Trailing the Footsteps of Little Red

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."

[lillred]

A year and 4 months - probably the happiest and the whole-est I have felt my whole life.  That in itself is a huge statement and probably requires a lot of justification.  So here’s why: he encourages my curiosity for travel and learning, he never makes me doubt his actions or his love for me, my family absolutely adores him, there’s no hiding from anyone, he calls me out on my crap, and yet I am completely myself around him.  It’s not that we don’t argue, because we do.  Everyone does, but it’s about how you learn from it and how you handle the next argument.  It’s not that he tells me he loves me, but he show’s me he loves me in the littlest of acts.  It’s not just that we have similar hobbies, but it’s our willingness to try new things...together.  Everyone always asks, “How do you know?”  Well, you keep doing things until one day you just know, that he’s the one.  You keep doing things until there’s no doubt... until one day, you just “know.” 

[lillred]

What is going on?  It’s been a year (+) since I’ve posted on this blog.  A year.  A simple four letter word, but 365 days or 8760 hours.  I hate when I do this because catching up a years worth of events in a single blog post does not do my life or the people in it justice.  So how about I say this first: I graduate in less than a week.

[lillred]

Fush ‘n Chups & Views!

New Zealand, as I might remind you, is still an island country.  With that in mind, something that I had to do was eat fish and chips!  The perfect place to try this was when I went to Akaroa, in the South Island.  Lonely Planet suggested it so I had a platter of grilled Hoki and Kumara (kind of like a sweet potato but less sweet - SOOOO YUMMY).

Beyond fish... the little harbor is known for more than just that.  Akaroa,  located on a peninsula near Christchurch, is a little French influenced town with French Roads and bakeries and everything.  Having studied French for about 13 years of my life (though never practicing or retaining much), I kind of geeked out.  

We stayed at a farm hostel [shout out to Onuka Farm Hostel!] and it was the coolest thing ever!  Our hut didn’t have electricity or lights but it felt like a little tree house.  Obviously situated on a farm, we found ourselves waking up to the sound of roosters, munching sheep, and a grumpy duck.  The hostel had a hike on the banks peninsula.  It was literally in their backyard, so we didn’t get a touristy path.  It was straight uphill lined with cow manure and sheep poop the WHOLE way.  Our legs were burning for a good hour to the top.  The views were breathtaking...the water so blue.

[lillred]

Christchurch 2.0

Two weeks ago, my friends and I casually were looking at flights to the South Island, noticing Queenstown or Dunedin cost about #300 round trip.  WHY IS TRANSPORTATION ANYWHERE AROUND HERE SO EXPENSIVE?  Later, I found a flight for about $80 round trip to Christchurch from Wellington.  An hour later, we were giggly girls who just booked a spontaneous flight.

If you sit for a minute and go through your thoughts and memories, doesn’t “Christchurch” sound familiar...famous, even?  With that in mind, it seems like there would be plenty to do.  Sadly, upon arriving, I realized I forgot something. The quake of ‘11.  I hear about natural disasters all the time, but seeing it like this... it was unbelievable.  The city was in rubble - streets quiet and thousands of people fled to a different city.  It was saddening to see the cracks in the cement, the shattered glass from the windows... the empty abandoned houses.  

Despite the shock,  I still enjoyed my time and felt that Christchurch had a lot to offer. 

STREET ART: My friends and I were lucky that we chose this weekend to go because there was a free Street Art Expedition going on.  There were huge murals across all of town by different artists.  We literally spent all day walking every nook and cranny of town to find these pieces, taking pictures and discussing what each could possibly mean.  There were tons, but a common theme...despite the current situation of the town, was that none of the pieces were depressing or sad.  Some wrote: Christchurch will rise, Christchurch 2.0 and one of my favorites - We got the sunshine!

THE ReSTART MALL:  We also got to see a mall all contained in different shipping containers.  I thought it was an innovative way to not only bring curious shoppers and tourists, but a way to be very sustainable - cheap and cautious of future storms.  The ReSTART Mall was colorful and lively with locals and tourists alike. 

THE VIEWS: Lastly, New Zealand is...well NEW ZEALAND!  Everywhere we go, it’s beautiful.  The whole country is an island, might I remind you.  We went to two suburbs (if you’d call it that) of Christchurch and GAAAASH it’s so pretty!  I’ll talk about these two in my next blog, as I don’t want to get too long. 

[lillred]

I never posted my stuff about Australia. So tadaa

[lillred]

So I haven't been really good at posting blogs.  I guess it's been a change to video blogs! :P

[lillred]

Clear Skies and Clearer Waters

I'll leave the rest to my video!

[lillred]

Small town New Zealand girl, but still has all the beauties of the outdoors.

[lillred]

Appreciating Wifi

Remember those days where our parents yelled at us because we used up our 200 texts a month? Nowadays, we text about 200+ messages a day – not that it even matters since most phone plans have it easily accessible to unlimited messages.   Now, we try not to use all of our data plan up – but it’s usually not an issue with free wifi on campus and wifi already paid for at home.

 So now, let me just update you on New Zealand.  There’s 3 wifi connections on campus.  StudentCity, InspireFreeWifi, and MUStudents.  You pay for studentcity in your room – the cheapest plan is $27.50 a month, which allows 10 GB.  I’VE USED 7.1/10 IN A WEEK. InspireFreeWifi is as it states, FREE.  But hold on, there’s a catch.  There’s only a certain amount for free and I’ve also used it all up on my phone and my laptop .  Lastly, there should be no catch for the free campus MUstudents wifi.  But there is… YOU CAN NEVER GET ON and when you do it is so spotty.  To make matters worse, I have 500 MB on my phone for data included in my $20 a month plan, which I have already used up as well.   So how am I supposed to do homework and be able to communicate with my family/friends/boyfriend back at home?!

[lillred]

First Impressions of New Zealand

After some stressful adventures in Australia/Airports, I finally got to Palmerston North - Massey University.  The air felt clear and the sky was bright.  I was happy to finally call a place mine though.  My place is the international dorm - where people come and study internationally for 4 years.  So it's mainly Chinese and Taiwanese people and a couple Americans here and there.  

The girls I met are also from the States.  I describe us as the girls from the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants.  We are all very different but somehow get along - at least so far.  Kendra was the first I met at the airport - just as lost and confused as I was.  Luckily I met her because she was in transit with these other girls who were also American.  There's Laney who's the Buzz Feed study abroad friend who's the crazy wild child, Emily who is the super down to Earth - nature loving girl, Kendra the mom who keeps us in line.  (There's also Victoria who's from Auckland too.) They all live in Egmont, a brightly lit open place for domestic or international students.  I'm in Karainga all by myself in a pod of 4 with half being RA's and one who wouldn't open the door to me when I knocked to say hi.  (I'll update when I finally meet her). 

So today was just orientation starting at 9 am.  Introductions on the school and New Zealand, a sheep farm tour with sheep shearing and herding and then paperwork stuff.  All great I suppose.  

Here's everything I've got so far.  

1) New Zealand is very environmentally conscious with biodegradable wastes, recycling and regular wastes.  There's revolving sheets instead of paper towel rolls in some areas and wooden utensils some places. 

2) There's green everywhere! Plants of all sorts.  All way bigger than what I've seen in NC.

3) EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE.  WiFi costs. Gym Costs. Food costs. ERRRRTHING.  Tuition and fees did not include any of those things.  So I'm feeling broke already (especially after losing $20 to the wind).  

[lillred]

Massey University

Though my time at the airport was slightly miserable due to way too many reasons, my time starting here hasn't been too bad. The first girl I met was from California - she's actually staying a whole year!  Anyway, fast forward a couple hours through the mishaps with the housing committee and Kendra and I were settled.  Me at my permanent place in Karainga and her in her temporary across the walk.

At her place we met two more American girls , Laney from Hawaii and Emily from Missouri.  Also another somewhat pretentious New Zealander.  But we all had dinner, walked campus, and hung out for a little.  Slowly I've seeing which friends is falling into the buzzed friend categories.  Laney will be the wild child getting us all to try different things and Emily's the down-to-earth girl who'll probably adventure to do whatever, and Kendra a sweet outgoing dependable chick who will be keeping us all in line.  

One thing I've noticed here...just like in Australia: EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.  WIFI - GYM MEMBERSHIP - none of this is included in our fees. WHAT?! 

Anyway - I'm a little nervous and missing home a bit but the prospects of a more settled schedule and a private room is nice.  I'm ready to have adventures and memories with these girls too!

[lillred]

California Youth

Here's just an opinion.  California grows up a little later than other places do.  First, businesses pop up on any idea.  There's enough people out there that it's bound to interest someone.  You don't need a degree to be successful here.  I'm sure it's true for other places, but more so here.  Think of NC - if you don't go to college after high school - the culture there looks down on you and think... "good luck with that."  California seems to have more options - more feasible options of what you can do.  Film, food, dancer, art... the skies the limit.  Just being there for a week I saw all kinds of business ventures.  

Living expenses are so high, that people live with their parents throughout college - or most of them do.  With this, they grow up differently and depend on their parents in different ways than others do.  I'm going to keep comparing to NC - but it's easier and more common to get an apartment maybe junior or senior year of college. 

So there's this California mentality of not wanting to yet settle and to explore what's out there. I don't have further thought - but hey that's just what I have right now.

[lillred]

California: Land of the Views and Foodies

Before arriving in New Zealand - I have two pit stops.  My first pit stop has just come to an end.  I stayed a week with my cousin in San Jose, California. 

California's weather was just as I expected it to be.  Fresh air and pretty skies - there winter averages around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit.  Californians are spoiled as if it reaches 50 degrees they start complaining of how cold it is.  Not that I am from up North, but uh that's not cold. 

The best way I can explain what people around here do for fun is by explaining their foodie culture.  There is anything that you could imagine - fusions of whatever.  Businesses popping up on a single small idea.  Sushi burgers, different variations of ice cream and iced treats and pastries galore.  What they do for fun: try different foods.  For this reason, I feel like at least they are more of melting pot since they are more cultured on foods!

My ultimate favorite was sno.  While I know this is simple, I'm a junkie for any kind of cold treat.  Sno is soft iciness flavored and topped.  As you might have guessed I had some Green Tea flavored. 

Unlike other congested areas like New York, there's still nature.  You can still get a breath of fresh air.  There's tons of beautiful mountains and hilly areas to explore.  And to balance off their on going crave to explore new foods - there's scenic views to feast their eyes. 

[lillred]

Pretrip New Zealand

If anyone's really understood my situation... it's been a long haul to get going to New Zealand.  From rearranging classes and summer plans - I've finally gotten things to work.  My classes in the Southern Hemisphere don't start until February 23rd - almost a whole two months after NCSU's classes begin.  I casually check on my visa to see if it's been cleared.  I submitted it December 23rd.  They have a holiday break until January 5th but then from there it should take 4-6 weeks but I should find out within 2 if there's issues in the process.  Yesterday was January 19th.  

I decided I'd have to make another phone call and that I couldn't be patient.  Somewhere in between waiting and talking to different operators and agents, I found out I missed something rather important.  SENDING IN MY PASSPORT.  I missed that I was supposed to send in my passport to get my visa checked and stamped physically into my passport.  

This was a careless mistake.  Not that I'm blaming it on anyone, but I kind of wish my study abroad advisor who is in charge of New Zealand - would have mentioned it or "advised" me.  Nonetheless - yesterday was a panic.  Today's still a bit of a panic. 

Though it's supposed to take 4-6 weeks - and I leave for Cali in two... most the agents I spoke with said they could probably make it work. So fingers crossed.  And for anyone traveling to a different country - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY on visas - IF YOU NEED ONE, WHAT YOU NEED TO GET ONE... and the TIMELINE. 

[icanread]

[lillred]

So much TRUTH

[lillred]

A video I had to make for the Goodnight Scholarship Program about my time abroad.  

[lillred]

I'm Sorry Child

That’s all I could say, quietly to myself watching as the young two week old became motherless.  My heart stopped in one giant pain and then dropped to the upper parts of my stomach.  I was at a loss of words.

  A hospital assistant and the father, who had a child in the other arm, carried her limp frail body in wrapped in a blanket.  The father was anxious but still lively.  A gogo followed alongside the chaos, quiet and reserved.  Her eyes swollen with grief but unable to tell her son, who was urgent to ask the doctor what was wrong with his wife. 

  The doctor checked her eyes and checked for a pulse.  She turned to look at Mackenzie and I whispering the long dreaded words: “She’s dead.”  I was unaffiliated with the family but my heart sank and I wanted to grab Mackenzie – but I wanted to be professional and not make anyone else feel anymore uncomfortable.  So I let them well up in my eyes. 

  The husband came back in after trying to call someone, without luck.  He proceeded to explain that she just fell over in the bathroom complaining of dizziness and that this all happened 30 minutes ago.  The doctor interrupted and in the calmest way possible – “Sir, she’s cold and she doesn’t have a pulse.  I’m sorry sir but she’s passed.”   

  The gogo closed her eyes.  The husband let out a long loud wail and curled his body up – along with the baby in his arms.  The nurses pulled the baby away and tried consoling him in the only way they knew how – rubbing his back and saying I’m sorry. 

  The baby was placed in a wrap on the grandmother’s back – a custom to securely hold the baby while being able to manage other tasks.  The commotion of the room was muted as I stared at the baby.  I couldn’t apologize enough to the baby in my head.  I thought of my mother and how I couldn’t imagine not having the memories of her throughout my childhood.  My mom was there to hug me when I fell and scratched my knees, to feed me when I was too stubborn to eat, to yell at me when I wouldn’t listen, and to laugh at me when I joked.  That pit grew larger and larger in my stomach.  I’m sorry child.  I’m sorry.