It is definitely such a weird feeling sitting in my parents den typing this versus my lounge in New Zealand. I came home 4 days ago and it feels as though the last months have been a dream, a very good dream. It is hard to know what to type, it is almost as if there is so much to talk about, that I cannot summon words to talk about it. One thing for certain I know, is that I have changed as a person and know that because of how I interact with people. I no longer am scared to be the first one to initiate conversation and I want to talk to everyone because I learned that everyone has something interesting to talk about, no matter their life experiences. I am not just saying that to spice up my self-image, it is an actual yearning inside of me when I am out in public. So much has happened since the fatal death of my laptop...here is a summary:
I went shopping for some little gifts for my family, and decided to capture the parts of the city that make it flash.
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| Cathedral---I went inside it and it was just as majestic! |
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| These lamp posts added lots of character. |
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| The museum! |
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Morgan and I decided to take a little road trip out to Tunnel Beach last week sometime. It is called that because of the tunnel stairs that lead down to the beach. Apparently, a man wanted to build it for his daughter so she could have a place to herself. It was a gorgeous day and the ocean breeze was warm. We couldn't go sooner in the semester because the trail was closed due to lambing. (typical) We chilled out on the rocks to admire the beauty and attempt to supply our bodies with Vitamin D, which I have been majorly lacking in my system. We even dared to wade in the water, and a piece of seaweed floated by and got caught in my feet and I immediately screamed because I thought it was an eel! Even though it does not appear that way in the pictures, the current was rather strong. The ocean has a way of making you feel humble...
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My last week had some of the best weather of my entire stay, and I will be forever grateful that I came to NZ to snow, and left with sunny, warm weather. We further explored the botanic gardens, which has acre upon acre of rare and precious floral. I could spend days in that place just wandering around.
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| I just felt like twirling in my dress and dancing!! |
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Went to the beach for fish and chips one night, and then wandered along the coast. There were a lot of surfers and dog walking enthusiasts. A precious golden retriever (I think) came up to us and acted as if we were the owners. It made me miss my 'nephew' doggies...aw I get to see them this weekend when I go up north to visit my older sister for her baby shower.
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| So cute!!! |
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| Loved the cloud formation, and water of course ;) |
Drove out to Port Chalmers to admire the sunset sky:
In my spare time, I finished my first 1000 piece puzzle all by myself. I was the joke of my flat complex for awhile and they called me Grandma because I would puzzle. I might as well have took up knitting!! I do have a respect for puzzlers though! Of course, one piece was missing. Oh well...
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| I cleared my desk so I could have a puzzle work station! |
If you are an avid reader, I recently got lost hiking. Well, I decided to tackle that trail again and try to make it to the top. We were successful!!!
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| At the top of Signal Hill |
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| Hanging out with the buddhas! |
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On my kiwi host's last night, we decided to do something romantic. We drove up to Signal Hill and saw the sun set. Later we discovered that it was what most romantic people do, and also showed our love for eachother ;) We stayed until the lights of the city came on, and it was glorious!! I miss you Chelsea and Morgs xoxo!! It was such a good night!
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| I am framing this one...my two best friends and I! |
My flat complex got together one last time before everyone parted ways, and it was so bittersweet. I feel as though I will see some people again, but we will never all be together again. Our lives will not be at the same place ever again, and it is terribly sad to think that. We all surrounded ourselves in a circle and teared up...I am so glad to have met everyone I did!
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| Love all of you! |
The next morning, I got up early to leave for the airport. It did not feel like I was leaving at all! I sat next to a huge Maori dude on my plane ride to Christchurch and was sobbing the whole ride. It always happens to me!!! Morgan made the joke that people are going to be looking at me weird because I was just going to Christchurch!!! After CHC, I flew to Auckland and got ruffled up by lots of security checks. They act all intense until the figure out you have no explosives, then they get all chatty and sincere. Thanks for getting me nervous for nothing! It was sad again when the plane lifted off the ground in NZ...I will be back again someday!
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| My plane to Christchurch. |
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| My last view.... :( |
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| Of course their coffee cups had All Blacks stats on it!! |
I called my family from LAX on a pay phone and my little sister answered the phone...I cried then too. It was so good to hear her voice on the phone! I met an Iranian lady who boasted about her "son who is a doctor", then asked me "Are you single?". Sorry, I am not that interested ;) The plane ride from LA to Milwaukee was agonizingly slow...although there was an AMAZING sunset in the sky! Finally, when I got to MSP, I walked towards baggage claim thinking that I was just going to meet my family outside by the car. But they surprised me and came inside!! It was a typical movie reunion, I ran and jumped in somebody's arms and cried, again. Stepping back into my home was surreal, and I found my dad exactly where he was when I left! Stayed up super late chatting with my family, and then could not go to sleep because my mind was spinning!
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| My friends came too :) |
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| Sisters... |
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| One of the cute signs at home. |
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| They decorated the van... |
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| A map of the house in case I forgot! A tour was also available, if needed! |
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| Coffee by the lake with my sisters! |
Big differences: The air is crisp not salty, the flatness is SO noticeable, there is not a single sheep, I no longer have empty cupboards, and the accent!!!! I know I am going to miss NZ heaps, but it is good to be back. I am just going to be working and planning my next adventure! I cannot believe it is over...I seriously thought about NZ for a year before I went, and now it is all done! One of the best things I have done, and most likely will ever do...everyone should move abroad! Thanks to everyone who followed along, and hopefully I can change the title to Katelyn in ___________ sometime soon! But for now, my life in MN is not quite as blog-worthy! Kia Ora!
