<p>The first days here have been full of new and exciting experiences.</p>
<p>Yesterday we went to the ministry of transport to 'enquire' about motorcycle licenses. Finding ourselves on the 13th floor of a fancy office building with executives and cubicles, we learned that the ministry of transport is the policy makers like the DOT in the US... So it wasn't as exciting as I'd thought. But we were sent next to another office building who sent us finally to the AA, which is the automobile Association, not alcoholics anonymous. The awesome thing was all these things were in 10 minute walking distance of one another. Yay city living! Anyway turns out Dar and my Oregon motorcycle endorsements are good enough for the NZ government and all we have to do is go buy a motorcycle!
Besides our trip to AA, (snark snark) we've been spending all day every day looking for an apartment. Saying its been hard is an understatement. There are very few people willing to consider a couple as a roommate and of those who do many want us to pay double the rent. Obviously im biased in this but while i absolutely agree with splitting utilities equally between all the individuals in the flat and even could see a little more in base rent because 2 take more of communal space, double is ridiculous in my opinion.
And then of course there's finding places and people we like. We went to one place that's just barely out of the city, but at 4.50 per way on the bus, its $90NZ or $75USD per work week just to commute! We found a place in a soul-less highrise which had beautiful views but that seriously felt like living in an airplane. That along with roommates that were super dodgy, some that didn't even come out of their room to talk to us, and ridiculously messy ones.
So, while id really love to hold out for the perfect roommate and apartment combo, with the GRE approaching fast, we've raised our budget significantly and resolved to find a cute studio or 1 bedroom through a property rental company. Im really optimistic that we'll find something soon.
About the only other things we've been doing besides house hunting is walking from place to place and finding food. Here are some pictures...
We went to this cute little French crepery for breakfast the other day. The lady was confused when i asked for whipped cream on my h but it turned out amazing. Hands down best hot chocolate of my life. That includes poohs picnics from Allan Bros.
A shame there's not something in the frame for reference but that burger is on a full large size dinner plate. That was lunch. Yumm. A serious food coma after that and i didn't even finish it!
And also this. Teehhee.
<p>Yesterday we went to the ministry of transport to 'enquire' about motorcycle licenses. Finding ourselves on the 13th floor of a fancy office building with executives and cubicles, we learned that the ministry of transport is the policy makers like the DOT in the US... So it wasn't as exciting as I'd thought. But we were sent next to another office building who sent us finally to the AA, which is the automobile Association, not alcoholics anonymous. The awesome thing was all these things were in 10 minute walking distance of one another. Yay city living! Anyway turns out Dar and my Oregon motorcycle endorsements are good enough for the NZ government and all we have to do is go buy a motorcycle!
Besides our trip to AA, (snark snark) we've been spending all day every day looking for an apartment. Saying its been hard is an understatement. There are very few people willing to consider a couple as a roommate and of those who do many want us to pay double the rent. Obviously im biased in this but while i absolutely agree with splitting utilities equally between all the individuals in the flat and even could see a little more in base rent because 2 take more of communal space, double is ridiculous in my opinion.
And then of course there's finding places and people we like. We went to one place that's just barely out of the city, but at 4.50 per way on the bus, its $90NZ or $75USD per work week just to commute! We found a place in a soul-less highrise which had beautiful views but that seriously felt like living in an airplane. That along with roommates that were super dodgy, some that didn't even come out of their room to talk to us, and ridiculously messy ones.
So, while id really love to hold out for the perfect roommate and apartment combo, with the GRE approaching fast, we've raised our budget significantly and resolved to find a cute studio or 1 bedroom through a property rental company. Im really optimistic that we'll find something soon.
About the only other things we've been doing besides house hunting is walking from place to place and finding food. Here are some pictures...
We went to this cute little French crepery for breakfast the other day. The lady was confused when i asked for whipped cream on my h but it turned out amazing. Hands down best hot chocolate of my life. That includes poohs picnics from Allan Bros.
And also this. Teehhee.
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