The hostel life

Ah, the hostel life.

I've been living the dream for over a month now, and have come to some conclusions about this semi-nomadic, semi-permanent kind of life. The backpackers/hostel where I live is relatively small: 12ish rooms which accommodate 65-75 people maximum. Our hostel, Tiki Lodge, is family-run, which is nice. It's not a huge 400-bed dormitory like a Base or Nomads (been there, done that, no thanks). No large tour groups come through our place, though we do get groups of friends traveling together, families, and a few small independent adventure tours.

Even though it's definitely not home, it has become my temporary home, and has provided me with a pseudo-family here in Taupo.

My Taupo "family" from the hostel

A few thoughts on hostel life:

Pros

• Making new friends. There's always someone new to get to know.
• Party time. If you're feeling social, any night (or day...) can be a party.
• Travelers' network. Meeting other travelers means lots of advice, tips, and stories about traveling. Much better than reading another chapter from Lonely Planet.
• Sharing. People share food, books, supplies, toiletries, clothes, and other stuff... it means you spend less money and create less rubbish.
• The cost. It's still relatively cheap to stay in a hostel (as compared to a hotel), and if you find a good one, it can be a really pleasant experience. 
• Activities. Most hostels will book local activities for travelers: sightseeing, adventure tours, day trips, etc. The resources are right at your fingertips, and the people who work at hostels know the area well.
• Location. Most hostels are conveniently located near town centers. Tiki Lodge is close to town, shops, supermarkets, bars, etc. My walk to work at the cafe takes five minutes.

Cons

• You are never alone. Literally. Bathroom. Bedroom. Kitchen. TV area. If you are a person who values privacy or alone time, this is a struggle. However, there are those rare moments where you may find yourself alone, and, if even for two minutes, it is a gift from above. I try to make alone time each day, if possible, with varying success. If the weather is nasty, it can be almost impossible.
• The crowds. Along the same lines, if the hostel is crowded (as it tends to be in high season), you may need to fight your way into the kitchen to secure a space in the oven for your dinner. Or you may need to wait a bit to get the good shower in the bathroom. Or there could be a queue for the washing machine and dryer. Luckily, driving in Boston and New York prepared me for these strategic battles of community living.
• The noise. If a big group of Canadians (or Aussies, or Germans, or whomever!) arrive and decide to have a loud party on a weeknight, and maybe your room happens to be near the common area, you're basically out of luck. Same story if someone turns the TV up, or if someone snores, or if someone decides to make a phone call at 2am in the hallway outside your door, etc. We also host families (though I don't really understand bringing a toddler to a backpackers'), and the children could be up early running around in the hallways.
• Cleanliness. We keep our hostel as clean and tidy as possible, but in the end you have to deal with other people's versions of cleanliness and hygiene which may be very different than your own.
• Storage. Since hostels by nature are temporary holding tanks for travelers, they aren't built for long-term living. Finding a place other than a locker or backpack to conveniently store clothes can be quite a task. Right now I keep my things in my backpack, in plastic bins, cardboard boxes, and under my bed.

Overall, hostel life has been a positive experience, and I've met lots of wonderful people. It's just not something I think I could do super long-term. Once I leave Taupo, I may treat myself to one night in my own room somewhere. That would really be divine. :-)

Coming soon: updates on a lovely boat excursion on Lake Taupo and a sky dive from 15,000 feet!

The Kiwi lexicon

Greetings, friends!

For your reading pleasure, I've put together some of the lingo I've learned since coming to New Zealand. As you can guess, there's a lot of influence from British English here, but some of these are pure Kiwi-isms!


Bro: dude; bro. Usually preceded by "sweet as" (see below).
Bach: short for "bachelor." A cottage or beach home.
Brilliant (often abbreviated to just "bril"): Excellent; wonderful.
Cheers: thanks; okay; great.
Chiller: fridge.
Chuck: toss; put; place.
Dodgy: sketchy; sleezy.
Good on ya: congratulations; good job.
Harden up: toughen up. (Side note: I was told this by a 20-year old colleague at the cafe.)
Heaps: lots; tons.
Jandals: flip-flops.
Kia ora: Hello (Maori greeting).
Kiwi: a New Zealander.
Kiwi: an endangered bird in NZ.
Kiwifruit: the fruit, not the person.
Sorted: fixed; worked out; in order.
*Sweet as: very cool. Can also be used with other adjectives: cheap as, wicked as, etc.
Ta: thank you.
Zed: the letter "z." Frequently used when referring to New Zealand, NZ, as "n zed."

*I've had long conversations with various people about the use of "sweet as." As somewhat of an English language snob, I am bothered by it. Not to mention, I've often seen it misunderstood by non-Kiwis as a commentary on their posterior. It seems that you can use the "as" with almost any adjective, but in order to do it properly, it has to be organic, and you need to make sure it "sounds right." More information, including examples, can be found on Urban Dictionary.

I've included an additional piece of Kiwi pop culture below. This is a recent New Zealand anti-drunk driving advertisement that runs often on TV. It's the butt of many jokes, and you can probably see why.

Now all Kiwis are learning how to be bloody legends. I think I'll try too.
Cheers!

The Huka

Greetings, friends!

I know it's been a while since I posted, but things have been busy! I am still in Taupo, working for accommodation at the backpackers' and also working part-time at a local cafe. My jobs at the hostel and the cafe are basically the same: cleaning up. Dishes. Toilets. Beds. Etc. It's physical labor for 2-8 hours per day, so I've been working hard. 

Much of my down time is spent with friends who also live at the hostel. Here are some recent photos:

Me, Ann, and Ruth catching a gorgeous Taupo sunset

Another great sunset

Yes, I admit it, I ate McDonalds. Once. It was a moment of weakness, I swear...

Our friend Mattias, who works at McDonalds (referred to by Kiwis as "Mackers")

Cheers!

Can you tell we all enjoy the sunset?!?

My illustrious colleagues at the hostel: Celia, Dave (aka Princess) and Ruth

Some of the gang celebrating Dave's birthday (he's the one with the tiara)

One night we all trekked up to the hot springs along the Waikato River...

And enjoyed a nice soak under the moonlight. 

My friend Louise, whom I met in Auckland, recently came to visit Taupo for a few days. Though I had to work most of the time she was here, we still managed to have some fun together. One day we hiked up to Huka Falls, a set of waterfalls on the Waikato River, through which over 200,000 liters of water flow every second. "Huka" in the Maori language means "foam," and as you can see from the pictures below, it is appropriately named.

Marilyn, Louise, Ann, and me

Louise and me over Huka Falls

Looking down at the Falls

Where's Waldo?

Some have tried, unsuccessfully (and fatally), to raft through the Falls.

The obligatory picture in front of the Falls

I am thinking often of my friends back in the States! I hope everyone is well, and that 2012 is off to a blessed start. I will write more soon.

Cheers!

The 2012

Happy 2012!

I rang in the new year with friends in Taupo, dancing the night away in a local hangout. Despite the heavy rain Taupo has experienced the past several days, massive crowds turned out in town to celebrate the new year.

The hostel where I live and work was also very crowded as this is the busiest time of year for anyone in hospitality or tourism. Every bed was full, which means we've had a lot of cleaning to do as all the revelers leave. On New Year's morning, I had the privilege of cleaning my very first vomity toilet. As this has been a big dream of mine basically my whole life, I was quite thrilled, as you can imagine.

Ringing in 2012!

Before the rain