Winter in New Zealand

Beautiful view from the driveway :)

I definitely haven't been keeping in touch via blog as much as I would like. I would say that I've been busy but that would be a lie it's more so that I have been lazy. I guess mentally I have been busy though. Preparing for University more and more which is harder to think about than I would have imagined it to be. In a lot of ways I'm really looking forward to going to school, to go back to having a "normal" life. Putting myself on track, for the first time in my life I have a "five year plan", If often changes daily but at least I have one. In other ways it is scary to know that after two years I am going back to a classroom, instead of hopping on a train to explore another city I will be hopping on a bus to make it on time to class.

After hiking for 3 hours this is the view we got :(

It is weird to think but a lot of my friends have already graduated from their courses and are starting "real" jobs. Sometimes I wish that was where I was in life but in those moments I quickly remember the amazing two years that I have had while they have been sitting in class.
Not much is new here. I'm on a tight budget, trying to save up to pay the insurance bill for the car accident I was involved in in March. Its a hassle but stuff like that happens. Two weekends ago I did I hike in Pirongia Forest Park, unfortunately we didn't get to do the two day hike because of bad Winter weather but we did do a 5 hour hike in the rain to reach one of the lookouts which was fogged out so there was no view but at least we can say we did it.
Last weekend was also really sad four of my au pair friends left to go back to their home countries including Paige the other Canadian who I became really close with. Its sad to see those girls go but I have become quite used to saying goodbye to friends, that's what happens when you travel. It's weird to think but my best friends at the moment are scattered across 6 countries and 4 continents.

The first time Nicholas wanted to Smile for a picture

Things with my host family are different I would say that now I am more close with the kids and less with the parents which is opposite of what I felt for my first few months here. In the beginning I really struggled with bonding with the kids, especially Nicholas. Now I feel like Nicholas is one of the relationships I will cherish the most because its the one that we constantly have to work at. We often have arguments every day but there is always a good laugh in there somewhere and the good moments are finally starting to out number the bad. I get along really well with Caitlin I always have, she amazes me with her words, when she expresses herself and how she feels about something she uses a vocabulary and a grace that most adults are incapable of which makes my job very easy!

"winter day" in the backyard

I only have 55 days left in New Zealand which blows me away! Sometimes I feel like I just got here! I have once again made some amazing friends, fallen in love with scenery, with a culture and with a couple of crazy kiwi kids. But this time I feel ready to go home. When I had 55 days left in Germany I decided I wasn't ready to go home and that I was going to come here to New Zealand. That is not the case this time around and I am definitely ready! I'm excited to come home to see friends and family, to celebrate a wedding, my birthday, my parents 25th. Meet a few new family members and go to the lake.
A while ago a friend told me my travel style was different than most because I live in the places instead of just visit. She pointed out that it was probably hard because eventually I will be homesick for many homes. I guess that is true because there are many things that I miss.
In Saskatoon I obviously miss, my family and friends, my pets, the lake, being comfortable enough to be in my pj's all day long! my mom leaving me notes in the morning, bumping into people I know, and perogies!
In Germany I miss, the kids!!! The food, the active lifestyle, easy access to other places, and the pedestrian areas.
In New Zealand I will definitely miss the kids, the scenery, Sparky my favorite kiwi cat, having an attached bathroom!! and the fresh fruit and vegetables in my backyard.

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I also went to a Rugby Game to watch the Waikato Chiefs, unfortunately they lost

Having said that I do not miss Canada's extreme weather, the amount of smokers in Germany and I will not miss driving on the left hand side of the rode in NZ.
Some More Kiwi Slag :) (sometimes I feel like I'm learning a new language).
gumboots- rain boots
heaps- a lot
ice block- Popsicle
jandals- flip flops
jersey- sweater
fizzy drink- pop
l&p- a type of fizzy drink from NZ, meaning Lemon and Paeroa(a town in NZ) I like to think it's Laura Pulles
lemonade-Sprite
lollies-candy
nappy-diaper
petrol-gasoline
rubber- eraser
rubbish- trash

Till next time :)