Auckland, New Zealand

The streets were packed with people, kebab stands lined both sides and the alley ways, and my dormitory room smelled of sweaty feet. The hostel was small compared to several other in town with only 150 beds. My bed rattled with the bass from middle-eastern techo blarring in the shop next door and I wondered if my slightly unstable roomate was going to lash out.

The second night brought the characters out in full swing. John, whom I origionally thought was just a local drunk bunking in the hostel for a couple of nights began to express a variety of other emotions. I explained that North and South Carolina had not combined to form one state, that Russia did not give control of Alaska to the U.S. in 1978, and that I was pretty sure a visa to pick fruit didn't require a residency permit. Initially puzzled he finally gave way to logic or was it me who was bending. Today I have no idea as I have never been talked in circles through incoherence so badly. Our conversation ended with him leaving the room saying, "slowly slowly, catch the monkey."

On the third night I went out with the Scots for a few games of pool where they worked. Unfortunatly, they lost their jobs as we were playing pool and decided to self medicate. Ouch! was awakened to the sound of gurggling and then the spattering of some liquid on my bag, clothes, and me. I kept telling myself it was water and rolled over went back to deal with the situation a couple hours later. Upon further review, I believe it was actually water that never completely made it down the hatch. Bile free!

My last day and night in Auckland was relatively normal. I spent the afternoon researching Working Holiday Visas and contemplating if it was worth the money and time for a couple of months at most That evening I shared some sushi with a couple of British girls who were traveling around the world for a year. One was a financial planner for HSBC who expressed how relieved she was to be traveling and not soothing clients amidst the market turmoil. I agreed.