Arriving
Nov 29th – Dec 1st
Usual nightmares of travel. Was packing until the minute I left, like
usual. Overpacked, as usual. Teased by Duc, as usual, for it. Had teary phone calls with loved ones and
clueless messages from friends, I mean really guys! Come on.
I may disappear to various parts of the world for months at a time, but
it shouldn’t be too hard to recall that I am only going for two weeks this
time. Ok, it might be, but come on!
Got to the airport with an hour to spare
which was wasted on getting new tickets.
Book my flights through a travel agent (NEVER AGAIN) who put my name
down as KATE and not CAITLIN ANNE, even though I specifically told her to, so
it did not match my passport = big NO-NO!
A United rep. was kind enough to alter my tickets, but it means I will have to get my tickets altered for every leg of the trip, not a headache you
want to deal with when your flight is late and you’re rushing to get to the
next flight which leaves twenty minutes after you land. That is exactly what happened by the
way.
The first flight was a nightmare and I
don’t know what meditation state I had achieved to not blow a gasket but I hope
I can find it again (probably from stressing about finals). Imagine: seat in the last row near the
bathrooms, aisle seat but next to two 87/89 year-olds who were married less
than a month ago and are on their honeymoon, behind two three-month old twins,
and adjacent to a screaming toddler. The
toddler hit decibels I thought were myth.
Twins weren’t so bad, but the two lovebirds making out next to me did
gross me out a bit. Great to find love
at any age, but not great to make-out in public.
The second flight was good, watched
a few Horrible Histories and Things to do in Auckland. Fell asleep to Bad Bosses. Love Air New Zealand! Great surface, nice staff, hilarious safety
video with HOT All Blacks J. Offer great food for dinner and breakfast accompanied
with good wine and mimosas for free.
Arrived 40 min early. Had a bit
of a hassle getting through security – brought my dirty hiking boots which had
to be cleaned. Had the time to waste so
all good. Got informed that cabs are NOT
the way to go and it is better to walk, take the bus, or go via shuttle. Spent 33 NZD on a shuttle, great guy – joked about
too much Mexican (another driver sleeps with a new guy every week and the
latest pick was a Mexican) so after a good trip interspersed with sex jokes, I
arrived at O’Rourke Hall. Gave the
driver a tip, I know you don’t have to tip in NZ but he was a great
driver! Had to wait outside the hall for
an hour before getting checked –in, arrived way too early. Still a bit cold in NZ L as it is only just the beginning
of summer.
Day
1 – Dec. 1st
Arrival, got checked-in and will
pay-up when I clear my credit card….yay for self-funding! Going to be awhile before I go out and party
(not sure who I am kidding with that one).
Yay for being female and a graduate student and it being the holidays. Love you friends and family!
So lots to do – Hobbiton, Wine tour,
Dolphin watching, sky diving, etc. What
did I do? Ate breakfast, answered
e-mails, submitted HW, and slept after unpacking. Did plan out my conference schedule and how
to get done the three things I wanted to go this week – dolphin watch, sky
walk, and wine tour. Not sure when I am
going to my papers…and Yami will be coming to party next weekend! Lots to do as always! Still, the feeling of being back in NZ =
priceless.
Finally got out around 6 PM, hit a few shops and picked up a few X-mas presents. Got lost getting into the city, yes I know my ability to get lost legendary but I found my way back.
Finally got out around 6 PM, hit a few shops and picked up a few X-mas presents. Got lost getting into the city, yes I know my ability to get lost legendary but I found my way back.
 |
| Cool cathedral for my friend Nicole Andelfinger, who was my best bud when I was last in NZ! |
Walked down to Britomart (love being able to walk everywhere) and checked out the ferry and train station.
 |
| Saw a cool Santa display on Queen St. |
Walked around a bit more looking for a place to drink and eat. Chose the Corner Bar. Great place!
Awesome bartending! Recommended drinks based on my taste and original drinks. Real bar tending, finally! Chose a champagne ham and cheese sandwich with pumpkin fruit and a biscotti with raspberries and orange crème on Whittaker's chocolate mousse.
Ladies, want to make friends in a
new place? Go out, sit down with a book,
you’ll get bothered in five minutes by a creep and a local lady will come over
and save your ass by kicking him out.
This real-life Gaston swaggered over totally drunk and proceeded to lean
against my body with his crotch on my hip.
Not a bad looker, probably in his upper 30s and lower 40s. He insulted my book (“Look, a woman wrote it,
no way she knows what she is fucking talkin about, she is a woman! Women are
pussies and cannot surf”) and asked if I was reading it because I wanted to
fuck a surfers because surfers were fucking hot and that he was a surfer. Tried to actually have an intellectual
conversation with him, not happening, and thankfully one of the bar tenders
came over and told him to shove off. He
went off on her and caused a massive argument in the bar. Didn’t get kicked out though. His friend didn’t even step in and tell him
to shut-up. Looking back, I wish I had
drop-kicked him in the nuts but I have never dealt with someone that rude verbally
before. Well, I have but not in a social
situation. Won’t be happening again,
ever. Next person who tries it is not
going to be getting polite speak, but a rude and physical shove-off. He harassed me right out the door as I left,
just ignored him and went on my way – best action probably as he didn’t follow
me further and he may have if I had interacted with him.
Pretty tired by 9:30 PM, so I headed
back, figuring I would have plenty more nights to go out and spend money and
see Auckland night life.
First
Day of the Conference – Dec. 2nd
Start
Got up at 6:30 AM, but took forever to
get ready and arrived 30 min late to the conference. Turns out, like all conferences, they started
late so I walked into the start of the conference. Conference speaker was a bit hurried but kept
the audience in good humor. Love, love
the set-up of Auckland campus, very nice and up to date! Got to see my advisor’s name on the front
screen (Dr. Parsons) but he dipped out to another conference, so I think I am
the only representing GMU here. Kinda
scary, but I will do my best! Have
noticed I am one of the only ones in a suit as most are casual, startling lack
of marine-decorated clothing though.
Hope they bring the ocean-geek out at some point!
Very important mention of food! I am but a poor graduate student and will be
taking my meals at morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and happy hour. Breakfast, as previously mentioned, is lovingly
provided by O’Rourke Hall. Kiwis love their
drink, like the Scots, but have upped it in quality by tying it with education
on local ocean/seas.
Session: Pelagic Ecosystems and MPA Management
Run by Lance Morgan and Sara
Maxwell, the session was supposed to start at 10:30 AM so the presenters were
not quite ready but covered fairly well with a lengthy introduction/background
of the inspiration for their session.
The two work with the Marine Conservation Institute and have partnered
with NOAA on a pelagic MPA (NOAA is everywhere). The session is fairly small compared to the
more popular Big Ocean Network session at 50 people, but I think this session
will accomplish a bit more in terms of contributing to ongoing research. The session holders are looking for our input
to their work while introducing us to their type of MPA. Specifically, the new type of MPAs the USA is
looking at are ones in the high seas, in the pelagic zone with special focus on
enforcement and follow-up monitoring.
This will most likely affect some types of marine mammals (False Killer
Whales) and open sea fish. Quite a few
NOAA attendees.
First break of the morning,
food! Oh, and meet and greet, so time to
schmooze…. Or at least get a better idea of those involved in the marine
world. Spoke with Brett Hardt from the
institution which oversees NOAA from the legal side of things. Spoke on the usual issues with Japan and
enforcement in the USA. Nice muffins and
weak tea made by yours truly.
Session begins!
The
session lagged at points when people got territorial about enforcement and
definitions, but otherwise was well-directed and an enjoyable learning
process. We discussed pelagic marine
protected areas, which generated much discussion at the various breaks and
lunch (awesome food!!!!).
Aside on food. Breaks consisted of tea and coffee with
muffins and chocolate/berry mousse cakes = in heaven. Lunch was curry chicken kabobs, vegetarian
quiche, chicken and brie sandwiches, and mini-cupcakes with mango-kiwi
punch. Food is an A++++!
Back on topic, the session started
out as a background and informatory that transformed to discussion and group
input. Could have had more of a clear
example to deliberate on but that was fixed at the end of the session by a
suggestion from one of the attendees (NOAA).
During breaks, the session continued to be discussed by members. Had some very interesting conversation on the
fishermen of Gloucester, y’all have quite the reputation! Budding marine biologists beware. If you’re looking for trial by fire, go for
it.
At the end of the session, we headed
down to the Hauraki Gulf Happy Hour to enjoy NZ wine and a presentation on the
HG by three excellent speakers. My
presentation guide gave a rundown of Who’s Who of the speakers, one of the guys
is responsible for the marine GIS tracking program for marine mammals, pretty
cool and very intelligent guy. Wine was
good, got to chat up some of the students helping out with catering, very down
to earth nice guys. Meeting people has
been fun though I am, as always, rubbish with names. Know the faces though. Even met one guy who looks exactly like Dr.
Parsons, albeit a bit younger. Also got
recruited to help out tomorrow with sign-in and take souvenirs back to the
States for Dr. Parsons, always get my assignments from him while out at grabbing
a drink J. Lecture was very interesting, even after three
glasses of wine, though I am very sleepy now.
Annoying jetlag. Still have tons
of HW to do and need to eat dinner, but c’est la vie. Should be fun!
Evening Out
Enjoyed a nice wander down to the
wharfs looking for people at the conference.
Couldn’t find anyone and we were getting hungry so we headed back up to
Queen and High St and checked out a sweet upstairs pasta place (cannot for the
life of me remember the name). Decided I
would pass on dinner and check out dessert, got a vanilla ice cream drowned in
a lemoncello liqueur and a Rosebud cocktail.
Absolute dream! Got compliments
on my drink and dessert. The drink
actually smelled of roses and tasted what I would except a rosebud to task like
– light and slightly sweet with a twingey tang.
Was asked to go out dancing, but decided I couldn’t make it since I am
still pretty jetlagged. Heading to bed early!
No comments:
Post a Comment