Time to get real.

When I decided to travel to New Zealand, I admit the Shire was a huge factor.  I wanted to go on an adventure and who better to follow than Bilbo and Frodo?  I quickly learned that this beautiful country is so much more than the land of hobbits.  The people are adventurous, chill, and loving, and the countryside really is one big screensaver.  Whether I was walking to the store to get toilet paper or flying in a helicopter, the views were constantly stunning.  I will forever be spoiled by New Zealand's beauty. 

I decided to travel solo to take control of my life and to focus on me.  I knew from the beginning that my "selfish year" would mean missing out on my life in Reno, but I didn't exactly know to what extent.  In the past year my loved one's lives have changed and I have missed moments I will never get back.  My sister started a job and has already been promoted, my mom got a new job, my best friend graduated university, my dad got married, my beloved cat passed away, and my little cousins started college.  I think it's important to acknowledge these moments because I truly can't wait to get caught up with everyone.

One of my biggest fears about traveling solo was that I would be lonely.  It turns out I was the complete opposite.  I have spent the majority of this last year surrounded by people.  Both strangers and new friends kept me company day in and day out.  Whether I met you for 2 hours in a hostel or 6 months in Franz, you shaped my experience and I am forever grateful.  Back home, I'm very secure with my group and my people so it wasn't natural for me to pursue new friendships, but I'm so glad I did.  That being said I can't wait to go back to my house and live alone for a while ;)

Have you seen Yes Man?  The okayish comedy starring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel?  Quick plot summary: Jim Carrey is hypnotized into saying yes to any question or proposal that is asked of him.  Though this movie is ridiculous, I based my travel decisions on the Yes Man ideal.  I did my best to say yes to every suggestion thrown my way.  Yacht cleaning?  Dinner with strangers?  Knitting club?  Sleeping on death row?  Date with random Dutch boy?  Yes.  There were a lot of moments that made me want to bail.  I had nothing to prove to the strangers in my life, but I didn't want to let myself down.  There is no doubt in my mind that this strategy led me to my best life experiences and I hope to continue it in my life back home.

Thank you to everyone who has read this blog.  I know there aren't a lot of you, but it's been an important outlet to me over the past year and it's nice to imagine all of you out there in the internet void following my stories.  Also, thank you to my support system (y'all know who you are).  It wasn't always pretty waterfalls and glaciers but having my anchors back home got me through the hard times.  

That's it.  I'm signing off.  I'm at home, in my own bed, in my own house.  The adventure is over.

What's up with NZ?

Here are a few observations I've made over the last year.  Hopefully they help paint a picture of the day to day life in New Zealand.

En Zed

I quickly learned that in New Zealand (and apparently a lot of other places in the world), they pronounce the letter Z as "zed".  This was a little disappointing since I had just named my blog, vlog, and hashtag NV to NZ on the basis of an awesome rhyme.

I once asked my Kiwi friend how they sing the alphabet and she said they say "zee" at the end.  So they pretty much make up their own rules in "En Zed".

Sandflies

I want them dead.  I first met these tiny monsters in Paihia while I was working on the yachts.   They look like little fruit flies but they are really the devil.  Their bite often draws blood and itches worse than any mosquito bite and literally lasts for a weeks at a time.  I have woken up to myself scratching bites in my sleep.  I have scars on my feet and ankles from these evil demon bugs.  Everyone on the west coast has scars like mine but when I get home people will think I'm diseased.  They hate vitamin B, so I started eating Vegemite (very high in vitamin B) on everything.  I think the only good thing to come from Sandflies is my love of Vegemite.

Pies

I don't know why savory pies have not made their way to the states.  Americans love gravy, meat, and pastry, so the combination of the 3 would be our holy grail!  It took me a while to realize that all the pies people were referring to weren't the sweet, cooked-fruit, grossness that I'm used to at home.  Pies are everywhere;  gas stations, cafes, and restaurants offer tons of flavors.  My favorite is the chicken and mushroom,  but mince and cheese, butter chicken, and lamb are all good options.  I'm gonna miss the occasional pie when I get home, but luckily I will have good American - Mexican food to comfort me.  There is no Mexican food in NZ.  I found one restaurant in Wellington and I paid 22 dollars for a soggy flavorless burrito.  Nah.

Facebook over seas

When you travel the little world icon in Facebook changes based on where you are.  

Glaciers

Kiwis and Brits don't say the word "glacier" the same as we do.  They say gluh-ass-ee-uh, when we would say glay-shur.

Togs

There about a million ways to say swimsuit.  I learned this by working at the hot pools and having customers from all over the world ask if they could rent a swimsuit.  Kiwis say "togs", Australians say "swimming costume" or "cozzie" or "swimmers", then the Brits say "bathers".  

The Cricket

When kiwis are talking about a sporting event they put "the" before the sport.  For example:  The pilots didn't fly on Sunday because they wanted to watch the cricket. (All example sentences are not based on actual events. Any similarities are purely coincidental.) This was never not funny to me.  I would always make a point of saying "the rugby" or "the netball".

Retard and gay

I'm proud to say that the states seems to have turned a corner as far as politically correct terms.  When I left home I hadn't heard anyone refer to a less than ideal situation as "gay" or "retarded" in years.  Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case with European countries and the southern hemisphere.  Everytime someone would casually say those words I would cringe inside.  

Sneezing

This is another odd one.  In the states everyone sneezes into their elbow.  Those public announcement posters must work!  But pretty much anyone from anywhere else in the world sneezes into their hand.  I'm not normally a germaphobe but it really grosses me out.

Electric kettle

WHY AREN'T THESE POPULAR IN THE STATES?!  I'm getting one as soon as I'm home.  They are a revelation.  That is all.

Water

The plumbing situation in NZ is interesting.  There are generally 2 taps, so when washing your hands it's either Mordor or glacial (see what I did there?)

Bakeries

There is a bakery on every corner but they don't actually bake anything.  They just get yummy pre-made sandwiches delivered to them.  I will forever miss the cheap travel snacks.

Kiwi Sayings

reckon - Do you reckon he's really sick?

keen - Are you keen to go out tonight? 

surely - Surely, there will be a lot of people at the bars.  

parcels for Africa - There were parcels for Africa today. (a lot of parcels)

yarn - He's spinning a yarn. (He's talking a lot)

sharn - That was such a sharn. (Combo of shit and yarn)

NV to NZ to TH to NZ

Hi again, Auckland!!

I got off the plane from Bangkok and this happy face was waiting for me!!  Teana and I had a great weekend in Auckland.  We visited Waiheke Island, went wine tasting, and got our shop on!  I'm so glad she needed a break from Franz Josef.

Spring has sprung!

We stayed at the SkyCity hotel because it was my last couple days and YOLO!!  We definitely took advantage of the sweet digs.

Well that's it.  Time to leave NZ... bright and early in the morning.  *sigh*

Last day in Thailand

Time to say goodbye to Cat for now.  I can't wait to see what our next adventure will be.  Good luck in Oz!!!

"American Breakfast"

We stopped by the 3d art museum for a fun day full of illusions.  But before going in, I had to get a pic with the nutcrackers in front of the building.

This is 100% mural.  The entire museum was just painted onto the walls of an old shopping center.

Beef with chilli paste and teddy bear rice!

Time for lady boy caberet!!  While living in Crash Palace I was introduced to the genius show that is RuPaul's Drag Race.  Ever since, I've been a big fan of drag shows.  So it was a blast to cheer on these fierce girls!

All done with Thailand!  Time to make my way back to NZ for 4 more days of fun.  It will be a hectic couple of days but I can't wait to see North Island one more time before going home.