Wellington

Today is (for now) the last evening together with our newly-found 'bro' and secret roommate Miguel. For about 6 weeks, we not only shared a double room with three people, food that we were allowed to take from our work, clothes and towels, tattoo ideas, hangover days, and WiFi, but also unforgettable moments.

I still remember our first evening with the guys here in Wellington and I can't believe that this time is coming to an end. And especially the first two weeks in Wellington felt terrible. We had no money, no idea where we could find work, and no idea where to go. And one evening we even had no place to sleep because all the hostels were fully booked due to the Guns and Roses concert. So we had no choice but to share a single room with a total of 7 people after unsuccessfully trying to stay up all night.

And then, when everything seemed so terrible and I was really at a low point, we got the job as kitchen hands at Crabshack, a seafood restaurant. Little money for terrible work. But damn, truly the nicest people on this wide earth. I've never had so much fun at work, even though I've seen myself disposing of fish leftovers in bio-waste containers until 1am. This time felt surreal, more like in a bad movie, and if it had a name, it would be, originally, 'two broke girls'.

Another ode to the good 'Lodge in the City Hostel'. The cheapest place in the capital, where it can also happen that a homeless alcoholic comes in and steals free food and lies next to you on the sofa until the police pick him up. Or a huge group of underage Kiwis start a drinking session next to you, for which 'excessive alcohol consumption' is not even an expression anymore. Some pots were never used again. The toilet on the second floor was expertly avoided from then on. I never realized how quickly and dramatically you can get used to your surroundings. Cheers!

In Wellington, old acquaintances met new ones. All of this in a wild and dirty capital city, which once again proves that the people around you make up life and home is not a place but a feeling.

I'm looking forward to coming back here, to rainy and windy Wellington, and I will still walk barefoot on Cuba Street and Courtney Place in the autumn. And after a few beautiful summer days here, I am more than convinced by the Kiwi saying 'you can't beat Wellington on a good day'.

And of course, I'm also looking forward to meeting our dear Lodge in the Shitty - flatmates again while camping on the South Island. Hopefully, we will all have bought proper furniture by then.