Christmas in the summer

Nice that Christmas brought some snow to Colorado, far from snow down here in New Zealand. Christmas in the southern hemisphere is filled with BBQ and days on the beach and nice weather, even though Santa still insists on a heavy winter coat. On Christmas Eve I had to work until our pub closed then I joined a few Irish kids for midnight mass. I was amazed that the entire church was packed with all types of people enjoying a Christmas service. Many of the people didn’t even speak English, but I guess that’s no bother because I barely understood anything that the priest said. Maybe I just did not listen. For some crazy reason I didn’t understand I did enjoy it though.

On Christmas day I joined my flat-mates and their family for a Christmas lunch at their aunt and uncles house. It was an amazing house filled with LCD TVs and Italian sports cars in the garage. More impressively was how much I appreciated being around a good family dynamic on Christmas day. They have a large family that was so welcoming to me and provided a very comfortable feeling. They even got me some presents! I learned some New Zealand traditions and played a bit of backyard cricket. They also had me over for a bbq where we got to enjoy some venison steaks from the deer John shoot on my earlier trip to D’urville. I never had venison until I moved to NZ and I think I have been missing out. Even though I could have never predicted how much I would miss home around the holidays, the people down here have done a great job to make me feel at home.

Two of my flat-mates moved out today so last night we went out to one of only few Mexican restaurants then bowling after. The food was good, but still a far cry from some good dirty Colorado Mexican food. What I would give for some good green chili.

I only have a month left in wellington before I move north and start teaching. I am so excited to start teaching. I got both the textbooks I will be teaching out of and have started to learn a bit myself. I am not that excited to leave Wellington though. After being in NZ for three months I am starting to feel at home and have good group of friends. I not too stoked to move away from what I know again. I still have these friends and I realize that its not that far of a drive down here if I want to visit. Napier will be good for fishing and surfing, and I guess teaching.