Various kinds of introductions

Aucklanders have a very special reason not to show up for work on Friday mornings: bar crawling. For $10 (about €8.50), you get a guided tour of four bars, each with a complimentary drink. If you've ever been partying, you know what a great deal that is - especially since a beer already costs $5-6. In addition, games are played in each bar, and the winner receives an experience voucher. No drinking games - they are prohibited in New Zealand, as I found out.

Since I was bored anyway (have I complained about Auckland yet?), I went along with my roommates. Can't hurt, right...?

We started at 8:30 p.m. at the 'Fat Camel'; nothing can go wrong with a name like that. About 200 people squeezed into a pretty small bar, with a complimentary drink in hand (beer or shots) and moved to loud music. The later the evening, the more individual dancing. You know all about that.

After about 1.5 hours, we moved on to the next bar. Imagine: 200 slightly drunk people moving in a phalanx through the streets of Auckland. A sight for the gods, but the residents must be used to it - the bar crawling takes place every (!) Thursday. I felt like I was on a school trip (age rating 18+).

This procedure went on for four bars, after which you either had a hearing loss or were completely drunk. It was fun in a way, but then I had enough.

Quickly back to the hostel, freshen up and off to bed. The next day I had my introduction event at 9 a.m., so I had three hours of sleep. Anyone can calculate when I was back...

The next morning I was surprisingly in a good mood, but that lasted only about two hours. As expected, the introduction event didn't provide any really new information, but somehow it was fun to listen. Then came the seriousness of life. Sigh.

First, changing my SIM card. So I stood at a table with six other girls and none of us had a clue. My father would probably facepalm, but initially we were all really clueless. Eventually, it kind of worked out, so the six of us walked to the nearby Vodafone store. At least the salespeople weren't bored today, and now I have a New Zealand phone number.

Opening a bank account was not any easier, and I still haven't really figured it all out, because I can't register online. Mysterious... But it will somehow work out.

But now it got really annoying: At some point, I will have to work after all, and that meant writing a CV. I imagined it would be a bit more uncomplicated, but in the end, I spent almost the entire afternoon on it. Then search for suitable job offers, write to each one, and then hope. In total, I applied for seven positions, I pray that one of them will say yes.

As a last resort, I signed up for WWOOF, but I still have to create my profile. After five hours on the computer, I didn't feel like it anymore.

The only good thing that happened today was a new acquaintance I made. Her name is Lucy, and at first, she seemed very unsympathetic to me (probably because we are very similar). We met again in the kitchen and ate a portion of rice together. That brings people together, and so we started talking.

Lucy has been in Auckland for two weeks (poor thing) because she still hasn't found a job. That, in turn, scared me. But they say wait and see.

On the weekend, I will definitely get out into nature: on Saturday, I will visit Waiheke Island near Auckland with my roommates, and on Sunday, I booked a tour to Piha, where there is said to be a black beach.

By the way, I noticed that I haven't shown a picture of our room and the kitchen yet, which I will do now.

I think I will check in again on Sunday evening.

Until then, greetings