Nelson

18 July 2011

Once we got down from our car in the city center, we saw a group of people having Zumba fitness at an open square. It is common to see this kind of group exercise in Malaysia but this was my first time seeing this in New Zealand. I always like dancing. I wished I could joined them but the cold weather was killing me.

We headed to the Anglican Cathedral across the street. No doubt its exterior design is stunning.

We spent the next two hours at the Founders Heritage Park to experience life as it was in Nelson in the 1880s to 1930s. There, we saw character streets, tranquil established gardens and charming village greens.

After shopping at Asia market, we finally finished our journey with a nice dining at a cafe at beach side. Expensive and small portion but we enjoyed the moment dining out.

床塌下来，不能当被盖

27 July 2011

因为手指又开始肿了，所以今天决定请假休息，也趁机偷懒，在家看看戏，弹一弹钢琴，写日记，上网。

整天除了吃了几片饼干和芝士面包。下午睡过午觉后，到厨房准备晚餐，就开始觉得有点反胃，连一颗水果也咽不下去。我一直认为可能是芝士还未消化的关系。

到了晚上，就开始吐了。折磨了几个小时，吐了几次，总算熬过去了，觉得舒服了，也睡着了。不久后，突然砰一声，我发觉我被一大堆的木架压着了，动弹不已。我朦朦胧胧地呼号了几声，心想以为是地震了，后来才发觉睡在上面的男室友连同床垫和床架一起倒在我身上。我往上望，double decker变成空心了。

男室友赶紧下床移开木架和床垫，确保我没受伤。可能因为还不是很清醒，我很快地又再睡过去了。

隔天发觉原来木架上还有多根铁钉。同事朋友看到我还能健全地上班，也替我捏了一把冷汗。幸运的是，我当晚是侧睡，被压的范围不多。朋友告诉我应该向屋主理论，要求赔偿或者免费一个礼拜的房租，最后我得到的结果是，失望。

屋主的态度太过敷衍了。我打从一开始就没想过要得到什么，不过经过谈判过后，我倒是挺不满意，至少我应该发一宗投诉案到bbh协会，把事发经过告诉他们，让他们采取恰当的行动。

钱，不容易赚

22 July 2011

在过去一年的工作生涯，虽然说压力非浅，但因为有亲朋戚友在身旁，工作也无时无刻得到同事的指导，所以也从未体味到钱是那么难赚的。

来纽西兰之前，已经听很多人说这里的工作都不简单，而且还是一个减肥的好机会，可以想象一定会是很辛苦的经历。尽管如此，我还是来到了纽西兰。我只抱着一个心态: 看着不一样的天空，体会不一样的生活。

来到纽西兰的第一份工作，就是在户外採奇异果。同样的，遇到很多人都说户外工不容易，但我觉得採奇异果还好。可能是採金果的关系，薪水是计时的，速度也不需要快。奇异果的树和苹果树相比较矮，除了不需要爬梯以外，也跟其他水果园来得比较阴凉。

工作的第一天，脖子痛的不得了。不过因为雨季，所以没有每一天开工，工作时间也不长，身体也很快适应了，反而开始享受当中的乐趣。

由于工作不稳定，所以我们就找到了第二份工作，在奇异果包装厂里当包装员。除了要长时间站着以外，手也要随着机器的速度工作，手指常常割伤，压力也是有。

过后我们又到了另外一家厂当选果员。我在这里度过了三个月以来最开心，最轻松的一个月。工作虽然沉闷，但是非常轻松，也学习到选果的知识。在这里认识了很多亚洲朋友，工作人员也和蔼可亲，就像在一个大家庭里生活。

奇异果季节结束后，我们就开始旅游。当中很幸运的当了数天苹果包装员。经历和奇异果大同小异，只不过没像奇异果那么严厉。

现在，我身在海鲜包装厂里切鱼柳。右手应为长时间握刀，手指关节都疼痛。手臂，背后，脖子也酸痛。由于工作性质的关系，身体开始出现状况，竟然得了冻疮，手指和脚趾痛痒。尽管如此，还勉强自己去上班，为的也是钱。手现在好多了，反而脚趾变本加厉。

毛病通常发生在第一和最后一根脚趾/手指。脚趾看来真的患上了冻疮，我开始怀疑手指也同时患上了关节炎。因为症状和脚趾不太一样。手指疼痛的地方大多数位于关节，看来是因为长时间握刀的关系，右手指都不能伸直了，而脚趾的痛痒位于红肿了的肉。

下冰雹了

12 July 2011

已经好几个晚上，外头都下着冰雹，睡觉时都听到冰雹打在屋顶的声音，起床后看到地上都铺满了一颗一颗像珍珠般的冰雹。

很遗憾一直都没能真正地看着冰雹从天空掉落，直到今天，真当我们一群人在电视房里享受电影时，外头又传来巨大的下雨声。其中一人到外头看个究竟，才发觉下起冰雹来了。兴奋的他往屋里喊‘下冰雹了，快过来看啊’。于是我们一群人也从温暖的屋里跑到大风大雨的屋外。大家也很庆幸，终于能亲眼看到冰雹了。

冰雹的形状是圆圆的，像透明的珍珠。冰雹是从雷雨云里落下的，但不是每个雷雨云都会形成冰雹。 只有当雷雨云的某个部分，气流上身猛烈，把水器带到高空凝结成雪花。有遇上忽强忽弱不稳定的现象，将雪花上下翻滚。结上一层冰壳，才会有冰雹的产生。

The Make Up Party

16 July 2011

We organized a crazy make up party tonight. Guys were transformed to ladies by our four female make up artists.

Working in Talleys Seafood Packhouse

12 July 2011

I have been working here for a week. I only have one comment about this work - it is tiring though it looks simple and relaxing.

I was assigned to cut hoki fish fillet. These fillets are the O-fish-fillet that we eat in Mc Donalds. The hoki fish are first processed to remove the organs and skins. People do the organs removal while the machines do the skin removal.

They are fillets at this moment and they are sent to the trimming section (where I stand). There are good and bad fillets. The first person is in charge to trim the bones near the head. The second person will pick the good fillets and cut them into standard size/length. The third person will backup the second person when necessary and also remove the fat at spine for those bad fillets before they are minced. The next two persons mainly do the fat trimming. If there are too many fillets on the table, they have to pick them up and place them in a box so that we can process them when we have time later. All of us have to make sure all skin and blood spots are cleaned/trimmed from the fillets.

I stand at the second position. When the machine works fast or there are too many good fillets coming in, I have to cut on my chopping board and at the same time keep an eye on the other fillets so that I do not miss any good fillets.

pic: Work Attire

pic: Female changing room

pic: Small room in the changing room to put boots after work. Heater is on to dry them

pic: The factory is clean everyday after work.

pic: Don't forget to clock in and out each day

pic: little shark

Right fingers are always sore after holding the knife for long hours. My right fingers especially at the joints are obviously wider now compared with the left's. Shoulders, back bones and legs are always tired after standing whole day. This job is even harder than kiwi packing, grading or even picking. But it is definitely not as stressful as kiwi packing. After two days, I realized that my right fingers were swollen due to chilblains, a medical condition that occurs when an individual is exposed to cold and humidity.