Rolllll With the Punches

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On my third night in Wellington I decided (along with some comrades) that a more in depth cultural study was called for, so we hit the bars.
My first beer was called a Tui, named for a native New Zealand bird. This is that moment and my good friend David who is an important character for this blog.
David is a Kiwi attending Victoria University who just finished a year exchange at UT in Austin where we became friends. David has been great and helped me out so much. Showing me around, introducing me to his friends and family, and just being so so nice. I have found Kiwis in general to be delightfully welcoming. It's so easy to feel at home with such warm hospitality.

David's friend is in a band and we went to catch them at a small venue downtown called "Happy" which was really neat. This whole city seems so cute and trendy. Met some interesting people there and then we all went out together as a group. Here is an awkward no-flash night time semi artsy photo of their show.



So, long story short, the only legal form of identification they'll accept here are New Zealand IDs and Passports. I threw my passport nervously into my purse, and it was taken out of my purse sometime around midnight at a bar called "X-Base" right next to a backpacker hostel.
Nobody turned it in, and so it was all sort of turning into a nightmare because I (thought that I) knew how much of a pain in the ass dealing with that was going to be. So I woke up the next morning, praying it was all a dream, and then made some calls to the bar, the police, the embassy, and the parents (who were super cool and supportive, as always).

Here is an actual photo of me realizing my passport is gone. I don't know who the asshole is who took this, but I'll share it with you.Side note: buffalo plaid is SO in here. Everyone wears it! Way to go, Maggie!

Now, this is where the story starts picking up and important elements fall into place to ensure success.
I (being the genius slash world traveler that I am) had made no copies of my passport. I happened to finish orientation and enrollment at Victoria the previous day, however, where they had made a copy of it to keep in their records.
Our water was shut off because of construction, and so I skipped a shower, grabbed some gum, and headed out at about noon. In the next 2 hours I:
-went to school, cut the huge line of Asians signing up for classes (I don't know why it was Asian day) and got the busy ladies to make a copy of that copy for me.
-had 4 passport photos made (showerless, hair thrown up, and after having been racing across town on foot. oh man, they are sexy).
-filed a police report
-returned to 2 bars we had been at the previous nights to double check
-ducked into an internet cafe and booked 2 tickets to Auckland for an hour later that afternoon (even though the American Embassy is in Wellington, the Consulate is in Auckland, go figure).
-bought and consumed a sandwich
-hopped in a cab to the airport

I had a good conversation with the cab driver from Fiji on the way there about how when you travel you never know what's going to happen and you have to be able to just roll with whatever punches come. He was a wise driver.

I just happened to have another friend named Francesca who is wonderful, and she lives in Auckland. So I skyped her ASAP and arranged to stay with her. I was feeling really good for someone who just potentially had their identity stolen, because I wanted to go to Auckland anyway, I had the week off until school started, and I was really excited to see Francesca and meet her friends.
So I arrive in Auckland andFrancesca takes me out to her pretty house in this insanely beautiful hilly green area (I wish I had pictures of it, but I kept putting it off. I do have this one).
Her mom cooked us dinner and I was thrilled because
1. I was starving and
2. It was my first real Kiwi meal (my father will be happy to hear it was, in fact, lamb).
Here is Francesca excited about the bok choy and wishing I'd stop taking pictures at awkward times.Thumbs up for good home cookin! YES!

I was so thankful to be at her home and sleeping in a warm bed. And whats more is that she has matching pajamas and this awesome pet named Max whom I aptly referred to as "Alien."


Here I am in traditional Maori war clothes after my hunt for the elusive "Target Dog" native to Northern New Zealand. Sort of.

The next morning I took the bus into the city (enjoying the Kenny Rogers they had playing the whole time....?) and spent all morning at the Consulate filling out paperwork and listening to people trying to come to the States be interrogated and then rejected. They even told one guy he wasn't allowed to come ever! That was depressing, and I felt lucky to be American because I can go whenever I want. Which is lucky because I like it.Auckland is really a nice city though. Looks like Seattle sort of if you ask me.

Then I had lunch by the ocean with Stacey who was an exchange student from Auckland in Belgium with me while I was there, and that was wonderful and neat to catch up.

Last night I went out on the town with Francesca and her friends (who were all very hip and stylish) and so that was really fun and once again everyone was completely sweet and welcoming.

All in all, it was a fantastic "lost passport" experience and I am so thankful for Francesca, David, and everyone who helped me make my bad luck into such a terrific weekend.
Cheers.