ANZAC Weekend

Not much exciting over the past week, I am now getting settled into a routine with work. Finally earning some money, so now I can start to plan time off and little trips to get some New Zealand experiences in!

I have been here 6 weeks already! Crazy! Suitcases are put away and my apartment is becoming more homey :) I finally bought bedding & towels so I don't have to borrow anymore and now things are "mine".

Soccer is going well, I get lots of playing time. We had 2 games this weekend. The girls on the team have been helpful getting me to and from games and training.

It is a long weekend here: ANZAC weekend
A- Australian NZ- New Zealand AC- Army Corps

People wear poppies and there is a service at dawn. Although they still celebrate Remembrance Day here in November, it is not a public holiday and not as widely attended as ANZAC Day. I have noticed there are many "ANZAC streets" here in NZ.

All Aboard!

Here are some shots from my night of stoking on the William C. Daldy. Kept the old tug steaming around the harbour for the evening.

howdy

alright, stressful week! But everything is sorted and I have gotten it all "sussed" as they say here in NZ.
I have interenet access!
I have a mattress!
I got paid!

All of the above things are major major improvements!

I am getting settled in at work, each day gets better and I feel more comfortable. Nursing and Medical treatment is all the same, it is just getting used to arriving at the same outcome in a different manner.

Chris and I are going to shovel coal on the steam tug later this upcoming week, hopefully will have some good photos to post!

Back to work!

So after an approx. 5 week hiatus from work I am now officially an employee of the ADHB. I am back to work and getting used to things in a different way. It's amazing how settled into doing things one way you become. I am happy to know these different ways (which aren't really all that different... just sometimes lacking in time saver componets!) That will come though, I am sure I will find out the most efficient way to draw up the medications etc. I feel a little like a new nurse again! haha I can't imagine how travel nurses do this all the time!

I am going to a bunch of hopital training, IT training days over the next couple of weeks. I am quite shocked at the lack of modern conviences here. For an isolation unit there isn't even a central monitoring system! (for those of you that are not nurses it is quite difference not being able to have an "eye" on your kiddies at all times even when you aren't in the room)

All in all, everyone at work is nice, I do miss my ladies at DHMC. People are taking care of me here though, sometimes I even get drives home from work!!

Moved into apartment! It's little but it will do for now! Should have internet at my place very very soon!!!

Auckland is lovely, nice to be near the ocean again. :)

up to speed...

Had my first soccer match today. We played ok for a new team with many new players. Lost 1-nil to a young, fast and fit team! haha Many good things to come though. The league is set up really nicely. After each match the home team supplies food and both teams have a post game wrap up with players of the match etc. Hopefully my touch on the ball with improve with our next outting.



Last night I went to my first Pro Rugby match. I watched the Blues defeat the Bulls 23-21. Was quite entertaining, kinda hard to see from where we were sitting. Depth perception from the ends is always a little tough. Always fun to watch big sports events with a crowd in a stadium though!


The one other exciting thing that happened was a tour of the William C. Dolby steam tug boat. My friend Chris and I were lucky enough to be given a tour by one of the members of the society that is perserving her. We may even volunteer to work on an outting in the future. Shovel the coal in the boiler rooms or work in the gally. Here is the website http://www.daldy.com/Home-0.html
Was kind of a random moment and didn't have my camera though so no pics! (yet!)

A few Pictures so far....

Here is a sample of New Zealand paradise!

Hey!

Sorry it's been a while, I haven't had net access for a couple of days.
Spent Friday at the beach with old camp friend Tim. Went to Piha beach on the other side of the Waitakere ranges and swam in the Tasman Sea. The waves were big, and the scenery fantastic! I took many photos. Then we ended up on the other coast and checked out things in the Pacific Ocean. Quite a feat to swim in two oceans in one day!! Pretty cool. The water is still quite warm, considering it is the end of beach season here.

I also got to meet some "friends of friends" last week, met up with people and finally put faces to names. Everyone has been so nice and helpful so far.

Checked out a couple of apartments. It's going to be pricey living in the city, but the nice thing is they have smaller lease terms here. So I can do a place inner city until I find something cheaper in a few months if I have to.

I still have another week and a half in the hotel so things aren't getting too stressful yet!
Weather continues to be gorgeous! Can't imagine that it is going to be winter again for me soon, although my snowboard sitting lonely in the corner is calling my name!