Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to do Before You Die," died earlier this month at the age of 47 after hitting his head. I've never read the book, but I have known of it and I'm sure you have too. But this is why I've decided to take a different approach at life. Life's short; sometimes too short. I'm not going to waste it in a box just because I thought that was what I should be doing. It's important to me to do what I want to do now. Not in 10 years; not when I retire. Waiting all year for that two percent raise just doesn't cut it.
**And I will put a caveat on this, because some people do live in the moment to the point of endangering themselves or others. I'm mindful of my finances and do think ahead enough to keep myself out of the gutter.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Preview
Many of you know my love for all things Google, especially Google Maps. So here's a map-based preview of where I'll be traveling over the next six-plus months. I'll add to this map as my travels go, so you can keep track of where I am and where I've been. Enjoy!
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Friday, August 15, 2008
Test
This is a test post that I've made via e-mail. It occurred to me that
I may not be able to access the Blogger site while in China (gmail
reportedly works perfectly, though). Fortunately, Blogger allows its
users to post items simply by sending an e-mail to a unique address.
Hopefully I won't need to do it this way, though.
I may not be able to access the Blogger site while in China (gmail
reportedly works perfectly, though). Fortunately, Blogger allows its
users to post items simply by sending an e-mail to a unique address.
Hopefully I won't need to do it this way, though.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Getting nervous
With just more than a month before I'm on a plane for Beijing, I'm starting to feel nervous. Very. Now last summer, before I went to NZ, my friends will remember that I was pretty much cool as a cucumber. I was pumped and ready to go, and barely looking back. But in New Zealand, they speak English, eat identifiable food (with a knife and fork!) and poop sitting down, rather than squatting. Oh, and New Zealand is about the size of Colorado. Hard to get lost.
China, on the other hand, is approximately the same size as the United States. I've struggled with how to tackle a destination of such magnitude. Imagine coming to the United States for the first time--You've probably heard of New York, DC and Los Angeles. Maybe a few other cities. But after that, where do you go? I've made some headway in this area and have narrowed the scope of my trip somewhat. I'll delve into this more later.
Now back to the language barrier. The Chinese speak a language that Americans have very little contact with, unlike, say, Spanish (which I can speak to a usable degree) and other European languages. Fortunately, some half-assed studying has somewhat eased my fears of Mandarin. But being able to understand a couple key phrases and blurt out some (perhaps) understandable essential requests doesn't help when you're looking at a map or train timetable.
Does 中华人民共和国 make any sense to you?? I didn't think so.
Yet, I'm also excited. While my time in New Zealand was my "great escape," my travels in China, and other to-be-determined Asian countries, will be my opportunity to see what I'm made of. Can I maintain some level of patience when I can't figure out how to get to my next destination? Will I lose my sanity during those long bus or train rides? (Think of driving across Nebraska and switch out the corn for rice...) How will I get through that first trip to the squatter?
I'm looking forward to testing myself and enjoying all that China has to offer.
China, on the other hand, is approximately the same size as the United States. I've struggled with how to tackle a destination of such magnitude. Imagine coming to the United States for the first time--You've probably heard of New York, DC and Los Angeles. Maybe a few other cities. But after that, where do you go? I've made some headway in this area and have narrowed the scope of my trip somewhat. I'll delve into this more later.
Now back to the language barrier. The Chinese speak a language that Americans have very little contact with, unlike, say, Spanish (which I can speak to a usable degree) and other European languages. Fortunately, some half-assed studying has somewhat eased my fears of Mandarin. But being able to understand a couple key phrases and blurt out some (perhaps) understandable essential requests doesn't help when you're looking at a map or train timetable.
Does 中华人民共和国 make any sense to you?? I didn't think so.
Yet, I'm also excited. While my time in New Zealand was my "great escape," my travels in China, and other to-be-determined Asian countries, will be my opportunity to see what I'm made of. Can I maintain some level of patience when I can't figure out how to get to my next destination? Will I lose my sanity during those long bus or train rides? (Think of driving across Nebraska and switch out the corn for rice...) How will I get through that first trip to the squatter?
I'm looking forward to testing myself and enjoying all that China has to offer.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Reading
To get ready for my trip to China, not only have I been studying Mandarin, I have been doing some reading. I've enjoyed some excellent books on the Middle Kingdom that have helped me understand the state of things in the country and how it got to where it is over the last century.
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
"Wild Swans" is about 15 years old and has been a best seller. It's the true story of three generations of women living in China during the rise of the Chinese Communist party and Mao's Great Leap Forward and the later Cultural Revolution. The author's grandmother was the concubine of a military general. Their daughter, Jung's mother, married a communist and faced many years of struggling to be accepted in the Party. The author herself was a member of the Red Guard and witnessed many members of her community, including her parents, "criticized" quite severely. This book was a great way to learn about the extreme changes the country went through in less than a century.
Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux
I am a huge fan of Paul Theroux. He's a great travel writer and especially likes to write about train travel. Riding the Iron Rooster is about his extensive train travel through China in the 1980s, after the fall of Mao. He talks to a lot of locals and compares his trip with one he took through the country two decades earlier.
Red Dust by Ma Jian
This is a very different book from the others I read (though I'm not completely done with it). Also nonfiction, Red Dust was originally written in Chinese. It's a personal narrative of a man's journey through his motherland in the early 1980s. During the Cultural Revolution, as an artist, Ma definitely would have been called bourgeois during the cultural revolution, but even after, he was seen as a person of questionable character. He decided to leave his job in Beijing and set off to see China. It's a nice contrast with Theroux's experience as a total outsider at the same time.
China, Inc. by Ted Fishman
China, Inc., is the most-recently published book I have read, and perhaps the most important. It highlights the transformation China has made since the end of the Cultural Revolution, toward industrialism and its own brand of capitalism. In a land where the government once owned virtually everything, China is now teaming with small and large business owners. In fact, towns and cities become known for one thing, because when one business takes off (say, umbrella manufacturing), dozens of copycats spring up in no time. The book explores not only this transformation, but also how it affects America's economy, from job outsourcing to the cost of our products to Wal-Mart's role in the whole thing. Very enlightening.
Thanks to these four books, I've been able to see how China has transformed from a dynasty-run society at the beginning of the 19th century, through Maoism and onto capitalism in just over a century. I feel much more prepared to experience this new and exciting culture--one that most of us simply don't take the time to understand.
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
"Wild Swans" is about 15 years old and has been a best seller. It's the true story of three generations of women living in China during the rise of the Chinese Communist party and Mao's Great Leap Forward and the later Cultural Revolution. The author's grandmother was the concubine of a military general. Their daughter, Jung's mother, married a communist and faced many years of struggling to be accepted in the Party. The author herself was a member of the Red Guard and witnessed many members of her community, including her parents, "criticized" quite severely. This book was a great way to learn about the extreme changes the country went through in less than a century.
Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux
I am a huge fan of Paul Theroux. He's a great travel writer and especially likes to write about train travel. Riding the Iron Rooster is about his extensive train travel through China in the 1980s, after the fall of Mao. He talks to a lot of locals and compares his trip with one he took through the country two decades earlier.
Red Dust by Ma Jian
This is a very different book from the others I read (though I'm not completely done with it). Also nonfiction, Red Dust was originally written in Chinese. It's a personal narrative of a man's journey through his motherland in the early 1980s. During the Cultural Revolution, as an artist, Ma definitely would have been called bourgeois during the cultural revolution, but even after, he was seen as a person of questionable character. He decided to leave his job in Beijing and set off to see China. It's a nice contrast with Theroux's experience as a total outsider at the same time.
China, Inc. by Ted Fishman
China, Inc., is the most-recently published book I have read, and perhaps the most important. It highlights the transformation China has made since the end of the Cultural Revolution, toward industrialism and its own brand of capitalism. In a land where the government once owned virtually everything, China is now teaming with small and large business owners. In fact, towns and cities become known for one thing, because when one business takes off (say, umbrella manufacturing), dozens of copycats spring up in no time. The book explores not only this transformation, but also how it affects America's economy, from job outsourcing to the cost of our products to Wal-Mart's role in the whole thing. Very enlightening.
Thanks to these four books, I've been able to see how China has transformed from a dynasty-run society at the beginning of the 19th century, through Maoism and onto capitalism in just over a century. I feel much more prepared to experience this new and exciting culture--one that most of us simply don't take the time to understand.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Killer visa!
I got my passport back today from the visa service and inside was the exact visa that I wanted! Twelve months (from the date of issue--July 10), multiple entries and 90 days per entry! This leaves the possibilities wide open. I can stay in China until Dec 3, assuming the unidentifiable food, squat toilets and people spitting everywhere haven't gotten to me yet. And if I want to hop somewhere warmer for winter and come back for a few weeks in spring, I have that flexibility! Very exciting. Only 47 days until I leave!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Back to the grind
Well, sort of. I work two shifts this week at the restaurant I was at last year before I left. Sounds like I will be picking up some kitchen shifts, as well, which will be a fun change. On the downside, I have opted not to get a car for the summer, so I will rely on a ride from my parents or my bike for transportation--it's only about a mile away.
I sent for my Chinese visa yesterday. Cross your fingers for me--I left out one part of my application, my flight itinerary from the US to Beijing. I e-mailed it to the visa service company, hoping they can print it out and tack it on for me. But I did include an itinerary for a flight OUT of China, which is certainly the more important of the two. But The thing about my incoming flight is that it shows that I'm not going until AFTER the Olympics, which is what has inspired the clamp down on visas.
Aside from work, I've been playing lots of video games. Real productive I know. I've also been trying to keep up with my Mandarin lessons. Hopefully I'll do a better job of that this week. More updates to come as I continue my preparations for China--which I depart for just 55 days from now!
I sent for my Chinese visa yesterday. Cross your fingers for me--I left out one part of my application, my flight itinerary from the US to Beijing. I e-mailed it to the visa service company, hoping they can print it out and tack it on for me. But I did include an itinerary for a flight OUT of China, which is certainly the more important of the two. But The thing about my incoming flight is that it shows that I'm not going until AFTER the Olympics, which is what has inspired the clamp down on visas.
Aside from work, I've been playing lots of video games. Real productive I know. I've also been trying to keep up with my Mandarin lessons. Hopefully I'll do a better job of that this week. More updates to come as I continue my preparations for China--which I depart for just 55 days from now!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Back in the US--First a week in San Diego
Yes, I am alive and well, back in the states. I'm writing this from San Diego's airport (thank god for free wifi!). I spent the last week here, because my best friend, Paul, got married last night to Liz. I couldn't have picked him a better woman. They were terribly generous, letting me invade their place for a week. I got to go swimming in the ocean and enjoyed some nice local beers, which didn't cost the $7 I'm used to! Long story short, they had a great ceremony last night.
The site was the Thursday Club in San Diego's Sunset Cliffs area. Great location, overlooking the ocean:
Me and Paul:
Me and the maid of honor, Liz's sister Becky:
Me with Paul and Liz (stunner, eh?)
And the happy couple:
Anyway, I have to get on a plane now! I'll be back in Omaha at 1030 tonight. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
The site was the Thursday Club in San Diego's Sunset Cliffs area. Great location, overlooking the ocean:
Me and Paul:
Me and the maid of honor, Liz's sister Becky:
Me with Paul and Liz (stunner, eh?)
And the happy couple:
Anyway, I have to get on a plane now! I'll be back in Omaha at 1030 tonight. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
My last photos of New Zealand
Probably. I thought I would go out with a bang...so here are some good ones I got during my trip last week.
Mt Ruapehu contains the highest peak on the North Island. It's also an active volcano, erupting as recently as last September (when I was just a few hundred kilometers north).
Cathedral Cove, Coromandel. This is one of the country's most famous landmarks. It's a beautiful beach, with a cave hewn out of the rock nearby. This cave is featured in the new Chronicles of Narnia movie as the place through which the children enter Narnia.
Off the east coast of the Coromandel. Lots of little islands.
Hot Water Beach. Just a brief drive south of Cathedral Cove. A couple of geothermally heated pools rise to fill the holes that are dug out of the sand at low tide. It can get scaldingly hot--up to about 140 degrees F.
Along the beach where I stayed in Coromandel.
I finished my trip with a drive out around the East Cape on the Pacific Coast Highway. Lots of nice views along the coast.
...including an isolated Anglican church.
Only three more days left. I'm spending them with a shitload of children. There's a big kapa haka competition in town right now, and a couple teams are staying here--at least 60 kids. They are dictating when we can eat and do our laundry. It's cool to see them practice, but I do like it better when the hostel is empty.
Mt Ruapehu contains the highest peak on the North Island. It's also an active volcano, erupting as recently as last September (when I was just a few hundred kilometers north).
Cathedral Cove, Coromandel. This is one of the country's most famous landmarks. It's a beautiful beach, with a cave hewn out of the rock nearby. This cave is featured in the new Chronicles of Narnia movie as the place through which the children enter Narnia.
Off the east coast of the Coromandel. Lots of little islands.
Hot Water Beach. Just a brief drive south of Cathedral Cove. A couple of geothermally heated pools rise to fill the holes that are dug out of the sand at low tide. It can get scaldingly hot--up to about 140 degrees F.
Along the beach where I stayed in Coromandel.
I finished my trip with a drive out around the East Cape on the Pacific Coast Highway. Lots of nice views along the coast.
...including an isolated Anglican church.
Only three more days left. I'm spending them with a shitload of children. There's a big kapa haka competition in town right now, and a couple teams are staying here--at least 60 kids. They are dictating when we can eat and do our laundry. It's cool to see them practice, but I do like it better when the hostel is empty.
Monday, June 09, 2008
North Island road trip: Days 1 and 2
On Monday, I got the car and drove north. Was a fairly uneventful, except I drove past Mts. Ruapehu and Tongariro, two of the tallest on the North Island. Some cool photos to come.
Today, Tuesday, I continued driving North to the Coromandel, a beautiful peninsula east of Auckland.
View Larger Map
I'm in the town of Whitianga (the "Wh," in Maori, is pronounced like an F). It's a nice little town on the coast, and my hostel is right next to the beach.
I'll need to upload my photos later to appropriately show you what I got up to tonight, but one activity I took part in was digging my own spa pool on Hot Water Beach. After I dug out a hole with a few folks I met there, we just lounged on the beach, staring at the moon coming up. Photos to come, I promise.
Today, Tuesday, I continued driving North to the Coromandel, a beautiful peninsula east of Auckland.
View Larger Map
I'm in the town of Whitianga (the "Wh," in Maori, is pronounced like an F). It's a nice little town on the coast, and my hostel is right next to the beach.
I'll need to upload my photos later to appropriately show you what I got up to tonight, but one activity I took part in was digging my own spa pool on Hot Water Beach. After I dug out a hole with a few folks I met there, we just lounged on the beach, staring at the moon coming up. Photos to come, I promise.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Coming to an end
Two weeks from now, I'll be back stateside, spending a week in San Diego. I can't believe my time here is nearly done. My last night of work was Saturday. I'm unemployed once again. In New Zealand, you are entitled to eight percent of your total earned income as holiday pay, which you can have paid out as you earn it, or in a lump sum at the end of the year or when you leave your job. So I'm due for a nice bonus before I leave.
Tonight is my last night in my long-term room at Wellywood. Tomorrow, I'm getting a car and doing a brief tour of the North Island, seeing some things I haven't yet seem. I will have plenty of nice photos to share next week. My last week will be spent in Wellington--have to close my bank account and whatnot. I'm excited for something new!
Tonight is my last night in my long-term room at Wellywood. Tomorrow, I'm getting a car and doing a brief tour of the North Island, seeing some things I haven't yet seem. I will have plenty of nice photos to share next week. My last week will be spent in Wellington--have to close my bank account and whatnot. I'm excited for something new!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Enjoying a nice day in Wellington
After a string of truly crap days of cold, wind and rain, we finally got a pretty nice one. Blue skies, calm winds. How better to spend it than perched--that is, swinging--over the city?
Halfway up Mt. Victoria, just a 15-minute walk from where I live, is a great rope swing on a giant eucalyptus tree. It's in a great clearing with a wonderful view of the city. My English friends, Mark and Tom, and I enjoyed this wonderful view from the "Welli Swing."
Tom gets ready to take the inaugural swing of the day:
I enjoy my first swing of the day:
Tom takes a go:
Mark's turn:
Me from a different view (what a drop!):
And the view:
And here's a blast from the past. A gorgeous view of NZ's highest peak, Mt. Cook, taken during my South Island road trip with my brother:
And an update on my China trip. I think I'll wait until after the Olympics have begun to apply for my visa, through a special service. It's likely that my odds to get the visa I want will be much higher if I apply through my home consulate.
That's all for now! 22 days until I'm back stateside--first to the lovely San Diego for Paul's wedding. Very excited!
Halfway up Mt. Victoria, just a 15-minute walk from where I live, is a great rope swing on a giant eucalyptus tree. It's in a great clearing with a wonderful view of the city. My English friends, Mark and Tom, and I enjoyed this wonderful view from the "Welli Swing."
Tom gets ready to take the inaugural swing of the day:
I enjoy my first swing of the day:
Tom takes a go:
Mark's turn:
Me from a different view (what a drop!):
And the view:
And here's a blast from the past. A gorgeous view of NZ's highest peak, Mt. Cook, taken during my South Island road trip with my brother:
And an update on my China trip. I think I'll wait until after the Olympics have begun to apply for my visa, through a special service. It's likely that my odds to get the visa I want will be much higher if I apply through my home consulate.
That's all for now! 22 days until I'm back stateside--first to the lovely San Diego for Paul's wedding. Very excited!
Monday, May 26, 2008
A little nervous!
So I have a one-way plane ticket to Beijing for Sept 2. But that doesn't guarantee that I'll be going to China.
Getting a visa to China (and you must get one before you go--no visas on arrival) has gotten a lot harder in the last month or so. According to official rules, one must present proof of return travel (one-way ticket doesn't cut it) and proof of booked accommodation. I had no intention of restricting my time in China, let alone figuring out my entire itinerary before I got there. I don't even know where I'll be going after China (most likely Southeast Asia). These crackdowns are said to be lasting until after the Olympics. The gap between when the Games end and when I'm supposed to be going is very narrow, and wouldn't allow for my to get a visa.
So what does this mean? I'm not sure yet. I will attempt to get a visa here in Wellington at the embassy next week. There's a good chance they will be relaxed with the rules (Americans pay more for their visa than any other nationality). If it seems like this is going to be a struggle, I might have to change my travel plans. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Getting a visa to China (and you must get one before you go--no visas on arrival) has gotten a lot harder in the last month or so. According to official rules, one must present proof of return travel (one-way ticket doesn't cut it) and proof of booked accommodation. I had no intention of restricting my time in China, let alone figuring out my entire itinerary before I got there. I don't even know where I'll be going after China (most likely Southeast Asia). These crackdowns are said to be lasting until after the Olympics. The gap between when the Games end and when I'm supposed to be going is very narrow, and wouldn't allow for my to get a visa.
So what does this mean? I'm not sure yet. I will attempt to get a visa here in Wellington at the embassy next week. There's a good chance they will be relaxed with the rules (Americans pay more for their visa than any other nationality). If it seems like this is going to be a struggle, I might have to change my travel plans. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Nearly done...
Two weeks from tomorrow is (hopefully) my last day of work. Four weeks from tomorrow I hop a plane back stateside. Wow has time flown.
One of the owners, it would see, is under the impression that I want to destroy the place as I leave. I noted to him yesterday that a couple other waiters have put in their notice this week. It's a bad coincidence that their last days will be the same week as mine. Apparently this means that I am trying to get everyone to quit with me?
I will mention one point of frustration, however. My replacement, as assistant manager, started this week. Now I have no problem training my replacement, and I let the manager know that. But then I met my replacement. Nice guy, seems to want to work hard. But he's 18 (EIGHTEEN) and has SIX MONTHS of restaurant (actually cafe) experience. I don't know if they are desperate or what, but that seems like a rather unbalanced replacement for me. I guess that's for them to worry about.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this chapter wrapping up. I think I will be doing one last work exchange before I leave. More on that later. Just looking to wrap up my time here with some nice scenery and good Kiwi hospitality!
One of the owners, it would see, is under the impression that I want to destroy the place as I leave. I noted to him yesterday that a couple other waiters have put in their notice this week. It's a bad coincidence that their last days will be the same week as mine. Apparently this means that I am trying to get everyone to quit with me?
I will mention one point of frustration, however. My replacement, as assistant manager, started this week. Now I have no problem training my replacement, and I let the manager know that. But then I met my replacement. Nice guy, seems to want to work hard. But he's 18 (EIGHTEEN) and has SIX MONTHS of restaurant (actually cafe) experience. I don't know if they are desperate or what, but that seems like a rather unbalanced replacement for me. I guess that's for them to worry about.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this chapter wrapping up. I think I will be doing one last work exchange before I leave. More on that later. Just looking to wrap up my time here with some nice scenery and good Kiwi hospitality!
Monday, April 21, 2008
One step closer to the Middle Kingdom
I booked my airplane ticket to China last week...I depart Omaha on Sept. 2. Very exciting to have something new to look forward to. What's more, I've been studying Mandarin (via Rosetta Stone) as much as possible over the last few weeks. I can now say such important and enlightened things as: "Zhe ge mao chi fan" (The cat is eating food).
On another note, I now have less than two months remaining in New Zealand. I'm sure it will go very fast. Look out, Omaha; I'll be back before you know it.
On another note, I now have less than two months remaining in New Zealand. I'm sure it will go very fast. Look out, Omaha; I'll be back before you know it.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Mission Mode, once again
In preparation for my departure from New Zealand, which is a mere 70 days from now, I'm going to try to revert to the mission mode I was in last year as I got ready to head here in the first place. While I still have plenty of money saved, it won't hurt to recoup some of the cash I've spent here so far--After all, nothing is guaranteed once I leave here.
So that means more sitting around the hostel, rather than going out. "But you're in New Zealand!" you protest. Indeed I am. And I have been for the last 214 days (can you believe that shit??). And in those seven months, I do not hesitate to say that I have gone out on the town and partied more than the four years following my 21st birthday, combined. So I think I owe both my body and my savings account a solid, by taking a break.
Sitting at home isn't all bad, by the way. I've been learning Mandarin online with Rosetta Stone, which is a great way to learn a language. Chinese had a nasty reputation for being quite difficult to learn; each word can be pronounced with four different tones. But I dare say I am making some pretty big strides and should be able to get around in China without totally relying on sign language and the occasional English speaker. (Mandarin isn't the only language spoken in China, but the majority speak it).
So, when I'm on the plane at the end of June, I hope to be a bit richer, a bit leaner (I run up and down a flight of stairs at work at least 25 to 30 times a night--take that beer gut!) and a bit more international. Not a bad combo.
So that means more sitting around the hostel, rather than going out. "But you're in New Zealand!" you protest. Indeed I am. And I have been for the last 214 days (can you believe that shit??). And in those seven months, I do not hesitate to say that I have gone out on the town and partied more than the four years following my 21st birthday, combined. So I think I owe both my body and my savings account a solid, by taking a break.
Sitting at home isn't all bad, by the way. I've been learning Mandarin online with Rosetta Stone, which is a great way to learn a language. Chinese had a nasty reputation for being quite difficult to learn; each word can be pronounced with four different tones. But I dare say I am making some pretty big strides and should be able to get around in China without totally relying on sign language and the occasional English speaker. (Mandarin isn't the only language spoken in China, but the majority speak it).
So, when I'm on the plane at the end of June, I hope to be a bit richer, a bit leaner (I run up and down a flight of stairs at work at least 25 to 30 times a night--take that beer gut!) and a bit more international. Not a bad combo.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Yes I am lazy
Sorry about that. Why don't you try to keep a blog on your daily life? Sure it's kind of fun at first, but then you repeat the same routine over and over again and it becomes boring.
Last week, however, the routine was interrupted with a visit from my brother Nick. He was on spring break from his senior year of high school and flew down for 12 days. I showed him some of the best New Zealand has to offer (the South Island), including Milford Sound, the Otago Penninsula and Fergburger.
I've begun researching China so that I can have some sort of loose plan for once I get there. I'm trying to learn some Mandarin, which will help me immensely, even though not everyone in China speaks it. I'm going to go send for a new passport today so that I can apply for a Chinese visa at the local embassy.
I'll try to do a better job of keeping you entertained. I promise.
Last week, however, the routine was interrupted with a visit from my brother Nick. He was on spring break from his senior year of high school and flew down for 12 days. I showed him some of the best New Zealand has to offer (the South Island), including Milford Sound, the Otago Penninsula and Fergburger.
I've begun researching China so that I can have some sort of loose plan for once I get there. I'm trying to learn some Mandarin, which will help me immensely, even though not everyone in China speaks it. I'm going to go send for a new passport today so that I can apply for a Chinese visa at the local embassy.
I'll try to do a better job of keeping you entertained. I promise.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tentative plans...
Well, after much deliberation, I have a rough outline of what I'd like to do after my time in New Zealand. It will begin with a couple months working back in Omaha. This will serve two purposes: To save more money to extend my travels; and to wait for weather in Asia to become a bit more comfortable (less heat, less monsoon). Then, in September, I plan to head to China for a couple months, maybe more. After that, it's likely I'll visit Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc). And I'm strongly considering a working holiday visa to Singapore for six months in 2009. Singapore is a very modern Asian island-state, located at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula. All this is subject to change--I haven't even purchased my plane ticket back to the US yet. (I will be stateside by 27th of June for Paul's San Diego wedding though...and back to Omaha shortly after that).
So that's me, in rough pencil form. I'll begin finalizing plans in the coming months. Rest assured, though, that I will not be returning to the office any time soon. I think restaurants are where I belong for the time being.
So that's me, in rough pencil form. I'll begin finalizing plans in the coming months. Rest assured, though, that I will not be returning to the office any time soon. I think restaurants are where I belong for the time being.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day sucks
I'm not saying V-Day sucks because I'm one of those jealous single people--My budget is limited, and does not include taking girls out to nice restaurants. But it's because people STILL DIDN'T TIP!
OK, so I had one couple who are old friends of the owners--they had a special menu, taken from the restaurant where they met ten years ago--who tipped me quite well. But get this: One gentleman decided that the cliched Valentines Day proposal in a nice restaurant would be a good idea. He had his table booked at least a month ago. I brought out champagne when they sat down. We played their song for them while he got on bended knee. He cried; she cried. It went perfectly, he told me. Not only did this guy not tip, but he also tried to use a discount card (which we weren't accepting on the 14th) on their meal! I mean, holy shit, what does it take to get a little bit of gratuity here?! You would think that not only that guy, but every paying man in that place last night would have been feeling nice and generous, since he knows he's going to get laid later on.
I love New Zealand, but boy can it be ass backward.
OK, so I had one couple who are old friends of the owners--they had a special menu, taken from the restaurant where they met ten years ago--who tipped me quite well. But get this: One gentleman decided that the cliched Valentines Day proposal in a nice restaurant would be a good idea. He had his table booked at least a month ago. I brought out champagne when they sat down. We played their song for them while he got on bended knee. He cried; she cried. It went perfectly, he told me. Not only did this guy not tip, but he also tried to use a discount card (which we weren't accepting on the 14th) on their meal! I mean, holy shit, what does it take to get a little bit of gratuity here?! You would think that not only that guy, but every paying man in that place last night would have been feeling nice and generous, since he knows he's going to get laid later on.
I love New Zealand, but boy can it be ass backward.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Restaurant Life
It occurred to me that I have been working at this restaurant for three months now and have written very little about the goings on of my work life. I want to change that, and will make an effort to tell you more about the entertaining bits of waiting tables in New Zealand.
First off, about my restaurant: It was opened in 2000 by a Michelin-rated chef and his wife. He is from England, and got his start, along with Hell's Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay at one of London's (and the world's) top restaurants. The restaurant is one of the top places to dine in Wellington (take, for example, that my boss received hundreds of calls looking for a Valentine's Day table yesterday).
The restaurant is in a former police station, and is on two floors, with the bar, lounge and private dining room on the bottom floor. It can get quite busy on the weekends (which includes Thursday)...serving more than 100 people in a relatively small restaurant. The waiters are forced to be pretty self-sufficient. There are no bussers or anything of that sort. It's hard work, but lots of fun.
Being "assistant manager" essentially means that I am the duty manager on Sundays and Mondays when the owners and manager take their days off. I work from open to close (on Monday that means a 12-hour, break-less shift...whew).
Some interesting facts/observations:
--In New Zealand, "entrees" are starters or appetizers. What Americans call Entrees are known simply as "mains."
--The majority of Kiwis do not tip. They are very cheap.
--Three-course dinners are quite common (starters, mains, desserts/coffees). Nearly all patrons have three courses. I can't remember the last time I had a three-course meal.
--Yes, head chefs do act like Gordon Ramsay (the fuck this, fuck that, throwing things attitude).
Despite some rough, thankless patches during the holidays, I'm quite happy that I ended up in Wellington and with this job. It's a great CV builder and huge learning experience.
And now for my next test...Valentine's Day. We have 100 booked, mostly tables of two. We have at least one engagement set to occur in the restaurant tonight. It's going to be total insanity. I'll give you the scoop tomorrow.
First off, about my restaurant: It was opened in 2000 by a Michelin-rated chef and his wife. He is from England, and got his start, along with Hell's Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay at one of London's (and the world's) top restaurants. The restaurant is one of the top places to dine in Wellington (take, for example, that my boss received hundreds of calls looking for a Valentine's Day table yesterday).
The restaurant is in a former police station, and is on two floors, with the bar, lounge and private dining room on the bottom floor. It can get quite busy on the weekends (which includes Thursday)...serving more than 100 people in a relatively small restaurant. The waiters are forced to be pretty self-sufficient. There are no bussers or anything of that sort. It's hard work, but lots of fun.
Being "assistant manager" essentially means that I am the duty manager on Sundays and Mondays when the owners and manager take their days off. I work from open to close (on Monday that means a 12-hour, break-less shift...whew).
Some interesting facts/observations:
--In New Zealand, "entrees" are starters or appetizers. What Americans call Entrees are known simply as "mains."
--The majority of Kiwis do not tip. They are very cheap.
--Three-course dinners are quite common (starters, mains, desserts/coffees). Nearly all patrons have three courses. I can't remember the last time I had a three-course meal.
--Yes, head chefs do act like Gordon Ramsay (the fuck this, fuck that, throwing things attitude).
Despite some rough, thankless patches during the holidays, I'm quite happy that I ended up in Wellington and with this job. It's a great CV builder and huge learning experience.
And now for my next test...Valentine's Day. We have 100 booked, mostly tables of two. We have at least one engagement set to occur in the restaurant tonight. It's going to be total insanity. I'll give you the scoop tomorrow.
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