Words to live by

I've recently fallen in love with this band, kudos to a friend's Facebook post. They are amazing and have helped me get through some tough things.

My time in New Zealand has come to an end. This may be a little bit of a vent/rant post, so if you don't 'want to read it...then don't. I am now back in North Carolina to start a new adventure. What is that adventure, you may ask. Well, to be completely honest, I'm not entirely sure. You would think that with so many people asking me "So, now that you're home, what are you planning on doing? Are you going to go back to school? What're you studying? What does your future look like?" I would have come up with some bull crap answer and move on. But honestly, why does it matter? Last time I checked, this was my life and I don't press you for information that doesn't concern you. I'm tired of living my life based on what I feel like people are expecting me to do. Yeah, I may finish my degree, but I have no idea when, where, or what I would be getting a degree in. Yes, I'm looking for a job, and maybe an apartment, but I don't know what exactly I'm looking for, and honestly, I think it's fine that I don't have these answers, and if you don't, that's your problem. All I can tell you, is that I'm done trying to live my life for other people and what they want.  

Disclaimer: cheesy, but so relatable, quotes ahead

There are many great quotes that I feel I should live by, maybe not just me, but maybe all people should live by them.

This is the absolute truth. I have learned this from experience, and let me tell you, I have failed so hard, so much. I've always been a people pleaser, and it sucks. Do you know the amount of pressure we people pleasers feel? It is an incredible amount. It's something nobody should feel, ever. There are too many people and too many ways you can fail them. 

I'm also tired of living based on my past. 

We, me especially, need to move on from the past. Live our lives based on the present and aiming towards the future, not what we screwed up in the past. It's not something you can change, and until you accept that, you can't move forward. I am a little bitter towards a few things in my past, but I can't change it, and worrying never fixed anything. 

The future is a scary thing, everyone knows that. But if you're constantly worried about what you're going to do with your life: should you go to college, what degree should you get, what job should you get, should you start dating? you're going to worry yourself right out of your life. You shouldn't let your life go on without you while you sit and worry about every decision you might make. 

To answer those questions for my life: I don't think I'm going back to a four year college, I tried it and made it a little over two years and decided it's not what I wanted to do. I'm thinking about applying to Wake Tech's cosmetology program to learn the art of make up and hair because it's something I genuinely enjoy and could use in some theatre career. I'm applying to be a receptionist at a spa, but I have absolutely no idea what I want to be doing in the future for my career. As for dating? Been single for 21 years and am pretty good at it and used to it. Not that a date wouldn't be a welcome change, and probably fun, but I'm not going to sit and stress about what clothes I should wear or what food I shouldn't eat in order to get a guy's attention. Though I've been my own company for these past years, I've still got a lot to learn about myself and a lot of areas to accept on my own without trying impress other people. 

Well, that was probably just me repeating a whole bunch of things most people already know, but it's what I'm feeling, and isn't that what blogs are all about?

Oops, forgot I had a blog

Whoops! Sort of forgot I had a blog to keep up...I spose I should write something!

So, it's been a little over a month since I left America, and I have been sick for most of it! Woot! I've had a cold, which turned into the flu and then tonsillitis, and also conjunctivitis. I thought I was at 100% earlier, but Monday morning came and nope. Back to not being able to breathe and it hurts to talk. YAY. Good ole New Zealand germs. It's okay, it hasn't kept me from having a good time too much. 

 We really enjoy playing with legos (or as I have been corrected "they're just blocks, elizabeth", legos are a specific set of blocks. my bad)

 

layla and her lego tower 

I've taken a few walks by this lovely lake--Lake Karapiro

Went to Auckland Zoo, which was awesome. I love zoos! Yes, they did have their native bird, The Kiwi, but it was too dark in its' habitat that I couldn't get any pictures. (just google it)

Some au pairs get together weekly for a dessert night at this cafe called Iguana in Hamilton. It has 6$ desserts and cocktails, which may seem expensive as, but it's actually quite cheap for NZ.

The girls and I experimented and made our own pink play doh! So fun, and so soft--much better than store bought, in my opinion :)

At playgroup every Friday, we have fun getting to know some other kids, and this past week we had face painting! (Guess who painted my face--she gave me a lovely green beard).

Surprise day trips to the beach are amazing! A group of girls decided to head to Raglan for this past Saturday afternoon to see the sunset, but unfortunately it was too cloudy to see anything, but it was still really beautiful.

And to finish the weekend, Sunday morning, a group of au pairs went to Wairere Falls and hiked up a waterfall! It was a strenuous hike that took about two hours to get to the top (and numerous stairs, ew), but the view was so worth it.

A chaco pic from the North Cackalacky girls.

The top of the falls, looking over NZ

Feet picture, because, why not.

So, my trip so far has been pretty eventful, whether it be me being sick, or actually having an adventure, it's been pretty amazing so far and I know the rest will be as awesome or even better. I've really bonded with the girls, I love them to pieces. After a long day, it's so nice to hear "Elizabeth, can I have a cuddle?". These girls are so snuggly and loving. We've had so much fun together so far!

The next few weekends should be fun as well as packed! My birthday is next weekend, (well, Monday) and I'm going to Hobbiton!! (oh my lanta I can't wait). Then I'm going on a conference with my host mum, which sounds amazing, the weekend after that I'm bungy jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge, (yikes. terrified, but so excited) and then hopefully in October I'll be headed off across the ditch to Aussie!

Until next time! Deuces y'all. 

Oh, the places you'll go! (brace yourself, it's a long one)

"You have your brains in your head

You have your feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."

This week's blog post is brought to you by Dr. Seuss' book "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"--since I was reading heaps of books to the little one, and it happened to be in the pile of books.
Not that it has to do a lot with traveling, but there are some really good tips in it! (I'll probably just interject some quotes from the book, just for funsies).


So, I last left you with me adjusting to the new things here--I'm here to say that I think I've gotten used to most things...I think. Except for maybe driving. I've driven twice, and it's safe to say, I'm still not used to it. But hey, my knuckles weren't white then entire time the second time!--improvement I'd say.

"Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry, don't stew. 

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too."

So, last week, I worked Monday-Wednesday--which was great :) got to hang with the kids and see what they like to do (craft/colour, play outside, read books, etc.) and then Thursday and Friday I was in Auckland for an au pair seminar, which was pretty cool. We learned "theoretical driving"--basically just road rules--as it was the opposite side for everyone except for one girl who was from the UK. We also got first aid certified, so if anyone starts to die in my presence, I can save them. Woot! The rest of the weekend was pretty phenomenal! Saturday morning I went shopping for the first time here, which was basically like shopping back home haha--but much, much pricier. And later that day we went to Disney on ice!!! EEP! It was so exciting! Later Saturday night, I watched my first rugby game on the tv--Sharks (South Africa

) vs. Crusaders (NZ), and because they're awesome, the Crusaders won! It was pretty exciting. Can't wait to watch a live one!

"You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.

You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.

Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so

but, sadly, it's true

that Bang-ups 

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up

in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch

with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump, 

you're not in for much fun.

Unslumping yourself

is not easily done."

This kind of hits home a bit, not necessarily right now, but I know it will in either a few weeks or months. I feel like everyone has the notion that when you're overseas for a year, everything will be peachy keen and exciting the entire time. But, that isn't really the case. Yeah it's a new country, so pretty much everything will be exciting at first, but then you realize, going for a run still sucks--it may be a prettier view, but it still feels like death. Going shopping is just like back home, except more expensive. So, I'm here to dash that notion--most things are the same, you're just not back home. (Except that the view here is about 1000000 times better than in Cary). 

"...Everyone is just waiting. 

NO!

That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape

all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places

where Boom Bands are playing..."

"Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

"I'm afraid that some times

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win

'cause you'll play against you.

All alone! 

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

you'll be quite a lot. 

This section also kind of hits home--I am a smidge lonely. I've met some pretty great people and I know they're keen to hangout, but it's been like 5..maybe 10. And granted, I haven't really been able to drive anywhere to meet them...I still feel kind of alone sometimes. I can't just call up my friends and be like "hey, lets go to the lake!" because a) they're not here b) it's winter..

--so that's taking some getting used to. I'm sure I'll meet some people soon, once I get more comfortable driving and can take myself places (I don't like being dependent on people taking me places).

"..on and on you will hike.

And I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are...

..And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

"

Some of those friends (you know who you are!) have told me they want to go adventuring with me, so that's pretty great! Can't wait to go to Hobbiton and the South Island, and other places here in the North Island.

Sorry, that was long and kind of boring--BUT these are my thoughts, as previously stated, and if you don't like it, then leave. :) 

Also, photos :) Because my girls are adorable. 

Fun with baking! Made some ANZAC biscuits and other ones too--yo-somethings...

 Jorja likes to play doctor--I was pronounced not dead. Phew!

Also, tea. Because it is the greatest thing ever. 

(what is says:

WHY TEA IS SO VERY MAGICAL:

-you can put milk in it

-you can put sugar in it

-you can change it

-you can mix it with lemonade

-it is like a liquid hug

-it can be refreshing

-can be warm

-can be strong

-can be sweet

-it is what you need on a cold rainy day when you are sitting on your sofa with a book

-it fills your stomach when you're so sad that you can't consume anything else

-it makes you happy when you're already overflowing with happiness (multiplying your happiness)

-kindness + joy

-love

-some people read-->your fortunes! tea leaves

-most cultures have some form of tea

-some give you hallucinations

-with some you eat crumpets and wear pretty hats

-there are teas that put you to sleep

-there are teas that wake you up

-all it really is, is herbs and water

Adjusting to life as a Kiwi

So, I'm probably not going to be writing something everyday once I start working, unless I feel like something uber exciting happens, but for now, here's how life so far is going:

Adjusting has been a little interesting:

First: the cold. I do love the cold, but coming from a summer of 90 degrees, to a winter of mid 40s was a bit rough. But I do love it, it makes me love of drinking tea excellent. (I came to the right country for drinking tea--they drink it all the time--they have designated "tea times", which is phenomenal).

Second: the accent/words. I usually pride myself on understanding accents and such, and where as I can understand most of the words here, they speak very quickly, and so I feel like I'm constantly asking them to repeat what they said..(sorry family!). Since this is only my third day here, I'm not too worried about it, with time, it'll be easier! When I told people I was going to New Zealand, everyone said "oh good, you chose an English speaking country". Well, yes and no. They are English words, but a completely different vocabulary. They have different words for mostly everything (i.e. sandals=jandals, swimsuit=togs...) Bizarro. Also, one thing I have come to realize, Kiwis (A New Zealander), love saving time when they speak, so they shorten lots of things (also instead of saying lots, they say "heaps"). First off, New Zealand is called En Zed, breakfast becomes brekkie, and so on. Also, in saving time, when describing something as very cool, they say "cool as". It ends there: cool as. Not cool as whatever is cool. So that's weird as. Also, Maori (said kind of like "moldy"). Sort of the native language, not many people speak it, I don't think--if they do, it's not like an everyday sort of thing. A lot of road signs and things are in Maori though, so hmm. Allysia did give me a book on "instant Maori" so who knows, maybe I'll become fluent.

It's actually kind of sarcastic and hilarious.

Third: the roads. Yes, they drive on the wrong side of the road. Well, the left side of the road, and the right side of the car. Let me tell you, roundabouts are scary as. I hope I get the hang of it...Also, the pedestrian walks actually mean something here--cars actually slow down/stop and let you walk, you don't have to rush to the other side which is a new feeling.

So today I went for a walk to go explore downtown a bit (I get a car next week, I think). I started out going the right way, and then used my GPS and thought it told me to go the opposite way, so I walked that way for about 10-15 minutes and then realized that I was going the wrong way. Super. So then I turned back around, and passed the same people who saw me turn around the other times...just a stupid American, no worries. But I did pass some cool scenes on the way once I was headed in the right direction.

On the way, I stopped and snapped a few scenic pics:

Stopped at a little cafe called Rouge and enjoyed some Moroccan Mint tea (that's my cool NZ money on the left). They give you a tea cup and then your own little tea pot--I got about 3.5 cups out of it. It was delicious. 

 This is basically Wally World. So that's cool.

On the way back, which was a lot quicker since I didn't get lost, I snapped some more pics:

See you soon! "Ka kite a tona wa!"

So far, so good!

Well, I left for RDU on Wednesday around 3pm, to get to my 5pm flight. First I had a little trouble with my suitcases, but eventually it got sorted and actually ended up working a little better than I had hoped! Hopped on my flight at 5 and we took off shortly after--four hours and fifty five minutes later, we landed in LAX, at 7:20pm. Let me just tell you. This airport, is ginormous. It has basically an entire other section for international flights, which is about a 5-10 minute walk. Ate some delicious pizza with my new friend, Ally, and then went on our way to the gate to Sydney. Our lovely flight, of 14 hours and 55 minutes, left at about 10:05. Yuck. Not a fun flight. Though the seats were a bit bigger than the seats from RDU to LAX, they still weren't super comfortable. But the flight attendants on the plane were much nicer--as they weren't American (lol). They served us a couple meals and some snacks, and there were TV screens on the back of the seat in front of us--pretty sure I watched about 5 or 6 movies and slept for a few hours. All in all, not a terrible flight, but still pretty long and boring. We arrived in Sydney at 6:15 Friday morning. (Pretty sure I didn't have a Thursday, but don't ask me, it makes my brain hurt). And then I had to book it to the other end of the airport because my flight for NZ left at 7:10, and the boarding started at 6:25. Lovely. So, running to the other side of airports--not my favorite thing. Made it with heaps of time to spare before we actually took off, sweaty for nothing. Woot. We touched down around 12:10pm and made it through customs without a problem (although a couple of the people working it were laughing at me for not knowing what to do--stupid American. But without too much hassle, I made it to the baggage claim, got my two bags (Thank you, Lord that they were there!) and met Allysia at arrivals! We drove back to Cambridge which took a little over an hour--and I tried to adjust to riding on the left side of the road. Weird. Allysia told me she'd take me out whenever she drove so I could get used to it, and said Aaron (her husband) would take me out to learn how to drive properly--that'll be interesting. Didn't see very many sheep--which was a smidge disappointing as I was told sheep outnumber people here. We'll see. We passed a few things that I'm excited to do--like going cave exploring! We made our way to Cambridge and arrived home. I unpacked, showered and felt a bit more refreshed to meet the rest of the family. The kids came home with their dad and came into my room to greet me :) They are adorable. We ate some dinner, read a book, and then pretty much all went to bed--at about 7:15. We'll see what the rest of the week holds!

My sweet little kids: Jorja, Layla, Stirling, and me (left to right)

Whoops, I leave the country tomorrow!

This is just going to be a little blurb to give an update:

Well, these last few weeks in the US have been pretty awesome. Time has gone by fairly slowly though, as I've been ready to leave for months! But the time here has been good. I've gotten to say many fair-wells, and "see you laters" for those who don't want to say goodbye--goodbyes have never been my favorite thing as I'm always super emotional, so bear with me! I've had enough "goodbye parties" to last me a life time! (And I've still got one more!) But they've all been fantastic, I've got some pretty amazing friends and family.

Things don't really hit me when they happen, or are about to happen, they hit me when it's already happened and I can't do anything about it. I'm also not one to start crying from missing someone--that is, unless they start it--then I'm a complete basket case.

Tomorrow starts a new chapter in my life, and I can hardly wait to start it! And for those of you who are reading this: I appreciate your prayers and thoughts! And I hope you enjoy what you're going to read in these posts over the next year!

Can't believe I'm going to be living in one of the most beautiful parts of the world!

I leave Wednesday at 5pm, and fly to LAX, to Australia, and finally land in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday around noon (NZ time).

The beginnings of the adventure and the workings behind it.

Today, I started to pack some little things and check some more things off my "things to do before NZ" checklist. I only have a few things left on that checklist, but I can't do many of them until much closer to when I leave. Today, I have 54 more days until I leave. Yes, that seems like a pretty long time left, but when I think about it, I work the rest of this week and the next and then the first week of June my family will be in Vegas for vacation. Once I get back from that trip, I have about a week left of work, a week of VBS (on the skit team again, woohoo!), and then it'll be July. Then I have about two weeks until I have to say goodbye to people...oy...and finish up the packing process and then July 16th, I'll be flying out to New Zealand for the next year!


So, let me back up and give a bit of background information as to how and why I'm doing this and such.


When I came back from school in October of this past year, I got pretty much the same questions from every person I talked to, "So how long are you home for? Have you graduated? What are your plans for school?" And when I mentioned that I dropped out of college I got a lot of the same responses,
"Oh..are you sure that was a good idea? Did something happen? But why, you've got so much ahead of you?" And on and on the responses went. I wanted to tell all of them, and I did for the most part, that "Yes, it was the best idea for me to drop out of school. No nothing happened. And school just isn't right for me, at least not right now." After I got over the fact of all the seemingly condescending tones of me dropping out, I focused on what I wanted to do now that school wasn't a factor.

I reapplied to Caribou Coffee, and old workplace, and thankfully got my old job back. (So I've been working since November). Then I started to think about what I wanted to do with my semester off. I told my parents that I wanted to work the semester and earn some money so I could go abroad in the summer, hopefully Ireland or England. And then I talked to a couple of my friends about their travels and they said they had "au-paired" (or nannied) for a family, one in Italy and one in Germany. Now, neither of them had really had great experiences, but I went on the website that they had used to check it out. ( http://www.aupair-world.net/my_aupair_world ) So I made a profile, specified that I wanted to be in Ireland or England or maybe Scotland and my preferences for the family. I got a few responses back from a couple different families, but none of them really sounded to my liking, that is, none of them had specified that they were Christians (which is a huge deal to me--not about to live with a family I don't know for a long time and they not be Christians). So I kept checking back with a couple families, and some of them were not at all what I was looking for or just didn't seem to fit. At the end of December, I got an offer from a family in Scotland to start the first week of January. Now, this was my first actual offer from anybody and I was ecstatic. But I was reminded by a couple people that (a) it was way too soon and I wouldn't have enough time to get anything ready, (b) it wasn't the ideal situation I was looking for, and (c) my niece was to be born at the end of January and I wouldn't be there for her. I quickly decided that more offers would come along if God wanted them to, and so I politely declined and wished the family best of luck for finding someone right for them. (<--not as easy as it sounds).

So I kept on waiting. I got a few "Hey, we'd love to get to know you a bit more, let's chat", but none of them when further than that, and the families weren't really what I was looking for either. Clearly, God did not want me in Ireland or England because nothing was working. So, call it my love of The Lord of the Rings, but I broadened my preferences to include New Zealand. And to my surprise, I got two responses from within the first two days of changing it. One family seemed fun, but were still missing the most important element: being a Christian; but I kept talking to them to get to know them a bit more. The other family's first email to me was about how interested they were in me because my profile specified that I was a Christian. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Our first email chat was on December 15th of this past year. Enter Allysia Kraakman, my soon to be host mom. We started talking and I instantly became so excited to learn more about her and husband, Aaron, and their three kids, Stirling, Layla and Jorja (how cute, right?).  Lish (as she told me she'd like to be called) and I skyped a few times, once by myself and once with my mom. When my mom and her skyped to get a feel of what I would be doing and such, I asked her where I would be staying--if I had my own room or whatnot. She then answered "no, you'll share a room with the three kids and have to always be with them". It was then I realized we'd get along famously due to both of our use of sarcasm and humor. Then I met Layla and Jorja, and man, did I almost die of cuteness. Do yourself a favor and just picture a little 2 and 4 year old with a NZ accent. Now try and not smile. Next I met Stirling, the cutest little boy maybe ever. Lastly my mom, dad and I met Aaron, Lish's husband, and he was quite a hoot. He kept making fun of my southern accent and when I said "y'all", he asked if I had actually said that...'fraid so.

Meeting the whole family was a blast, and I can't wait to meet them in person!! My plane ticket was bought near the end of February, and I've been waiting ever since!! I have my passport, my visa, and my plane ticket and am ready to go!!

Til' next time! (Probably the day that I leave I'll write a quick little update)

Countdown Timer!