Leaving our Latest Home of NZ

4/27/20
It was a bit of a rainy morning. We packed up and did some cleaning. I ran around the Kelvin Peninsula loop. I'm really going to miss the views and trails here. My walks and runs and bikes the last few days have been emotional and sad, b/c I've grown to love it here.

There are so many things from New Zealand that I'm going to miss or little things that were just very Kiwi and will always remind me of NZ. We'll miss the Kiwi news, which was so positive and in a way cute. And NZ TV has such longer spans between commercials and such shorter commercials. It makes watching live TV bearable and watching long movies possible. We'll miss the Kiwi sense of humour (spelled kiwi style). The COVID-19 updates and the little jingle that was associated with it. The unity in fighting corona and the funny or inspiring commercials promoting it.  We'll miss the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her empathy as she addressed the nation everyday. And we'll miss Dr. Ashley Broomfield and his medical advice and updates each day. We'll miss the stability of our life. Sleeping in, then having tea and breakfast, then doing little projects, lunch (often on the deck), then hikes/walks/bikes in the area, making sure to be back for the 6 o'clock news. Then some of our favorite shows afterwards (recently Australia's Amazing Race). There are only a handful of channels in NZ, yet they play a lot of movies which is nice. The pure numbers of channels here in Colorado is overwhelming. And they do this thing where each channel also has that channel +1, which is an hour later. So if 6pm doesn't work to watch your favorite show, maybe the replay at 7 will work.
We'll miss the calm and friendliness of the people and their courteousness. How everything seems to work just so smoothly there. We'll miss our favorite radio stations, such as the Edge and Highschool Hits. And we'll of course miss the funny accents. We'll miss all the talk of the "bubble" (who you were lockdowned with) and Maccas (mcdonalds) and all those other Kiwi sayings. And many more things that I'm not remembering now

4/28/20

We left Queenstown at 6am with plenty of time to get to Christchurch. No one was really on the road even though today NZ dropped from lockdown Level 4 to Level 3. We had time to stop at a few of our favorite viewpoints: Lake Taupo and Lake Tekapo, which have great views of Mount Cook and the other snowy peaks. OUr flight was set for 3pm, and we arrived to Christchurch at noon, with plenty of time to spare. Thus, we dropped something off at the Antarctic Centre, drove by McDonalds to see the crazy long line at the drive thru (drive thrus opened with the dropdown to level 3) and bought an ice cream at the supermarket. We dropped the car off and got to the very empty terminal at 1:05pm. Most of the terminal was closed off and dark. We were promptly told that our 3pm flight had been cancelled and the only other flight was at 1:20 PM. They managed to switch our flight, check us in, and we went through security and hustled to the gate before the last boarding call was even announced. It was a fairly full flight with Kiwis taking advantage of Level 3 allowing you to move North or South in one direction once to relocate your bubble if you wanted. Still, I had a whole row to myself as did Elisha.

We had a several hour layover in Auckland. It was empty there and everything, including food was closed. Luckily we had the foresight to pack snacks.

Elisha and I had our own row on the long haul flight to LAX. The passengers consisted of quite a lot of Brits headed to LA to catch another long flight to Heathrow. The plane was probably a bit under 2/3 full. Watched some good movies, had some cocktails, and enjoyed the nice service of Air New Zealand.

4/28/20
We crossed the international date line and arrived to LA before the time we had left Auckland. It was the quickest time through customs and immigration ever at LA. My friend Triggers (a comedian from Craigmont, Idaho) picked us up and drove us on the empty freeway to his apartment.

He had a zoom meeting (he's teaching animation to high schoolers), so  we explored the neighborhood looking for lunch. Turns out, we couldn't get anything or go in anywhere without a mask (In NZ, masks weren't a thing). LA was some major culture shock. So dirty, run down, trash everywhere, lots of homeless. Seemed 3rd world to us after New Zealand.

Triggers took us for a walk along the LA River, and then we picked up yummy Thai takeout. We all fell asleep watching the new Star Wars movies. Triggers was a fantastic host!

4/29/20
Triggers drove us to the airport early in the morning. LAX was empty and a breeze to zip through. Literally 15 minutes from curb to check in to security to gate. Air travel, in a sense has become super easy! Our large plane to Denver was empty (about 10-15 people), and I got to sit in first class, since I"m back to being United Premier. So I got to enjoy a meal and adult beverages while the poor pleibs in the back (Elisha) didn't get anything. Flying over Zion National Park and the snowy Rocky Mountains was AMAZING!

Mom and dad met us at the airport with 2 cars, and Elisha and I drove one home. I was tired from the travel (makes me more emotional) and I dearly missed New Zealand and was sad to be quarantined from my mom.

Empty Auckland

Empty Auckland

We're the only ones in Auckland

Funny to see some flights schedule for Days in advance due to such a paucity of flights

Empty Auckland

Not a Maccas open in sight

Empty Auckland

Empty Auckland

Customs in Auckland, such a breeze

Most of the airport closed off

Used to be Duty Free

No traffic down there in LA

Just a few cards through downtown LA

Triggers picked us up at the Airport!

Flying to Denver

No one at check in at LAX

who has ever seen security at LAX like this

Empty LAX

Empty LAX check in

would be easy to find a bench to sleep on at LAX these days

First Class

Empty plane

Our set-up in the basement quarantine

Our new kitchen

Observing ANZAC day

4/25/20
After doing our Betty Rocker HIIT workout, I ran 7.5 miles as part of the virtual Coyote Dash race that C of I students and alums were participating in around the world. I did a beautiful run along the lake cliffs with views of the Remarkables

It was ANZAC (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) day here in New Zealand. This is where the folks of New Zealand and Australia honor those veterans still living and those who fought and died in war. The ANZAC commemoration was very moving and touching. Kiwis got up at 6am dawn and stood outside their houses and drives to honor the soldiers. Some played a traditional tune played on a horn instrument. Also most houses put up some sort of commemorative sign in their yard. Often with a poem associated with the day and almost always with the saying "Lest we forget". And always adorned with poppies (not real flowers, but constructed) as poppies have become a symbol of ANZAC day since poppies were the first flower to grow back in the battlefields. We also got to watch on TV all the ways they commemorated and observed ANZAC day across the country (and even Kiwis abroad, especially in England).

The ANZAC commemoration was very moving and touching. In New Zealand, this day is very much a solemn day of remembrance, honor, and thought across all of NZ. To me it contrasts starkly with what Memorial Day has become in the USA. I realize that there are many solemn services held throughout the US on Memorial Day, but the feeling of the country as a whole is more of a "Start of Summer Bash"--bring out the cold beer and bbqs, have beach and camping parties, watch NASCAR (Indy 500 and Coca Cola 600), etc.

I couldn't help but wonder, had Memorial Day happened to have fallen within the last 2 weeks, if it would have been treated as yet another reason to get out and protest, using the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers as an excuse to push the selfish (in my opinion) complaining about a temporary loss of some freedoms. It was rather inspiring to see everyone here in NZ stay united within the lockdown rules (despite lockdown being extended by a week) and to hear elderly veterans call into the news to thanks Kiwis for acknowledging their sacrifices back in the day and for now sacrificing in order to kepp them, the elderly vets safe. By giving up some freedoms for a short time, they are essentially giving many vets (and other old and vulnerable) a better chance at living.

4/26/20

I did a 31 mile ride today, of which 10 was on a really fun singletrack trail along the Shotover River. Elisha biked out to Jack's point. The TV had Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure on, which is one of Elisha's all-time favorite movies.

Elisha's ANZAC day breakfast

ANZAC day decorations in the neighborhood

Shotover River

Becoming a Kiwi: Locked down in New Zealand

4/5/20
Had a normal lockdown day with a walk on the Peninsula track circuit.

So what is a "normal" lockdown day. Well, here's how we've been passing most of our lockdown days so far.

We wake up without an alarm. It gets light here about 8am (this will change today with daylight savings time), so we wake up around 8 to 8:30 and get up slowly. We come out to the kitchen table and have tea and a slow breakfast, reading emails, the news, checking current covid-19 stats and updates. We read with much interest all that is going on with facebook. All this news and social media takes up quite a bit of time. I usually don't get around to brushing my teeth until 11-12. We work on little projects like banking. And then we have stressful projects to tackle like health insurance , calling the airlines, dealing with the rental car, etc.

We've been trying to stay in contact with friends more than normal. For me this means that I have video chatted once with Lucas, once with my brother, and every few days or so with my mom. Also had a couple chats with my boss Nate. For Elisha it means nearly every day talks with her mom and with her brother. It means zoom calls with her various friend groups (the other day she had . She's also part of this video messaging app called Marco Polo where her and her friends record messages to each other and send them. Sometimes Elisha wakes up with 15 videos to watch and then must do a couple of her own. In the words of my German friend Norbert "Zis is too much for me"

Since the day we left Vanuatu, we've had lots of tough decision to make, and these have proven to be stressful and time consuming. A lot of these decisions are based on should we stay or should we try to go? Will we stay in the current accommodation? What insurance should we get? etc, etc. Our decision of whether to stay or go has often been made for us in the end by border closures or recent restrictions; however, part of the decision boils down to do we feel it's better/safer in NZ or at home? To us, it's pretty clear that NZ is a more stable country, more calm, less hysteria, stronger central leadership, better healthcare facilities, better preparedness, lower virus load, and thus much less risk than being at home. But we do miss our parents; however, we realize that b/c of their ages and immunocomprimization (of my dad), that we have to do a strict self-quarantine.

Elisha is feeling an overwhelming burden of stress at the time time and is very fearful of the tragedy that is unfolding in the US. NZ feels very safe, so we have thus far decided to stay.

After doing newsy and social media stuff, we work on our projects/activities. I'll work on my blog, sort pictures, and other writing projects. During this time is when Elisha will chat with her mom, zoom with her friends, or work on her marco polo videos.

We have lunch outside on the deck about 2ish. We do an hour to 2 hour walk in the evening. We come back to cook and watch the NZ news and eat around 8ish. At night we either watch the NZ Bachelorette, Australia's "Married at First Sight" or "The Office" episodes we have on our hard drive. Those 2 reality shows ended this weekend; however, Amazing Race Australia is starting up soon.

The lockdown rules are that we can only use the car to do once a week shopping, or visit the doctor. We are supposed to exercise locally.

4/6/20
We learned that Vanuatu is being hit directly by a category 5 cyclone (cyclone Harold). Took a walk as usual

4/7/20
Just a normal day. Took a walk. Elisha went shopping

4/8/20
We had a picnic lunch with our landlords, which was nice. We continued to be baffled by how many people back home in the USA think this is all a hoax and also by how much derision there is in the US for something everyone should be working together to solve. Watched the season finale of Married at First Sight.

4/9/20
Just another typical day, but we did our contributions to our retirement IRAs. Walked around the peninsula. At night we watched the Armageddon style movie "2012"

4/10/20
Good Friday
I biked to Arrowtown (Elisha joined as far as the Shotover bridge).  From Arrowtown I biked 17km up the 4WD Macetown road that goes up the Arrow River Canyon to the ghostown of Macetown. Macetown was a major gold mining town in its day, but of course is now deserted. There are a couple of restored buildings that I checked out as well as a quartz crushing battery. The road forded the river So many times, but the ride down was lots of fun. The Arrowtown area has some really nice fall colors right now. I made it back to our place, 51 miles later, right before it was totally dark.

4/11/20
Did a lot of facebook arguing today. Some friends on FB are subscribing to some really crazy (and scary) conspiracy theories. Had lunch down in the grass by the lake, in the warm sun. Walked out towards Jack's Point. Watched the tear-jerker movie "Lion" tonight.

4/12/20
Easter Sunday
We had a nice brekkie with Kiwi bacon and Swedish pancakes. Started a puzzle that our landlords gave us. We took a bit longer walk. Showered and dressed up (with bowtie) and had a steak and twice-baked potato dinner with a chocolate bunny for dinner.

4/13/20
Celebrated Easter with family back home, and of course took a walk.

4/14/20
It snowed on the mountains today! Bad weather, so a nice soup and tea day. Elisha went shopping and also made banana bread. We also started doing an indoor workout program with Betty Rocker online

4/15/20
It snowed a lot on the mountains. I went for a walk early in the morning to get nice views of the mountains, but then just a normal day for us

4/16/20
I face-timed with Sherman today. Elisha made chocolate chip cookies

4/17/20

Elisha went shopping, and I went along for the ride to get out of the house. The radio station we listen to was doing a top 50 countdown of high school hits, so that was fun. Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" was #1.

4/18/20
I spent a lot of time working on my resumé and USAjobs profile

4/19/20

It snowed a lot on the peaks overnight. I had a happy hour hangout with Sherms, Triggers, and Tom Day. A moose ran through Tom's yard while we were talking (he was lying in his hammock outside, which was funny in itself since his yard was still full of snow). I also facetimed with my brother.

4/20/20

Worked on my application and resume for USAjobs. Addressing all of the nation this morning, the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern extended the lockdown Level 4 by 5 more days with the quote "we need to lock it in" It meaning the gains we've made. When she addressed the nation declaring the Level 4 lockdown, it was "go early go hard". It seems like it's working. The last several days we've had 5, 3, and 5 new cases even though testing is dramatically up.

4/21/20

We finished our puzzle. It rained most of the day, but we still did our daily walk

4/22/20

Worked on various projects and wrote emails. I mentioned we've been doing the Betty Rocker workouts which are HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts. We also end with Elisha's brother Jeff's 4 minute Tabata workouts. We were inspired by those and have started to make some of our own. So today we filmed our first 2 Tabata workouts.

4/23/20

There are several travel books in our apartment for guests to read and one is Lonely Planet's Top 500 places to visit. There is a pull out map inside of it that has numbers labeled on the map, without names (a key at the bottom to the numbers), so we made a game out of guessing, which was fun.

4/24/20
I biked to Gibbston on the bike path network as it was a beautiful day. Gibbston is a an important winery area. Lots and lots of small, local wineries. I also took some singletrack loop offshoots. It was a beautiful ride following along the Kawarau River Gorge with its glacial blue river and lined by brilliant yellow trees in the height of their fall colors. There were also some really cool suspension bridges to cross, including a large one that used to have cars, but now is home to the original bungy jump. I also found some delicious blackberries along the way. The fall colors were just awesome along the whole ride. It was a big ride of 51 miles.

With ANZAC day approaching the movies on the TV are war related, so tonight we watched Born on the 4th of July.

Echidna

Quartz crusher

our neighbors put this out

Easter Dinner

Elisha made chocolate chip cookies

View from our deck

view from our driveway

cool suspension bridge

bungy jump bridge

cool because we had been to Vanuatu, but didn't visit Pentecost

winery