In addition to seeing the sights, riding up mountains, surfing the waves, working (Des),  studying (Kai) and homesteading (Jen), we have met many new mates.  Rolling skating nights, table tennis tournaments and drone flying with Sam and Keunhye may not be 100% New Zealand, but it’s been a good time.

Sam is a fellow radiologist, Korean by blood, German by nationality and American at heart. Keun is an ice hockey player from Seoul, good at everything and a real gem.  I hosted gal movie night to watch my favourite flick, La La Land. Keun loved it too and  learned the theme song on the piano the next day. She sent it me as a thank you.

 

Kai thinks Sam is the best since he handed over his fancy new drone for Kai to pilot.   He also gave him a ride to school one morning on his day off.  (The car battery had died when Kai left the radio on all night.) Standing next to the car with his huge backpack he was thinking, “that’s gonna be a long, up hill  bike ride to Boys’ High.”

Below is a video from our first night at the East End Skate rink. I skated around the ready bench and Des did a couple of laps before thinking, “my knee feels funny after that last turn, I’m done.”  Kai went again the next week, improved, but still provided the entertainment for his new buddies.

We’ve become big fans of the local professional basketball team, The Taranaki Mountainairs. The quality of play is pretty high. Each of New Zealand’s 8 teams is allowed 3 import players (mostly from U.S. and couple from Texas).  The rest are local guys and Boys’ High has 2 development players on the team. Kai likes knowing their backstories and seeing them around town and talking it up, like at Subway after school.  We’ve attended all the home games. They are actually quite fun and Kai really enjoys meeting up with all his various new friends.

Des’ birthday dinner party at Punjab Grill.