Mar 2017 Kiwi Berries Grading

Mar, I have got my second job as a grader in a pack house and coolstores, named Seeka.

I have been travel from the south island, come back to north island, here in Te Puke, I get to know a few new fruits only when I am in New Zealand: Kiwi Berries, Feijoa and Horned Melon.

Let's talk about Kiwi Berries.

I was lucky to get the job before Kiwi fruit main season thanks to this fruit.

I have faith with it, when I first hear it was at the bus stop at Cromwell, a Malaysian girl told me about her friend in Te Puke, talked about kiwi berries season will be starting soon. Then, when I came to here, my housemates mentioned it again and we asked about the job availability when we submitted form for Seeka.

There was a fierce Kiwi on the desk, but soon after introduced, she has become very helpful and nice to us. Due to day shift have been filled up, we accepted the offer to work night shift. There goes my healthy habits of sleeping before 12 am since 2013.

Not much people know about kiwi berries, I thought it was a new species of kiwi developed in this kiwi land. But Wikipedia results show that it is native to Japan, Korea, Northern China and Russia.
Source: http://www.5aday.co.nz/facts-and-tips/fruit-vegetable-info/kiwiberries.aspx

Well, it maybe similar to kiwi fruits, which the seeds were brought from Northern China. Source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/kiwifruit/page-2

in short and brief description on its appearance: it look like berries, but inside look like kiwi. You can eat it like a berry, with the skin.

it is quite an expensive fruit to me, picture above is about a box of it, price at NZD$3.99.

It was a short season, starting at early Mar and last about a month.

The process of packing kiwi berries is similar to the cherry pack house that I have work before, but cherry pack house I worked before is using more machine sorting and grading:

1. Fresh fruits will be kept in the cool room upon arrival at the pack house
2. Washing with clear water to remove the soil and dusts
3. Sorting according to size of the fruits: here we have got XL and normal size
4. Grading by human: surface blemishes will be taken out to the local line, if there is too much blemishes, or if any sooty mould/ soft fruit/ miss-shaped, then it will be into the dustbin
5. Weighing to enter a container: it was about 140 g per box which is ~ 10 fruits
6. Packing and Labelling before entering a box

My job as a grader is pretty simple and boring, what make it fun, is the people that I met in the pack house,
Nishi and Jessie, my current and ex housemates, that we will be playing phones together during smoko.
Bella, a local Māori who stands next to me when doing grading, sharing a lot to me, as a Māori, as a mother and as a citizen, she travel almost 2 hours to work on a daily basis during the main season.
Naomi, our line manager for the kiwi berries night shift.
Audrey, a Malaysian, NZ PR that came to NZ about 15- 20 years.
Chloe and Felix, Malaysian WHers, who drives Nisha and myself to work.
Anita, Puva and etc local Māori that are mostly nice and friendly.

They make me decided to stay in this pack house for the main season and working night shift. But only left me alone as the others decided to go for morning shifts.

Well, let the story continues with one people working later.






 

06-09 Feb 2017: Wanaka

Wanaka is one small town near to Cromwell, approximately 45 minutes drive to the north in the south island.

Thanks to friends here, I get to visit there a few times: hiking at Roys Peak, admiring the Wanaka Lone Tree, visiting Cardrona Bra Fence, hiking at Rob Roy and revisit again the lonely tree and bra fence again.

Roys Peak, Wanaka

 

It should be a total of 6 hours hiking, but I did not managed to reach to the top,

party due to lack of training, another part thanks to my one and only sports shoes.

Photo credit to Ally,

1323 the checkpoint I decided to stop my journey as it become more and more steep,

Another one to showing that two people missing on their returned journey back to the same spot.

 

Wanaka Lone Tree

First visit on 07 Feb 2017

Second visit on 09 Feb 2017,

a bird is resting on the tree,

so the lone tree is not so lonely that day.

 

Cardrona Bra Fence

An awareness for breast cancer campaign

 

 

 

 

An unexpected journey, so I did not wear a sexy bra,

Well, since this is one encouraging for healthiness,

I too should be joining part of it,

Sports bra will do to show my support.

(ONLY for photo purpose.

Did not leave it there. =P)

09 Feb 2017, during the second visit,

someone has put up the bra on the model.

NZ First Job: Quality Control in NZCP

I was really very lucky that I get a job offer before I come to New Zealand. It is a Quality Control job for Cherry Packhouse.

I was just trying out my luck looking for job at Trade Me before I ended my job in Malaysia as from blog post the cherry job is the most popular ones among the backpackers. Another lucky part was that I managed to find out my future work colleague before I come to New Zealand. Lastly, one Malaysian girl was asking if we can travel together to Cromwell from Auckland.

Basically I have got my first month job offer, accommodation and people covered before I left Malaysia. It makes less worries for me before I fly only that I was in a rush planning for the journey- from Johor Bahru to Melaka to KLIA to Auckland to Cromwell. Until I almost have to sleep out at night on the New Year Day at Queenstown.

Staying in the cherry orchard accommodation is another new experience, I have the housemates from different countries: France, Brazil, Botswana, Uruguay, USA and New Zealand. Only one who can speaks Chinese to me - the one from Malaysia too.

Soon after I reach, my roommate, Supnet, offer me a ride to New World to buy our food supply. Someone warned me again and again to get ready food for a month as the peak season coming real soon. Well, I have no idea how much is it for a month, so I can only estimate for a week or two.

Rest for another day (I was really just sleep, eat and sleep since I reach New Zealand), and started working after the New Year holidays.

Reporting to work the first day, we started at 8 a.m. for QC trainings. I was the last QC who join the team. Everything was so blur and a mess for me. It was a long day, started at 8 am and ended at 10pm.

Cherries is really a very sensitive princess. Because of "her", we need to stay in a cold temperature.

Our QC job is basically check the inwards quality and final products, and to make sure they are comply MPI requirement to export to each countries.

NZ part 1: Arrival (27 Dec 2016 to 2 Jan 2017)

Year 2017 has started too fast for me, with a lot of things happening each day, everyday a new one, I am still need to adjust myself and get ready for the next ones.

To conclude one word in 2016 and 2017, it will be "RESTART".

A friend of mine reminded me to update my blog, being too lazy, or too tired, or too contented, I did remember about this but don't know where to start. So, forgive me for my messy paragraphs below,

Last year, two days before Christmas, I had the last farewell with my friends in Johor (after celebrating it for one whole December) and bring everything back to my hometown. Soon after Christmas, I packed all the necessity and all the blessing from the love ones, took the flight off from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland and had my first countdown of New Year 5 hours ahead from Malaysia.

All lovely gift from my love ones. 

Not managed to bring them all with me thou

Stay in Auckland for almost a week to get my bank account and apply for IRD number, it was just a few days of rest for me before I start my first job in New Zealand.

A Malaysian girl, Rachel had offer that we could travel together when we arrived Auckland and until we reach our workplace, the same location but different company.

Stayed at Malaysian family's homestay and get to know a few new friends, from Malaysia and Singapore, Zen, Si Shi, Jia Yen, Jin, and Olivia.

It was just a sudden kick that day in the morning, I decided not going to visit Auckland city with Rachel but follow Jia Yen to the shopping mall nearby, then we had good talk ( I suppose? I feel good to talk and sharing some thought with her and it was how I made new friends), and we tried the New Zealand Starbucks secret menu.

 Then at night, the housemates decided to countdown at the Sky Tower. It was a whole new start for me, for year 2017. The first "solo" trip in my life.

Fireworks at the Sky Tower

New Year day, we left Auckland and departed to the south island- Queenstown.

Surrounded by all the mountains, is my first impression to this place. 

It was really limited accommodation in Queenstown especially in the summer. We almost have to stay on the road. A Malaysian auntie offer me a night stay at her place - my first experience on couch surfing. She brought us around Queenstown that day and the next day sent us to the bus station.

My bed of the night

The historic bridge

Lake Hayes that take 3 hours to walk one round- we just walk for 100 m there. 

Goodbye 2016, Bello 2017!

2016 has been coming to the end, I chose to come to New Zealand after Christmas, managed to visit my late grandma before leaving the country and see most of the relatives.

2016 has been a good year, I am glad that everything end up well.

Looking forward for 2017 to come, in fact it has been a whole new start waiting ahead.

I am here at New Zealand, going to start working next week. Everything is new, people and environment, after rounds of farewell in Malaysia, all goodbye with the awesome people that I meet thus far.

Before leaving, hear a few good news from my friends, congrats to my 15 years brother that is going to get married next year in May, I really wish I can attend but no luck; my 10 years 'mui mui' Kai Loon that finally managed to free up his time to catch up before I leave, looking forward for your red boom in the coming years then; my long lost sister May Sian, waiting if you get to join me next year; my lecturer Dr Syahariza and congrats her for the new born; my professor Prof Norziah for the final quick call before flying off; my uni buddies in Kerry,  Bariqi and Iznie, wish you all the best in your career; my Johor gang, sofi, shadai, kha pui and seik hua, take care in JB.

Last but not least, all the brothers and sisters that I meet in JB, my managers, USM seniors, minions, Debera, Jia Yi, and Sarah. Millions thanks for all the memories in these two years. Looking forward for more good news in the future and thanks for supporting my dream and give me good advice.

My pure luck is not only limited to I got this opportunity to come to New Zealand, I have been having a great time with all of you, all the stories, laughers and tears that we shared.

Nor matter how close we are, or those that I only met occasionally.

Thank you all, for all the love and friendship.

Hiking In Johor : Gunung Pulai

It was not the original plan to visit Gunung Pulai during the Deepavali long weekend.

The original plan was to visit Gunung Lambak, Kluang as for the preparation for Penang Marathon. However, it was a whole day raining at Kluang the day before we went for hiking. But not to bring the whole event down, we decided to go to Gunung Pulai instead. 

Faith to bring me once again here, the very first place that I find to get near to the nature and inhale some fresh air. 

And the road condition was still good even though it has been raining earlier also. 

Maintain the same timing, and with some extra time spend while waiting, I noticed there is a few spider web build at the plants and it was my first time seeing a complete spider web in life. Normally I will be the spoiler and destruct all their nest. 

And not sure is it because of the raining season, or the flower growing season, or after a few months of closure, this time we saw a lot of flowers, different colors. 

Not forget to mention, the refreshing air that smells the after rain. 

A good day to celebrate the festival. 

A good day to hear from one of my long lost friend also. 

I am happy to hear that she is getting much better in life now. 

And I am hoping to see her in life to have a big hug as well. 

Once again, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, my buddy, Elizabeth. 30th Oct 2016. 

Good Memories in 2016

2016 has almost come to an end. I am glad that it has been treating me well this year with a lot of good things happened in  the year since January.

Me, still the same, occasionally doing some crazy decision in order to make life more miserable. I did not plan for the to-do list this year, just trying to focus what I wanna to do. Surprisingly, it comes out to be looking like a plan.

First target archived is the Full Marathon that I promised myself to train regularly and revisit this year in order to tick one of the bucket list. Learning the lesson from the past, and participating more half marathon this year in order to get ready the long distance running, I made it!

Then is resuming my target to visit at least one new place a year. It has been a stop since I graduated. And finally I have extra leave to clear this year and managed to join my sister for one in Adelaide, Australia. It was a short trip, I had fun with looking the house just like "The Sims" but started to miss the Malaysian food after the few days of bread and fish&chips.

Mar is confirm to be one unforgettable memory I had in the year. Although it look like just a short dream. One thing that I need to use a longer time to digest and make it just part of a memory and proceed in life.

I keep in touch again with Ms. Sue Anne thanks to marathon : Malaysia Woman Marathon, we ran the half marathon. Part of the luck that I have since I entered university, I get to know this friend, One people that had taught and as the fertilizer to my craziness. We are normal being when as individual, but every time we chat or meet, both will transform become monkeys. Thanks to her for being there to join marathon's marathon with me in 2016, to support my training to get ready for the Full marathon.

Not forget my lovely sister, Jiao Mei's wedding in June. Hopefully she faster get a baby for me to play and make me officially an auntie. Thanks to her and my brother in law that always provide me shelter and transport when I visited Penang.

Last but not least, a few good moments with the seniors and team in Kerry and JB.

The Supply Quality Team, managers and peers. projects handling, presentation skills polishing, peers learning, communications and friendship building, one key reasons that I couldn't ask for more. The recognition and appreciation from the bosses. I am just too lucky to be part of the team.

The Minion's Dinner dates organized by Thong Thong and Terrence. One gathering the people, one recommend for the venue. The laughs and stories shared. Even though I am so called the youngest and always ruined the birthday plans, always lack of face expression even for my birthday surprise (I was too surprise until dont know how to express. Thought that since I have got my birthday present earlier so it will only be a dinner with Debera that night). These are part of the good damn time in Kerry.

Then, the USM marathon kaki, Lee Hoon, Doreen and Hui Ying, and a few other nature lovers in crime, who willing to be the driver and bring me for hiking as part of my training. Hiking at Gunung Lambak and Gunung Pulai, train and running marathon together, and join the full marathon (thanks to them I decided to join once again).

The USM course mates, two other Food Tech that join the company same as me. Even though not same department, they have been my Skype mates since then. And my first few months will not be so funny and friendly without them. My sayang and my temporary boyfie. Those are the people that we  shared the first steps in working life. Another two who are staying in JB too, as my karaoke buddies, Seik Hua and Kha Pui. To continue my university hobbies.

The APAC Early Career Training, that I get to know more new friends in Kerry, and get some concepts for work and for life. I was first nervous to join the training, yet we had been complaining since we enter the work as it should be part of the Graduate Program, to eat, enjoy and make friends.
We made it through (Sayang missed it, she jump too fast). Not sure how much that is going to impact my life, I did hopefully the friendship will continue to grow.

2016 has been come towards the ending, Christmas is coming soon, and then the New Year, I am a little shocking when get the news that one ex colleague has met an accident and leave us forever. It is time to re shuffle everything and start all over again for 2017.

Thanks to all the humans and monkeys that I met in life so far. I am such a lucky kids to meet each of them. Getting advice, courage and supports.

Let's look forward for 2017 to come. Wish everyone has a good holiday in the end of the year (to clear all the annual leave!) and have a great year ahead. Bello 2017!