*DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Ok so two disclaimers for this post:
1. I have technically driven a manual before, back in high school, in a parking lot. I was under the instruction of my best friend though, who had learned a mere few weeks before attempting to teach me, so I mostly try to block out those memories. The name of that car was "Ghetto Magic" so I'm sure you can imagine that it wasn't the most trustworthy of vehicles. Therefore I suppose this post should be called "Never Have I Ever SUCCESSFULLY Driven a Manual Transmission" But, whatever.
2. I know that is isn't a New Zealand specialty and that manual transmission cars exist all over the world so this really isn't that big of a deal. I decided that it's more the situation in which I learned how to drive a manual that is specifically New Zealand oriented.

So, we WWOOFed for a week on a very farm-y farm. We were looking for a way to continue moving north (toward our final destination of Wellington) and we found a farm located just outside of the town of Dunedin. We thought, "Great! Part farm, part civilization! Just what we need!" I sent an email asking if they would be willing to host us, and I got back the most wonderful email:

Boom just like that they are willing to have strangers stay in their home, drive their car, and take care of their animals! This is the real New Zealand people!

The day came for our arrival, Gillian picked us up at the bus stop, drove us to the grocery store so we could pick out whatever food we wanted then came home and made us squid risotto. It was all so normal.

Gillian asked me, as we whizzed up Three Mile Hill (exactly what it sounds like) if I would be comfortable driving in NZ. I stated, that yes I was quite good at driving on the left side these days. She said, "And how about a manual?" And I'm pretty sure I laughed in her face? Not in a rude way, just in more of a "Absolutely-not -no-way-that's-hilarious-and-crazy-why-would-I-ever-know-that" sort of way. Her response was a cool and calm, "We'll talk about that."

Next thing you know, I'm behind the wheel of a car that is easily my peer (definitely in the 20+ age group), on a deserted dirt path, in MOSGIEL NEW ZEALAND. And it's raining. About 12 minutes later, I vaguely understood what my relationship with the gear shifting and clutch were. The next day, Gillian had enough confidence in me as a driver to have me drive her to the airport! We made it there in one piece (5 mins ahead of schedule, might I add!) then it was up to Hannah and I to make our way back, on the dark country roads. We survived and I only stalled one time!

It was just so perfectly Kiwi of this family to completely trust us with their home, their animals and to insist I drive this car that I could potentially harm (she did say "There's really nothing you can do to that car, its old and we bought it cheap." But was I suppose to take that like a challenge? Because I felt like my skill level was for sure telling me something bad was potentially about to happen with me + Isuzu.)

Me and my partner in crime : Blue Isuzu. 

 She insisted that we would be able to take advantage of the area much more if we had a car, and she was completely accurate. She was so calm and trusting, a perfect teacher for this random driving lesson.

Although my anxiety was attempting to distract me as I drove on the left side of the road, on the right side of the car, in an old manual Isuzu Trooper that I learned to drive less than 24 hours beforehand, I think I held my own pretty well.

I learned that practice makes perfect in the world of learning to drive stick shift. So we took the 'ol Trooper out for a few different rides, and I even managed to drive into Dunedin, an area with many more hills and many more people than the town of Mosgiel. I am extremely glad that I will no longer have to rely on a manual transmission car during this trip (fingers crossed) but I am very grateful that I learned how to successfully not injure myself or others (or the car I suppose) while driving stick. So,I'm awarding myself many gold stars for my performance.

Sidenote about our time in Mosgiel:
On top of caring for this elderly vehicle, we were also the sole care givers to:

Luke the dog, and a number of noisy unnamed fowl.

1 dog
1 cat
2 turtles
2 goats
5 roosters
15 hens
5 chicks

Katie and Billy

Everyone was pretty low key, even for the mass quantities of animals that were existing in this one lifestyle block, but I will be excited to hear the rumblings of a city rather than the crowing of a rooster all.day.long. in the very near future.