English version

After an awesome two weeks road trip in April, I came back in Berlins cafe to join Charlene, my co-worker and Dean, my boss. I already worked two months in this place, it’s like being home. But with May, winter was coming, and the low season too. The tourists were starting to disappear, less people on the road, less people in the cafe. Some days were looong – especially the afternoons where I could spend several hours without seeing anyone ! But winter has his advantage. For example, we have more time to speak and exchange our experiences about New Zealand with locals or tourists. My english is still not perfect, but now I’m little bit more confident and I’m less afraid to strike up a conversation. Well I have to admit, sometimes I smile as a courtesy and say « yeah » but I don’t understand anything… It was always a pleasure to cook, make coffees and even to clean (no, that’s wrong). And nevertheless, there have been some rushes like when I was alone and customers asked coffees and meals – no panic said me Dean (I panic !) or some weekend we were busy, especially when there are public holidays (panic !).

Another advantage in winter : I have more days off, two or three per week, perfect to discover the surroundings. So now I am familiar with the North of the South Island. I walked in Kahurangi National Park, at the snowy summit, cold but awesome track. And a new opportunity to see the kindness of kiwis : indeed, I met kiwi boy on my way and he helped me to come down because it was very slippery (I finished the ass on the floor so many times).

I was also able to visit my friends. Elisa is working in Blenheim in a vineyard, it’s a wine region. Opportunity for me to discover this region, the East coast from Blenheim to Picton is beautiful. Each beach offer awesome landscapes. And like a lot of cities in New Zealand, there are second hand shop – perfect to buy winter clothes to survive for the next months and save money … Well, in Blenheim I had another souvenir from police for forgetting my seatbelt, as expensive as a beautiful fur coat afford I could afford for the winter.

Few weeks after, it’s Gisa that I joined on the top of South Island : Golden Bay. We crossed charming villages to arrive in the top of the bay. Here, we walked to open fields, facing the wind ! Difficult to progress but in the end, an amazing landscape was offered to us : green lands, sheer cliffs, beautiful beaches (no swim, too cold). Without sunshine and clouds and windy, it was like Iceland.

Each weeks brings its share of surprises. Few woofers come and go, French, German, Korean, Kiwi… Good to mix culture. And there were two storms with few days of rain, the Buller Gorge River gushed a lot : winter in New Zealand. And for two weeks the cafe was vibrant : Dean’s brother Mark, his wife Sarah and their lovely kids Eagan & Giselle from Australia came for holidays. The occasion to share good evenings – Sarah prepared me perfect fresh mojitos ! With the kids and Sarah we had a funny afternoon in a Buller Gorge, crossing the river ziplining. And one day after, everybody looked for gold in a river with the help of Mike, a regular at the cafe. He has all the material of a prospector. It was very interesting, but very cold : the river was on shadow and water is cold ! And you have to be patient to find gold (and I’m not patient). After an afternoon, we came back home, the pockets empty, no nuggets…

And there are all the good times everyday in the cafe. To warm up and to survive the winter, we stay a lot of time close to the fire – it’s the best place in the cafe. And my dad can be proud of me, I can light the fire alone (on the advices of Dean). During the evenings, we watched TV on the green couch, near to the fire. It’s here I’ve seen France lose at rugby against the All Blacks, three times, and heard Dean « We kick your ass », three times… But it’s here I’ve seen France win World Cup at 3 a.m. I felt little bit alone on a bush to celebrate our victory but I showed to everybody in cafe that French are the best (in soccer…).

6 months to complete, and despite some difficult times, I’ve lived fabulous moments. To work in this cafe gave me a chance to meet wonderful people, to learn new things, to progress in English, to feel almost kiwi (my accent makes me default). Some pictures of the cafe and the surroundings :

Thank you so much Dean to offer me this opportunity, to support me every day, you won’t heard my « Putain », nor my bare feet on the floor. I’m leaving with the heavy heart but with wonderful souvenirs.