Working Travel: Realizing a Dream in a Year

Chapter 5: The ride must be done

first ride
The Isle of Wight is a little hissing and breathing monster. The strong smell of sulfur makes people frown before they even land on the island.This was not a pleasant visit. The tour guide's English was mixed with a lot of technical terms. For me who likes to get to the bottom of it, half-knowledge is the biggest torture.

Why should I pay for this?Because of the strong recommendation of Julie and Rudy, because of the petty bourgeois mentality of not to miss, in short this is not a wise decision.

In China, one of the attractions I least like to visit is the museum.Especially the history museum, I am a layman, and I have no nostalgia for the past. I am far more interested in watching the excitement in the museum than looking at the doorway. Since I can’t talk to the ancients, I might as well stay in the secular world, get to know people today, or focus on landscapes and get closer to myself. .

A misunderstanding of travel is that we usually don’t want to miss the scenic spots that a hundred people agree with. In fact, that place may not be to your liking. The most important thing is to find the beautiful scenery that belongs to you.Therefore, there are many similarities between life and travel. It is very likely that you will find the goals set by society boring after you reach them.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I returned to Whakatani Pier, and there was a smell of dusk in the air. I quickened my pace and prepared to take the challenge of taking a ride for the first time in my life.This is something I have always wanted to do in New Zealand.The wild wolf came back from New Zealand and told me that New Zealand must be the last country on earth where you can hitch a ride.Gu Yue also told me that his car-hiking career started in New Zealand, where the people are simple and enthusiastic enough.How wonderful it sounds, I think this thing must be done.I still have enough money in my bank card to buy a ticket, but I don't do that.

I told Julie I was going to hitchhike to Napier to look for work.

"Then you have to pay attention to safety. In the past two years, a German backpacker had an accident."

"It's best to go to the gas station for a ride, and don't take a ride on an uphill, the driver is unwilling to stop. If you take a ride in Whakatani, there is a bridge out of the town, that's a good place." Rudy suggested road.

I walked west along the pier, by the river in Whakatane, not knowing where I would be in 5 hours - in theory I could be anywhere from Whakatane to Napier.I tried to make myself like the uncertainty, and found it easy.A perfect life, like an electrocardiogram, always alternates between ups and downs. For a life that has been flat for more than two decades, liking the ups and downs of 5 hours is as simple as liking the new and loathing the old-this is human nature.Soon, the Tourist Information Office (I-Site) in Whakatani came into my sight, and I walked in.

"Hello, I'd like to take a train to Napier, where should I stop?"

Behind the counter is a shy blonde girl, speaking softly: "There is a bridge over the river, did you see it on the way here?"

"I see." The bridge Rudy was talking about was probably that one.

"You have to go to Rotorua first, and from there to Napier," she said, drawing a right angle on the map. "Do you have a sign?"

"What it is?"

"You have to write where you're going on a piece of cardboard so drivers coming and going can see where you're going. It's a lot faster than giving a thumbs up."

I shook my head, there is still this trick.The girl said, "Wait, I'll help you make a piece." After speaking, she turned back and entered the office.

After a while, she returned to her seat with the cardboard, and began to trace the place names with a signature pen stroke by stroke.She lowered her head, her expression focused.I think she is so beautiful.Some people say that when you want to do something, the whole world will help you.Accepting help is a very pleasant thing, but many people are unwilling to ask for help from others. One is that they don’t trust others, and the other is that they are afraid of being owed favors. It is really a pity.

"You are so brave, I dare not take a stranger's car," the girl still lowered her head, her red lips parted slightly, "However, I gave someone a ride before."

She handed me the completed sign.

"Thank you." I said from the bottom of my heart.

"Good luck." She smiled softly.

My backpack is only 40 liters, and I can't hold a lot of things. The only things that can be stuffed in are emotions and hopes.I think this is enough.

After crossing the bridge, the shoulders were still wide enough, I held up the cardboard and began to pray.In another two hours, it will be dark, and if the ride fails, at worst, they will go back to the hotel in town.I consoled myself while counting the passing cars.I looked at the time, and it was only 5 minutes, but it felt like I had been waiting for a long time.The direction of the road out of the town was almost due west, and the bright yellow sunset made every car lower its sun visor.I thought to myself, shouldn't the drivers see the words on the cardboard because of the backlight?

I was thinking wildly, a car turned on the turn signal, slowed down slowly, and stopped not far from me.Happiness came too suddenly, I was not ready yet.I froze for a few seconds and rushed up.Open the car door, it is a family of Maori.The driver was a middle-aged woman, presumably the mother of the children.

"We're not going to Rotorua, we're just dropping by and we can drop you halfway."

"Thank you so much! This is my first ride, I didn't expect it to be so fast."

"Haha, you're welcome. My name is Simon. How about you?"

"Call me Fei, I'm Chinese."

I forgot what we talked about afterwards, but what I remembered was the many brown faces and the enthusiastic curly hair of that aunt.A friend said that the details of memory are always stripped away by time, and even the emotions are forgotten. In the end, what is left may be just a bright smile and a familiar smell... It's like painting becomes impressionism, and writing poetry becomes hazy poetry Same.However, those who appreciate them will still give out sincere admiration.He said it very well, but, using curly hair to commemorate the first ride in my life, I am afraid that I am the only one who smiles.

In fact, I only drove for a short time, and Simon put me on the side of the road, and the sky became darker, but the warm yellow turn signal seemed to have taken root, and it was always on in my mind.I know, I can definitely get a ride to Napier.

Fifteen minutes later, I got into a van and the driver called Dalton to pick up my son from Rotorua.Dalton doesn't like to talk, and once the small compartment is enveloped in silence, I feel uneasy.I always feel uncomfortable without saying something.Dalton doesn't seem to think so, and he likes to ignore the topics I initiate.If he hadn't offered to drive me on the road, I would have thought he hated me.

A year later, after driving for [-] miles, I realized that some drivers are there to pass the loneliness of the journey, and some drivers are simply willing to help others.It doesn't matter whether it's silent or lively.No words can beat the selfless care of a stranger.

Stopped overnight in Rotorua and hit the road again the next morning.No words all the way, changed the car, and arrived at the boundless Lake Taupo (Taupo) in the afternoon. Several black swans fluctuated with the waves. They have bright red beaks, elegant and noble.I decided to stay by the lake, otherwise I would be sorry for the beautiful scenery.

I took the cardboard and walked slowly along Lake Taupo.Cars kept whizzing past me, and I was going to head out of town and find a gas station.Only a few minutes later, a red RV braked suddenly not far ahead. I still walked forward slowly, and when I came to the car, the door slammed open.The buddy in the car shook his head and said, "Get in the car."

I pointed to the place names on the cardboard and gave him a questioning look.

"Yes, I'm going to Napier too." He nodded vigorously.

In this way, my car journey ended unexpectedly.When I got in the car, I introduced myself as usual, and I almost knew the lines by heart.His name is Benjamin, he is from Germany, he is 21 years old, he is a young man who loves rock and roll.The rock music in the car was knocking out my ears.

"What kind of music do you like?" He asked me at the top of his voice.I find a lot of drivers asking this question, as if I say they can change the track to my liking.But in fact, the songs I listen to and their world are two different worlds. I gave up after doing such a waste of effort a few times.

So this time I replied: "I don't listen to music very much."

"This is my favorite band, hot chilly pepper, you know?" He pointed to the player.

"I heard, how long have you been in New Zealand?"

"One month."

"What are you doing in Napier?"

"Looking for a job. I played for a month and bought this car again. Now I'm poor."

"It seems that you are also on a working holiday visa!"

"Yes."

"What did you do in Germany before?"

"I worked as a welder in our village for two years, and finally saved enough money to play outside. Our village is very small, with only 600 people, but have you heard of Hohenzollern Castle?"

"No, I know Neuschwanstein Castle."

"Hey, Hohenzollern Castle is the second most famous castle in Germany. It's very close to our home, and we can get there by bike. I'll take a walk when I have nothing to do. If you go to Germany, I'll take you there."

"When it comes to finding a job, I know it's the peak season for winter pruning in vineyards, and we can do it together."

"That couldn't be better!"

Accompanied by the passionate singing of the red pepper, accompanied by the roar of the RV speeding on the mountain road, I was HIGH.

a night in the ice cellar

Arrived in Napier at 6pm. A major earthquake in 1931 leveled the city, but created a miraculous rebirth.Today, Napier has one of the most outstanding collections of 30s buildings in the world.Walk around the city and you'll see beautiful examples of Art Deco, Spanish Mission style, and classic bar designs.

I was amazed by the grandeur and elegance of this small town. Looking at the sea from the pink arch, I said in a daze, "It's so beautiful."

The sea is like a giant in brocade, lying drunk in the sweet sunset.

"Do you have a place to stay tonight?" he asked me.

"I haven't found it yet."

"If you don't mind, just sleep in my car."

In order to express my gratitude, I invited Benjamin to eat at the most famous restaurant in the world - McDonald's.Then we drove to find a place to sleep——Benjamin's home was in a small village, so it was unusually quiet, so he had high requirements for the sleeping environment.

“I once spent over an hour driving to find a place to sleep overnight!” he told me.

Finally we found a secluded place, what appeared to be a park parking lot, with some other cars around.

He took out two bottles of beer and asked me how to say Cheers in Chinese.

I said, "Cheers. In Chinese, that means drinking to the bottom."

"Oh," he was taken aback, "then we'd better Cheers."

"What about German?"

"Prost."

In the end, we said cheers three times in Chinese, English and German, and then looked at each other and laughed.We couldn't see each other's expressions in the dark night, but this was the happiest moment after I left Whakatani.When I was young, my father was always drunk, and when he came back, he would point and say a lot of nasty words. I made up my mind to stay away from this evil thing when I was young.After work, I finally realized the involuntary helplessness, but at most it was just helplessness, a passive emotion.So far I still don't think there is any direct connection between "being able to drink" and "being a man".I think the reason for my change is that being drunk can shorten the "distance between people".

I didn't like Shanghai very much, and I still don't like Shanghai very much. The degree of alienation between people is one of the criteria for evaluating cities, so I like Beijing more.There are still some great things about human beings. Although the Tower of Babel failed, they invented a universal language: alcohol.

At the moment when the wine bottles collide, I am willing to say something from my heart.

"Let me tell you a story about my friend. His girlfriend is German, and he took a bus from Beijing to Berlin. It took 3 and a half months, and he took a total of 88 rides."

When I said "ride," I emphasized it, pointing to myself and then to his RV.Meaning, just hitchhiking like me.

"Really?"

"real."

"This is the most amazing story I've heard this year!" he said in amazement.

"His girlfriend is so happy. Do you have a girlfriend?"

"broke up."

"You're coming on a working holiday, right? I can't live without sex for a year."

"..."

They are all young people, why is there such a big difference?I was going to say, you beast, but I like his authenticity, he's better than a jerk doing bad things outside behind his girlfriend's back.

After we finished our drinks and brushed our teeth carelessly, Benjamin closed the door and turned on the small lights in the RV.He read his book, I read mine, we exchanged words now and then, and soon fell asleep.

In the morning I woke up from the cold.The winter in New Zealand is really cold, the caravan is like an ice cellar.I cursed, curled up into a ball, and rubbed my feet desperately, but I didn't expect it to get colder and colder.Finally I simply got up and went for a run on the road!Benjamin got up too, and we quickly started looking for work.From cafes, to motels, to Hong Kong-style restaurants, after half a day, I have gained countless and been rejected.

In Pizza Hut, I chatted with a local Chinese. He told me that there are more than 50000 people in Napier, and 3000 people are looking for work in winter. The unemployment rate in New Zealand is 8%. Of course, the government hopes to give priority to local people.It is even more difficult for us foreigners to find a job.After the financial crisis, not only was it difficult to find a job, but even the income of seasonal workers dropped a lot.

We also went to several youth hostels that offered positions in the vineyard, but were told that we had to live in the hostel, the weekly cost was much more expensive than renting a house, and it was still common.What's more, Benjamin has a caravan to live in, so this is naturally not the best choice.

It wasn't all fruitless though, at one restaurant we were given the contact of a food supplier who said there might be an opportunity.In the window of a restaurant, I saw an advertisement for rent, and I contacted the landlord.

"My tenants are all young people on working holidays. You can ask them to help introduce jobs." It was a middle-aged woman with a Hong Kong accent.

We had a packed lunch on the side of the road and decided to leave Napier and try our luck in its sister city, Hastings.Hastings is a short drive 20 kilometers southwest of Napier.

Because Napier wowed me so violently that my first impression of Hastings was bad.We went directly to the famous seasonal labor agency PICKNZ to register our personal information.

Turning around in little Hastings, it got dark.I was afraid of Benjamin's ice cellar, so I said I'll find another place to spend the night tonight, so let's not spend it here.

"I'm going to sleep in a hotel tonight. I haven't showered in a long time. And tonight's World Cup will have a German team match. I will definitely supervise the match!"

I smiled knowingly.At the door of a hotel, we hugged goodbye.

"When you come to China, I invite you to drink baijiu."

I rang up the door of the hotel and called Victor's friend Tang Tang, who had just arrived in Hastings and was working on a vineyard.Tangtang is a girl from the north, and she said straightforwardly: "You wait, we will pick you up."

She lives with two other friends on the second floor of a building that used to be a language school, but now has no students.The stairs were carpeted, and the soft touch reminded me of the night I had just settled in Opotiki.The corridor on the second floor is lined with bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom on both sides.We were the only tenants in the whole building, and the lights were dim and a bit gloomy.

"Haven't you eaten yet? I left a portion for you." Tangtang took me to the kitchen and greeted me enthusiastically.

I'm not polite either, I ate everything.In the past, I always felt that it was not good to bother others, but in the end, I always wanted to refuse and greet, half-pushing and half-accepting.A person who is outside finds out that if you can help me or I help you, if you can also become someone who can be trusted and relied on, then there is nothing embarrassing in accepting help.

Tangtang introduced us to each other, and the other two boys came from Northeast China and Henan Province.

Tips
To find a job in New Zealand, you can go through an intermediary agency, free of personal intermediary fees. PICKNZ is the most famous seasonal labor agency with offices all over New Zealand. During the peak season of farm work, PICKNZ is a very efficient channel to find a job.General human resources agencies include Canstaff, Kelly Services, Drake, Adecco, etc., as long as you go to these companies to fill out the job application form, you can enter the job vacancy database as a candidate. There is no fee, but you need to call frequently to inquire about the progress.After obtaining the job, a small part of the salary will be given to the intermediary company.I-Sites across New Zealand provide a list of local intermediary contact details.

A boy from Northeast China wants to study veterinary medicine. Massey University in New Zealand has the world's top veterinary medicine major. The meaning of working holidays to him is probably a springboard to his dream.Xiaohong from Henan heard the hype from the intermediary, saying that it is easy to make money abroad, but when he came, he found out that this was not the case at all, but he owed some debts in order to go abroad.He said he would find a way to stay in New Zealand and continue working to earn money.Xiao Hong is studying hotel management. He said that he may need to get a work visa in a hotel in New Zealand in the future, and he will go to school after saving enough money.He really made it happen before I left New Zealand.People with clear goals are often half successful.

In the evening, I laid a floor in Xiaohong's room, stroked the long-lost and rough carpet, and cheered in my heart, goodbye, Benjamin Ice Cellar!

have to leave you

In the next few days, while waiting for news from several friends, I went back and forth between Napier and Hastings to find a job. Because I didn’t have a car, the Tale of Two Cities was extremely long.A 20-minute drive takes three hours.Once I walked along the road for an hour before I got a car from a kind person.

Looking for a job is not a pleasant thing. Unlike chasing girls, you can look at the stars without love, and forget loneliness when you look at it.But without bread, you can only starve with hunger.

I have a deep desire in my heart to stay in beautiful Napier, and this desire keeps me going back and forth, tirelessly.Under Xiaohong's introduction, I almost rented a house in Napier.It was a house on the bank of the river, with towering trees on both sides of the river and a small river flowing quietly. I liked Napier a little more.When the landlord heard that I was looking for a seasonal worker, he introduced me to work in the vineyard.

"It's winter now, and it's hard to find ordinary jobs. Only seasonal workers still have a chance. Will you prune?"

"Taught." I took a pruning class with Julie when I was in Whakatani.

"I'll introduce you to a foreman. You can ask him if he is still short. By the way, do you have scissors?"

"No, aren't these provided by the orchard?" Ahua told me on the phone that all his tools were provided by the company.A new pair of large scissors costs more than 100 yuan, and I am reluctant to buy it.

"Here I prepare everything by myself. I'll give you a call and find Sixi. He has second-hand pruning tools, which are very cheap."

In the evening, Sixi came to pick me up at the landlord's house as promised.Sixi is more than 30 years old, with half of her arms exposed, her muscles are lean, and her skin has turned bronze due to the wind and sun. She has probably been on a farm.He called me to supper, and gave me several pairs of scissors, big and small.

"Take it and use it, if you can sell it, please sell it for me."

"How much can this sell for?"

"50 for the big one, 30 for the small one, 40 for the tool bag, and sheepskin ones."

"Aren't you using these tools?" I asked him.

"No, smart people don't rely on this to make money."

I was about to leave when he suddenly said, "Do you have time now? I'll take you to play."

I thought it would be fine at night anyway, and it would be good to relax, so I followed him out.Soon, we parked the car outside an inconspicuous building, and before entering the door, I noticed the word TAB on the outer wall.We were stopped at the front desk and asked to check in.I looked at Sixi for no reason, and he wrote down a series of numbers on the register book with disapproval, and then pushed the book to me: "Just write as I write."

The front desk couldn't understand what we said, and stared at us, the two Chinese, inexplicably.

We first walked through a dance hall, and many elderly white-haired people sat in small groups on chairs around the dance floor, seemingly waiting for the music to play.After passing the dance hall, there is a door on the left, and loud electronic music is faintly coming from inside.Sixi pushed open the door, and about 20 slot machines were running in full swing.Sixi looked up and glanced in a certain direction, and said, "It's ok."

He handed me some coins and let me play around.

"That's my job. Playing the slot machines," he says proudly.

"Can this also make money?"

"Yes, it can earn more than an orchard. Are you interested? I will pay you 500 yuan a week."

Probably because of my disbelieving expression, he quietly explained: "Just so and so, so and so... (1000 words omitted here)"

"So it sounds reasonable."

For the next two hours, I kept repeating the same actions, inserting coins, placing bets, drawing prizes, inserting coins... Finally I rubbed my sore eyes and said, "Brother Sixi, I have to go out to get some air. "

He responded with a grunt, still staring intently at the unpredictable tiger, the light of the screen flickered on his face, I think he looks more like a tiger.

The cool night breeze woke me up quite a bit.I returned to the oppressive computer room with a very clear voice in my heart: this job is not suitable for me, I like working outdoors.Sixi probably saw what was on my mind, so she didn't force me to stay and work.In New Zealand, the income difference between various jobs is not particularly large, so people have more freedom to choose the jobs they like.

Back at the residence on He’an Road, the landlord’s little assistant had already arranged a bed for me. It was a wooden hut, less than 10 square meters, and the roommate was a Cambodian chef who hadn’t left work yet.

"The water and the kitchen are in the main house. Always lock the door. Things are often lost here. You can live here tomorrow, but sleep in the living room tonight."

"Ah, there are thieves in this place!" I cursed secretly.

For various reasons, I finally decided to go back to Hastings for development.When I left Napier, all I could tell myself was that Napier was beautiful, but not for me.I am a migrant worker, and the city that makes life better does not belong to me.

Fortunately, Marion and his friends also happened to be in Napier. I told them that Napier's winter is the off-season for tourism and it is hard to find a job. After they made a calculation and found it reasonable, they drove me back to Hastings.

This is the second time she and I have reunited since we swapped places in Whakatane. We met in the library in Rotorua.Everything in New Zealand can be described as fast and continuous, fast acquaintance, constant farewell; Life can't afford such intense time.I already want to work a longer job and live in a longer apartment with peace of mind.The only thing that I didn't expect was that New Zealand is small, so that the reunion can also be embellished with speed.

At this time, Tangtang and Northeast Boy had decided to leave the vineyard and return to Auckland.I was taken aback when I heard the news.

"What's the matter? It's not long since you came here, and you're going back?"

"It's so hard to make money pruning."

"Then the 400 you paid that guy was wasted?" In order to get this job of pruning the vineyard, the two of them were paid 400 by a black-hearted introducer.

"That can't be helped. There is no way to save money here."

"Life is not easy..."

A week passed and the job was still gone.I feel like I was overly optimistic, and the money in my bank account has crept back to where I was when I first arrived in New Zealand.Although there is still pressure, compared to the first few days in a foreign land, I am no longer panicked at the end of the road.In the worst case, go back to Opotiki or work in a position provided by the youth hostel, anyway, you will not die of hunger.

You can still live without money.At 1:[-] noon, I walked into Countdown (one of the largest supermarket chains in New Zealand) on Queen Street in Hastings quietly, and there was a large area of ​​vegetables in front of me, long and short, large and small, Red and green, fat and thin, strong and soft, I suddenly miss the wind blowing across the fields and the smell of soil in the wind-my childhood did not lack such scenes.

Because of the tightness of life, I had to start learning to count and count.Seafood is cheaper than meat, meat is cheaper than vegetables, pork is unpalatable and expensive; among beef products, minced beef is the cheapest, and it is a must for fried rice; steak is not easy for me and other grassroots, and mutton is the most expensive meat, I covet it It's been a long time, but it's never discounted.The most expensive vegetables are sweet peppers and mushrooms. The price of green vegetables in Shanghai has always been firm, only 2.5 yuan for two small pieces. When I return to China to eat green vegetables, I will cry!The taste of Maori cabbage left me speechless. The only advantage is that it is cheap and plentiful.The most delicious ones are potatoes and carrots, which can be eaten for a week for 10 yuan.One dinner, we actually made three kinds of potatoes: shredded potatoes, salt-baked potatoes, and fried potatoes.

Every time I go to the supermarket, I'm reminded of all that my mother has sacrificed for a cheap and delicious dinner.

I remembered that I once turned and walked away impatiently because of her haggling in the vegetable market.When I was arguing with people in the mall, she was blushing at the vegetable market for a few cents.If it weren't for inflation, today's young people, including me, would not be able to put down their self-esteem to bargain.

I remembered that my mother was sweating in the kitchen, but I was lost in the study every summer evening.And for all her hard work, a word of "delicious" at the dinner table is the reward.In this world, pay and reward have never been equal. Those who complain about this should really think about the philosophy on the table.

In those days, every time I walked out of the supermarket, I felt very satisfied.Compared with the football World Cup and Wimbledon tennis tournament in full swing, I am more concerned about the prices of vegetables and food.This feeling of being alive for myself makes me love every day of my life.

Finding a job finally appeared a turning point.After Tangtang left, two girls moved into our apartment, Cynthia and Lan Daxia, who were said to be met by Xiaohong on the Internet.In the name of introducing work, he recruited the two of them under his command.Under the tremendous pressure exerted by the life-threatening Shuangshu, Xiao Hong made good use of the contacts he had accumulated in Hastings. One day he announced: "The job is done! The four of us together, the entire vineyard The package is for us!"

I sighed: "Behind every successful man, there is a successful woman!"

(End of this chapter)