Tuesday, January 09, 2007
four months and counting
I can't believe I've been here over four months. It seems hard to imagine that it's both that short and that long as I sit in my flat with my semi- established NZ life.



In March I will quit my job and travel for the next two months- seeing everything I have not yet seen, before returning to the states after a short stint in Australia on my way home. I'm not really sure what home I'm talking about returning to, but am bound to find a new one in the next place I settle. Until then, it's work, work, work to save up for traveling while also camping and hiking and exploring on my days off.

Brooke's here! A friend from my exchange student days in Switzerland has joined me in New Zealand, also here on a work visa and living in Nelson with me. I honestly did not know how happy I'd be to see a familiar face. It's been great getting to know each other all over again (we haven't lived in the same place since Zurich 5 years ago) and realize how we've both changed and grown, all the while still getting along great.



I recently bought a car which has given me a bit more freedom to see the area and the country- which I'm really happy about. I went camping in Golden Bay about a month ago and the breath of fresh air and beautiful views were fabulous!



I drank good beer, hung out with friends Steve and Brooke, had a campfire on the beach with makeshift s'mores (tastes a little different with different materials...), and slept in a tent while the wind and rain beat at the sides of the tent.



The stars are absolutely amazing down here- the southern lights... away from the small cities they are abundant and beautiful. The perfect backdrop to a warm summer night.



Christmas just passed and it was very enjoyable. I felt myself (often times since I've been here actually) having to really think about what month it is- it certainly did not feel like Christmas with the weather being so warm! I've lost track of time… It's summer here and I have been enjoying it so much but it has also confused me a bit! I kept thinking it was April or May, then realize that that's impossible since I got here when it was still August.


I worked at the restaurant on Christmas Eve and it was absolute mayhem (also not making it feel like Christmas...!) We were so busy and everything was a bit chaotic. They had the city put on Christmas carols that night right by where the restaurant is located- so when I stepped into the warm night to serve people, I was suddenly surrounded by literally hundreds of people singing silent night with lit candles in their hands. I didn't get home until 1:30am and my feet and body and brain were so tired that I slept as soon as I lay down.

Christmas day brought a mimosa, French toast, and fruit salad breakfast with 3 other friends of mine (also here on work visas, away from their own families). The day was beautiful weather- really hot! We ate yummy food and headed straight for the beach with snacks, lunch, and beer in tow.
We stayed for a few hours, got sufficiently sunburned, I swam in the ocean, and we headed back to my place for hanging out and movie watching until dinner time.



We had a fabulous meal (lasagna, salad, garlic bread, wine...) and when Shaz and Nora decided to head home from tiredness- Brooke and I decided we weren't ready to give up on Christmas and headed to a party thrown by some friends of ours. Things turned a little chaotic late into the night, but we all had a great time.




I have a half marathon in the Buller Gorge on February 10th and I'm pretty nervous about it but excited as well. Nelson's "sunny" stereotype has not lived up to it's name in the last few days and has left me with nowhere to run in the rain! Hopefully that will end soon so I can be ready for that and whatever else comes my way.

Life is good. There are many things I have yet to do here. I don't know what will come next for me but I don't worry either, I just enjoy the moments that I have while I am still lucky enough to have them.