Plane Ride to New Zealand

After 21 hours of travel we finally arrived in Wellington, New Zealand.  We were met by President Kezarian, Elder and Sister Brazzeal and Elder and Sister McVey.  We were met as soon as we got off the plane.  The security at Wellington is kind of lax.

We left Salt Lake at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 3rd and went to Los Angeles Airport and had a 3 hour layover.  We left LAX at 9:30 p.m. and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand at about 6:00 a.m. on Monday, September 5th.  We then waited another 3 hours and then flew to Wellington at 8:30 and arrived at our destination at 9:30 a.m.

Because we crossed the international date line we missed Sunday the 4th and we are now 5 hours earlier than California and 6 hours earlier than Utah plus a day.  We also missed New Zealand's Father's Day.

The McVey's (Tom and Ann) took us around to set up our checking account and buy some items necessary to start an apartment (flat).  This is the first time in our married life we have lived in an apartment.  Don said we should of had a bridal shower.  We also drove around and saw the town.  It is built on the side of a mountain so there is a lot of climbing.  Also we ate lunch with the Brazzeal's and the McVey's.  They took us to a Chinese restaurant.  Dad was very good about eating it.  They have a lot of Chinese restaurants here.  They also have a McDonald's, KFC and Burger King (but no In & Out).

We made it till 8:00 p.m. and then jet lag really hit.

Our apartment is old but nice.  It has very high ceilings and a bay window in the living room.  The kitchen and bathroom are small but the living room and bedroom are a nice size.  The sun shines in the bay window and it is nice to sit in the sunlight.

The apartment has bare walls but everything is so expensive here that it may have to be a little bare.  We went looking for a trash can which would normally cost about $15.00 at Wal-Mart and it costs $60.00 here.  So no trash can yet.

The bathroom also has only one outlet on the other side of the sink and mirror so we now have extension cords.

It is nice having an apartment (flat) close to town so we can walk to the bank and the stores.

September 5, 2011