January 2010, Back to Kiwilad

1/2010 Back to Kiwiland

Leaving jobs, home, 2 children and a new daughter in law behind, we’re off to new adventures in New Zealand. On Thursday, 1/7/10, we took a flight to SF, 4 hr lay over there, then board Air New Zealand for 12 hr trip to Auckland on North Island. No travel hitches other than getting Sandi through Spokane airport security check, finding that under wire bras set off the alarms when security is on high alert. Going thru security to board 1 hr flight from Auckland to Wellington, you don’t have to remove your shoes or even show them your little bottles of liquids. We have arrived in the land of less stress.
Arriving in Wellington on Saturday, at 10:00 am on a bright, sunny summer day, we stroll along the waterfront and take the cable car up the hill to the well-manicured Botanic Gardens. Wellington is NZ’s capital and a fine city of ~165,000 (450,000 in the region). It’s a happening place with music, bars, theatre, galleries, and cafes with great food. We notice the number of Starbucks has increased from 1 to at least 4 since our last visit here in 2008.
Beginning Monday, Steve had 3 days of orientation with NZ Locums before starting his first job in Alexandra on the South Island. We spent 6 days in Wellington altogether, and had a chance to meet the 10 other locums and their spouses coming to work in various places in NZ. They are primarily Canadian and US family doctors (known as general practitioners in NZ). We visited the wonderful Te Papa museum and did lots of walking around town seeing the sites. Went to the cinema to see Avatar, but not 3D version as it was sold out for several weeks. There are lots of families out and about as this is the summer holiday for school kids.
On Friday (1/15) we flew from Wellington to Dunedin, on S.I. Rented a car (Corolla) in Dunedin, which will be our transportation for next 8 weeks. Drove 2.5 hours to Alexandra, which is in the Central Otago Region. It is hilly, rocky area with the Clutha River running through it.


Up to the point of arriving in Alexandra, where we were met by Sue McPherson the lead doctor at Centennial Health Center, we did not known what our living arrangements would be. It is up to the medical practice to provide housing for the locums. Sue had just found us a place to live that same afternoon. We are living in a “wrinkly tin” house build on a cliff.
It is a 2 yr old home constructed of corrugated steel, and has 3 small bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining area and lounge area in loft upstairs, all in about 1000 sq ft. All across the front of the house are sliding glass doors and windows that open up onto a patio, which overlooks the rocky canyon, town and the mountains beyond. This is the view we wake up to from our bed. The place is well furnished and fairly well equipped with the exception of phone and internet. We use the clinic phone and internet services, not convenient, as the clinic is ~ 2 miles downhill into town. It is hot and dry here, the warmest spot in the country at 80-90+ during the day, cooling off nicely at night.
First Saturday in Alex we go to the local farmers market to stock up on vegetables and fruits in season including black cherries, apricots, nectarines and peaches. Some sight seeing including the town of Clyde, 8 miles away, which is where the nearest hospital is located.

Sunday we visit the town of Cromwell for market day, some great breads, cheeses, & sauces like Pinot Gris vanilla and lemon balm syrup-delish over fresh fruit salad.

Insights gained so far from Kiwi’s: Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
“Life is not tied with a ribbon, but it is still a wonderful gift.” (from Museli cereal box)
Bugger the garden, lets have a glass of wine!