Quakes and Quality Control

Just wanted to give a few quick updates.


First, a large portion of the North Island was awakened at 4 a.m. this morning by another earthquake! It was a 5.9 centered about 30 Km north of Taupo. It lasted about 30 seconds--and was strong enough to rouse both John and I out of a deep slumber. This time, you could hear the rumbling of the Earth. Kinda neat! We just stayed in bed and then it subsided, as it was nothing too major.


I finished up my training for Quality Control, which is the position I will have at the Pack house. It's a pretty good one--requires more brains than brawn--which is much more my thing. It's also indoors in a nice air conditioned building! Plus, it's a pretty small team of about 10 of us and everyone is very nice. When I got home from training, the Census woman had just arrived to give me my contract to sign and turn in sometime this week. So, pretty soon I will start making the moolah!


Also at training we were introduced to a brand new variety of apple that was developed through a partnership with the company I will work for, ENZA, and Johnny Appleseed in the U.S. It was developed at the University of Minnesota and they just recently harvested and sent the very first bunch and let us give it a taste! Some of the first people in NZ to try it. It's called the SweeTango--so keep an eye out for it! It's pretty yummy--both tangy and sweet.


Anyways, John picked me up from training in our car that is all fixed! We were right about the pebbles in the breaks being the problem--and so we were charged just $4 for them to put it up on the rack and clean them out. Phew! Then we just had to pay for the window--but now it's all good to go!


Tomorrow is the big Hawke's Bay Food and Wine Festival just down the road near Neil and Sarah's. John has to work, but a new roommate of ours, Lui, who got here about two weeks ago wanted to go and so I said I would go with him. He's a nice kid--Japanese parents, but raised in the Czech Republic, and goes to school at RISD in Rhode Island for furniture design. He's here for 5 weeks for an internship. Anyways, he's a nice guy, so we're going to the festival tomorrow to check out all the wine and food! It was $45 but that includes a tasting wine glass you get to keep, plus there is live music, a fashion show, workshops, and tons of food and wine booths, of course. Should be a good day. 


Hoping the Universe is appeased for a while!