Farewell to Tauranga

So much has happened in the past 24 hours - I am at the end of my nerves...
At the end of the previous entry I was curious about what the evening would bring. But actually, I had been waiting all day for a message from my boss, telling me when and where I should be on Wednesday. But there was nothing. I tried calling him several times, sent him text messages, and even messaged him on WhatsApp - nada. So I didn't know if I could even work. And that somehow broke me. I had already signed an employment contract, but I couldn't work because my employer was ignoring me.
That's why I isolated myself completely and withdrew to the small guest room. I only came out for meals and to go to the bathroom. I was stuck in the middle of a depression swamp.
But for the first time this week, I went to sleep before 11 p.m.; maybe you have to see it positively. My phone was on loud because the others said that employers sometimes give notice in the middle of the night as to whether one has to work the next day or not.
Take three guesses - of course, there was no message.
The next morning, I was still half depressed, but there was a wave of anger and frustration added to that. I had been in Tauranga for almost a week and still nothing had happened. I had had enough.
So everything from the beginning - check job ads, write applications, hope. Before 10 a.m. I had contacted almost every farm in the Bay of Plenty. Anywhere, just get out of this town.
Around noon, I got a vague confirmation. Vague was enough for me, I wanted to go there. The manager even said he would pick me up from the bus station.
Slowly, life was coming back to me. Maybe there was still hope after all.
After that, it was time to finish packing and wait. Wait for the bus to take me out of Tauranga. In between, a little crying. Just because.
I quit the job, as the guy deserves - via WhatsApp. By the way, I didn't receive a response...
But the worst part was saying goodbye to the Wharf community. I really enjoyed living together, even though it was sometimes very exhausting. It would have been so nice if I could have stayed there. But fate wanted it differently.
I dragged myself onto the bus in the afternoon with all my luggage, which was supposed to take me to Te Puke in half an hour.
Te Puke is a small town west of Tauranga. Although 'Kaff' (German slang for small town) might be a better description. But here's the thing - the hostel is another 7km outside of Te Puke. So I don't even live in the 'Kaff' (which, by the way, has the only supermarket in the area). For every shopping trip, I have to walk 15km on the highway. That's why the manager picked me up; maybe I should have taken a better look at the hostel before.
Let me put it this way: I liked Base in Auckland better. Do you remember how I complained about Base? Well...
First of all: you have to pay for everything. At check-in, I not only paid for the first week ($140), but also left a hefty deposit of $120, which I should get back when I move out. I am staying in a 16-bed room, but so far there are only two other girls living there. They are from Germany, but they have such a thick Bavarian accent that it sounds almost like a foreign language. Seriously, I don't understand a word.
The beds are not made, there are no pillows either. You can add them for a weekly fee. As if: now my stolen/found sleeping bag comes into play.
You also have to rent dishes, otherwise you can't cook. So in the kitchen, there would only be ovens and sinks. Great.
You get seven shower tokens per week, each for 6 minutes. That's sufficient, but in all other hostels you could take unlimited showers. And that was always the best part.
But the worst part: there is also no unlimited WiFi. I have 1GB per week for free, otherwise I would have to buy more. I have no idea how much 1GB is, but that's a big negative point. It may be sufficient, but I feel very restricted and unwelcome in the hostel. It's more like a prison or an institution for stranded backpackers...
Let me introduce you to my home for the next three months.
Believe me, I arrived, lay down on this cold mattress, and cried.
A lot. And for a long time. Really gross, with snot and everything. At this point, I also had to open the emergency letters from my friends and family. It helped a little.
Finally, I have to make the best of the situation. So I unpacked my things, looked around the hostel, and was happy to be able to read properly again. After work, I will have a lot of time, I don't want to use the WiFi too often, so I have plenty of time for my books. I won't have much contact with the other backpackers either, they hide in their rooms themselves. I can also do stretching exercises, because the work will probably be very strenuous. The manager said the only job available at the moment is bud thinning. This involves removing all buds from the kiwi plants except one or two, so that all the energy goes into the few fruits. But the buds are at a height of about two meters. Just as a reminder: I'm 165cm tall. Or rather 'short,' as my manager said. He then gave me funny metal platforms that I clamp under my shoes. It looks totally stupid, but by now I don't care anymore. However, I will be stretching my arms and neck upwards all day long. In the evening, I will have arm muscles and a sore neck... Looking forward to it.
But do you know what this means? The good times of the blog are over now. In the coming weeks and months, there will be no more beautiful pictures and stories. If anything interesting happens, I will certainly keep you updated, but otherwise I will just work and earn money. Seriously, I only have $46 left in my account...
And with the limited WiFi, I am no longer available 24/7, sorry. I think I'll write another entry tomorrow or the day after and report on the work. And then we'll see.
For now, I'm done. Curious to see how much of my data volume is left after uploading this entry...
Greetings from me and an apology for the past entries, which were a bit half-hearted. The whole job search has really taken its toll on me, but I hope that in the coming days I can gather myself again in this wilderness. I won't have much distraction...