November 9, 2008

Last night Ari and I went on our date-night cruise. 

It was so much fun! Not what we had expected, but still so much fun. It was a small boat and the seating was around the sides, so everyone faced the people at the opposite side of the boat. Everyone had to go around and introduce themselves to the whole group and we were the only Americans. The whole evening was a social event. You walked around the boat, gathered around the chefs to get the appetizers and drinks and receive your entree orders. We talked with people from Australia, New Zealand, and CAnada. There was a group of co-workers and their wives and husbands and they were all rowdy and some serious drinkers. But it was so nice. Lots of good conversation, dinner under a waterfall, some quiet private time as we ate dinner and we were so lucky that the weather cleared up a bit, so it was chilly, but clear skies and no rain. 

They didn't accept credit cards onboard the boat, and we didn't have enough cash. When we docked, the woman said "no worries, there's a bank up and down the street, just run up and we'll be here when you get back. As we walked up the dock, we were amazed at how trusting. I had actually said to Ari, 'should I stay here as collateral?" No one in the US is that trusting. And in the US, we probably would have hit the dock and run.  We paid $20 on a $36 tab. But here, they trusted us, so we took that trust, grabbed the money and went back to pay them off with a very nice tip. (people don't tip in New Zealand) It's too bad more societies aren't like this. Everyone is so incredibly nice, caring, open, and trusting. The only cranky people we've seen have been americans.

Anyway, after the cruise, we went and grabbed some coffee in a little sleepy shopping alley and then walked back to our nice hotel room. It was such a relaxing night. 

This morning I woke up to the realization that we had to check-out in 1 hour, nothing was packed up, laundry wasn't done, and I still hadn't submitted my paper to my online classroom--I hadn't even written it yet. So I wanted to stay another night...but I was out voted...and I got cranky. Ari was so sweet and packed up everything and did the laundry while I wrote my paper. Then the boys went on a little trip around town while I sat outside on the patio of the hotel room using the internet and finishing my homework. Then we went up to Haruru Falls (where we'd been on the boat the night before) and took a 10K walk through the islands and marshlands near Paihia in the Bay of Islands. It was exhausting, but so incredibly beautiful. 

Then we came back to Paihia and started walking around. The boys found another hotel room better than the last one, but without a view, but so much cheaper. 

So here we are, on the net, making dinners, having a comfortable time playing cards and watching tv..just like home. :)

xoxo.

Alissa