New Zealand working holiday working holiday first article

2018/10/08

On the night of October 3rd, I checked in at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport; at 1:45am on the 4th, I flew to New Zealand, a beautiful island in Oceania. After about twelve and a half hours, we landed at around 2 pm on the 4th, 7 pm local time (five hours time difference in daylight saving time). The future was almost unknown, and I was surrounded by a feeling of anxiety about the unknown.

From the aerial map of the plane, we saw that we were passing through the Australian continent. Looking out the window, we saw this piece of land in the vast Pacific Ocean. It was a place where we had set foot and lived two years ago. It was strange yet familiar. It was the same plane, the same two seats by the window on the plane, the same you and me, and we were both unsure about life in Australia for the next year. It was the first time in our lives, so we should be excited at the same time. There is more fear.

Looking back now, fortunately, after stumbling, I finally found a stable job. Although I worked hard day and night, I finally didn’t have to work as hard as I did in the first half month. When you see the price of anything in the supermarket, you have to mentally convert it into RMB. A bottle of 99c mineral water costs about five yuan in RMB, which is heartbreaking. Later, I was able to fully adapt to various prices and even be able to buy a car to travel around Australia and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

After we had a working holiday experience, we finally felt more confident for this trip to New Village, but we can’t feel at ease until we are stable. I will consider where to live next, whether the rent is expensive, whether transportation is convenient, whether I can cook, etc. The most important thing is to find a job. In order to extend my visa, I have to work on a farm for three months anyway.

From the 4th to the 7th, I can still calm down and write documents, indicating that we have confirmed our work and accommodation. So I want to record the past few days of login like a running account. I feel more and more that written records will hold more value than photos, videos and other materials, and I can better understand my mood at that time when looking at it in the future.

When the plane landed at around 7 pm on the 4th, the sky was getting dark. When we arrived at the airport, everything felt so familiar. In addition, the airport is right on the seaside, so we happened to catch the sunset on the sea, and my mood instantly brightened.

There are mobile phone cards sold inside the airport (the first thing you must do after arriving is to apply for a mobile phone card, bank card, and tax ID number, and then you can find a job), Vodafone’s travel card is 25/month, or 43/Two months ago, I bought a temporary card in China that could be used, so I was not in a hurry to buy it. I wanted to compare the prices, but later I realized that buying it at the airport was the right decision. After leaving the customs, the prices outside were all 29/month or 49/two months, but I couldn't go back, and I didn't buy anything at the airport that day.

Let’s talk about customs. Almost every customs inspection will leave a deep impression. Because we always like to bring Lao Gan Ma and hot pot base ingredients. Even though we know that Huachao can buy them, we still have to bring two bags before leaving to feel at ease; so if unfortunately they are unpacked and inspected, it will always affect our mood. It was like this that day, and my originally relaxed state of mind was cast a shadow by the unboxing.

When submitting the declaration form at the first customs, we were asked a few questions about food and drugs. It seemed that there was no problem, but in the end we were still asked to leave the box aisle; After the tight suitcase was opened, the customs clearance personnel had to check all the boxes and bags before putting them back. It was quite embarrassing. Fortunately, all the declared items were put in one suitcase in advance. Inside. Next, we went through the third level of security check for other suitcases. Finally, we were asked to take the declaration form to Office No. 5. When I heard this word, I subconsciously thought of being fined, but in the end I just handed in the declaration form and asked two questions. Regarding the medicine, let us go. Although I successfully exited the customs, my mood was really affected. I knew in my heart that this was not the fault of the customs clearance staff. I declared that I had food and medicine, but I was not sure whether Laoganma contained meat, so they opened the box. It is reasonable to check.

But the low mood has not dissipated for a long time, and I always feel like I have been treated badly when I first arrived in this strange city. Zoe spent a lot of words to persuade me, but it always fell on deaf ears.

After I came out, I found the window to buy skybus tickets. All fares were 18/person. I waited for nearly 20 minutes after buying the tickets. Our small bodies were dragging two 28-inch suitcases and a boarding suitcase, and there were two round schoolbags on our backs. From leaving the airport to staying in the apartment, we couldn't avoid the help of others along the way. When we got on the bus, the driver helped us carry our luggage, find a place to put it, and helped us carry it when we got off the bus. When we were walking on the road, a foreigner who was passing by asked if we were on our way, and finally helped me share a large suitcase. You were complaining just now, but now that you have received help, don’t you feel embarrassed about yourself? Haha, no.

It took us thirty or forty minutes to get off the bus to the Empire apartment because we took the wrong route after splitting paths with the enthusiastic guy. I was not familiar with the map, it was completely dark, and the road was extremely steep. Naturally, this section of the road was not easy to walk.

After checking in (1628), I found that the room conditions were good enough for us backpackers, with independent bathroom and kitchen. Just like the first time we arrived in Melbourne, we bought eggs and oil from the supermarket downstairs for dinner, and brought a small handful of noodles and two packs of mustard vegetables from China. Fried eggs, Laoganma, pickled mustard and boiled noodles, the first meal in a foreign country is satisfying enough. Because of the jet lag, I didn’t go to bed until two or three in the morning.

On Friday the 5th, I got up in a hurry near noon. I hurriedly packed up and went to the office to hand over my cards (at hop), phone cards, and bank cards. Can I do it in half a day? After I got my bus pass at the University of Auckland, which is not far away, I didn’t take the bus to the city because it was fast to walk (actually, I wanted to save the fare). I couldn't bear the hunger, so I ordered the cheapest set meal at McDonald's. I found anz bank on the way. After I expressed my intention in a hurry, I didn't expect to make an appointment for Monday.

Later, we came in several times to inquire about the details of the proof of address in the required materials; the last time was after 4:30 when the bank got off work, and we left after confirming that it was correct.

During this period, I found a Vodafone business center and successfully bought two SIM cards. I happened to find a salesperson who was also from China and from Pengzhou, Sichuan, so communication became smoother. Unexpectedly, she also came here on a working holiday, but it was five years ago, and she finally stayed with her Northeastern partner. Because we were talking about work and visa renewal, she also suggested that I apply to work at a Vodafone business office. But I was not confident in my English, so I added WeChat before leaving. It was also from her that I learned that phone cards at the airport are cheap because they are tax-free.

So we completed everything we could in the afternoon of the 5th. I went to the supermarket to buy water and a huge piece of green garlic, and planned to eat noodles in the evening.

It was very late when I returned to the apartment. Considering that I had to check out this place on the 7th, I had to confirm my next accommodation on the 6th. So after dinner, we searched for rental information on the Internet. We contacted anyone with a suitable price and promising conditions. In the end, two were selected, one in the North Shore and one in the Central District. I went to bed very late again at night.

My task for the day on the 6th was to go see the house. I first took the car to the house in the Central District. It was 230 a week. The conditions in the room were really good, and the landlady was also very nice. Considering the whole house There were a lot of people living there, so we didn’t give a definite answer, so we chose to continue visiting the families in the North District. Then I took the train back to the city, and then took the bus to the North Shore. It was a long journey and the place was remote, but the room conditions were still very good and the family was full of artistic style. Considering the price of 200/week, we are going to make this house our first choice for renting.

After thinking about it, I lived so far away from the city. It would be a bit risky to just look for a job for two weeks. I was afraid that I would not be able to find a job within two weeks, and I was afraid that I would have to leave early if the job was far away. , it would be a waste of rent (every penny spent in the first days must be maximized), and when I thought that there were no signs of finding a job nearby when I went by bus, I hesitated again.

In the car back to the city, I started to browse the recruitment website again. When I saw someone who was slightly suitable, I quickly saved the contact information, or directly sent a text message for consultation.

Back in the City, we walked into McDonald’s again; these days McDonald’s has become the place where we rest most during the day. My thoughts are a bit anxious, my job is uncertain, and my accommodation is not yet settled. I turned to the greenhouse blueberry picking I had seen before on Douban. All other conditions were fine, but the farm was remote and there was no accommodation nearby. You must have a car. I remember that when I saw the post, I had no intention of replying to it below. The reply was : I really want to go, the time and place are perfect, but it’s a pity that I don’t have a car. In fact, I didn't expect anything, but when I was doing some work, I saw a message asking me to contact the phone number in the post, and it might be possible to arrange it.

In the dilemma of being faced with an urgent accommodation problem, I was overjoyed to see the hope of a job.

I immediately sent a text message to explain the situation. As soon as the text message was sent, I received a call from the other party. After communicating, he said he decided to take us to the greenhouse and check out the accommodation the next day. I agreed without thinking too much.

How bad is it? Will you charge a deposit? Do farms even exist? A series of conjectures made people more and more frightened, and at night they dreamed of being abducted. It is best to decide not to look back, thinking that even if we are deceived, we should just accumulate experience. After packing my belongings, I didn’t fall asleep until after three o’clock one night.

We agreed on the 7th to set off to see the farm at 8:30, and we came down at 8:10 to check out and store our luggage. Zoe was very hungry and wanted to buy a burger when he saw a text message saying that he would arrive late, so he would have just enough time. It wasn't until I got in the car and saw him starting to chat that I put most of my suspicions aside.

Half an hour later, farms and pastures appeared outside the window as far as the eye could see; after nearly an hour's drive, we arrived at the accommodation first, which was a local family with four beds. The host lady is very friendly and is also a farmer. The room is clean and the kitchen is convenient. It is much better than I imagined. Zoe also expressed satisfaction. If nothing else happens, this first job is basically confirmed.

I’m actually looking forward to it. I haven’t had any farm work in Australia for a year, and I really want to experience life in a paradise-like place. I work at sunrise and breathe in every day, and share it with the same person. How pleasant.

On the way back, I also took a look at the cranberries in the greenhouse, and I felt indescribably fond of it.

Back in the City, Zoe and I didn’t go back to the apartment, so we naturally went to McDonald’s, our base for the past few days, and sat down. We ordered a set meal and accidentally won a burger. The next step was to find accommodation for the few days before work. The original apartment had no vacancies that night, so I looked around and finally moved to Yaping House, which is said to be bbh's first Chinese hotel in New Zealand.

I contacted Sister Yaping on WeChat and asked her if we could rent it for only a few days if we stayed less than a week. The answer was no; but when we moved here, we agreed to our request, but the daily accommodation was slower than the one week stay. The average price is high, 64/night for two people, and ***192 for three nights. Zoe and I both complained about the accommodation conditions here. Since our friends highly recommended it, we didn't come to inquire about it in advance.

After getting off the bus, I walked a long way with my luggage. The hotel is located at the foot of Mount Eden, so I pushed up a steep hill to reach it.

Not to mention the interior of the room. My first reaction was that I regretted not booking the original apartment in advance. It took me two trips to move my luggage. I couldn't help but complain and express dissatisfaction. We comforted each other and finally settled in safely.

In fact, everything has gone smoothly from the day I arrived. Occasional dissatisfaction must appear in life, otherwise it would not be too unfair to the unfortunate people.

I couldn’t sleep while lying in bed, so I started recording these bits and pieces. Another night, I was still up at three o’clock in the morning.

On Monday the 8th, after having a full sleep in the morning (I haven’t eaten enough in the past few days but I can sleep well today), I got up and packed up before heading to the city. I made an appointment to open a bank card at 2:30 p.m. . I won’t go into details about the process. Except for poor English communication, everything else went smoothly. The attitude of the bank staff was excellent. List down the documents required to open an ANZ bank card: passport, visa letter, proof of address (let the reception be opened).

After applying for the card, remember to tell the other party that you need an IRD number. He will guide you to deposit money, then withdraw a sum so that the bank has transaction records, and finally help print the bank statement (process Tax ID number required).

After getting the bank card, I went to apply for a tax ID at AA not far away; a small setback came again.

After getting the 742 form from the staff, I encountered several doubts in the process of filling in the information. I thought the staff would patiently guide me like in a bank, but I looked at the busy Hong Kong lady who was walking with wind. We didn't dare to interrupt the process of queuing up to apply for a driver's license and quietly slipped away (mainly because we were afraid that communication would not be smooth). I thought I could apply online, so I sat down back at the base and started to apply on the ird official website. A problem arose when the online friends shared their experiences. After filling out the first page of information, we could not submit it. We were constantly reminded that our identity could not be verified. Try After several attempts, I had no choice but to apply on the spot.

It was already half past four. AA staff got off work at five o'clock. When I came to AA again, I saw through the glass that it was already 4:45 when the last customer left at the lady window. I mustered up my courage. Open the door and start processing, let her guide the form, it is actually very simple, who said we are not so confident in speaking.

This lady is really walking with grace, and her hands and feet are nimble, which gives people a hint of keeping at arm's length. She quickly reviewed our materials fifteen minutes before leaving get off work. The image of her coming and going in a hurry lingered on Zoe and I. On the way, we began to imitate the scene of her quoting prices for us when copying information. When we came back in the evening, we imitated it again, making Zoe laugh so hard.

So today we have collected all the materials we need before starting work.

After returning to the yaping house, Zoe and I climbed Mount Eden to watch the sunset. The scenery is picturesque. The mountain overlooks the city of Auckland. The Sky Tower is the most eye-catching. Bungalows spread out one after another, and under the setting sun In the afterglow, the sea and the sea coexist quietly and beautifully; taking in this view, I feel indescribably shocked, and then I calm down, sitting on the wide and lush grass with Zoe, quietly watching the sun move towards a distant building inch by inch. We slid down the short mountain until the last ray of afterglow disappeared and the sunset appeared on the coast. We then went down the mountain and returned to the house.

Just write it here and put it away, and then slowly update it, so that this year of New Village life will leave more and longer-lasting memories.