Random Facts

Daily we encounter with some funny, weird, dangerous and curious things.

As this things don’t have any relation with my others posts I created this one to put all of them together.

So, starting from a common event for the Young people, who love parties and drinks, included me. Lol..

FACT 1

The picture below shows a guy “sleeping” on the floor. Why? I tried to ask, but he didn’t answer.

We noted this guy when Vini and I were going to the Brooklyn Bar, where the Brazilian band plays. We thought the guy might have got drunk and suddenly fell asleep on the floor. But later would wake up and go to bed. Well, it is what everyone thinks. But 4 hours later (I guess), when we came back home, the guy was still there. So we had to take a picture.

Not happy, and quite worried, we tried to wake his up, knocking the window and the door. Unsuccessfully, though. Afterwards, the next afternoon, when I woke up, I went to that flat to have a look if the guy was still there. He wasn’t. So I thought to myself: “Or he woke up, or someone noted his death”… (knock the wood!..hehehe)

FACT 2

Another fact, and still in the ZEST Apartments, building where I live, we had a very busy week in reason of the Fire Alarm. Vini had told me before the alarm of his apartment had rung once, when he was cooking. Nothing happened and it stopped after few minutes.

At that week, it happened daily, and not into the apartments. However, in the main alarm of the building, which means everyone has to leave the place.

First time, was a false alarm. Second one, I was already sleeping when a very loud alarm rung inside of my apartment saying we had to leave it. We didn’t leave, but we could see by the balcony and windows, a few people going downstairs. The Firemen come and stayed for a while. Nevertheless, nobody knew what was going on.

The day after, in the Elevator, a warning sparked our attention.

Therefore, the reason of the fire, was a cigarette thrown by the balcony that set on fire some clothes which were getting dried.

FACT 3

Now it is just a funny happening, when Rodrigo, Vini and I did the FREE Tour in Auckland. Same tour that I Bungy Jumped.

When we went up to the summit to have a great view of Auckland, the Kiwi guide had showed us a Cannon used during the 2nd World War (if I understood right). Then, we climbed the Cannon to come back to where we were.

Around the Cannon area, there was a fence. Everybody managed to jump it. Some girls used a stair in the back. But Vini no! He said: “Oh cool, will I have to jump it? Easy!” Lol … Well it’s not exactly what he said, but he jumped it.

It was funny. I wish I had a camera to video it. Anyway I could take a picture by my celphone.

Ps: Vini, it’s nothing personal. I’m just remembering you in my stories as you do in your blog. Hehehe… (If anybody wants to see what he says about me, or even his stories, his blog is: http://vini-away.blogspot.com/ - It is in Portuguese, though)

FACT 4

Weekly I have been going to the Library, for internet, books, newspaper, or just for waste my time when I have to stay in Takapuna waiting after a job to start the other.

Sometimes I try to sleep at the Beach, but these days the weather is bad, raining every single day. So I always get a book to read, and suddenly I fell asleep. In a bad position, of course, but nobody complain or wake me up. Good for relaxing a little bit before start working again.

Anyway, it’s not the reason I’m writing. The reason is that I found a Brazilian writer in the Library. Well, he is not a writer, actually. And not even good on words, and speech. Nevertheless, he wrote his Auto-biography, and it is available here, in English.

I haven’t read yet, but I may get it someday. Good for reading practice, and also to know about the life of our King of Soccer.

There he is:

For now that’s all. Next post will be about my jobs. Again!

Exhausted!!!

Third day of the new crazy schedule, and I'm already EXHAUSTED!!

As I wrote before, I was trying to work for the Salvation Army, and sort a time out that I would be able to have all 3 jobs. So did I. I'm now working for 3 different companies and places.

First of all, follow the description of my 3 jobs, and then the new schedule:

1st Job
Passador at Wildfire (Takapuna) – Serving meats and running food.

You might be asking yourself what the hell is Passador? It is the guy in a “Churrascaria” who come over your table and ask : “Would you like some Picanha (Rump)?” or “Sausage, sir?”

2nd Job
Cleaner at Sentinel Building (Takapuna) – Vacuum and mop main areas, gym and bathrooms. Take the rubbish of all 28 levels.

Although It’s not a hard job, sometimes it is disgusting and disturbing.

3rd Job
Family Store Assistant at Salvation Army (Royal Oak) – As I started today, I don’t know which will be my duties. But, due to the busy day, I had to tidy all the messy in the store.

I think, it is the most reasonable job, where I can meet people, talk and improve my English, and help people.

So now, my new schedule:

Observations

1. The gray cells mean that i stay for around 4 hours in Takapuna, waiting till start working at Wildfire. At least at 4 pm i can come to Wildfire to have a Staff meal, for free.

2. The yellow ones mean I'm off, but I can receive a call from Wildfire asking to work.
_________________

Therefore, I'm expecting to work 50 hours a week. Thinking about the amount of hours is not much. Normal, actually. The problem is I’m working in different suburbs.

A fast explanation:

Takapuna (North) – City (Central) – Royal Oak (South)

Cleaning & Wildfire – Home – Salvation Army

Travel Distance and time take by bus:

City – Takapuna – 9 km, 20-25 min
City – Royal Oak – 11 km, 40 min

Daily, my travel takes in total around 2 hours, except on Thursdays, 3 hours.

And here is not due to the traffic jam. A reason that makes me start thinking about living or not in Sao Paulo again.

Well, that´s what I chose for myself. So, LET´S WORK!!!!

That was the news. I more exhausted now... Lol...

It's 8 pm and I'm going to bed ... Good Night!!!

Opportunities & Choices

As I thought, once you know a quite good amount of people, your chance to have better opportunities increases!!

So, after almost 3 months here, it happened.

Since the beginning, I was looking for any job (Office, hospitality, cleaning, etc). After 2 weeks in Auckland, I got a job at Wildfire.

Then, I tried to find an office job, mainly. I offered myself to work for free in some of the opportunities I had searched on Internet, but none accepted it. Moving on, looking for another job in Hospitality, to make more money to travel, I went to many interviews. Unsuccessfully, though.

Therefore, as I was working 4 or 5 days a week at the Wildfire, only from 5 or 6 pm, without doing anything during the day. I decided so, to look for a NGO to become a volunteer. I made a contact with many NGO, as Auckland City Mission and The Salvation Army.

A person from The Salvation Army replied my email. Surprisingly, in Portuguese! Yes, a Brazilian girl who is working for The Salvation Army in Wellington contacted me. She gave me, some details from a person responsible in Auckland. After contact this person, I received an email saying that they needed someone to work instead a person who is on Holiday, in a Family Store. I have an appointment to talk to the manager of the store, this Tuesday (22/09).

Although, it seems I will work for The Salvation Army, which would be cool and important for my career, just before arrange the appointment with them, a guy from the Wildfire asked me if I knew someone who could work cleaning a building instead of him, because he has injuries in his foot. I told him at the same time that I wanted this job. The day after I went to see how was the job, and tomorrow I will start it.

What to do now? Work for The Salvation Army would be very good for my CV. And getting the other job, would be good to save money to travel before go back to Brazil.

Well, I’m trying to change the working hours in this new job to have the mornings free and also work for the Salvation Army. Anyway, Tuesday I will talk to the manger and see what we can manage.

Always like that!!! You can’t have whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. But, "Life is made of choices" and you are the only responsible for that!

Auckland: Free Tour, Harbour Bridge & Bungy Jump

As i knew since my first week in Auckland, there is a tour around the city, by Kiwi Experience, which is FREE.

I could have done it long time ago, by myself, with Mariana or someone else. But no, i did it this Tuesday (15/09/2009). I did it with Vini and Rodrigo, though.

The tour passed through the city, and then went to a "walk" in the Harbour Bridge, which conect the City to North Shore.



Afterwards, we went to Devonport, a very nice suburb, just next to Takapuna (where i work). However, i haven't gone there before. While the people of the tour went to have lunch, Vini, Marcelo and I, went to a pub, to have a beer. Hehehe... The weather was cool, sunny, so we could enjoy a cold beer. In addition, in a table outside of the pub, at the street, as we have in Brazil, and i miss it a lot!



Then we went to a summit, which had an amazing view to the city, Volcano Rangitoto, Harbour Bridge and etc.

Mushroom, Little Dunga and Me.



Little Dunga on the TOP of Volcano Rangitoto.


Photo of me, with the Auckland city as the background.


The tour doesn't seem interesting, unless the part of the beer. Nevertheless, there is a UNBELIEVABLE fact that happened. I met the woman of my life!! A Scotlish girl, PERFECT!!! Lol... Unfortunately, i have just picture of her back!!.. hehehe



Well, its true, but not the unbelievable fact.

Besides the walk in the Bridge, people who are doing the free tour, have the opportunity of Bungy Jumping for a cheaper price. So the guide asked before we start the walk if anybody would like to bungy jump. I said "maybe".

If you know me, you must be thinking if i was crazy, right? As i can't even ride in Rollercoasters. Hehehe... But no, i'm not crazy yet. Just becoming...

So, to start the walk, we had to grab a stuff like a belt, for security at the Bridge. (Vini had a few problems to put it on..hehehe)

Again, one of the guys who works in there, asked if anybody wanted to jump. Then i asked him, if i had to decided it there or i could decide up the Bridge. It was funny, cuz he said "You can decide there, but it is easier for us, if you decide it now". Already scarry i answered "Mate, i'm sorry, but i don't want to make it easier for you. But easier for me!" hahahah...

He gave me a different belt, that might be used for the Bungy Jump. Untill this time i hadn't paid anything. I was already in panic, though!

We started our walk in the Bridge, and quickly we got the Bungy Jump spot. It was closed!!! They opened it for me! And then asked to me "So, are you gonna jump?". I said embarassed "Hum... YEAH!! Why not???"

Feeling already in the heaven, i sat in a "chair" while they were setting up the equipments, cameras, and everything...

Everything was very fast! Vini and Rodrigo didn't stop video me, making jokes and bets!!! Suddenly, i heard : "Ok Leandro, let's go!!"

After that just watching the video. Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXuTtvHMm1s

I have to confess!! During the first fall i thought i was going to die!! I couldn't think in a different thing. But when the rope pulled me back i could breathe and i felt alive... after it, was cool!!! i liked the sensation!!!

What's next?

Around the city

Last week, i saw curious things and new parts of Auckland. Because I wanted? Well, moreless…

I didn’t go there to know those places, but some because of interviews that i had, in different parts of the city.

It stats just in front of the Church, the same street as my building. A guy was playing that curious stuff, which i have know idea what is it called.

Walking at Queen St, i could see a small Rugby Field, being set up. I couldn't discover why it was for, though.

Afterwards, walking on the way to Mt. Eden, i could see a Cementery in a small park area, next to the streets, without any fence.

Following, I found a Motorway, which is similar of our famous "Marginal", without the traffic jam, OF COURSE!!!

Then, as i had heard before, THE POWER STATION. No, its not a place which control the Energy. Its a place for shows which is gonna have a famous Brazilian Band, playing next October. I thought it was said only for brazilians ...

... But not!! Just in front of The Power Station, an Ad with the info of the Brazilian Band, Natiruts' show.

And to complete a photo of me... Quite serious, hun???

Sunday, 6th of September

Well, today seems like a common day. But here in New Zealand and Australia or Internationally (i don't know) it is Father's Day!!

So Daddy, Happy Father's Day!! Again... lol

As most of the Holidays in Oceania, people comemorate it at the beach. I could see many families with their boats, having a 'pic nic', coffee or ice cream, playing or just relaxing there.

It was in Takapuna, suburb where i work. As i got work earlier, i went to see the beach. Of course its incomparable with the beaches in Ozzy Land, but the weather was good, so i could take nice pictures.

There were as well a few guys, training, i guess. There was a kind of coach telling them to run from a side to the other.

Nice smile, hun??? Lol.. Its terrible to take pictures of yourself!!! Especially by the celphone!!

Differently of Xmas time, that all natives have a BBQ at the Beach, this time i just could see some brazilians. There were 4 or 5... Probably, just enjoying the score between Brazil and Argentina (3x1).

Sorry Argentineans!! Maradona only as a player!!

Today also had a Brazilian Festival for the 7th of September. However, i couldn't join it, cos' it was at the same time of work.

News are coming up ...

Fleas!!!!

Few weeks ago, a friend of my ex flatmate came to the flat complaining that her house was full of fleas!!! So, to help her, as it says on Internet, we borrowed her our vacuum. She said later it seemed to work!!! Great!!

Few weeks later... here i am, at home... and guess??? Well.. i used the same vacuum to clean the house 2 times in 10 days. And suddenly, one morning i woke up with itches in my back. 2 days later in my back and my leg. And today, with itches in my back, my leg and my arm. Oh Goshhh!!!

On Internet, they say: After use the vacuum you may kill almost 100% of the fleas!!! OK, cool!!! But they don't say the fleas could be alive inside of the vacuum!!!

Now, i'm waiting for the new flatmate to move in... Nice reception!! She will sleep and wake up scratching her itches!!!! Lol...

I'm washing all the sheets and covers trying to kill our "new flatmates" who are trying to live without paying anything!! hahaha...