January 8th, 2005 - Overnight Layover

Our flight was purchased with an overnight layover in Auckland before heading to Melbourne. We arrived very early to the airport where we were able to get on an earlier flight to Auckland where we could spend a proper afternoon and evening. When we arrived we contemplated going into the city, but instead decided to stay in a motel close to the airport and induldge ourselves with an afternoon and evening of ordering pizza and watching TV. Besides the relaxation after a long trip, we also needed to get on a 4 am shuttle back to the airport to catch our 6 am International connection to Australia. Everything went as planned and we arrived at 8:40 in Melbourne to be greeted by two of the nicest, most hospitable people I've ever met - Wendy and Terry. Wendy is my second cousin once removed. This means that she's my mothers second cousin and I'm a generation away from her...all in all very confusing.

After a long and outstanding journey throughout New Zealand, Laure and I were excited to settle down in Melbourne and start fresh for our second work term. We were blown away by the generosity and hospitality of Wendy and Terry, who welcomed us with open arms from the moment we stepped off the plane. We spent a wonderful two weeks with the two of them where we monopolized their computer searching for employment agents and more importantly places to live. During that time we visited the Ballards along the shoreline of Port Phillip and popped into town to tour and shop, but more importantly we relaxed after a long and tiring trip. Terry taught us cricket and Wendy spoiled us with home cooked meals. We met Aran who recently purchased a house in the neighborhood and Cameron and his family, who were loads of fun and games. We played backyard cricket and I bowled North American Style. Chasey is the Australian version of tag and the kids couldn’t get enough of it. Laure playing with my new toy - ipod shuffle.