Barbecuein'

Yesterday we headed to the coast to attend a barbecue at our first NZ get-together.  I had met our host, Jessie, at my first interview at the gym and we hit it off right away.  She's from Oregon, and she's lived in New Zealand with her kiwi husband for the past four years.  Their home was located a short walk away from the beach, so we boarded the bus in the early afternoon and made our way out!

     

The weather here is so up and down.  The sunshine and warmth of Friday had disappeared by yesterday and it was windy, cloudy, and spitting rain sporadically.  Although discouraging, we weren't about to let the weather get us down.  We arrived at Jessie's and the festivities began.  We spent a majority of the day meeting new friends, hanging out outside and playing ping pong in the garage, and getting the barbecue ready.  I think I ate way too many chips...my tummy was not happy the rest of the night.  I actually dabbled a bit at the barbecue with Jessie's husband Jonny, helping him make patties and sausages.  We rolled the sausages in thinly sliced sandwich bread and slathered them with tomato sauce (ketchup).  They tasted like cinnamon and the the tomato sauce complimented them nicely!  After a long afternoon in the wind, we ducked out after dark for the long bus ride home.

   

Me and Jonny at the BBQ

Their dog Indy (short for Indiana Jones)

  

Even though I had a great time at the barbecue, it was exhausting meeting new people...it is something I haven't done in a long time.  It can be a sad reminder that I am far from home and the friends that truly know me.  Therefore, I have been spending most of today relaxing, watching movies, and napping.  And making pumpkin chili to celebrate the season (that we're missing back home)!