Snap, Flash, Pictures!

Everyone

I just updated a bunch of new pics that have been a long time coming. The New Plymouth ones are the most recent. Some are good, some aren't so good. Such is life. Everything is pretty much self explanatory. The link again is http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/laheychris/my_photos

One note that I forgot to put in the last update. After the show, backstage, I was sure that Bright Eyes (aka Conor) came out to shake some babies and kiss some hands at the meet'n greet. I told one of the guys "Hey, that's Bright Eyes!" and he proceded to yell "Hey, Bright Eyes! Bright Eyes!" The guy turned around with the most disgusted look on his face and simply said "Bright Eyes left 20 minutes ago." It was and still is so damn funny.

Have a good weekend.

Daughters...lock up your teenage fathers

My people,

Well...the last post that I put up is almost 10 days old now. That is a long time in computer time. And just as many things have happened on the dub, dub, dub, many things have happened to me.

Teaching is going well. Really well. My liason/advisor person came last week and watched one of my lessons. She had nothing but kind words to say. She was amazed that I was able to keep the lesson on track even though it was the last period before a 6 day weekend. (Can you believe that? A 6 day weekend? How amazing would that be?) I am now half-way done my first teaching practice. I don't go back until Wednesday this week and then I just have 2.5 weeks left. My life is passing me by.

This weekend that surrounds me is Easter weekend here. Schools are off from Friday to Tuesday (mine was off Thursday to Tuesday...hence the 6 day weekend.) A friend of mine who teaches at another school in the area befriended some cool cats from Montana (who are also teaching in the area) and have a bitchin' hot rod (read 1980-something Toyota Corona that drags her ass on every speed bump and now smells like something from some deep ocean abyss.) Anyway...we all piled into Wilma Friday morning and made the tour to New Plymouth on the East coast of the North Island. The drive started out as somethin' special-pouring rain, gusting winds, grey skies-but the day got better the closer we got to NP. On the way the road winds it's way through some of the most incredible native bush that you will ever get to see in NZ. (The South Island has soooo much reforestation everywhere!) Anyway...reaching NP the skies parted (at least for a little while) and we were able to find Fitzroy beach and some sun to watch some people try to shred the whitewash that was rolling in. One of the reasons for heading to the coast is that the Montana boys wanted to try their newly learned surfing skilz on some world renowned waves. We headed to Oakura which is South of NP on the "Surf Highway 45" where the beach was a little more protected however the rains came back. The Surf highway is another famous little bit of Kiwi-ana because it is about 100km of the best surfing and windsurfing in the world.

Did I mention that we got to New Plymouth without any accomodation arrangements? This fact came to be one of the weekend's downfalls because not only was there a Master's Surf Competetion but also an REM concert (more on this later.) So we tried and tried to find somewhere to stay but everything was full. What we did find was "Lucy's Gully" in Egmont National park. Mt. Egmont in one of the tallest peaks on the North Island and Lucy's Gully is a fantastic little rest area just inside the park. So 2 of us slept in a tent and 2 of us slept in Wilma. I was lucky enough to sleep in Wilma and will forever have the neck pain to show for it.

So Friday night was filled up with all-you-can-eat Chinese food, euchre, gin and tonics, and rugby. You can't really find a better time anywhere. The downfall was that since it was Good Friday, establishments can't sell you alcohol without you ordering a meal. (I think Nova Scotia has the same law.) This meant that we had to stay at the Chinese food restaurant all night because we didn't want to buy another plate of food in order to get another drink.

We got an early start on Saturday. Wilma isn't the most comfortable sleep so we were ready and raring to get out of her. We found the Master's competition and chillaxed on the beach while watching some surfing greats rip it up. These guys were Master's...everything about them said Masterful...from their long hair, long boards, and radical facial hair. Someday man...someday... While at the beach my pal Teryn managed to get ahold of his brother who was able to get ahold of REM who was nice enough to donate some free backstage tickets to the weekend. We did some touristy stuff to fill in time then went back to Oakura to try to surf, start imbibing, and to clean up in the public showers (which by-the-way was the coldest shower I have ever had. I got 2 cold-headaches while trying to get all the soap on and off me.) We got to the concert all primed up (literally and figuratively) and tail-gated a little more before the show. Our tickets were "Gold Circle" which meant they were the closest you could get to the stage without standing in the pond right in front of the stage (which many poor souls chose to do...I figure most are fighting a bout of beaver fever as we speak.) The Check started the night out. They are a NZ pop-punk band. They were really good. Then Bright Eyes came out and blew my mind. He was possibly my favourite part of night (it is hard to say because there were so many.) Then REM came on stage. Now...let's get this straight...I have never been a fan of REM and probably never will be but I do respect those characters. And they put on a great show, playing a huge assortment of new tracks and old classics. The rain came back during the show but no one cared...it was wonderful. It really was great. Oh...did I mention we got backstage passes? Yeah...we did. So after the show we went backstage. It wasn't really as cool as I expected (there wasn't any Cristal flowin' and there weren't any celebrities to schmooze with-god knows at that point in the night I was way past being able to schmooze,) but it was still pretty cool. We talked to the guitarist but Micheal Stipe was too cool for school and didn't come out to meet and greet. Oh and they had free Heineken. After the show we got lost, got found, found a bar that would let us in, narrowly escaped a fight in the bar and got ourselves back to Lucy's Gully. More hijinks ensued but we'll leave those to the imaginations in order to protect those involved.

Sunday..oh Sunday is a morning that I would rather forget. Those that slept in Wilma had more than some aches and pains. We found a little place that was open and had some breakfast and got ourselves figured out. The rain and the wind returned (they never really left...really) and we decided instead of having another rain filled day and a rapture filled evening with Wilma we would rather just drive back here to Mount Maunganui. We toured out to Oakura to see if the waves were anymore ride-able than the days prior but they weren't. The four of us left Taranaki without ever riding one wave, sleeping in a backpackers or even seeing Mt. Taranaki come out from it's hiding place in the rain clouds. Don't get me wrong though...I don't regret going to New Plymouth, I just don't think I will go back again.

We made it back to the Mount safe, sound and smelly. Spent the night watching movies and today on the beach. It is amazing...I met the Montana boys on Thursday night and we have spent the last 3 days together without incident. I have never met anyone more compatible and easy to travel with. Friend's for life. It has been a great weekend.

This weekend I started and finished "The DaVinci Code." I guess I had to see what all the fuss was about. It was good-a quick, entertaining read. I guess the thing that bothered me was that there were just too many twists, too many made-for-movie turns. Why is it that people need so much stimulation? Slice-of-life dramas never make anyone's bestseller list. Anyway...if action, adventure, and suspense are your thing then check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Well...tomorrow I need to get some lesson plans down on paper and lay on the beach and read. Tough life.

Out of the loop

So I almost drowned again today. It was really scary. The ocean was swelling pretty big but I didn't think it looked that bad so I went in for a dip. Next thing I know I''m about 50 metres off shore and struggling to get back because the waves are just washing me out again. I have never swallowed so much salt water in all my life. I made it back to shore exhausted but alive. Did I mention it was really scary?

So my first week of my first teaching practice came and went with no big mishaps. I have only taught 2 classes thus far but next week it really starts. I start a new unit the my yr 13 Chem class and continue with my yr 11 class. The week after Easter I start a new unit with my yr 12 Chem class and the yr 11 class will have a test. It is sweet cause this week and next week are only 3 days long since the students get a 6 day holiday for Easter. After school on Friday I walked into the staff room and there was booze all over the counter. The staff room turns into a bar on Friday afternoons so the teachers can have a drink to unwind. It was phenomenal. I think this is the only school in New Zealand and maybe the world that this happens.

Lastnight we went to a small town called Waihi Beach which is located east of the Mount to hang out with some friends of the guy that I am staying with. We went out to the local hotel and saw a really good reggae band called Katchafire. It was a great show. There were 9 of them and they were all really good. The lead singer was cover in tattoos and had a really cool moko. The bar was a pretty funny place. Definitely some high quality accomdations. It reminded me of the Silver Spur except with more burly Moari types. And chili gin (gin with chilis in it...I know...a match made in heaven.) I passed out lastnight on a full stomach of brie, avocado and crackers and woke up this morning throwing off layers because of the sun had turned house into an oven. From the second floor of the house you could see the beach and the ocean and even Mount Maunganui in the distance. It was incredible. The Bay of PLenty is definitely tops on my list of places to visit if you come to NZ. Maybe I can find a job here after school...

Thanks alot, we've been great.

The Great Mount North

Ya dig that...it's like a play on "The Great White North." Pretty tricky...I know.

Well...I made it up to Mount Maunganui after 2 grand days of travelling. We left ChCh at about 10:30am Saturday morning after a blowout, send off party. We were given a brand new, fully loaded Mazda 6 to return to Picton. It was nice. We listened to Cds and gazed at the scenery all the way. We made it to Picton with a few hours to spare so we had some dinner and drinks and waited for the ferry. The ferry left Picton at 7pm. It was a wild rild through the Marlbourough Sounds, across Cook Strait to Wellington. For the record, I didn't get sea-sick but it is amazing how much a boat can screw with your sense of balance. Once we got to Wellington we found the hostel via a free cab sent by the hostel. (If only the cabbie didn't drop us off 100 numbers downhill of the place.) And finally after dropping off our bags we hit a party that a friend had invited us too. (The party was fun. Like all the randoms in Wellington showed up at this one loft. There was a swing in the middle of it and a live band. And samosas. More Converse All-Stars per square meter than anywhere else in the world at the time. Unless there was some indie band playing in Toronto at the same time.) The next day I met up with another friend and we drove from Wellington to Mount Maunganui where I am now. It was a long day in the car but we saw some nice sites. Huka falls and the mountain that is Mt. Doom in "Lord of the Rings. (Aside: if you found that the only interesting thing in the update you are a nerd.)

The Mount is a nice little place. Only about 16000 people on the off days. It gets really busy when a cruise ship comes into port or there is a competition or something at the beach. The rub of it is that it is really spread out and I haven't figured out the bus system yet. The people that I am staying with are great. The guy teaches at the school so I have a ride everyday. The wife works at a veggie stand so I've got a good line on fresh veggies to keep my vegetarian habit satisfied. And I have a queen bed and a hot-tub. Can't complain about much.

Today was my first day of school. That was good too. The school is nice and sunny and open. Some of the facilities are a little run down but that's what happens. The school is a decile 4 (on a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the best. Private schools are automatically a ten.) A lower decile school is more like the real world though because no one be misbehavin at private schools. Everyone on staff is really good. And so far the students haven't made me turn to the drink.

Although Saturday was a great day full of traveling, site-seeing and partying, I think it was my first homesick-feeling-day as well. But it wasn't homesick for Canada. No...I was homesick for ChCh. I recently met some cool people that I wanted to spend more time with in ChCh and as soon as I do...I have to leave. Life isn't fair sometimes. I guess it gives me a good reason to go back to ChCh.

The mobile debate rages once again. My phone bill was huge cuz the only numbers i call are mobile numbers. It might save me money cause I would just use it to text. But then again...I really hate mobiles and most of the people that use them. Why oh why has the world gone cuckoo for mobiles!

Oh...my new contact info is as follows. I will be here for the next 5 weeks (until April 15.

Chris Lahey
64 07 575 9177
32 Carysfort Street
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand

Alright...that is all the things in my head for now.

Chris of the dead

Kia Ora Koutou.

This is going to be my last post before I head up North. Hopefully I will have access to a computer so I can add some posts and some pictures. I think I've done pretty well updating this here blog so often. I don't know if anyone reads it but I sure like writin to y'all.

So rugby...yeah...it's a good time folks. Our tickets were 16$ and we were 2 rows from one of the end zones. We were even on TV! The teams switch ends at halftime so we got to see each team make some tries. Beers are 18$ for 4 x 400ml plastic bottles. What a deal compared to the Skydome's 13$ beers. When the wave comes around (here it is called the 'Mexican Wave') people just throw their empty plastic bottles. It is fun.

So our driver dropped out today and we were without transportation up North for a while. Now I have booked a rental car that needs to be back in Picton so we get it for free (almost free...16$ for insurance.) Then we are going to leave the car in Picton, take the ferry across, crash in Wellington for the night, and then meet up with some friends that are heading to the Bay of Plenty. Everything always works out, now if the school comes through and finds me a place to live it will be purrfect.

As you might have guessed (or probably didn't) I just watched "Shaun of the Dead" lastnight. For those of you that have no idea what this is, it's an English zombie spoof movie. Except is is great! There are a lot of cameos by famous english sit-com stars. Also, on Saturday, I watched "The Life Aquatic." I enjoyed it more than a kick in the teeth...that's for sure. Maybe even more than "The Royal Tannenbaums." I don't know...it was good. Really good.

Well...yeah...that's all she wrote for now. Hold all your packages for me until I have an address up North. (I know you all have something to send me.)

Oh yeah...I added some links to my page. One is for My Pictures and the others are to friends' blogs'. Happy Travels.

There's something about it. There just is.

Tena Koutou everyone out there in shouting distance.

Well...here is the scoop. I'm being sent up to Mt. Maunganui for my first teaching practice and I have to tell you I'm pretty chuffed about it. Everyone I ask where they are going they tell me in some humdrum voice-no emotion just the name. But everyone I tell where I'm going they get excited and tell me that it's great. So...yeah. It should be good. Myself, 2 other Canadians and a Kiwi friend are all going to the same area so we are car-pooling on up. The bestest part is that the school gives us transportation funds and a weekly subsidy (subsidity?) for rent. This amount more than covers travel and hopefully some rent while up there. This you can't beat (not even with a stick.) So I'm there for 5 weeks (March 14 until April 15.) Then I'm hitting the open road with nothing more than a backpack, a rental car and some friends. I am excited to go trippin again and take some more pictures. Sittin still makes life dull but moving makes sittin still all the nicer.

I'm reading Chronicles by Bob Dylan right now and it's not what I expected. But I guess that is the way with Mr. D (any Mr. D...not just him.) If you are expecting a beginning to end, auto-bio type event well then you will be in my shoes. Don't get me wrong...Bob's random story approach is still an interesting read. What gets me most is his use of language. He really is a poet-a gem of americana. Like this "As I stepped out of the elevator, a call girl was coming towards me in the hallway-pale yellow hair wearing a fox coat-high heeled shoes that could pierce you heart." This line could of been a lyric somewhere, sometime. It sure is something...

Hitting a rugby test this weekend. Should be a good time. I got here and didn't think much of rugby and thought even less of cricket. But after a few diehards explained the virtues of both sports I'm somewhat of a convert. Rugby is pretty awesome when you watch good players play it-like good soccer players playing soccer. The match tomorrow is just one of the various leagues that are playing all the time. The best part is actually going to the games. They are just a big party. The people in the cheapest seats just get ridiculous and start throwing beer (and other fluids, ahem) in their empty/half empty beer bottles (plastic beer bottles.) We chose not to sit in the silly seats as they will now be titled. But it still should be a good time minus the urine.

Well...that about does it for my quota tonight. I need to figure myself out for this eve.