As I sit down to write this weeks blog, I have a lot to think about. Not just of the past weekend, but of the past year and what the experience has meant to me.
I know right away that the things I've tried, the people I've met and the scenery that I have been surrounded by has truly changed me for the better.
I've become more easy going and learned that life doesn't always fall apart when there are 'no plans'. When I first got here my signature sayings were "so what's the plan?" and "do we have a plan?" which drove everyone nuts. That being said, I still believe that 'Wanaka time' is very inconvenient and being on time is a good characteristic to have. I think if anything Georgie will agree with me.
For me plans were the one thing in my life that was organized and 'unchangeable'. After moving to New Zealand I quickly saw my life change in every aspect and to be honest it was really hard at first. My support group of family and friends were timezones away, I had quit my job that I had worked so hard for and all of the sudden I was living with my long distance boyfriend and his family. In a matter of a weekend, I had no idea of who I was or how the girl I have always been would survive.
As time went on I was able to accept change and let part of 'the girl I have always been' go. Its true when they say change is good and it was something that I needed. If anything I've learned that exiting your comfort zone can be scary, but there is another part of you beyond it.
In saying that, bungy jumping was probably the craziest thing that I did while living in New Zealand. For the life of me I will never forget the panic as I stood at the top of the bridge and looked down thinking "Oh fuck I actually have to do this". It was way beyond my comfort zone and although I will never do it again, I can say that I bungy jumped at AJ Hackets in Queenstown where it was invented. I can also say that I puked on the way home.
Of course there were less scary things that I got to try that were just as effective as bungy jumping. I joined the touch team and broke my finger. I played cricket and found it was nothing like baseball. I learned how to drive a stick shift on the wrong side of the road, but I'm pretty sure that scared the life out of Teddy and I failed miserably. Before I attempted each one, I was nervous, hated the idea and had no interest in partaking. I soon realized that having a negative attitude wasn't going to do much for helping me to fit in with these new people. So I put my athletic awkwardness aside, picked up that damn rugby ball and went out for the fun of it on Monday nights. Much as I hated admitting it to Campbell, it was actually a lot of fun.
I found that as I tried things with the group that I became more and more accepted as a friend instead of just 'Campbell's Canadian girlfriend'. In friendship, you get what you give. As friendships grew, so did the laughs and the amount of time we spent together. I'm not a camper, but some of my favourite weekends have been spent in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of us compiling our food together, then drinking and laughing the weekend away. Cluden has been the home of these adventures and I will really miss the late night drinking games and singing sessions. Whenever I hear the song "Wagon Wheel" I will think of those times and the people that I shared them with.
Campbell and I spent yesterday looking through all the pictures that we have taken over the past 12 months. Events like the Cromwell Races, the Highlanders game, a Tweed and Tartin Game Hunters Feast and most recently Pips's 30th Birthday Party certainly highlight us at our best. However there were many more weekends that had us playing Monopoly until the wee hours of the night or getting on the piss at the rugby grounds that were just as fun and hilarious. I learned it doesn't matter what you're doing or the cost of the adventure, it's who's accompany you that makes the memory.
Of course this year wasn't just about meeting new people. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the key person in my life and where he came from. Meeting and living with Stu, Sue and Callum has been a great opportunity to see how Campbell grew up and its been interesting to see similarities or differences between my household and his. They have been very welcoming to me and their support in our move to Canada has been greatly appreciated. It has been an amazing experience for our relationship and I certainly have no regrets in taking the plunge in moving to New Zealand.
Sitting at the kitchen table, I know that this is my last post from New Zealand.
Goodbyes over the past few days have been hard, but as most people have said "its only goodbye for now". I do believe that's true. I've sat around many kitchen tables and talked about the next time we'll all see each other. May it will be a parents birthday, a friends wedding or a babies birth; I have made lasting friendships that I know will always be there to turn to.
I thank each and everyone of you for this experience. Cheers for now my good mates.
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