Farewell Friends, New Zealand

The 110 days that I spent traveling around New Zealand exceeded my expectations. I'd heard about miles of beaches, rolling mountains, layed-back locals, but I didn't expect to experience so much love and admiration for the country and it's people.

The hospitality and openness was incredible. On Friday Olivia and Christina, a local mom and daughter, picked me up hitchhiking my way to the Ocean Beach. Our conversation exceeded the limited car ride, so the pair, along with the girl's father, met me at the beach a few hours later. After a swim they invited me to their home for dinner and offered to board me for the night. Their lovely home with a sea-view was tempting, but instead of a bed I requested a lift back into town where my Kiwi friends in Whangarei were awaiting my return.

Life in New Zealand was cruisey. I met people like Olivia and Christina who went out of their way to make my stay here incredible.

Friends here became family and they will remain dear to me. Sam, Ben, George and Franky gave me space in their Whangarei flat (I rotated between their place and John and Robyn's, which was a bit out of town), dinners with their families, countless rides to the highway, and looked out for my safety. Lucky for us facebook exists to help maintain long-distance friendships. I'm even staying with Laura's (Ben's girlfriend) mom while I'm in Australia and she's arranged for her friend Helen to take me surfing. The plans keep rolling out for me, and they are far better than I could have ever arranged on my own!

John and Robyn took me in for two whole weeks, loaned a car to us (the seven of us travelers who they met in a Northland art gallery back in October -- During the past months we have rotated possession of the vehicle.) and acted as New Zealand parents, checking in on my whereabouts, making sure I was eating enough, giving me access to the washing machine and unlimiited shower access. Their only request is a invitation to my wedding someday; they obviously don't mind waiting awhile for this reimbursement.

For these folks and the hundreds of others who contributed to making my New Zealand experience sensational I am eternally grateful.