North Island Sheep, May 2011
I was doing some math the other day and figured out it took me eight months to get here & come July, it will have taken me eight months to leave. For someone who bounced around and hardly kept still for an entire year, that says a lot in regards to how I feel about this little country. The beaches are stunning, the people are genuine and the air is clean. But when it comes to my epic crush on New Zealand, I think its the "little things" that make me love it so much....
The fact that the daily weather report includes the number of layers you should wear in order to be comfortable for the day. Today, for example, is a 2 layer day. I also love how, without fail, every time I walk the thirty minutes from my flat to my office, I see at least one instance of friends or acquaintances bumping into each other. Even in this capital city of New Zealand, you'll see someone you know on your way to work. Speaking of my walks around town (and let me mention that I love how walking clear across the city happens in 30 minutes or less), I love how any time of day, there will be a handful of street performers scattered around the city. Whether its a young girl singing along to the instrumental of an Etta James song, or that older couple that sing hippie folk songs outside of the New World Metro each night, or just a young boy with his guitar & a microphone, at any given moment, somebody is performing for cash on a Wellington street corner. Artsy fartsy in a charming & casual way.
I also love how, even though I work in a government office and am surrounded by Economists, Lawyers and Investigators, every single desk is empty by 5:30pm on a Friday. Kiwis work hard, but they put more value and emphasis on their life outside of work. After three years of law firm work & constantly hearing about people pulling all-nighters, missing anniversary dinners & cancelling family plans, I love that. I also love how I haven't been asked where I went to school since I got here. Not that I'm at all ashamed to say "Sonoma State- that's where!", but there's just very little emphasis put on labels here. I'm surprised how much I love that. I also love how there are so many backpackers/travelers that got stuck here. One of my closest friends here in Wellington is a girl from SF who came on a one year visa and is now applying for her third year residency. You also might recall that Liora, my friend from Palo Alto, came over to "check out New Zealand" four years ago and hasn't managed to leave. Talking with a few friends the other day, we started adding up all of the people we knew of that had meant to just pass through Wellington but haven't been able to pull themselves away. I'd be curious to know the actual figures on expats who arrive with the intention of staying for one year vs. those who end up staying for multiple years and applying for residency/partnership visas. I'm guessing somewhere close to 70%. The love for Wellington is contagious.
Speaking of people who can't manage to leave, I am leaving Wellington. Its finally time to head home. My mom is turning 60 and I hear the celebration will include a beach house, good wine and lots of cooking. How can I possibly miss that? My baby brother is turning 21 and having taken the responsibility to "obliterate" both of my other siblings on their 21sts, I feel compelled to do the same for him. Also, one of my best friends has a bun in the oven and having thrown her a blast of a bachelorette party three years ago, it would only be right if I invited the same girls (plus our moms) and threw her a baby shower. There are also other weddings and birthdays to belatedly celebrate, engagement rings to drool over & new houses and cars to see. Plus, I can't possibly miss another San Francisco Fleet Week. Its totally time to head home.
In early July, I'll finally board a plane for San Francisco. The good news is that I'll get a job, unpack my stuff, eat CPK at least every other day & finally be able to join my friends for their fun weekend adventures. The bittersweet news is that it'll be a temp job, a subletted room & there are only four months of fun that my CA friends and I will have together. Come November, the plan is to move back to New Zealand and work here through another Summer before heading down to South America for a few months of backpacking. (insert eye roll here) I know, I know. "Are you ever going to come home and stop traveling?" Not any time soon, no. Besides, not only am I in love with my plan for the next chapter, but it looks like I have one hell of a buddy who wants to do it all with me. Double win!
The fact that the daily weather report includes the number of layers you should wear in order to be comfortable for the day. Today, for example, is a 2 layer day. I also love how, without fail, every time I walk the thirty minutes from my flat to my office, I see at least one instance of friends or acquaintances bumping into each other. Even in this capital city of New Zealand, you'll see someone you know on your way to work. Speaking of my walks around town (and let me mention that I love how walking clear across the city happens in 30 minutes or less), I love how any time of day, there will be a handful of street performers scattered around the city. Whether its a young girl singing along to the instrumental of an Etta James song, or that older couple that sing hippie folk songs outside of the New World Metro each night, or just a young boy with his guitar & a microphone, at any given moment, somebody is performing for cash on a Wellington street corner. Artsy fartsy in a charming & casual way.
I also love how, even though I work in a government office and am surrounded by Economists, Lawyers and Investigators, every single desk is empty by 5:30pm on a Friday. Kiwis work hard, but they put more value and emphasis on their life outside of work. After three years of law firm work & constantly hearing about people pulling all-nighters, missing anniversary dinners & cancelling family plans, I love that. I also love how I haven't been asked where I went to school since I got here. Not that I'm at all ashamed to say "Sonoma State- that's where!", but there's just very little emphasis put on labels here. I'm surprised how much I love that. I also love how there are so many backpackers/travelers that got stuck here. One of my closest friends here in Wellington is a girl from SF who came on a one year visa and is now applying for her third year residency. You also might recall that Liora, my friend from Palo Alto, came over to "check out New Zealand" four years ago and hasn't managed to leave. Talking with a few friends the other day, we started adding up all of the people we knew of that had meant to just pass through Wellington but haven't been able to pull themselves away. I'd be curious to know the actual figures on expats who arrive with the intention of staying for one year vs. those who end up staying for multiple years and applying for residency/partnership visas. I'm guessing somewhere close to 70%. The love for Wellington is contagious.
Speaking of people who can't manage to leave, I am leaving Wellington. Its finally time to head home. My mom is turning 60 and I hear the celebration will include a beach house, good wine and lots of cooking. How can I possibly miss that? My baby brother is turning 21 and having taken the responsibility to "obliterate" both of my other siblings on their 21sts, I feel compelled to do the same for him. Also, one of my best friends has a bun in the oven and having thrown her a blast of a bachelorette party three years ago, it would only be right if I invited the same girls (plus our moms) and threw her a baby shower. There are also other weddings and birthdays to belatedly celebrate, engagement rings to drool over & new houses and cars to see. Plus, I can't possibly miss another San Francisco Fleet Week. Its totally time to head home.
In early July, I'll finally board a plane for San Francisco. The good news is that I'll get a job, unpack my stuff, eat CPK at least every other day & finally be able to join my friends for their fun weekend adventures. The bittersweet news is that it'll be a temp job, a subletted room & there are only four months of fun that my CA friends and I will have together. Come November, the plan is to move back to New Zealand and work here through another Summer before heading down to South America for a few months of backpacking. (insert eye roll here) I know, I know. "Are you ever going to come home and stop traveling?" Not any time soon, no. Besides, not only am I in love with my plan for the next chapter, but it looks like I have one hell of a buddy who wants to do it all with me. Double win!
North Island, May 2011
Living the dream, loving it and never been happier. Like any good almost-thirty American, I do struggle with what this means for my future. When will I buy a house? When will I build up my credit? When will I get back to work on my 401k? But all I can think about lately is which city in Chile would suit me best? I wonder if its possible to get a working holiday visa in Argentina? What month does it really start to get cold in Bolivia? How hard would it be to get a job in Peru? Until my mind starts racing with thoughts of mortgages and babies, I'm going to keep up this lifestyle as long as I possibly can. At this point, all signs are pointing to "Forever".
