A Cloudy Sunday

Liz Here:

Paihia is alive with people today. This is New Zealand's "Labour Weekend," reminiscent of our Labor Day. No one works Friday or Monday, and everyone parties; everyone, that is, except the people who work in the service industry making the parties possible. Jen and I, and all of our friends at the hostel who also serve and clean and make drinks, have been working our butts off. The restaurants and cafes are very busy. There's a festival in town too, with food, wine tastings, and live music, and crowds are thronging the streets and the beach.

Besides cleaning for accommodation at Centabay, cleaning at the other hotel, and waitressing at the Swiss Cafe, we now might have new jobs at the "Cafe Over the Bay." (So much for us worrying about not finding a job at all...Paihia is clamoring for workers, especially if they're young, reasonably attractive ladies who speak perfect English.) I went for a trial shift yesterday, and Jen is there as I write this. If all goes well, we'll start working breakfast and lunch shifts there and...wait for it...quit the cleaning! Woo hoo!

Working at the Cafe is awesome, mostly because I get free espresso, but also because it's very chill and easy and the others who work there rock my socks. Also I made a couple espresso shots and a latte for the boss lady and she loved them. Boo yah.

Work has basically been consuming our life lately, but there have been some fun times smushed in there. We met some friendly baby birds with messy feathers who sat on our fingers and shoulders. We taught a lot of people about Thanksgiving (apparently people from other countries are under the impression that the holiday exists solely because Americans love food. Maybe true.) Yesterday morning I made a beautiful sand castle, early morning on the beach. I'll let Jen tell you about her kayaking escapades and driving a NZ car (she got in on the left side first and then had to get out and go around. :D)

Greetings to all in America and we hope things are going well with you!