I miss...

kumara

Bro'Town

lack of insulation/central heating

walking along Oriental Parade

caffe eis

chocolate fish

tip top hokey pokey ice cream

pavlova

hell pizza

eftpos cards

"flavour", "colour", "favour"

"realise", "civilised", "capitalise"

Storm King and Upstate NY

My first weekend back, Mike and I went upstate to Storm King Art Center in upstate New York. It was the perfect weekend for it, as the fall colours were in full bloom...

goodbye sunrise

Two of the many many things I already miss about NZ:

Sunrise

Sunset

Goodbye bed

Goodbye yard

last salsa

Photos from the lat night out dancing with the ladies at Salsadrome:

Drinks at Coyote: (clockwise from top left) Brindha, me, Sarah, Brooke, Nat, Melanie

me & Sharon

At Salsadrome: me, Britta, Serena

Salsa love and Kai in the City

I have really amazing friends here. It overwhelms me how much they say they're going to miss me, especially given how we haven't known each other long. I am s so happy that I know them and know I can count them as friends for life. I can't wait to come back and visit through the years, as having these people in my life officially makes NZ feel like another home.
I really believe, when I sift through all the other more superficial reasons, that this was exactly what I hoped to find over here. Good good people and friends that are now a part of my extended family. Or, in Maori. my whanau.

My final salsa classes were on Tuesday night, and the gang surprised me with cake and a really lovely salsa send-off. Natalie was running aorund taking video and photos of everything, and eventually my teacher Rafa joined in on the action, having me pose with various backdrops and taking his own photos. I tell you, that guy is such a character and such a joy.
Brindha was the mastermind behind the cake, and she's probably the one I'll miss most...which is saying a LOT since I'm going to miss everyone TERRIBLY. But Brindha has been my best friend here, and we both found each other after we had given up on really connecting with someone. She, luckily for the northern hemisphere, is moving to Chicago early next year, so I get to have her back!!!

Anyway, on Wednesday, 15 of us (17 once Rafa and Rosina came after their class) had dinner at my favorite restaurant, Kai in the City.
It was a joint celebration as it was Brindha's birthday that day.

Kate & I

Brindha & I

Natalie & I

Britta

Jessica & Caroline

Nat & Alastair

Fee & Nat

l-r: Sharon, Jerry, Martin, Martin's wife, Tara, and Fee

Ashley (our fantastic waitress), Kate, and I

Brindha, Brooke, and Sharon

Fee, Nat & Alastair

Me & Brindha

oops

Jessica, Caroline, Britta, Kate, and I

Ashley & birthday cake

Rosina & Rafa (our salsa teachers)

Rosina & Nat

"Happy birthday to Brindha!":

Nat with a message to Mike (unfortunately, you can't hear anything):

Alastair helping to convey the message:

Alastair using the word "antipodes":

Nat and Alastair trying to keep the camera entertained:

(do not delay, make haste)

Jessica eating an oyster: