[ New Zealand ~ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ]
12~19~00 to 1~9~01
Living in Auckland
I stayed in Auckland for the holidays. I got a job as a "bar runner" in the hostel bar, which means walking around the bar, picking up empty glasses and bottles. I worked two 7-hour shifts a week in exchange for the week's accomodation. If overtime was required (since the bar doesn't have a set closing time), I got paid $10/hr in a bar tab. As it turned out, I worked Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and January 2nd. I had never worked in a bar (or restaurant, even), so it was a learning experience. I had never spent so much time with drunk people while I was sober.I also made some friends among staff at the hostel, and we all celebrated Christmas together with a turkey dinner. I didn't get homesick during the holidays, because it really didn't feel like the holidays at all. New Year's Eve 2001 was a blur of working, setting my mouth on fire, and sleepwalking.
On January 5th, Steve finally arrived, and we spent another six days in Auckland enjoying our reunion and exploring the city.
On January 10th, Steve left to do some solo travelling and my mom came to visit for two weeks. She and I spent almost a week travelling around the North Island - most of that time was spent in a nice beach resort called Mount Maunganui where we relaxed and bonded. We checked out the geothermal activity in Rotorua, and met up with Steve there. Steve and I celebrated our two-year anniversary there with a visit to the Polynesian Spa and a nice dinner atop a scenic mountain.
My Mom Visits
On January 16th, we rushed from Rotorua to Auckland, where we caught a plane to Queenstown on the South Island. There, we rented a car and drove to Te Anau. The next morning, we drove to Milford Sound (still the most scenic place in New Zealand).
We took a guided kayak tour in the morning. Toward the end, a pod of dolphins joined us and we spent about twenty minutes paddling furiously to keep up with their playful pace. 
Taking a break
My mom and a dolphin
That night, we took a swanky overnight cruise in Milford Sound.The three of us spent a day in Queenstown, and then Steve and I saw my mom off at the airport. She headed back to the Auckland area, where she spent a few days exploring alone before flying back to the States. I finished that visit to Queenstown with another bungy jump; this time from The Ledge.
The view of Queenstown from the top
Swinging post-jump
Strangely enough, the second bungy jump was harder for me, rather than easier. Before the first jump, I hadn't really thought much about it. The second time, I thought too much and almost psyched myself out. It took ten or fifteen minutes for me to make myself jump. Very weird.Steve and I then headed out of town in a smaller rental car and did a quick tour of the South Island, including a hike on Mount Cook, Christchurch, Dunedin, and a sheep farm, where we had quite an experience...
