The Highs and Lows of NZ

So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted to the blog so here is a summary of the highs and lows of life in New Zealand.

Highs:

Getting my nerd on at the Weta Cave. The Weta Workshop is the company that produced all the props and materials for Lord of The Rings, Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia, and District Nine. The story behind the Weta Cave is that people kept showing up at the Weta Workshop wanting to see props from the movies. But most of the props and technology is cutting edge and they didn’t want any trade secrets getting out. So due to demand, Weta Workshop built the Weta Cave, which has a handful of props and merchandise to deter people from wandering into the Workshops. In typical Kiwi fashion the Cave is very understated and completely un-promoted. There is one small street sign showing you where to turn, and even then you have to meander down a road to get there. It could easily be a huge theme park or museum type building, but instead it is a low-key shop, which is staffed by Weta employees.

Lows:

There really aren’t many lows. The only low I’m dealing with right now is the temperature. This morning it was 22 degrees in Upper Hut (the city where my school is), and miserably cold in the classrooms and hallways. There is no heating in the corridors during winter, and all the doors stay open for “safety reasons.” I can literally see my breath as I walk down the hall to class.

But life continues. I have two weeks of teaching left; I can’t believe how fast time is flying!