new traditions

Today marked our first Thanksgiving together, alone.  Sure, we've celebrated for the last many years, going to one another's family's Thanksgiving dinners, but today was the first we've made on our own.  And what a feast it was!!!  The kumara casserole was bubbling with goodness and browned vanilla marshmallows, the mashed potatoes were divine, the homemade stuffing was full of flavor, and my baked corn was super yummy.  In lieu of a turkey (only available at Christmas) we opted for a chicken, which I baked rotisserie-style (we have been missing Boston Market) and it was equally as juicy and delicious.  We were in a food coma for most of the afternoon, but managed to muster up enough strength to put up our new tree and lights.  It was a relaxing holiday full of food and fun!

fun-filled Saturday

 

A knife-juggling busker in Cathedral square 

   

Today has been a really busy and fun day!  The weather was the nicest it's been so far, and no cold breeze to spoil the warm air.  With the perfect conditions we decided to finally go on the gondola, something we have been planning on doing since we got here.  We headed towards the city centre to get our tickets, and then ventured towards the hills.  The gondola ride was beautiful as we climbed higher and higher above ChCh, over the sheep dotted hills, with the ocean and mountains in the distance.  It was majestic and perfectly clear, I swear my pictures look like postcards!

 

going up...

...the sheep...

...halfway there...

...view from the top!

      

While on the observation deck of the gondola, looking down onto the trails, I heard a rustle, and upon further investigation, saw two lambs feeding.  Bret and I trekked down the hills on the paths and eventually came across the cute creatures munching away on the grass with their mom.

After the gondola rides and back into the city, we ate a nice dinner at the Italian restuarant we were supposed to go to last weekend.  We had a relaxing meal on the patio and then set off for the last event of the day---Christmas in the Park!  It's an annual event in ChCh's Hagley Park with a huge concert and fireworks.  It attracts a huge crowd (I think I read 30,000) and is a fun-filled concert.  The weather was perfect and the music was fun.  It was a nice way to get into the Christmas spirit in the warm summer weather!

 

  

 

giving thanks.

For:

• Omaha...I never realized how much I loved my hometown until I uprooted myself from it to go on this adventure.  I miss and love Omaha so much and can't wait to get back!
• My dearest friends, who have been patient with the time difference, wonderful in brightening my mood, and always there for a laugh or a hug via e-mail or Skype
  
• My support system from back home, family, friends, former students, families I have cared for...too many to name.  It's crazy the amount of people that are inquisitive about this journey, a lot of people I haven't talked to in a while even.  It's strange to think that I can be closer to these people despite being half a world away.
• My health and youth...this experience would be miserable without it!  
• Lots and lots and lots of things that I had to leave behind to realize I was thankful for, and although some are quite trivial (the food and creature comforts), others are wonderfully profound.
• Bret, for challenging me daily to strive and succeed by trusting in my faith and strength
• My education, willingness to learn new things, and sense of adventure and growth that I have suddenly found

I am thankful for many things in my life, most of which I cannot encapsulate in a single blog entry.  This trip has already helped me grow in ways that I never anticipated and no one ever warned me about.  It is a constant struggle to maintain balance, stability, and comfort, but I can feel myself growing and changing and chalking up these new experiences to add to those of my life so far.  And to even be able to have this opportunity, well, I am so thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you are having a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving Day filled with friends and family, Black Friday ads, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades, lots of yummy food, and the start of the Christmas season!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving celebration at Bret's parents before we left (in September):

We'll be celebrating here on Sunday, more to follow!

wednesday...already?

I can't believe how quickly the weeks pass here.  I don't work on Monday, until yoga in the evening, so it extends my weekend and gives me a chance to catch up with everyone back home (since it's Sunday for them).  And as soon as the evening kicks off on Monday night, the week flies by too!  I've been busy this week with work and have to work later this afternoon, and then all day Thursday and Friday!  It is so nice being productive.  I sleep better, and amazingly, get more stuff done overall.  Of course, it makes me appreciate the time I have off even more.

I can't wait until Sunday when we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is totally getting me through this week.  We are going to have quite the array of food for just the two of us.  Which reminds me of when Jody and I made our first Thanksgiving, and even then we had two strapping gentlemen to help us eat it!  Even though we forgot to defrost the turkey and were cramming at the last second, we had a perfect dinner!  So I'm hoping for more of the same here...even if we'll be eating chicken instead (turkey is incredibly hard to come by)!

Meet Kumara...

Kumara (KOO-mah-rah) is a vegetable here, that is comparable to a sweet potato.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I am going to attempt to make a sweet potato recipe but substituting kumara instead. 

The low-down on kumara:
-Cultivated in the semi-tropical regions of the North Island, New Zealand
-Traditional food for the native Maoris
-Available in red, orange, and gold


They are gigantic in size, so I figured 2 would be enough.  I am going to get as creative as possible for our Thanksgiving meal and kumara adventure, so stay tuned!

it's electric!

Electrical outlets in NZ are definitely different.  The voltage is different, and the prongs to plug in are different too.  Therefore, we left almost all of our appliances back home:  hairdryers, shavers, curling irons, etc.  A voltage adapter and the cost to buy new ones were about the same, so we opted for saving on packing space and investing when we got here.

We did bring our computer, camera, and cell phone chargers.  They have the correct voltage, but require a plug adapter to fit into the wall.  Here is what an electrical outlet looks like here:

 

The differences are immediately obvious, with the slanted prongs.  However, these outlets have a tiny switch next to each of them.  Not only do you have to plug in an item, you have to switch it on when you want to use it.  That has been so hard for me to get used to.  I will plug in my curling iron, come back in five minutes, and find it cold.  Duh!  I forgot to flip the switch.  They're all about conserving energy here!

Even the oven has a switch!  Just a little bit more randomness from New Zealand!

quiet day

 

Dinner plans changed for last night, and we ended up at a Thai restaurant in Merivale instead.  The restaurant was really yummy, we had been there before, but I had a mad craving for Italian.  There were 8 of us at dinner, and we ordered 7 Thai dishes and shared them over rice.  It was a nice way to try lots of new foods.  We had 2 chicken pad thais, prawn fried rice, a beef salad, a calamari dish, beef jungle curry, and a vegetable and chicken peanut dish.  The spice was just right and there was just enough food for everyone.  

   

Thai food is really really popular here and the restaurant we ate at last night, Merry Thai, is rated one of the best.  It is a quaint dining room, and the food is affordable, but fancy and fast.  It was a good night spent with new friends!

   

We've spent most of today getting ready for the work week...grocery shopping, catching up on internet correspondence, talking with our families, etc.  We have to work the whole week while most of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving with a couple of days off in the states...lucky!!!

just chilling

This weekend feels incredibly deserved since this is the first week I have worked more than 30 hours since I've been here!  Although it's been sunny the past week, Saturday is proving cloudy and cool, which is somewhat of a relief.  Relieving in that it gives me an excuse to lay low, catch up on the movies we've rented, and relax in pajamas for as long as I want!  Whoo-hoo!

We have dinner plans tonight with our landlords.  They are a married couple, about our age, and are really nice.  They certainly helped us find our feet here in ChCh.  They have made reservations for 8 of us at a nice Italian restaurant in the nearby neighborhood, Merivale.  I am looking forward to a nice dinner with new friends (some of whom I've heard are American).  It's refreshing meeting new people and feeling included without having to go too far out of our comfort zone.  Sounds like a perfect Saturday to me!

lovely

Yesterday was a lovely day.  A long and productive day on the new job, despite headache and sinus issues, and I was eager to be home before dinner time (which the other job rarely allows).  I made white chili, a favorite recipe from home.  However, I struggle finding the same ingredients here, so when it called for chopped green chiles, I had to buy whole chiles and chop them myself.  I chopped them up, threw them in, and served the chili a short while later.  The chili was incredibly spicy hot (and I love that) but we couldn't even eat it!  The chiles had their seeds in them, but I thought that since green chiles are naturally milder, I didn't think twice when throwing them in.  We tried adding sour cream, brown sugar, cheese, but nothing tamed the spicy dish.  We ended up eating popcorn, licorice, and cookies instead and watching our regular Thursday night television.

The upside was a surprise from Bret.  He had ran to the dairy quick to grab some bread or crackers for the chili (before our failed attempts at eating) and returned with my favorite flowers, which are now vased in a NZ wine bottle.  So cute!

 

somewhere over the rainbow

Yesterday was a sunny day, but as mentioned before, the weather changes quickly.  Right before I left my second nanny job, there was a sudden downpour, and I found myself outside at their clothesline yanking the various items off before they were soaked.  I was dismissed for the day (only a few minutes later) and was released into a now sunny, but sprinkling evening.  I began my short walk home, umbrella in tow, and rounded the corner for the few blocks directly home.  I looked up and saw:

 

 

And I turned around and saw:

I couldn't capture the entire rainbow in one shot, and it looked as if the rainbow was shining over my home...which made me feel so loved!  I couldn't help but sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" the rest of the way home.  As I walked up our drive, the rainbow vanished, and I was home.

Oops!

Today has been busy and productive yet again.  2 nanny jobs, with some errands and laundry in between.  The errands were entertaining, so I thought I would share.  We only needed a few things at the store, a short 10 minute walk away.  Milk, butter, and lollies (for me).  Usually when I get groceries, I bring my own reusable green bags.  They're super sturdy and easy to throw on my shoulder.  Today, for just the 3 items, I went without.

Milk here is sold in the weirdest sizes.  The largest size is just a bit bigger than a half gallon, so we're always in need of milk (maybe that's why they call a convenience store a 'dairy').  Today I picked up that small jug, the rest of the items on the list, and headed home.  It was so sunshiny and beautiful outside today, I was enjoying the warm sun and the relaxed walk.  I was literally, three steps away from the driveway leading up to the flat, when SPLAT!  The milk goes flying out of the bottom of the flimsy plastic grocery sack and lands on the ground with a thud and a puddle.  Oh no!  It was my very own 'Kevin-in-Home-Alone-bringing-home-the-groceries-after-his-very-own-shopping-trip-when-the-bags-break-and-everything-falls-out' moment.  I had always joked about this happening, had nightmares even, and here it is happening to me, in front of passing traffic.  I quickly grabbed the jug, surveyed the damage, couldn't see anything (must've been a tiny tiny hole) and headed for the door, brainstorming what I was going to do to salvage the milk.  My survey of the damage proved worthless, as all of a sudden milk is dripping down my arm, onto my pants, and splashing my toes.  I took a milk bath and bolted for the door.  I struggled to get my keys out of my purse with my dry hand and maneuver the door open with both hands (1 for the lock and 1 for the doorknob...so frustrating).  I came into the kitchen, dropped everything in a frenzy, and poured the new milk into the old jug, and tried not to think about how that was borderline repulsive (I am finicky about milk).

That was my adventure today.  But don't worry, I was laughing most of the time!  There's no reason to cry over spilled milk!!! 

Whew!

Today I started my second nanny job.  And I loved it!  I spent the majority of my day with a super cute baby named Evelyn.  I love babies, and this little lady is so adorable.  Smiles and giggles all day long!  Either she was really gassy or she really likes me!  We played, sang, danced, did some baby yoga, and went for a nice relaxing walk.  The day was long but went by fast, and when finished there, I immediately headed to the other nanny job for the rest of the day.

Ten hours later, I am incredibly exhausted from all of the walking to and from work, and while at work, and from baby lifting all day.  I will barely make it through primetime television and will probably crash before ten!  It feels good though, to feel productive and busy, and tired at the end of the day.  I am looking forward to many more busy days juggling my jobs...it reminds me of home!

relaxing reflection

Today has been a tiring day recovering from the weekend, and was a busy start to this work week.  I am starting a second part time nanny job to fill out my work schedule.  Today was spent at the home of the new family, learning the routine of their adorable 6 month old daughter.  Then it was back home for a bit for some chores, and then straight off to yoga.  I miss teaching my yoga classes at the Y in Omaha.  I miss the people, the kids from kids yoga, and the friendly staff at the Y.  And even though I struggled with the desire to go to the gym as frequently as I did (who doesn't?), I always left feeling much much better.  I miss driving!  The drive home after yoga and a long day at school or nannying was always so relaxing.  The music sounded so much sweeter, my breath seemed so much deeper, and my soul felt much more free.  I am working at striking this balance here in New Zealand, between my working and working out.  

However, it's refreshing teaching yoga here too.  Looking back a few years ago when I started practicing yoga with Leigh, the teenager I nannied for at the time, I never thought I would be able to say "I am a yoga teacher" and then to say "I teach yoga in New Zealand!".  So that feels pretty darn cool when I stop to think about it (thanks Leo!).  Bret and I watched the movie Once last night, and we've been listening to the soundtrack since.  It's really quiet and peaceful.  So, despite it being a busy Monday, we're still relaxing.

Souvenirs!

We haven't really bought any major souvenirs to commemorate our trip, but we've been coming across the New Zealand Monopoly game for awhile now, and it's been on our list of things to bring back to the US.  Bret and I are avid board game players, as dorky as it sounds.  We enjoy a rousing game of trivia, Taboo, cards, or whatever new board game we've discovered after a nice dinner.  And it brings out my competitive spirit, so watch out!

Yesterday we celebrated Saturday by running errands at a new mall.  We finally invested in the New Zealand Here and Now Monopoly game that we've had our eyes on.  We figured we should get it now before the holiday rush, and we'll figure out some way to transport it back to add to our collection.  I was so excited to play, although Bret was a bit skeptical (he remembers how long the game takes).  I think he was preferring it to be NZ art in the flat, not that we would actually use it.  Haha!  But I finally convinced him to play last night.  In fact, the game hasn't even ended.  After a few hours, we put the game on hold, and we have yet to finish it.  But it's really fun!  All the spaces are NZ landmarks, and it's really cool to look at ones we've already been to, and make lists of ones we still need to check off the list.  Even the little metal figurines are NZ related:  a lamb, jandals, an airplane, etc.  So if you're up for dinner and a board game when I get back, be prepared for NZ Monopoly!

Public Holiday

Yesterday was a public holiday to close Cup and Show week here in Canterbury (the state that ChCh is in).  Therefore, Bret and I didn't have to work, so we set out for another day exploring the city.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here this past week, and yesterday was no different.  It reached close to 75, but there was a steady brisk wind from time to time.  We explored the area of the city known as the cultural precinct, and checked out the exhibits of the Canterbury museum.  Certain parts of the museum totally reminded me of my favorite Omaha museum, Western Heritage.  The old-style replicated town with mannequins and stores that depicted early life for settlers in New Zealand, which was so similar to the lower level of Western Heritage (which, as the holidays quicky approach, I am so nostalgic about).  After the museum, we walked through Christchurch's vast botanic gardens.  We found ourselves nearly lost in the miles of paths and bright flowers and trees.  Many people were out enjoying the holiday, picnicking and lounging in the grass.  We did the same, basking in the warm sunshine, before calling it a day!
    

DM in NZ

I have finally started shopping again.  But I promise, I haven't bought anything (then I'd have to worry about how I would bring it back...the suitcase was overfilled when I came!).  I brought my whole summer wardrobe here with me, and all the clothes in the stores are super summery, so I haven't quite felt the need to splurge.  But it's always fun to look!  The malls are decorated in their Christmas splendor, music and all, which seems strange to me to walk in from the 75 degree warmth, into the Christmas-clad mall.  It just doesn't feel right.

As I was browsing through the stores, I got a kick out of a sweatshirt I came across:

Yes, that says Des Moines, as in IOWA!  I was shocked when I saw it and had to take a picture.  It reminds me of all the California beach inspired tees at Hollister, Abercrombie, and American Eagle.  And here I am, halfway around the world, and their fashion doesn't bear the names of famous or huge United States cities like NYC or LA or of exotic California beaches, but of good ol' Des Moines, Iowa.  Who knew?!

bye-bye biscuits!

Don't get me wrong, I love biscuits.  Especially the ones smothered in gravy at the greasy spoon for brunch.  Or the flaky cheddar-garlic ones at Red Lobster.  Or the warm ones with butter in a packet from KFC.  

   

Everyone knows that I love biscuits.But here in NZ, biscuit=cookie.  And it's not even fair to say that.  A NZ cookie is hard, solid, and crumbly.  I'm no cookie conniessuer, but I did move here with one.  Bret knows cookies, inside and out.  And we have been quite unsuccessful finding the right ones.  They don't even come close to the Nestle's Toll House chocolate chip cookies that we're all familiar with in the United States.  The closest we've had to an American cookie, was a few from Subway; their recipe must be internationally consistent.  Bret has tried a different cookie type, brand, and flavor, nearly everytime we go to the store, and he's unwilling to settle.  It doesn't help that his mom's secret chocolate chip cookie recipe is the best in the world, and that she's taking it to the grave.  So I attempted to break free from the bad biscuits, by creating some chocolate chip cookies of my own.  A labor of love, I don't think they'll go uneaten...

 

This is a NZ CookieTime cookie, one of the more expensive cookies.  They're okay, but large, dense, and borderline crunchy.  But if Bret's in a fix, these suffice.

These are my homemade, just like home (or close enough), chocolate chip cookies.  I'm no baker, but these are by far the best ones I've eaten here.  I am seriously considering starting up my own biscuit business here in NZ.  My claim to fame will be soft, ooey-gooey, melt in your mouth COOKIES.  Maybe I should just stick to giving them to all our friends here for Christmas...

sure signs of spring

 

  

Cup and Show Week

 

There have been signs and billboards, television commercials and advertisements all over about Cup and Show Week.  It is an annual New Zealand celebration of horse racing, agriculture, fashion, and entertainment.  From what I can tell, most of the events take place in ChCh, but there are also many music festivals around NZ throughout this time.  The main horse race seems similar to the Kentucky Derby, with women wearing dresses and fancy hats.  There are also fashion shows and a rodeo.  It kind of reminds me of River City Roundup and the activities that they used to hold at Aksarben, about the livestock and animals.  Because of Cup and Show Week, Friday is a public holiday in Canterbury, the state in which we live, so no work!  So if we can check out any of the festivities, we certainly will, and I'll be sure to post more soon!

how kiwis eat kiwi

Kiwis are abundant here in their home country, and they're super cheap too.  You can buy an 8 or 10 pack of green or gold kiwis for 3 NZD, which is significantly cheaper than in the United States.  There's even a cool tool that is packaged in each carton for your kiwi-eating enjoyment.  See below:

 

The kiwi and its special spoon/knife

Simply use the knife to cut off the top of the kiwi...

And then use the spoon to scoop out the fruit!

    

It really makes eating a kiwi so easy and less messy than peeling and slicing (I always feel like I am wasting half the fruit).  I have often grabbed a kiwi for a quick snack, and they're beginning to grow on me.  Did you know that you can (and we've seen it done) eat a kiwi just like you would a peach?  Skin and all!

toilet paper just for me!!!

This may sound exceptionally dorky, especially because it has made me excited, but there is such a thing as dolphin toilet paper!  It seems that a majority of the TP here is patterned, and whether Bret intended to or not, he picked up 'Marine Life' toilet paper, with dolphins swimming all over it.  The picture barely encapsulates how excited I am...look closely (you might have to click the photo to see best)!!!  ☺

being tourists

Today was a busy day exploring the city.  It was our first weekend in a long time that we didn't have any real plans or know of anything specific going on.  Bret did some research on Friday of a few activities going on in ChCh and we set out to spend the day near the city centre.  After a long and lazy morning eating French toast and catching up on internet things, we caught a bus towards cathedral square in the early afternoon.

It was somewhat refreshing being back in the city centre after spending time out in the suburbs for as long as we had.  The square was bustling once again with weekend vendors and food stalls.  And for the first time since we've been here, we noticed the cathedral was open to the public.  So we ducked in and took in the surrounding scenery in the small Christian cathedral.  A band (middle school maybe?) was assembling for a performance, however, upon beginning, they sounded like they were each trying to play their instrument as loudly as possible, interrupting the peacefulness of the quiet church, which was enough to get us to leave.  The weather was sunny, but faded between absolute warmth and cold wind.  We walked through the downtown area, taking in the sights and exploring alley ways and areas that we hadn't previously seen.

Despite our failed attempt at Oktoberfest here in ChCh, we were willing to give them another chance.  Bret had read about a beer festival featuring 20 NZ beers, so we checked it out.  The place was packed with people gathering across the sunny porch, and in warm booths on both floors of the restaurant.  The best part...no admission fee!  We were able to taste different sizes of beer at our own leisure and the hot french fries with sauce and aioli (which we've fallen in love with!) were a delicious accompaniment.  It was so refreshing to relax after what felt like weeks of working!

To complete our visit of downtown, we dined at a Lonely Planet recommendation, Dux de Lux.  We shared a lite dinner on the warm patio of New Zealand green-lipped mussels and a smoked salmon Caesar salad.  The restaurant prides itself on being vegequarian (vegetarian and seafood only).  We basked in the sunshine, watching little birds flit about chirping for crumbs, checked the clock and realized the bus would be a the stop several blocks away in ten minutes (it only arrives once an hour).  We finished up quick, caught the bus right on time and headed home for the evening for movie night!  It was a lovely and inspiring day, exploring the city of our new home!

 

The mussels and Bret's muscles!

Guy Fawkes Day

Over the past week, the hours at dusk have been awfully noisy with fire crackers lighting up the night.  ChCh kiwis are supposedly celebrating Guy Fawkes Day, as a few signs I have seen have stated.  So I have decided to do a bit of research to see what all this celebrating is about.  

In 1605 in Britain, Catholics were being persecuted under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I and her successor James I.  Guy Fawkes was a member of conspirators in Britain, who secretly planted 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords, to be set off on November 5.  However, the conspirators feared the deaths of innocent people and began deciding against setting the House ablaze.  But, when the House was stormed on November 5, Fawkes was caught, tortured, and executed.  Apparently, to celebrate the safety of the king, on that night in 1605, bonfires were lit throughout London.

Now, on November 5, people celebrate Guy Fawkes Day by lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks.  A celebration of Fawkes' execution or an honor to his attempt to abolish the government?  Remains a mystery!

umbrellas and elections

Yesterday was a blustery and rainy day.  The weather in ChCh is quite confused...and confusing.  I dressed lightly, but grabbed a coat just in case, and throughout the day was bombarded with patches of warm sunshine, intermittent hail storms while it was still sunny, ominous clouds, and torrential rain.  I was busy about town, taking a scenic tour via bus, and working.  On one bus trip, there were nearly 70 people on the bus!  And only half of whom were seated!  I have learned my lesson; I will not ride the bus at the same time that students are getting out of school!  Bless the bus driver though, poor guy.  Work was brief, and I was forced to walk home with groceries in tow, all dressed up, in the pouring rain.  It was miserable and I arrived back at the flat soggy and cold.  I felt a bit like Mary Poppins, the nanny with the umbrella, walking down the street, but far less glamourous.

Last night, Bret and I watched the election results via Fox News in NZ, a comfort to Bret seeing American news being broadcast overseas.  It was very interesting watching the celebrations going on back in the United States, but we agree that the impact hasn't really sunk in for us yet.  The election in the United States is all over the NZ news, as their election is this weekend.  However, we both feel so far removed from the situation, except for the snippets of American news and broadcast of political opinions via Facebook.  It is exciting and scary all at the same time, and undoubtedly last night was a historic event.  Stay strong U.S.A and good luck in the long months and years ahead...we'll be rooting for you down-down under and can't wait to get back!

clotheslines

In NZ, a majority of people line-dry their clothing, which is an altogether new concept for me.  Sure, from time to time I would select special items to air dry, and they were often slung across furniture throughout my apartment, but here it is mostly the norm.  I have been clothesline challenged since arriving.  Prior to living in the flat, we shared a small drying rack with other residents at Tranquil Lodge, and it was a good day if you could snag it early on for maximum sunshine.  Now at the flat, there are three clotheslines out back for use for the block of five flats.  Now here's my thing(s) about clotheslines:  (a) you have to make time for drying since you have to consider the weather and time it takes to dry the clothes, (b) I don't like my clothes hanging out there for the whole world to see, (c) I am not nearly tall enough to reach the lines, (d) it is time consuming, (e) on several occasion, my clothes have blown off the line, (f) the clothes dry stiff, and don't have that Downy feel, (g) it just isn't as easy.  But other than that, it's just fine...  ☺
   

So, I am sure you now have an excellent visual of me, laundry basket of wet clothes on hip, wandering out to the clothesline in the back, taking several minutes to arrange the clothespins on the line, standing on tiptoes as I hang everything from skivvies to t-shirts, towels to jeans, across the lines, hoping they don't fall down, blow away, or that I don't run out of clothespins.  It's been quite the adventure, just laundering, but wonderfully humorous.  I've even made the mistake of starting the washing machine early in the morning, anticipating a nice long day to dry the clothes outside, but neglecting to look out the window to see that it's raining.  Which further requires that I create a make-shift clothesline strung across the flat, with a bungee cord Bret brought, and again, scatter items around to dry.  Laundry has proven to be quite the escapade, but adds to the overall experience! 

Feelin' betta.

Here in NZ, they shorten lots of words that end in -er with an a, hence the title.  I have been consciously working on relaxing to help me sort out my homesickness.  We are currently working on some feng shui fixes throughout the flat, to combat any bad energy that may be surrounding us, and I am attempting to turn the mood around by surrounding myself with happy things.  I am in the process of creating a photo collage to jazz up the empty space here, and to remind us of home, so I have been perusing my photo albums and picking out the favorites and best ones. 

Just a few:

 

Craig, Miriam, Bret and me in front of the Full House houses in San Fran

 Last road trip to KC Mo with Jody

My family at the going away party

Bret's family on Bret's 24th

 

My newly-wedded friends, Andrew and Bailey

         

Sigh...  I miss everyone back home...you all should come visit very very very soon!  And send me more pictures to add to the growing collage!