Traveling and Christchurch.

After over 24 hours of traveling, 3 layovers, 4 flights, more airplane meals than ever should be served to someone in that short of time, a regrettable decision to watch The Lucky One for my choice of inflight entertainment,  a job offer for a job in sales in Brisbane, and very little sleep (Dad, I needed the anti anxiety pill... lesson learned.   The Benedryl/whiskey combo did not work “just as well”)  I have finally arrived in Christchurch New Zealand!!!   A town, I am told, that used to be very nice and picturesque.   However, unfortunately there was a devastating earthquake last year that destroyed the town and wiped out much of the shops, restaurants and bars.  So at my break in orientation today I crossed the street and had my lunch at the new hotspot in town... the airport.  It was actually quite good.  They have a very classy airport here in Christchurch.  (Pat, they have silver twinkie trucks with espresso and coffee outside!!  I should have snapped a picture.  They were everything I want our food truck to be.)

I am lying low tonight.  Apparently a nasty flu epidemic has hit New Zealand and Australia and a few people have already come down with it from the program.  And as all of you know, I get sick at the drop of a hat.   So no partying for me tonight.  However, after only a day with my fellow colleagues I have learned that drinking is the basis for all bonding/jokes/and basically everything at McMurdo Station.  So much so that the new contract has very strict guidelines on what is and is not appropriate concerning alcohol and there is a new zero tolerance policy for all alcohol related incidents.  

When I asked what incidents prompted this new revision I received an appalling answer involving a mysterious person last year, drinking, and pooping all around the station.   I literally could not drag my jaw off the floor I was so shocked.  Over half the group is over 50 and most everyone else is in their late 20’s 30’s and 40’s.   Over the years I have known some hard partiers, but never have they had the urge to hide fecal matter like a scavenger hunt. 

So I have to balance the line between staying calm and not being a total antisocial pariah.   When I told a few of my new friends I planned on not drinking too much down there and “getting healthy”  they all laughed.  And then proceeded to ask if I also plan on writing the great american novel, learning a new language and losing weight... All of which I was planning on doing.  

All that being said, I am sticking to my guns to make this a healthy trip.  Everyone has said this experience is what you bring to it.   If you have a good attitude it is the best experience you can ever have.   If you have a negative one it is the worst.   So I do plan on joining the festivities and having fun, just not too much.  And hopefully writing that novel/sceenplay, losing weight and brushing up on my French in the meantime... but we will keep that on the DL.

The flight before us going down to “the ice,” was “boomeranged” which basically means that they flew down to Antarctica, but because of severe weather conditions they couldn’t land and turned around.   Because of this and the help of 2 conventions in town, all the hotel rooms are full.  So we have had to double, or in my case triple, up on roommates in the hotels.  If the first group’s flight gets cancelled again tomorrow then they will be moving us to a ski resort an hour out of town so we have more room.    Which means I will not be flying down to Antarctica tomorrow but will instead leave Thursday,  Friday or later.  The perk to this is I get to explore New Zealand.  

Tomorrow I will go early in the morning to the CDC (Clothing Distribution Center) and receive my government issued clothing, AKA Big Red, and our boomerang bag to pack in case we get delayed (I will be sure to take pictures in my getup.)  After that a few friends suggested we rent a car and go to Kaikoura, a beachside town and explore that for the day.    

I don’t have any fun pictures yet, since we are not in the most picturesque part of town, however Pat and Jen, I did snap one for you both.  It is a reproduction of a Maori carving in the Auckland airport.  I will post it later, because the internet is really bad and expensive here and it would take forever to upload.    

Anyway, future posts won’t be as dry, I promise.   Just wanted you all to know, I am here, I am safe, and I am excited!