Perspective Views of an ATB

I like long-haul flights. This was my first experience of life outside Europe, and my longest period of time without returning home - all without parents. Result! There was food, drink and more films than one can shake a stick at, in fact so much so that no-one did any of the schoolwork they intended to do.

Customs officials are surprisingly friendly, as I came to discover, always interested in our trip, even the surly official in LAX, with a large 9mm sticking out of his belt. This same official made us all get off the plane in transfer, take fingerprints, check passports and generally make sure we had no WMDs about our person. We then (having not entered the US) were turned 180 degrees and marched back onto the plane, rather invading our privacy somewhat - 'you and your choir entered our airspace. Therefore we must confirm that you are not terrorists or members of the Nazi party. Oh and you're not coming into our country anyway.' It nearly got even worse in Auckland customs. A large calamity made by one of the U6 nearly cost him a NZ$200 fine. Having declared some sweets, he then forgot to declare an apple, (which is prohibited in New Zealand as it may ruin the country's ecosystems or something ludicrous like that) but was just given a warning letter, as he pleaded that he was only 17 (which very few others in the 6th form seem to do so far this trip. It's a small coincidence the drinking age is 18, isn't it!), so wasn't fined.

We were expecting hot, humid, tropical summer weather, maybe with a nice breeze and beautiful scenery getting off the plane. In all honesty, I envy you reading this back home. At least we can have snow. It was raining cats and dogs (metaphorical ones, as opposed to the ones we had to 'dispose or declare' along with any food coming into Auckland International) and did so for another hour or so, even though it was Auckland's hottest day for 120 years or so on Thursday. Mr Toyne was evidnetly correct when he said that Auckland was the only place in the world where you could experience all 4 seasons over the space of a day.

We then took a tour of the city by coach, seeing the cathedral and other places of interest, briefly stopping at Mt. Eden, the largest of the 50 (thankfully extinct) volcanoes that Auckland is built over, and the Sky Tower, the tallest building in Auckland and also where we ate dinner. We then took a surprisingly long route to find our hotel, crossing over most bridges and circumnavigating most parts of the city numerous times, much to the discomfort of a certain baritone, who ,having made a vow with the rest of the choir not to use the on-board toilet (due to a very unfortunate smell in Germany), had to wait patiently (and surprisingly silently) to relieve himself at the hotel. This was getting increasingly funnier, until our choirmaster brought a stop to our merriment.



The Hotel Formule 1 is a 'lovely' building situated between two conveniently placed adult video shops and a nightclub (Mr Toyne chose where we were staying, didn't he?).
The breakfast room here - which is the same as the bar, the lift area and reception -is widely stocked, offering a wide continental breakfast (consisting of Coco Pops or a cereal that looks remarkably like dog biscuits, and toast) with instant coffee or tea. The fact it was instant was really very important. A certain member of staff was unimpressed by this and so this morning, having returned from his 20 minute 'run' - (hah, if any word was ever more inaccurately interpreted, it was that one) hurried off down the road for a cappuccino from another coffee shop. It could only really be one member of staff couldn't it?

Tom Nichols Year 11