After coming to New Zealand practically limping off my last job with carpal tunnel, a heel spur, an inability to sleep at night, and large dark circles under my eyes, I did NOT see myself getting onto another yacht a few weeks later to work a 2 week charter for the holidays. However in the change over in my travels from the North Island to the South Island, I thought it would be a good idea to check in with my agency in Auckland to see what freelance work might come up in the coming months and put my name in because I go a bit nuts after a few weeks without work. The agency assured me that it would be tough for me to find work for at least another month, as the season was starting off slow. An hour later another agency was calling me with an emergency gig that started the next day on a sailboat nearby subbing in for a chef that walked the day before a boss' family Christmas trip. Having worked with crazy crew and knowing their predicament, I thought, Hey I'll give it a look and see what they are offering. Twenty minutes later, I walked onto the beautiful blue sailboat in the marina and met the captain who was appropriately stressed and in a state of desperation.
"You probably are wondering why our chef walked out and I know that this is such an alarm bell to anyone looking for work but I can promise you we treat our crew great, the owner is an amazing man from the U.S., and our itinerary is going to be a lot of fun. I am not sure why she left but I can assure you it was as much a shock to me as it was to the rest of the crew," he explained, seeming still in a bit of shock running his hands through his hair. "What we need is someone who can jump in and take over in the middle of this mess, " he concluded with a serious and direct look asking for my answer.
My heart went out to this man and I loved his honesty and vulnerability right away. Some crazy thing in me rose out of my vocal chords before I could think it through as I blurted out, "Yeah I can do that."
I shifted uncomfortably at the sound of my words.
" Really?" he asked blinking.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I can do that. " I nodded gaining confidence in my words.
"Hey, I'm used to cooking for 20 people on a 2 week trip with provisions in crappy countries. I don't see why I can't whip something together for 12 people with a fully stocked grocery store nearby. I got this." I said nodding with an odd calmness of knowing I really did mean my words and that it would be the right thing to do.
With a pat on his knees and a surrender of hands he sighed, "As long as you are not an axe murderer and your resume is true, I am going to go on blind faith and ask if you can join us for this trip then. I mean, I don't even care about your resume at this point. I am just going to take you at your word. Are you sure you are up for this? You can do this?" he asked again.
"I got this. Are you okay? I am more worried for you being stressed," I laughed, trying to break the tension.
He let out a long sigh, "I just don't know how this happened," he laughed, hands in the air, his voice coming up a couple octaves. "I swear we have such a good thing here I can't understand why this chef just left us like this at the last minute."
"Well better now than in the middle of the trip," I pointed out. "This is all going to work out," I assured him. "Don't worry. I am a hard worker and I love a challenge. We're going to have a great trip. I'm excited!" I smiled.
He looked at me with squinted eyes trying to figure out if I was full of shit. After hammering out financial details all was said and done.
"Right. Well, welcome!" he smiled and just like that, I was on another yacht.
I went home, packed my things, told the people I had planned to travel with that I needed to delay my plans, and joined the yacht for the trip the next morning thinking to myself, What have I got myself into? The next two weeks that passed answered my questions and were nothing short of a miracle. I was right where I needed to be. Sometimes you need to be reminded of how you should be treated and how your life can be to truly see what you had settled for and to know there is still hope out there. I worked with a crew that was full of laughs, good words, cheer, and some serious hard work. Everyone pitched in, no one was above helping someone else. The owner of the yacht was a true gentleman of simple lifestyle with a big heart and a kind nature. He treats his staff well and they speak well of him. The fact that he loved my food helped too! I have never enjoyed a holiday trip so much and at the end of it, I was offered one of the best job offers I could ask for…a rotational position as Executive Chef working 4 months on and 2 months off. WHAT!!??? I didn't have to write out my wish list it came to me above and beyond what I could have even thought I deserved. I cannot express enough gratefulness. I was and still am dumbfounded. A couple weeks later now, we are packing up the sailboat to ship it to the Virgin Islands where I will be joining my new home in a month. I can commence my trip south with peace and continue to explore New Zealand and Indonesia!
That being said, it has been an amazing trip so far in New Zealand. After leaving my last job I took a clunky blue van I bought that I outfitted with a bed and camping gear and meandered my way through the green hills of the North Island of New Zealand for a few weeks to explore, relax, and rejuvenate. I had such a beautiful experience meeting other travelers (lots of Germans here) on their own individual quests and sharing banter with the locals who love to tease and joke through friendly smiling eyes. A patient and giving people, New Zealanders are a well-spring of love and acceptance making it easy to see why people from so many countries come here to wander. I took my friend Luke on the second leg of my North Island venture and we made the most of our time. We drove down 90 mile beach with my van getting stuck only once! Dug clams up on the beach to sauté on my camping stove with butter and lemon, hands salty and faces smiling. Travelers walking across the country greeted us and shared travel stories as we shared beers around fires and enjoyed the simple warmth of human connection. We went scuba diving at Poor Knights' Caves, sand sledded down the dunes of Oponone, ate fish and chips in Mangonui, visited a winery on a cloudy day in Opua, went to the northern Cape where the Tasman Sea crashes against the Pacific, hiked to a private beach in Onokawa, did the luge in Rotorua, and walked the historic streets of New Zealands' first capital in Russell. We rolled back into Auckland sandy, smiling, and full of exciting memories. This week I travel alone again through Raglan, a beautiful little town of hippies and surfers on the western coast of New Zealand, kayaking and enjoying the simple life. I have to say that this experience so far in New Zealand has been one of regrowth and relaxation, with healthy challenges and new friends for life. It is like someone hit reset on my life and said, "Its never too late".
In one month I head to Martinique for a couple months and then to cross the Atlantic to the Mediterranean in June for the Superyacht races on the beautiful blue sailboat I now am employed on. I cannot wait for the pages of adventures I will write about to come! But for now….Onward south!!!
