to campus (once again in the rain – yuck) to turn in my second essay. I am a writing machine, I tell you! I then hung out in the lounge, putting up the last of my Auckland pictures on Facebook and basically just puttering around online.

I was supposed to meet Jamie there at 4 or 5 so we could go out, but she ended up getting sick. We were supposed to go to a party at the Marine house that the people from the NZ Embassy (whom we met a week or so back at the New Zealand-American networking shindig) clued us in on, but that didn’t quite pan out.

So then I was going to try and do something with Andrea. But she disappeared, so I played around with Skype instead. I got it working, and called my sister, parents, and Dave. That was nice. Then I simply headed back to my flat around 6. So here I am, eagerly awaiting midnight, when I can see the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (if I can stay awake that long, that is!).

Tomorrow, if Jamie is feeling up to it, Andrea and I are going up to her place in Ngaio for an Office/Olympics party/sleepover! Also, junk food extravaganza. I hope it works out and we can go!