Crispyhouse

Life in Wanaka has begun to settle in. I have settled into my house and we have filled it with roomates not only to keep the rent down but also to keep the house warm. The current tally puts us at five. There is the American contingent of Dave, Amy, and myself having come down here together. Then there is Kenny from Belgium that drives the supply truck for Cardrona and Katarin from Bavaria that also instructs skiing. It should be a fun house, we had a party the other night and combining all the friends we have made here was great, I met people from all over the world that have come here for the same reasons as I have. The entire town of Wanaka is an international mixture of people coming purely for the winter. Hardly anyone lives here in the summer but come winter time it is a mecca of the southern hemisphere skiing scene. I have never been so closely involved in such a hotspot and it has an entirely different crowd of people than I met in Montana.

The town of Wanaka itself is incredible as it sits on the southern tip of a lake surrounded by sharp mountains. If anything the views are startling and a constant reminder of how remote this country of New Zealand really is. Even as it has grown into an international destination, especially for adventure sports there is still a very small town mentality my nearest equation is to think of America pre-Wal-Mart and that is where everyone is at. Internet is not widespread, only at pay cafes and a single grocery store feeds the entire town. The irony is that the winter crew fills it with a modern vibe and people here come with the focus to ski and of course party. Looking like a good winter so far. Hopefully it snows soon and the Mtns. will open.