Kia Ora KiwiLand! Newzealand in Pictures

Ever had a cruise ship parked right outside your window?


CITY LIFE - The AUCKLAND CBD 

Green amidst the City!-Albert Park

Auckland and us – A week on!

Our stories always comprise of a ‘big house’. Everyone would live together in the big house. All the grandparents, uncles, aunts and all the cousins. This is my 2 year old’s own story. She loves people and she wants a big house. Someday but not today. Today we are a small family of three and have to make do with stories and anecdotes from all the extended families across the world.

How much fun would have it been if all my family lived together. Recently, I met a woman who said she came from a joint family of 32 people. Imagine, living with 32 people. One could never get lonely. Well, one would be having privacy problems, totally a different problem. But for the kids in the family, life would be a non-stop picnic. No dearth of attention and no lack of patience and no constant hovering from paranoid parents.

I have never myself been a part of a joint family setup. I was raised in a small cosy setup of 4. But I was an introvert and preferred to be with few known people rather than crowds. But my daughter loves people, any kind. She is will go and greet anyone and everyone. She knows just how to please anyone. 

Recently in a Rhyme Time session in the local city library, she had an animated conversation with a Chinese counterpart. Both were equal participants in the conversation and it went on for a while. The parents, meanwhile could not manage any meaningful dialogue apart from smiles. We had a language barrier. They spoke nothing but Mandarin and I could not make out a single syllable. The toddler did not consider that a huge hurdle. No matter what the language was, she was happy to just interact with and smile at the mandarin speaking cutie. We were all amused as well as bewildered as to how these little ones were not really perturbed by the different languages. The toddler world is so unique and different, I tell you.

The city isn’t yet growing on me. Mainly, maybe, because I am yet to find home. We are still in a hotel and that doesn’t really feel permanent. Unless, we get a home and get into some sort of routine, I don’t think I will get the Auckland feel.

Lets not talk about my apartment searching. Auckland offers very little space for a huge sum, especially if we don’t want to move out of the city central. Its depressing to see tiny little matchboxes called apartments. Hyderabad has really spoiled us in that way. 1BHK sounds too small to us. There is some amount of compromise to be done on our parts before we can finally get a home.

I finally am cooking and cooking Indian. I found some local Asian groceries and I don’t mind that I don’t find my favorite Bhindis here. It’s okay as long as I get my dal and chawal (for now!)

As for socializing, apart from talking to Real Estate agents or local grocers, my social equation is quite bleak. I hope to meet some likeminded people soon J

Day 1 at Auckland

As the Malaysian Airline flight landed in Auckland, the first feeling was relief. Relief because it was a Boeing with 2-5-2 seating and was packed to the limits and we were just one seat row away from the toilets. Rest is  left to your imagination about our plight!

The toddler was somehow very easy to handle throughout the flight. She had some "mickey mouse clubhouse" sessions which was a treat for an otherwise 'No-TV' parented child. We spent a lot of time roaming around the aisles and winning over everyone with the sunshine smiles. She is great at people , race and ethnicity no bar! This was the first time she was really interacting with anyone Non-Indian but she was able to communicate and understand most of what was being said to her. Kudos to Vevi!

We landed bang at midnight in Auckland and there was no first impressions to make in the dark. Our company sent us a car to take us to the hotel. The hotel is pretty good and is equipped with a kitchenette and a nice balcony with sea view :)

I already feel the loneliness a bit but adjusting to the new place and setting up a temporary abode has kept that feeling hidden behind. Thank God for the internet and Skype. I have been on skype with family like its going out of fashion! I wonder how people survived before the internet age living such huge distances from families.

Lets see how I tackle with that jet lag. Poor daddy has to report immediately to office. I wonder where he gets that stamina from. I am going to sleep for 12 hours now :P Or at-least till the toddler is sleeping.