Goodbye goodbye goodbye, I’m leaving home to go home.
I am sad. Inexplicably sad, I have no words for it.
My last week in New Zealand has been wonderful and warm and like being home. I’d settled in completely and I’d even been connecting more and more to my colleagues and the children. I knew my place, I knew mostly what to do and I’d spent some time in the Burrow (the smaller children’s area). I’d even helped one of my colleagues to write a story about one of her ‘ghost children’, since she barely stood out and the teacher was too busy most of the time.
- H., who had been clinging onto me, had opted for constant cuddles and tried kissing me on my face wherever (she succeeded, at the amusement of my colleagues). She’d also been looking at me sadly all week and didn’t want to sit anywhere but on my lap on my Happy Last Day.
- D., and H., who had been playing around me and throwing ninja stars at me, told me to keep seated where I was and stay there forever (oh my, I tried very hard to keep in the tears). They kept playing on my lap until they were picked up.
- C., one of the kids who only spoke Chinese and whom I’d barely made contact with, started listening to me and decided that I was a very good cuddling partner (she took after her friend H.)
- E., G., A., J., and C., decided that I wasn’t allowed lunch on my last day and piled onto me while I was on the floor. H. and C. looked bewildered at me while I was taken hostage.
- X. and H. wanted to play with me all day and decided that my phone was very interesting (it fell out of my pocket and they liked the stickers, so okay, you can look at it)
- R., who had given me a panic attack before, wanted to sit next to me and wouldn’t budge during my Happy Last Day.
- O. had started calling me ‘Joycie’ which only my deceased grandfather would call me and I’d gotten a little emotional since I hadn’t been called that since his passing in 2012.
- R., the boy with the allergies was ill all week so I couldn’t say good bye, which made me sad.
- H. and J., the Korean children, one of whom could speak a little English (J.) came to play with me. J. insisted I sing ‘The wheels on the bus go round’, so we sang and then H. started singing the same tune but something in Korean. We got to the point that I’d understood it as the Korean version and I’d asked her to teach me, which she patiently did and happily obliged to repeat for me. After this, she started rearranging the cars she’d collected by colour and told me the colour in English and the amount of cars in Korean (which I did understand, because I can count up to 5 in Korean). My colleague was very happy with this. Me too, because I felt I’d connected a bit more to them.
My last day I was laden with kisses and cuddles and love. I received a necklace, which I will hold dear for a long, long time. I also received a card made by one of the kids and with some messages from my colleagues. I almost cried. I also received a GIGANTIC cookie, some cake, some cookies and pudding bread. It was amazing (and boy was I full).
I treated everyone who was allowed to Stroopwafels. Everyone loved it! I gave the centre a beautiful book, from both me and Renske, which I read to some children right before leaving.
At the end of the day, I received some more love from the teachers and the kids who put their well-wishes and love into my necklace and I walked home with my Japanese colleague, who had to catch a bus near my apartment. It was great talking to her about her culture! I told her how much I liked her language and I wanted to visit her home country. She told me to contact her if I ever go to Japan.
Then at home we’d all been getting ready for mine and Kirsten’s departure, when suddenly we were surprised by the fact that we’d have to move apartments last minute. Then all of a sudden I didn’t anymore and I’d have to come back on Monday evening to get everything in check.
So I’d said goodbye to Kirsten and wished her well on her travels and I’d told Mia I’d see her before I’d leave to leave her some of my stuff.
Thus, I went off to get my car (I called her Eeniemeenie) and drive to Tauranga. I drove on my own and made some scenic stops. Driving there is amazing and I enjoyed every second of it!! I ended up in Tauranga and walked around for a bit. I didn’t feel like walking up Maunganui that day, so I stayed in and watched some Kdrama (a good one, it’s great) and spoke to my roommates: a Canadian girl and a French couple. I was also very surprised by the people at the desk in that hostel, because they were Dutch! I slept very well and the next day I decided upon having breakfast at the pier near the sea stars. It was wonderful.
I then drove to Maunganui and took the steep way up to the top, during which I had a panic attack because I pushed myself to climb faster than my body could handle. I had some contact with home during that time and let them know I was fine. After reaching the top, I walked down, enjoying the view and breeze. At the beach I enjoyed looking for shells and on the trail back to my car I collected more shells to make into keychains (an idea I picked up at the hostel). After walking the scenic route back I changed clothes and decided I wanted to watch the sunset at Cathedral Cove, but I eventually decided against it, since the sun set far quicker than expected and the trail was long and kind of desolated. Tomorrow was another day, I’d thought.
To enjoy the sunset anyway, I stopped at a desolated scenic stop on my way to my motel in Coromandel. I’d decided to drive a bit longer there, driving past the coast. I marvelled at the sunset and it felt as though I was at the top of the world. I danced and screamed of wonder! The sky was on fire!
I cried a bit in the car on the last bit to Coromandel, since I realized I’d be leaving all of this behind in a few days’ time and I wasn’t ready.
I arrived at the motel, settled in (oh my god I have a tv and there’s kiwis growing in front of my room??) and went for some groceries. I had some vegetables – sadly I got the spicy one, so I didn’t enjoy it as much, and some rice. I then called with Renske and forgot to watch the Breakfast Club and then went to bed. I did have contact with home, since I’ll be going to Disneyland Paris for my friend’s birthday (mixtape discussions all the way!).
(I also showered in the dark because it went out because sensors. Nightmare stuff)
The next morning I got all of my stuff and drove off to Cathedral Cove for my last attempt to see the wonderful world of Narnia. I wasn’t let down. It was amazing! I picknicked there and walked back up to the car. It was now time to bring the car back and go to my apartment and move rooms. I thought.
I drove around for an hour, trying to go to the gas station, fill up and drop off my car. I then got all of my stuff, packed all of it (as best I could, my apartment was a mess and everyone had left.) and tried to find out where I had to move. I didn’t have to according to the man behind the desk, so okay, hang around then…
I was greeted by a letter and a stuffy toy upon arriving home, Kirsten had left it behind. I wanted to give her something too, but she doesn’t want it.
Then today I was greeted by the man from before, asking me to leave immediately to another room in the other tower. I wouldn’t have to pay extra for the premium room, because of the last minute inconvenience. Okay, I’d do that.
I moved to that room in the other tower and repacked my stuff, got the luggage scale from Mia and left my stuff with her.
And a short recap of today:
- Got a box to send stuff home and filled it, left it at the post office because stuff’s too heavy.
- Have a pile of clothes I need to wear until I am through the airport check to take them off again because my luggage is too heavy otherwise.
- Booked my pick up for tomorrow
So yeah, this is the end of my journey. Hopefully it won’t be as long as the last one (or it won’t feel as long). Bye!
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