Homecoming

It may bother some of you to hear this, but New Zealand does feel like home. I am not saying that California is not my home, and that all of the people I love back in the US aren't the most important in the world to me and make me feel at home no matter what. However, there is something very special about this country to me. I instantly feel at home. I love it here. I feel right. I feel myself. Relaxed. Everyone around me is friendly, and feel like my neighbors. I want the coffee, the food, the nature, the stories, the road trips, the hard work, the good times. I want it all and I feel so very fortunate to be back here to experience it again.

Right now I am sitting at a computer at the Raglan Backpackers and Oceanside Lodge. The water is straight ahead of me outside the window. Behind me, another hostel stayer is playing the guitar. Just outside to my right there are a few guys putting together some new holders for kayaks and stand up paddle boards. Last night I awoke to the rain, and it continues to go on and off today. I woke up early today just to enjoy the quiet of the morning with no one else around, but just the rain drops hitting the ground. I read my book on the couch of the lounge area, with a blanket on my lap, and a gaze here and there out to the rain and the ocean. After a bit, another guy - probably one working here - started a fire. I love this place.

I shortly decided to take a nap (at 8am) before meeting up with the other three American girls that I am traveling with for now. The heater blanket below me cradled me to sleep quickly, until I came to around 9:40am and realized I slept through my alarm. No worries, a wander into town to find the girls at a coffee shop was easy and fun. We chatted about, well everything that women chat about. Our own little Sex in the City morning cafe moment right here on the North Island of New Zealand. Our ages range between 24 and 29 (nearly 30), making me the oldest. You'd think I'd also be the wisest, but as I have come to discover, often times those that are younger give out amazing advice and also have the great ability to make you feel more okay with struggles you are going through. I am continuously surprised by the wisdom of young travellers. I guess in general if they have been travelling or decided to travel, they do have a good head on their shoulders.

As I am typing this right now I am a bit annoyed because the language on this computer is clearly not set to English, therefore, 95% of the words are underlined as mispelled. Let me change this real quick. We are in New Zealand! We do speak English here! However, as I came to find last year, majority of the travellers are from Germany....

....hmm well all the language settings on chrome and my account are set to English so not sure what's going on. Oh well, not gonna waste time on that.

Anyway, I am going to find my American girls and maybe have some lunch, or go for a run, and then off to some surfing. Just felt like writing a quick note on how happy I am here! There will be a lot of great adventures, of all facets, in the future. Keep an eye out!

Feels so great to have my fingers pounding on the keyboard. Oh and thank you to everyone that sent a sweet note after my last email! I got a lot and it was really a stupendous thing to wake up to!

Cheers,
Natasha