Fourth Week

This week was quite nice...except the bad new about the Earthquake in Christchurch - last September they had already one...and now again...curious was that they came from different epicenters!!! And, actually, the earthquakes don't usually heat Christchurch...except this last few months! Actually, it is expected to have one strong one in Wellington...anyway, Lisbon has similar problem and we people don't think much about it, right?

I made my first match by Wainuiomata A.F.C.. I must admit that I was not very succeeded...they play very hard here (not so much skilly way, like in Portugal)...and I am not really used to it...besides the fact that I have never played football (soccer - 11x11) officially, with 3 referees, off side and so on!!! It was raining during the whole match...fortunately I had brought my rain jacket (while I was out of the game)...then went in and played only the last half an hour...

On Thursday and Friday, I had this PhD orientation session in the University, in Wellington (spend the most of the rest of the week there).
The orientation session was very nice...they were giving us everything for free: advices from professors and veteran students, recommendations, food and drinks, possibility of knowing the other PhD students (from New Zealand, Taiwan, Mexico, Colombia, UK, Germany, France, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran, many from Malaysia...and some other countries!)...on Thursday, after the PhD chill out evening, me, Alex (very cool kiwi guy) and Johnny Antonio (very cool guy, from Colombia) went  to the open air cinema (for free) in the botanic garden...it was really great...and, guess which movie? Black cat, while cat...oh, it was sooo great to watch it once again! This is definitely one of my favourite movies! I ended up sleeping in Alex place...and was invited for his room mate (Johnatan) birthday party, a barbecue on Saturday evening!

On Saturday, I went to this mentioned birthday party...met some other people...I was even speaking in portuguese to some kiwi guy...because his partner is brazilian, and she was there as well - very nice couple! In the end, I lost my last night bus back to Wainuiomata, and ended up in sleeping in some hostels common living room! :P And only got home at about 9a.m. - long journey back home - this is one of the biggest disadvantages of not living in the city.

On Sunday, went to play one indoor match for the work team...we finally won a match...6-3...and I scored 4 times...good feeling to "poker" in an official match! ;) At the end of the day, Sudhir (a colleague team mate, who works in IRL - also PhD student - who gave me a ride to the match and back home) took me to some beach about 20 km from Wainuiomata, before leaving me at home...it was really nice of him!!! ;) He is from Fiji islands, but he is from indian origin! :)

Beach in the south of Wainuiomata

Third Week

Have I told you that I've applied for the New Zealand Driving License? So, I did, last week! And it was quite easy - I got the temporary one just after applying - had to pay something like $NZ50, do some sight test and that was it. During this week I got the definitive one, which means "definitely, there is one more danger in NZ roads!". Actually, I have already driven a car from IRL (company where I am working in) and I managed quite well (Katrina Gate was my "driving instructor"). There were a few challenges: driving at the left side of the road, having the driving wheel on the right side of the car (which also means that you have to manage the gears with the left hand) and, finally, automatic (most of the cars are automatic) gears, which makes it one less pedal (I must admit I was willing to break with my left foot).

Oh...I joined a real football team (Wainuiomata Football Club - in the grass, 11 against 11)...went jogging around, and found some football team training. I asked if I could join, and I was very welcomed. Actually, I started in the secondary team...but my goal now is to be selected for the main one! Lets see what can we do.

Wainuiomata A.F.C. in action

Actually, I am starting to have too many sport activities: jogging, gym (inside our place), tennis, indoor football (want to get rid of it...a tournament where I pay to play some very strange football) and football (soccer, as they use to say here).

On friday, there was the farewell party from IRL Summer students! Me and Bastien arrived quite late to the meeting and it was over very early - at about mid night! So, a bit disappointing...we should get used to this schedules!

Besides that, during the weekend, I was sightseeing around Wellington - the botanic garden, the museum of New Zealand (Te Papa, in Maori language), Museum of Wellington, some open air circus and went to an alternative music concert...all this for free, excluding the donnatrions/tips (which are not compulsory). So, kind of cultural weekend!!!

Botanical garden's purpose

Open Air Circus

Concert (alternative music)

Second week

Just after waking up, it came up the new that some Marc's friend tried suicide by settling himself on fire - as they say, might have been some love disappointment because he broke up with his girlfriend last Christmas. He is very good friend of Marc, so the start of the week there at our place was a quite sad.

I started this week with an appointment with the IRL's famous Health,Safety&Environment manager - the so famous Peter Martin! Everyone talks about him...to me, he didn't seem such a big character, as everyone told me he was. Bastien came to this meeting as well, since he is new in IRL as well - we need to be aware of all this safety procedures!

At lunch time (more than once), Katrina Gates (the administrator from my department) took me to the post office, bank, so that I could take care of my stuff (open bank account, etc.). Both, she and Ann Manning (science support coordinator) were very nice to me from the beginning.

Something else in which I got involved in (besides football): and it was the tennis! And this is because I have some tennis court less than 50 meters distance from my place! So...Me and Bastien are splitting a half season "ticket" (which gives us permission to go there whenever we want to), which costed about $NZ 50 (aprox. 30 euros each)! The people from this club are very friendly and are willing to teach me.

During this week, I got aso my new mobile (which I bought trough the most famous auction website in NZ). I paid NZ$150 (which included mailing it to me). It is a Vodafone 845 (Android software)...until now, I am quite happy with it...but only got it 1 day ago! :)

I have some more stuff to buy: laptop, car, camera, tennis racket...maybe I will buy some of those trough the same auction website.

Saturday, me and Bastien went to play paintball. To be honest, it is not really my kind of "sport". It was Stephan, a guy from Belgium who invited us to play, together with some friends of him (from UK, Australia and NZ). This stress/adrenaline of getting a shot is really not my style. Besides, I am not really a good shooter! Miss the target most of the times! In the end, almost everyone had some "injuries": bruises, a few blood,...

Afterwards, we went for a drink all together, and, finally, me and Bastien went to walk around Wellington'till the evening. There, we had some dinner, drinks and were enjoying once again, Wellington by night.Actually, we were also lying a bit on the artificial beach near the harbour of Wellington.

Sunday, I was resting a bit, played some tennis (don't tell Bastien, but I kicked his ass!!! :P)...and now, after writing this, I will probably go for some jogging...it is irresistible with such wonderful landscape around this house!!! I promise I will post some very nice pictures here, but still have no camera!!! Or maybe just play some more tennis (getting addicted)...and, then, who knows, some gym (since it is for free)!

First week

Sunday evening (just after midnight - 31/10/2010), I have, finally, arrived to the Wellington airport (after a tormented landing), after a whole day traveling. I came from Bali (where my awesome Southeast Asian trip ended - by the way, thank you, my wonderful travel mates).

No Domingo a noite (ja apos a meia noite - 31/01/2011), cheguei, finalmente, ao aeroporto de Welligton (apos uma aterragem um pouco atribulada - normal, segundo percebi), apos cerca de 24 horas a viajar. Parti de Bali (onde acabou a minha maravilhosa viagem ao Sudeste Asiatico - aproveito para agradecer as minhas optimas companhias!), passando por Brisbane (na Australia).

Marc Mulholland, a 50 years old man, my new land lord, "mechanical development workshop manager" in IRL (instritution where I am working in), went to pick me up in the airport. I have arrived home and went to sleep. Was quite tired of such a long journey!

Marc Mulholland, um homem de 50 anos, o meu novo senhorio, "mechanical development workshop manager" no IRL (instituto onde eu estou a trabalhar), foi-me buscar ao aeroporto. Cheguei a casa e fui dormir. Estava fatigado de tanta movimentacao!

My first day in New Zealand was quite relaxing...in my new home, a wooden house (quite big). The surrounding landscape is just great. Green mountains all around!!! After waking up, I have spent the day washing, ironing the cloth, etc.. 

O meu primeiro dia na Nova Zelandia foi muito relaxante...na minha nova morada, uma casa (de porte consideravel) de madeira. A paisagem a volta e, simplesmente, espetacular. Montanhas verdejantes a toda a volta!!! Apos acordar (nada cedo), passei o dia a lavar a roupa, passar a ferro,etc..

 At the end of the afternoon, Marc and Bastien arrived home. Bastien is a cool french guy who arrived 1 week just before me and came here for an internship in IRL as well. Meanwhile, Marc went to show me the surroundings of Wainuiomata (the name of the village where I am living now) by car. It is amazing that this such green wonderful landscape is situated just about 25 km from Wellington (20/30 minutes by car) and less than 5 km from my work place (IRL). On the other hand, there is not a so good transportation, so I have already decided that I will buy a car (besides, cars here are not so expensive).

Ao final da tarde, apareceu o Marc e o Bastien, um frances bacano que tinha chegado ha cerca de 1 semana, para fazer um estagio de final de curso. O Marc foi, entretanto, dar uma volta de carro comigo a volta de Wainuiomata (o nome da aldeiazinha onde se situa a casa). O fantastico e que esta paisagem verdejante envolvene se situa a menos de 25 km (20/30 minutos, de carro) da capital (Wellington) e de menos de 5 Km (5/10 minutos, de carro) do instituto (IRL). Comeca-me a parecer uma boa opcao comprar um carrinho (que, ainda por cima, por estas zonas, sao baratos - devem desvalorizar por terem o voltante do lado oposto! :P).

Wainuiomata - village where I live (1)

Wainuiomata - village where I live (2)

My first day at IRL was quite good: went by hitchhike with Marc (since then, me and Bastien are coming with him to work, even though quite early). I was introduced to many "key-people", from several departments: mine (Materials&Energy), Human Resources, IT Services and Library - all of them received me very well. From the beginning, this institution reminds me of LNEC.

O meu primeiro dia no instituto foi porreiro: fui de boleia com o Marc (tornou-se, deste entao, tradicao - eu e o Bastien irmos de boleia para o IRL). Fui apresentado a varios departamentos: o meu (Materials&Energy), Recursos Humanos, Servicos Informaticos e Biblioteca - todos me receberam bastante bem. Deste o inicio que este instituto me fez lembrar bastante o LNEC.

                                                               Me in my work place

Taking into account that I usually arrive quite early to the job, in my second day, I decided to call my parents and grandmother (finally!). It was great to speak to them, which I didn't do since 26th December.
At the lunch time, I went to the Mall (in Lower Hutt with some young collegues from job - Rachel, Matt (both new zealanders) and Pauline (french)). It was nice - everyone is receiving me in a very friendly way. After leaving work, went for some jogging with Bastien.

Tendo em consideracao que eu chego bastante cedo ao trabalho (o Marc gosta de madrugar), no meu segundo dia no trabalho resolvi aproveitar o facto de nao estar ninguem (para alem do facto de eu estar, de momento, no gabinete do meu orientator, que esta de ferias) para telefonar (atraves do skype) aos meus pais e avo. Foi muito bom falar com eles - nao o fazia desde o dia 26 de Dezembro!!!

Na hora de almoco, fui ao centro comercial (em Lower Hutt com alguns colegas do trabalho - Rachel, Matt (2 neozelandezes) e Pauline (francesa)) - fui ver precos para computadores portateis,  telemoveis, usb and camera. Foi fixe. Toda a gente se mostrou muito amigavel para comigo. A tarde fui fazer jogging com o Bastien.

I went finally to the University (my first time in Wellington - with Andrew, my collegue from IRL, who drove me to Wellington and helped me a lot) - I enroled to the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) and met my academic supervisor, Jim Johnson - a "mature man", which seemed really nice person! Andrew was really cool and helpful.
 No meu terceiro dia de trabalho fui a Victoria University of Wellington (VUW - a minha primeira vez em Wellington - com o Andrew, meu colega no IRL, que me guiou ate la e me orientou) - inscrevi-me e conheci o meu orientador academico, Jim Johnson - um homem de idade avancada, que me pareceu ser uma pessoa impecavel! O Andrew foi muito fixe!!!

I called my parents again: everything is ok there, though my mother had some difficult times because of my future long absence. I guess she already got used to the idea. 

Telefonei novamente para os meus pais: esta tudo bem com eles, apesar da minha mae ter passado uns tempos menos bons enquanto se estava a mentalizar da minha ausencia (apenas fisica, diga-se!).

I went out first time in Wellington:  maybe the biggest party in Wellington - they were celebrating my arrival to New Zealand. :D Ok...maybe they also decided to organize some international (national teams) tournmen, 7 against 7 players - it is quite famous here the Sevens - they dressed their costumes (disguises) and made the party all night long, as it was carnival (SEVENS party).
I ended up sleeping in Andre's place - he and the other young people from IRL were very cool - were always with me and Bastien (drinking, obviously).

Fui sair a noite pela primeira vez em Welligton: talvez a maior festa do ano - estavam a comemeorar a minha chegada a Nova Zelandia. :D Bem...aproveitaram tambem para organizar um torneio entre seleccoes de rugby, 7 contra 7 - e bastante famoso aqui na cidade - o SEVENS - aproveitam para se mascararem e tudo - e um ambiente semelhante ao nosso carnaval (SEVENS party).

No final, dormi em casa do Andrew - ele e o resto pessoal la do trabalho foram espetaculares - estiveram sempre comigo e com o Bastien (nos copos, claro!).

Next day, I waked up in Andrew's place, he prepared the breakfast and took me for a coffee and sightseeing around Welligton. Then, I went home - both of us were quite tired from previous night...and we stiull had Saturday night - theoretically, the best Sevens party!!!

So, me and Bastien got the train to Welligton and joined Matt and Andrew - we were partying a untill late again and then me and Bastien went back home at about 4 a.m. - by taxi, since there were no buses or trains!

Sunday was mostly recovering, shopping and some gym, that we have at home (maybe to compensate the 2 previous night partys!).
No outro dia, acordei em casa do Andrew, em Wellington, ele preparou o pequeno almoco e levou-me a passear pela cidade. Depois , fui para casa - estavamos bastante cansados da noite anterior e tinhamos ainda um Sabado a noite de festa pela frente.
Entao, eu e o Bastien apanhamos o comboio de volta para Wellington, e encontramo-nos com o Andrew e com o Matt - estivemos novamente em festa ate tarde ate que, eu e o Bastien voltamos para casa (pensavamos que iamos de comboio, mas ja so havia taxi).
No Domingo, limitamo-nos a recuperar, ir as compras e ir ao ginasio (que se situa na cava da nossa casa).



Desculpem, mas vou passar a escrever apenas em ingles!!!

Why "Upside down"? / Porque "O mundo ao contrario"?

So...I've created this blog since I have decided to share my antipodean experience, where, literally, everything is "upside down" (taking Portugal as reference). The music upside down (Jack Johnson), inspired this english version title.


Pois bem...criei este blog para ter o prazer de partilhar (no presente, com voces; no futuro, quem sabe, ate comigo proprio), em parte, algumas das minhas experiencias antipodas. Tendo Portugal como referencia, tudo aqui se posiciona numa posicao diametralmente oposta e de pernas para o ar, pareceu-me adequado o titulo "o mundo ao contrario", inspirado na musica o mundo ao contrario (Xutos & Pontapes).
Desculpem a todos os lusofonos que nao conseguem entender a lingua inglesa, mas, vou passar a escrever (maioritariamente) em ingles. Por tres razoes: 1) o meu teclado nao possui acentuacao para que eu possa por em pratica todo o meu vasto conhecimento da lingua de Camoes (:P), 2) para que mais pessoas compreendam e 3) para praticar a minha escrita! :)