E noho rā Aotearoa, Kia ora Park City (Goodbye New Zealand, Hello Park City)

You don't have to be afraid of change. You don't have to worry about what's being taken away. Just look to see what's been added.
~Jackie Greer

It seems like only yesterday that I was selling lift tickets, rental gear and ski lessons to guests at Mount Ruapheu. The Southern hemisphere winter season went by in a blink of an eye. Two months later it's amazing how much has changed, yet how so many things remain the same. I am in a different hemisphere, but still working on a mountain doing the same job in the same uniform with just a different logo.

It's a funny story how I ended up in Utah. One day I was at Mt Ruapehu and I overheard my Kiwi co-worker, Carmeny, talking about applying for a visa so she could go to the States and work at a ski resort. I had no idea what I wanted to do with myself upon my return, so I thought it couldn't hurt to apply and have a job lined up when I got back to the States. Within a week, I had two interviews and a job offer at Canyons. Only two months later, I now live with Carmeny, her boyfriend Boulton and Boulton's friend, Will, in a two bedroom apartment in Park City. Who would have ever thought I would end up here?! I certainly didn't! However, that is the beauty of not having a plan and just letting the wind take you to the next destination.

It was a bittersweet feeling leaving New Zealand. Aotearoa had become a home to me. I loved the people, my job and the beautiful countryside. It's hard to leave such a magical place, but all good things must come to an end. During my last three weeks in New Zealand, I travelled around the North and South Island. From Cape Reinga (the northwesternmost tip of the Aupouri Peninsula) to the Mildford Sound (in the South Island), I was able to see the most beautiful things imaginable, including penguins in their natural habitat! Some other highlights of the road trip included hiking the Franz Josef Glacier, tubing in the Waitomo underground caves, hiking to the top of various mountains to see the most spectacular views and stuffing my face with a Fergburger in Queenstown. It was a perfect way to end my time in New Zealand. Unfortunately, the sadness and anxiety kicked in the minute I landed in L.A. The vibe was disappointingly different. People were rude, everyone was in a hurry and the air even felt heavier. Perhaps that was just in my mind, but it definitely felt different.

I spent a week in the Pacific Northwest (Portland and Seattle.) It was great to catch up with old friends, try some new restaurants, drink lattes from my favorite spots; but it was a bizarre feeling to be a visitor in my former life. Coming back to the States has been a difficult transition. However, I can't beat myself up about it because in a short amount of time I've had to say goodbye to all of my NZ friends, do an International move, live out of a suitcase (or 3 in my case) for a month, drive cross country, move to a new city, move into an apartment with new roommates, start a new job and meet a completely new group of people! New is always exciting, but I often forget how stressful the transition period can be. But as Jackie Greer said, it's important not to focus on what you have lost but rather what has been added to your life.

Park City seems like a great place to call home for the time being. I have already met a ton of great people, scoped out my favorite new coffee shop (Atticus) and have done some riding on the slopes of Utah. The best part about being back in the states is that I get to fly home tomorrow and see my family! I can't wait to see MacKenna (my niece) and meet Mason (my nephew.) We are celebrating Christmas quite early this year, but being able to see them is the greatest gift I could ever wish for!

As a chapter of my life comes to an end in 2011, I am quite excited to see what's in store for 2012. As the new year approaches, I am just going to keep an open mind, continue to be flexible and welcome change and new experiences. John Lennon said it best, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Happy Holidays!

Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

There Must Be Something in the Water

Knowing others is intelligence.  
Knowing yourself is true wisdom.
- Lao Tse


Almost six months ago I was sitting at the Portland Airport with my dear friend Kate preparing to leave for New Zealand. We laughed, we cried, we drank and we said good-bye. As I said farewell to my amazing friends and a city I loved, I was torn whether or not I was making the right decision to quit my career and head to a country where I had limited contacts and resources. Alan Alda once said, "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you'll discover will be wonderful.  What you'll discover is yourself." I finally understand what he is talking about.


My time in New Zealand has been filled with amazing adventures, beautiful scenery and colorful characters. The last six months has challenged me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. My personal relationships, financial stability and mental toughness have all been put to the test. I have had to learn to be flexible to the point I thought I was going to break. I have had to learn to take charge of my own destiny by finding jobs, a place to live and transportation. And I have also had to learn that the one voice I should listen to is my heart.


I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. If you would have told me six months ago that I would be living in a town of 1,000 people, working at a ski resort while taking online courses for my Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner degree, balancing travel and a pretty active social life, I probably would laughed and thought it was impossible. I was hopeful that all of these would happen, but I was at a pretty low place and never imagined this could be my life.


Sometimes I feel like my life is a movie (with a badass soundtrack), because I didn't believe that after all that I have been through emotionally and physically that I could be so happy and truly feel at peace with my life. Perhaps wisdom, self-confidence and happiness comes with age…I don't know, but something has clicked with me the past few weeks and my perspective of life has changed forever. This new found peace happens to coincide with starting my online course and also developing some great friendships, but this new mindset is something that is here to stay.


I just completed my first contract at Mt. Ruapehu so I had a week of before the season starts. I took the opportunity to do a little bit of traveling. I went to Taupo for a few days with a friend and enjoyed some outdoor activities and lots of laughs and thoughtful conversation. I then headed to Wellington for the rest of the week with my new flatmate James. He competed in the 48 Hour Film Festival in Wellington and his film won Best Editing and 2nd Runner up in the Welly competition. We enjoyed a few days of cafe culture, lattes and crazy nights out. While in Wellington, I stayed in a hostel and met an amazing woman from Argentina. She was my travel buddy and we hiked to the top of Mt Victoria, explored Te Papa Museum, attended yoga and of course hit up the bar for cocktails (with cucumber!) My mini-holiday was just what the doctor ordered. I felt refreshed and ready to come back to Ohakune for an epic season on the mountain.


I think the best part about my new found happiness and confidence, is that I can already see it rubbing off on other people in my life. Perhaps making others happy and inspiring them is what fills up my soul. There must be something in the Ohakune water…whatever it is…I am going to drink it up! New Zealand has been a wonderful part of my journey. I hate to think that I already have to leave in five months, but it will just mean I am starting a new, exciting chapter of my life.


I want to thank you all for your friendship and support over my lifetime. My friends and family are truly the ones who have allowed me to get to this point in my life. I could never have done it alone!


I am going to leave you with a few thoughts from Eleanor Roosevelt.
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart, If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; if he betrays you twice, it is your fault. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."

It's the End of the World As We Know It

Life is not a journey to the grave
With the intention of

Arriving safely in an attractive

And well preserved body,

But rather to skid in sideways,

Chocolate in one hand,

Wine in the other,

body thoroughly used up,

totally worn out and screaming

"WOO HOO what a ride!"

Last Monday at 10:04pm I was sitting on my bed and it began to shake. It felt as though someone was jumping on the bed and then my heater began to sway back and forth. My heart dropped and I was a little freaked out. The next day I checked Geonet.co.nz and discovered that there had been a 3.3 magnitude earthquake in Ohakune with a depth of 20km. This is the third earthquake that I have experienced since I arrived in New Zealand, one in Christchurch three days before the big one hit in February and two since I have been in Ohakune. Out of curiosity, I did a little research and discovered that New Zealand has around 15,000 earthquakes each year but only 250 of them are strong enough to be felt by the average person.

In the same week that I felt an earthquake, the 89-year-old fundamentalist from Florida (who has a track record of inaccurate predictions) announced that a series of earthquakes originating in New Zealand would sweep the earth and it would be the end of the world as we know it. So like many of Kiwis, I picked up a bottle of wine and hit up two birthday parties on Saturday night. As we sat on the patio around a log fire, one of the party-goers checked his watch around 10:10pm and declared, "We're still here!" Everyone laughed off the absurd claim made by Mr. Camping and continued to sip their cocktails late into the night.

Like many others, I am quite happy that there was no validity to the Doomsday prediction. However after being in a country that is trying to rebuild after a devastating earthquake and feeling one myself earlier in the week, I can't help but think about the end. It is just a reminder that life is precious and we should not take anything for granted. "Doomsday" should remind us all that we need to live each day to the fullest and live without regret. It is also important to tell the special people in your life that you love them. So even though I am on the other side of the world from those I love and in the epicenter of the supposed destruction, I will just remind myself how lucky I am. I have amazing people in my life and I have had so many amazing life experiences.  

So if there was no tomorrow, I could truly say that I died a happy young woman and lived a blessed life. I definitely will be able to scream, "What a ride!"

Where Adventure Begins

Haere hoki ki o maunga…kia mau ai te rongo pai he mea paihere na te rangimarie.
Return to your sacred peaks…spread the good news and cement all deeds with peace.

Change is inevitable, and if I have learned anything during my time in New Zealand it is that change happens quickly and things seem to fall into place. A little over two weeks ago, I had to say a lot of goodbyes to many special people including my amazing friends at Seeka, my awesome roommates at the Mount and my dear friends Laura and Mike. I always hate saying goodbye, but goodbyes tend to mean I am moving on to a new exciting chapter in my life!

A few weeks ago I was offered a position at Mt Ruapehu (pronounced "roo-a-pe ("e" as in egg) -hoo) for the winter season. I packed up my life at the Mount and hopped on the Intercity bus for the four hour ride to Ohakune, the Carrot Capital of New Zealand. When I arrived in Ohakune, Donelle (Mt Ruapehu HR Assistant) and her boyfriend Denim (Ski Patrol) picked me up at the bus station and brought me to my new home. My flatmate is Wal Wood and he is a mechanic at Mt Ruapehu. He has worked at the resort for 10 seasons and typically gets new flatmates every season. Wal welcomed me to the new flat by offering me a beer the minute I walked in the door…classic! That evening we hit the town for drinks with his friends and then hit up a spa party (hot tub party) hosted at a local lodge by some of the Mt Ruapehu staff members. I met so many cool people my first weekend here, so I am quite excited to work with them all. Ohakune may be a small town, but I have heard it comes alive in the winter. And if my first evening here is any indication of the fun to come, then I think I am in for a great 2011 season on the mountain.

Speaking of the mountain, I think I will give you a little history lesson on my new "home." In September 1887 the sacred mountain peaks of Ruapehu (2797m), Ngauruhoe (2290m) and Tongariro (1968m) were gifted to the people of New Zealand by the Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Horonuku Te Heu Heu Tukino. The gift formed the nucleus of the Tongariro National Park (TNP), the first in New Zealand. TNP covers approximately 75,000 hectares and is home to some of the world's most violent volcanos, because of the line of weakness in the earth's crust that was formed when the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates collided. It sort of reminds me of home (Portland), because we too are part of the 'Pacific Ring of Fire.' This region plays a very important part in the Maori culture and is considered to be a very spiritual and magical place.

Mt Ruapehu is the highest point in the North Island and for you other LOTR geeks, is home of key scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Whakapapa Ski Area is located on the north side and are traditional lands of the Ngati Tuwharetoa people. I currently work as a Season Pass Customer Service Rep prior to the season at Whakapapa. I enjoy working in the pre-season because I am getting to meet the locals and getting to know the full-time staff. I am also learning a lot about the ski areas, which will be helpful once the season starts.

Turoa Ski Area is located on the southern slopes and are traditional lands of the Ngati Rangi and Ngati Uenuku people. Once the season starts in the end of June, I will be working part time in Customer Service and part-time in retail at Turoa. I love it, because I will get the opportunity to work with several departments and alternate my job responsibilities on a daily basis. I have also met some great people through work, including T-Ha who is my new dinner and exploring buddy!

The landscape is stunning and it is mind-blowing(no pun intended) that I work on a live volcano. On my first day, the mountain road was closed to the public because of bad weather conditions. However, we forged ahead and made it to the top of the mountain to our office. It was so windy, that we ended up losing power and had to run off of generators. It delayed my training, but as soon as we were back up and running the managers had us start talking orders and dealing with customers. We just jumped right in, but I think that is the best way to learn! During my second day of work, we had an induction with HR (Donelle.) A large portion of the training was about avalanche and volcano hazards and safety procedures. Both are serious concerns for working on the manual and my training manual even says, "Yes, you have been chosen and have accepted to work on what is considered an active volcano." I just finished my second week of work and I love it. Our projected opening day at Turoa is June 25 and with the way time is flying, that is going to be here before I know it.

I am most excited about boarding in the backcountry. Mt Ruapehu has more chair access to backcountry than any other resort in the world. Ski Patrol offers courses in backcountry safety, so I can't wait to sign up and hit up the backcountry. I have also been told that the peak is very walkable, so I look forward to strapping on my board and riding the top level terrain. I have always wanted to do this, but now it is at my finger tips (and FREE!)

So things are off to a good start…it should be a great season at Mt Ruapehu!

Save the Date

Life is not measured by the 

number of breaths we take,
but by the number of moments 

that take our breath away.

It is rare for me to get mail, so you can imagine my excitement when I came home from work this week and saw a letter on my bed. I quickly ripped open the envelope to find a "save the date" card for Courtney's wedding (my former boss and amazing friend.) Congrats Cor! I am so happy for you!

For some reason, that "save the date" stirred up some emotions in me and got the wheels turning in my head. It made me think about how our lives are a series of "dates" and important events that often follow a particular order. Babies are born, we celebrate their first birthday, we celebrate their first day of school, darn they grow up fast and now they are graduating from high school and marching to "Pomp and Circumstance", then they are off to college, how four years fly and they graduate from college and get their first job in the "real" world, they meet a nice boy or girl, get married, buy a house, have kids, then the cycle starts all over again and then we die. The Germans refer to it as "the system." My friend Stephanie from work, said that in Germany you have to be part of the system or you will be "lost" and won't get a good job or be successful. In Germany, they put kids on a track in school at a very early age. At age 10 (4th grade), they already decide what type of school the "kinder" will attend and thus determine what type of career they will have as adults. I thank my lucky stars that I was born in the U.S. because I wasn't the strongest student growing up. If I had been on a particular track, I may have never gone to college and had as many opportunities that I have. I am so glad that I was able to work hard and choose my own path.

Many of my friends are celebrating milestones and specials occasions in their lives. Weddings, homes, babies…all very exciting things. But every time I get the exciting news from someone, it makes me realize how different my life is and how I am not part of the system anymore. I was, I definitely was…graduated in the top of my high school class, went to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude, had impressive internships, had a great job and at one point was on the track to a marriage and house. But sometimes the system is broken and it doesn't feel right. Instead of being part of the system, I decided to follow my heart and leave the routine behind. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. And you know what? I am am completely okay with that! I recently decided that I am going to start taking online classes at the South West Institute of Healing Arts in Arizona. I found something that interests me at the school, so I am going to take classes simply because I want to. Just like how I am in Taupo right for an interview for the Mount Rupheau Ski Resort. I need a job, so I thought why not work at a ski resort , get a free season pass and have easy access to something I love to do. And I am happy to announce, that 10 minutes into the interview they offered me a job and I start next week. That means within the next few days I need to pack, find a new place to live and find a mode of transportation. Crazy stuff! So as you see, life isn't about being on a track anymore…it's about dabbling. Life is like a buffet, so why not try a little bit of everything?!

I am sure at some point in my life I may celebrate the "special dates" that Hallmark makes millions on. Maybe I will get married to my life partner in a beachside wedding, maybe I will pop out a couple little monkeys, perhaps I will get my lab and house (or loft) with hardwood floors and brick walls. I am excited about these moments, but I am doing my best to put them into perspective. By that I mean, I have heard so many people say that their wedding day was the happiest day of their lives. I get it, it's your day, you are marrying the one you love and all your loved ones are their to celebrate with you…of course that sounds amazing! As I look back on my life, I have so many days filled with happiness and they weren't necessarily days that I planned for my whole life. The day I climbed La Tour Eiffel with Mindy, the day I tackled Tammy while snowshoeing in Colorado, the day I went sledding with Shelley, MacKenna and my Mom in Wisconsin, the day my Portland family rented a cabin and made our own Christmas stockings, the day Team Bridget/Amy took on Team Marty/Mac in an interpretative dance competition, the random day Marty and I got in the car and drove around the state of Washington for 18 hours just to see the sites, the day my NZ family went hiking and climbed through a mudslide and waded through a river….those were all just random days in my life, but those are my "save the dates." 

So save the date, mark it on the calendar, cherish the big moments, but never forget to enjoy the small ones too. Those random days that are filled with laughter, tears and smiles are the ones you will remember and cherish when all is said and done.

Mount Ruapehu

The Amazing Faces of Oakside

Travel not only stirs the blood...It also gives strength to the spirit.
~Florence Prag Kahn

My hands and arms are covered in bruises and cuts. My back hurts and my legs are tired. 11-hour shifts, six days a week and all for a measly $13.00 NZ dollars an hour. I never in a million years thought that I would be in New Zealand packing fruit, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There is nothing glamorous about being a kiwifruit packer and some days are unbearable. However, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything for one simple reason...the people. In my short time at Oakside, I have met some amazing people from all over the world. I am learning about different cultures and I am learning to speak a few different languages in exchange for helping my new friends with their English. Rather than me telling you about each of them, I thought I would let them tell you in their own words.

Hola! Mi nombre es Carmen Maria Alvarez Rodriguez y soy de Meico, naci en el D.F., pero vivo en Torreon que es en el norte. Me encanta viajar, conocer nuevas culturas y gentre y algun dia me encantaria escribir un libro.
(Hi! My name is Carmen Maria Alvarez Rodriguez and I am from Mexico. I was born in D.F., but I live in Torreon, which is in the north. I love traveling, meeting new cultures and people and one day I would love to write a book.)

Hallo, Hoe gain ditto. My naam is Kate Grant. Ek is van Suid Afrika AF. Ek is die enigeste kind en my family en ditto is nie so lekko nie. My verjaarsdag is ap die 25 April zdi en sisal 27 ewes. Ek hoop my Afrikaans is reg. Want ek ka nie dak nie en my had is see anti ek het kiwis gepok.
(Hello, how are you? My name is Kate Grant. I am from South Africa. I am the only child in my family and it is not so nice. My birthday is the 25th of April and I will be 27. I hope my Afrikaans is good enough because I can't think or write properly because I have been packing kiwifruit.)

Hallo, alles goed? Mijn naam is Martijn Robert en ik hom muit Nederland. Reizen voor mij is een instelling.
(Hi, how are you? My name is Martijn Robert and I'm from Holland. Traveling to me is an attitude. Peace!!)

Hola, mi nombre es Geri! Soy de Argentina, Cordoba! Tenes que visitar Cordoba! Estas invitada! Ya tenes casa en donde Quedarte! Es un gusto haberte conocido Amy! Tenemos que organizer una comdia todo juntos así nos conocemos mas. Fuera del ámbito de los kiwis!! Espero poder viajar y conocer mucho mas de NZ! Y quien sabe, capas que podemoa hacerco juntas! Un beso!
(Hello, my name is Geri! I'm from Argentina, Cordoba! You should visit Cordoba! You are invited! You have a house you where you can stay! It is a pleasure to have met you Amy! We must organize a dinner all together so we can get to know each other outside of the kiwi ambiance! I hope to travel and know more about NZ! And who knows, maybe we can do it together! Kisses!)

Hallo Amy, Mein Name ist Stephanie Galtz und ich komme aus einer kleinen Stadt im nördlichen Duestchland au der Ostsee. Wir Kennen Uhus vou der Arbeit bei Oakside. Wenn du dieses Buch nocheinmal liest kannst du dich bestimmt an das Mädchen erinnern, die mit ihrem Freund im Van geschlafen hat. Ich wuensche dir noch eine wunderschöne Zeit in Neuseeland! Liebe Gruesse, Stephanie
(Hello, my name is Stephanie Glatz and I living in a little town North of Germany on the East coast. We know each other from the work at Oakside and we are packing neighbors. When you read this again you will remember me as the little girl with her friend and slept in a van. I wish you a beautiful time in New Zealand! Nice regards, Stephanie.)


My co-workers are all amazing people. I find spending the long days at the packhouse with them is very inspirational. Being in this type of environment makes me want to spend the rest of my life traveling. We live in a very big world and there is so much to see. Caskie Stinnett once said, "I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine." I couldn't agree more! Although there is a little more routine in my life right now because I punch a clock, things are ever-changing. With each new experience, each new situation and every new person I meet...I grow as a person.

Carmen also shared her favorite quote with me and I think it is very fitting (especially since we are in Middle Earth.)  "Not all those who wander are lost." J.R.R Tolkien.

The Kiwi Experience

She works hard for the money

So hard for it honey

She work hard for the money

So you better treat her right.

~Donna Summer

Many people come to New Zealand and take part in the legendary "Kiwi Experience." It is a hop-on, hop-off bus adventure filled with twenty-something backpackers who are looking to travel and party. If I were about 10 years younger and had a little bit more money, I would probably be interested in joining them. However, I am seeing a whole different side of New Zealand and getting the REAL kiwi experience. I made the decision to come to New Zealand on a whim, so I didn't plan and save money like most people do. I knew I had to have a balance between work and play during my trip. Over the last three months I have been doing a lot of playing, so now it is time to work!

Richard (my new roommate) helped me get a job in the kiwifruit industry. I work for a company called Seeka, which is New Zealand's largest kiwifruit grower. They also operate more than 20% of the industry's total packing and coolstorage capacity. I work at the Seeka Oakside Packhouse. On my first day we were told that our packhouse would pack 4 billion boxes of fruit this season, which equates to 4,000 boxes a minute. We have 600 employees and three production lines that work around the clock. I work on Line #1 and my shift is from 8:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m., Sunday through Friday. The packhouse operates 24 hours a day, so there is also a night shift that works from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The picking & packing season will run from March to June.

Kiwifuit owe their name to a bird, native of New Zealand, named "kiwi." Although most parts of the world refer to the fruit simply as kiwi, you will be quickly corrected in New Zealand if you don't say kiwifruit. Kiwifruit plants need at least 240 frost-free days to grow. The best place for the vines to grow is in a moderately sunny place, where they can grow across a trellising system. My roommates Richard, Marcus and Jessica all work for a local grower and are in charge of picking the fruit during harvest season. Marcus describes his job in the following way, "Pick kiwis as fast as you can and be a slave." Classic! Each picker carries a bag on their chest and picks the kiwifruit from the vines above their heads. According to Marcus, they aren't referred to by their names but rather than the number on their bag. Work has been delayed this year because of the rain and also because a disease called PSA which has infected the vines. Sadly this disease (caused by pollen that they believe traveled here from Italy), may have a drastic effect on the vines and threaten the future of the fruit industry in New Zealand. If they can't control the disease and contamination, there is fear that within three years the entire kiwifruit industry in New Zealand could disappear. 

Once the fruit has been picked, they load it into giant bins and ship it to packhouses in the area. At Oakside, there are three "lines", which each have 60 plus employees working at any given time. There are several positions - quality control, sorters, box makers, packers, stackers and fork-lift drivers. After it has been loaded into the machine, they sort the fruit and then it makes its way down the conveyer belt. The machine sorts it by weight and then it is distributed to each packer based on the size. We have various box sizes, for the gold and green kiwifruit. In under 30 seconds I load 33 or so kiwifruit into a tray/box and then cover it with plastic and then close the box. If I take longer than 30 seconds, then I am screwed. It is imperative that you keep up a solid pace or the kiwifruit will begin to pile up, fall on the floor and then it becomes damaged product. 

This may be the most physically demanding job I have ever had. My back hurts and my hands are full of cuts. However as I stand there for 11 hours a day, I use this time to dream about my future. I brainstorm money-making ideas, dream about travels and think about friends and family. I also have met some amazing people at the packhouse - the type of people who will be lifetime friends. Most of the employees at the packhouse are from Malaysia, Taiwan and India. And then there is the rest of us…our little lunch crew looks like the United Nations. My new friends are Carmen (Mexico), Martijn (Holland), Kimberly (Japanese Kiwi born in America) and Kate (South America). There are a few others from Argentina, France, and Chile. I haven't confirmed it yet, but I believe I am the only American working in the packhouse. Richard, who is a supervisor at the Orchard, also said that in all the years he has been doing this he has never had an American work for him. I am not quite sure what that means. Do Americans not travel to New Zealand? If they travel here, do they choose not to work? And if they work, do they choose to get a more glamourous job? Well whatever the reason, I am slowly changing their minds that not all Americans are bad people. 

Although I am not a fan of the work and the long hours, I am grateful to have a job. I am also grateful for the people I have met through the job. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would make it through the day. I will pack fruit until my next work opportunity comes along. Until then, I will continue to work hard for the money.