That would be my boss - the one in the pink snow suit - she's a ton of fun!

As I've mentioned before, it seems like almost every day at the ski field is some sort of theme.  Last week it was International Talk Like a Pirate Day and today was Retro Day.  People went all out and there were fluorescent one piece snow suits, crimped hair and leggings everywhere.  Last week we had an ice hockey match between the staff of the two big mountains in town and this week it was a rugby match along with paintball and a potluck.  Spending a winter as ski resort staff feels like summer camp for adults. 

The ski area manager showing a bit of retro flair

Sean and I both only have one more week of work before we start traveling on October 1 so we are in the midst of packing, preparing and saying lots of goodbyes.  It's a bittersweet transition but we are definitely looking forward to being on the road and starting our trip.

A coworker took a pic of Remarks from the same spot for several days in a row - so cool!

One of the many ways the already overly expensive ski mountain makes more money is to employ a photography company called "Magic Memories" to take pictures of tourists skiing and then sell them the photos for $30 a pop.  The photography booth is right next to the retail store so I've gotten to know the trigger-happy workers pretty well.



The other day when Sean and I spent the afternoon on the mountain, they had us pose for a few pictures - it was so much fun!  Sean was less than excited about it but he went along with the scheme anyway.  The cool thing about professional photos is that they make you look like you know what you are doing even if you really don't.  Check out the pics but don't be fooled as we were just getting ready to head down a green run.

There is fierce competition between Kiwis and Aussies in pretty much every area of life including language.  Kiwis and Aussies have quite a different accent and each thinks the other one sounds awful.  Some Kiwis take offense if you think they are from Australia and vice versa.  They also make fun of each other relentlessly regarding accent, slang and daily speech.  I hear about it all the time since most of the tourists at the ski field are from Australia.  They love to talk to me about how Australia is better than New Zealand in every single way.

The following video is extremely popular in both countries and shows some of the mockery that is commonplace.  The video was made by Australians to make fun of how Kiwis say things such as: adding 'as' onto everything, the use of 'bru/bro', 'fush and chups' instead of 'fish and chips', using 'heaps', the crazy vowels and the repetitive nature of Kiwi speech.  See for yourself.

*There is an expletive or two in the video just so you know

New chilly bin for our road trip!

 The funny variations in language have been one of the most interesting and entertaining cultural differences of living in New Zealand.  Here are just a few of the many examples:

They say = We say

jandals = sandals (from 'Japanese sandals' - Australians call them 'thongs')
chilly bin = portable cooler (Australians call it an 'eski')
chuffed = happy as in "I'm chuffed"
tea = dinner/supper as in "what's for tea?"
fizzy drink = pop/soda
Maccas = McDonalds

lolly = candy (cough drops are called "throat lollies" or "throaties")
cruizer = lazy/relaxing "Today's been a really cruizer day"
gumboots = rubber boots
'how you going?' = 'how are you doing?' or 'how's it going?'
you's/ya's = you all
fortnight = every other week
pomes/pommies = Brits (according to my flatmates there are two reasons for this 1. pomegranate - Brits turn pink in the sun over here 2. Prisoner Of Mother England)
roster = work schedule
whinge = a huge whine or complaint, ryhmes with 'hinge'
bickies = cookies

Maori, the other official language of NZ, is seen everywhere

"No lavalavas in the pokies" = "No wearing sarongs while playing the slots"

gutted = bummed, disappointed
chocka = chock-a-block, full, overflowing
cracker = very good
good on ya = nice work, congrats
across the ditch = Australia
she'll be right = it will be ok
stuffed = exhausted
suss = figure it out "don't worry, we'll suss it out"
togs = bathing suit
ute = small pickup truck
reckon = think, as in "what do you reckon?"
munted = broken, our physio's motto is "you munt it we mend it"

People from Michigan - "Michiganders" or "Michigonians" - take a lot of pride in their state and where they come from.  We are always encouraging people to come and visit and see why The Mitten is so special.  Pure Michigan is the name of the ad campaign that takes charge of tourism in Michigan.  Recently, they visited 50 cities in a week and made a video of it called "The Pure Michigan Statewide Singalong."  I know you are just dying to watch it:





I always look forward to coming home not only to see family but also to enjoy the awesome lakes, forests, beaches and outdoor activities that the Love Glove has to offer.  If you want to come and visit, I'll show you what Pure Michigan is all about!

When the winter season started I saw a lot of people sporting hoodies and T-shirts that said something to the effect of, "I like big dumps" and initially didn't really get it.  I was quickly clued in to the fact that 'big dumps' around here is not the potty-humor kind but rather the kind that refers to a huge dropping of snow.  Today Queenstown had an epic big dump and it was all anybody would talk about.



For the first time since I've been here, the snow actually reached all the way down the bottom of the mountain and into town.  This made for beautiful views and the strange feeling that although we are halfway through September, it finally feels like winter.



The morning of the 'Big Dump' we were slammed at the mountain - not with tourists but with powder-hungry locals.  There were happy exclamations of "waist deep powder" and lots of "freshies."  The snow was beautiful but I found myself unable to get as excited as everyone else.  Perhaps this is because when you grow up with daily big dumps and have to shovel them, clean them off your car and get soaked wading through them on the way to school and work they become more of a chore than a cause to celebrate.  Thank you Lake Michigan Lake effect snow.




However, downhill skiing in powder fresh snow is something else altogether and is quite a lot of fun. For me it was a bit hard to get the hang of after only ever skiing on groomed runs and man-made snow.  At least falling on fresh powder doesn't hurt a bit!

Dropping heli-bombs for avalanche control

Although I'm not going to go out and buy a hoodie advertising my enjoyment, I have definitely become a fan of big dumps.

The most popular place to eat pizza in Queenstown is Hell's Pizza - a venue for very gourmet and creative pies.  Recently, Hell's Pizza has come up with a pretty genius marketing scheme - "Pizza Roulette."

To play Pizza Roulette all you need to do is politely request to play the game when you order a pizza.  Then, when they make your pizza, they secretly choose one of the slices and load it up with incredibly hot sauce.  When you share the pizza, one person is in for a really hot surprise.



Tonight, a friend traveling through who's been sleeping on the floor decided to buy us some pizzas.  Andrew requested Pizza Roulette and the game was on.  Sean was the first one to fall prey to the spice and was shocked by how hot it was and how impossible it was to tell which slice it was.  His eyes started watering and he had to retreat to the kitchen for milk.  Kathryn was the next victim and said that the sauce made her tongue feel like flames were leaping out of it.  The whole spectacle and drama that ensued was all quite entertaining.

I stopped eating after one piece and made it safely - phew!  Pizza Roulette: "It doesn't cost.  But someone pays."

The Sunday Roast is a revered and time-honored tradition in New Zealand which is a fact that makes me quite happy.  We grew up having a beef roast with carrots, potatoes and gravy most Sundays and now I'm realizing that I desperately need to ask Mom to teach me how to make it on my own.  Here in Queenstown, every restaurant offers some version of the favorite each Sunday but so far I have only tried the roasts in the Sunday staff meals at work.



The Sunday staff meal at NZSki is by far the most popular meal of the week.  The lunch includes a heaping portion of roast, carrots, potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, peas, corn and gravy.  The type of meat rotates between lamb, beef and pork but they are all equally delicious.  For me, Sundays are the best days of the week simply because of the quality and quantity of the food.


This week my flatmate, Kathryn, decided to make a big lamb roast Kiwi style - it turned out great!  We had lamb, potatoes, carrots, gravy and mint jelly.  I don't really get why everyone else likes to smother their lamb in mint jelly but besides that, it was awesome!  Now we are just figuring out how to return the favor . . .  a Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings perhaps?

I know that I've written about my hometown of Holland, Michigan many times before, but I just can't emphasize enough what a beautiful and bizarre little place it is.  Most obviously and importantly, however, is that it's chock full of Dutch people.  You know the kind - I grew up watching Dutch people sweep their driveways, water tulips and dress up plastic geese and kissing cousins in their yards and used a phone book where the 'V' section was miles longer than any other letter (VanDerPlank, Vanhitsenveldt, VenDruunen etc.) 

You know you want one

The latest installment of the ever popular Holland Sentinel, however, most definitely takes the cake.  According to the article "Dutch Love" by Lisa Ermak, a television network in the Netherlands wants to partner with Holland, Michigan to make a reality program focused on finding love for Dutch people interested in getting to know their true roots.  I personally think the idea is genius and if I were not already married would be submitting my application as we speak.

The show is going to be called "Origins of Love" and looks to find a few 25-45 aged singles in both Holland in Europe and Holland in the U.S.  To apply, you only have to be 2nd or 3rd generation Dutch and have an interest in the Netherlands and your own Dutch heritage.

If you find true love on the show you could end up like this!

“We’re talking about real love here. We really want to hook up people with each other . . . hopefully they will end up with one special person. In the past we’ve done this show in Scandinavia and a couple of the singles moved to either America or the other way around.”

"The women in Holland are beautiful and very low maintenance. They’re very down to earth and have a great sense of humor, so for all the men in Holland Mich., give it a try and maybe she will move to Michigan for you.”


So there you have it folks - a reality television series based out of little 'ole Holland, Michigan.  Move over Bachelor and Bachelorette - this one's going to be a hit!  I can't wait to see who's in it because in a town like Holland, chances are I'm going to know who they are.

As soon as I heard about it, I wanted to try it! I'm talking about New Zealand's Hokey Pokey Ice Cream which is the second most popular ice cream flavor here right after plain 'ole vanilla.

Hokey Pokey Ice cream is just vanilla ice cream with bits of "honeycomb toffee" in it which are in the shape of crunchy little balls.  Sean and I haven't kept ice cream in the house until now because we all were sharing a tiny fridge that is half the size of a standard fridge.  A few weeks ago Andrew bought a new, proper sized refrigerator and now we have a regular sized freezer that can hold tubs of ice cream.  Oh happy day!

"Hokey Pokey ice cream - A real Kiwi favorite"

The first kind of ice cream that we bought was Hokey Pokey, of course, and the only thing I don't like about it is that I have to share it with Sean - it's delicious!

Snow days are the absolute best no matter if you're in middle school holding your breath over your cereal and watching till Channel 3 News reaches your school alphabetically on the closed listing running at the bottom of the screen or if you are 31 and eating leftover cold pancakes on a frigid morning anxiously dialing the aptly named "Snow Phone" to hear that the ski field is closed for the day due to "gale force winds."  Hooray!





I climbed back into bed, turned the electric blanket on and spent the remainder of the day watching girly movies, trip planning and catching up on some emails.  I like my job and everything - it is one of the most laid-back, fun and low-stress positions I have ever had - but nothing beats a surprise day off.  I guess there are some advantages of living in very cold regions after all - everyone should have a Snow Phone!

Last week we both had the day off and spent the afternoon skiing and boarding on the mountain. It was a beautiful day midweek so there weren't many people and I think we enjoyed the fact that we could just hang out together more than anything. 





After a few runs down and some snacks, we decided to hike up to "The Lookout" which was recommended to us as a way to get some great views of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains and valleys.  The Lookout is located at the top of the Shadow Basin chairlift and requires a brief hike straight up from there. 





The vista from the top was well worth it and we stopped to take some pictures.  The short hike made us both anxious for the chance to be outside together on our upcoming road trip - just 24 days away (not that I'm counting or anything)!