I failed at this exchange

Today we went to a cafe that I wanted to work at doing a help exhange, i.e. I work and in return I get a place to sleep and free food. I found the place on HelpX - this incredible sight I learned about last year when staying with a Kiwi chef in Duvachelle, East of Christchurch and West of Akaroa. You have probably heard of Woofing. Yes woofing.com is similar. However, from what I've gathered, you pay around $30 on woofing and get a year's worth of membership for one country. On HelpX, you get two year's membership, globally. I've used the site to look up opportunities in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. So...it's awesome!

My first HelpX gig will start on November 22, on Stewart Island. I will be working and living on a sail boat from Monday throgh Friday that week. Our passengers will be a bunch of kids and we will be kayaking, snorkeling, and other fun adventures. My duties will range from cleaning, to cooking, to just being a positive role model for the kids. I know I know...perfect for me!!!! I seriously cannot wait. I want them to fall in love with me and just say, "Goodness Natasha you are so amazing we'd love to hire you full time. Would you be open to moving to New Zealand?" Haha, yes my imagination runs wild often.

Anyway, this cafe. I've recently become kind of obsessed with cafes. I guess it comes with the territory of being unemployed and writing. You spend a lot of time in cafes! And you start to notice and appreciate the differences. And I love coffee. And I love art and music. And simple food. You see where I am going here? This cafe has live music every night, farm fresh eggs, a sculpture garden, a small market with fresh baked bread, salami, cheese, smoked fish, fruits and veggies. They have comfortable and inviting indoor and outdoor seating. There are colors everywhere. Paint. Collages. They have swings. Lounge chairs. Herb garden. And, they are right across the street from the ocean! It's amazing. It's located on the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island, in Ferry Landing, just across the channel from Whitianga (pronounce Fitianga). I fell in love with the place and did not want to leave. I met the owner, Dave, and he told me if I decided to come back just give him a few days notice and he should be able to get me in! Also, he likes to employ people who are musicians so they can just take a short break from the job and go up and play for 30 mins, then go back to work. The place has been around for 17 years. The first lady I met there has worked there for over 10 years. Yes. Obsessed. Love the place. Maybe I will go back before I leave. Maybe I'll come across something even better on the South Island. We'll see!

Today I also got a new book. You may or may not know that most hostels and trail heads or huts - basically anywhere backpackers/travellers frequent (even cafes and such) - have book exchanges. Leave a book take a book. After writing a note in my "Four Love Letters" book, I sorted through the others in the holiday park backpacker lodge library, and chose one with no cover, and where the first page read incredibly descriptive. I failed at this exchange in two ways, which I did not realize until later. 1) I did not write down in the book here it came from and what location I left it out - this becomes super interesting as it gets passed along location to location 2) I should have read passed the first page of the book I grabbed - it was weird, and not what I feel like reading right now. Fortunately, the hostel we are at tonight - Gateway Backpackers in Thames - also has a book exchange.

I instantly had my eye on a book when I walked up to the white dilapidated shelf, but it looked too thin and I felt I should go through my options. I grabbed 5-6 that seem to have promise and placed them in a pile. Then one by one read the back of the cover, and flipped through to the first few pages to read the dedication and maybe the first page. Some still seemed like possibilities, some were thrown aside. Then I reached for the one thin haggard book I was already eyeing. "The Lobster Chronicles - Life on a Very Small Island" by Linda Greenlaw. Hmm well the last book focused on a family from a very small island as well. Also, looks like a non-fiction because there is a portrait of a person in the front. Sweet, totally my thing. Then, flip, flip. The dedication.

"This book is dedicated to my mother and friend..."

Turns out, my first book, the one I found in my mom's apartment, the author also dedicated to his mother. So, now I have a clear and easy way to pick my books. Or maybe the signs will change. But for now, that's the method.

I'm super stoked to read my new book, so I'm gonna snuggle into bed now. Plus, we have a 5am alarm clock, so we can drop off our light blue, shiny, Toyota Corolla rental car, fondly named, Legolas, at Auckland airport, then fly to Queenstown, pick up the next rental car, and head straight to Fergburger to eat the beat burgers in the world!!!

Nighty night,
Natasha