Mostly Harmless: May 2010

And just like that (click your fingers) I’m now playing rugby in New Zealand.

Well I guess not just like (click your fingers) that, but after googling clubs in Auckland I found the closest one to my neighbourhood (I have a home! Details to come): the Ponsonby Fillies Club. Tonight was my first practice, a wet and chilly night indeed. After speaking with a few of my future teammates, I realised a quick series of interesting facts:

1. New Zealand is the premier country for women’s rugby in the world.

2. Auckland is the premier region for women’s rugby in New Zealand

3. Ponsonby is the premier women’s rugby club in Auckland

The first fact I knew very well, the second seems intuitive now that I think about it, but oh what a hilarious fortune that the third is also true!

Consider me a little intimidated and more than a little afraid. Some of the women give the impression that they would be more than comfortable taking on a Canadian men's club any day of the week. I, on the other hand, would run the other way. I used to have speed. My old age and lack of fitness have taken that away but I hope to get back to top form in a matter of weeks (hey, it’s a possibility if I try really, really hard... probably).

I’m very excited about this new development. I played rugby ages ago in Montreal but it’s now been a solid 4 years since I’ve set foot on a rugby pitch and I truly missed the feeling of getting pummelled and dirty on the field. I knew what I was doing when I joined this club, but imagined myself playing socially on a second’s team! No such luck. I’m told I’ll probably play in Saturday’s game. Most of the teams have NZ nationally ranked players on their rosters. Hopefully upcoming pictures will not feature any gruesome injuries!

Next up, a glimpse into my new 8-person home AND the amazing developments taking place at the NZ GBC, to which I will have a front row seat. It’s an exciting time to be here!

Ahh New Zealand. Following a seamless flight over the ocean, I landed once again on Kiwi soil. And how happy was I to say hello! From the jovial customs fellow to the keen-as shuttle driver everything was just as I remembered it. A working-holiday year in NZ in 2007-2008 doesn’t feel quite so long ago anymore, and the innumerable roundabouts, Countdown grocery stores and backpacker vans that I saw in those first 30 minutes ensured that I was smiling the whole way to my new home for the week – the Uenuku Lodge. I even remember the owner who checked me in at 8am on Saturday morning (more like 4pm on Friday afternoon!).

Last Monday I started work at the New Zealand Green Building Council. I was nervous and excited; I wore my suit (my first suit!) to make a good impression. Too bad I arrived 15 minutes late! I could only laugh as I walked in and apologised profusely only to be told in classic kiwi laid back style “no worries, everyone’s late on Mondays!” and sure enough, the office was practically empty with people (including the bosses) streaming in for the next 30 minutes!

The next three months at this internship are going to be fantastic. It’s pretty evident already as I absolutely love the team at the NZGBC. The office is straight out of Old Montreal, a grand heritage building with wooden floors and ceiling beams, tall ceilings and countless fire doors (I can only imagine how quickly a fire would spread in that space!). On the 3^rd floor (2^nd floor in NZ since “Ground Floor” is actually the first floor) the office feels like a revamped loft. We share the floor with a couple of architecture firms (fittingly enough!) and what appears to be some sort of art display studio (where I never hesitate to peer in whenever the door is left open to check out their wicked installations).

There are about 12 people in the office in an open-concept floor plan. Despite being cubicle-type desks, the space feels very open and fresh. The lighting is pleasant and the windows let cool air in (though I’m warned it gets freezing over the winter – ironic that while working at a green building council I am definitely not in a green building). Jazz plays in the background. And best of all, everyone has kiwi accents!!

My designated space is nicely set up and everyone made me feel extremely comfortable right from the very start. I even helped out in the weekly “fruit run” to gather enough fruit for the whole week for the team. I love this office!

So far my tasks have been pretty non-specific but I have apparently arrived at a time of huge change, the founding CEO has just started her position at the World Green Building Council last week and the new CEO is only 7 days in! Also, the team leader of the project I’m supposed to be working on (helping to develop a standard for residential buildings) has also just arrived last week. So before I can start to understand what I’m meant to be doing, they too must wrap their heads around everything. We’re all in it together and it feels great!

Still at the backpackers now, though it is one of the best backpackers I’ve encountered through my travels in NZ and Australia a few years ago, so really, I’m happy to be there for now. Every night I prowl around for an apartment that could be more permanent. No luck yet but it’s only just begun!