New Zealand

It's now been a year since I left New Zealand. I can't believe it has been that long! Those were the happiest consecutive 4.5 months of my life, and I wish I could get them back. Little things remind me of my time in NZ almost on a daily basis, just like little things remind you of ex-boyfriends who you spent a lot of time with. It's not like your heart is still broken or you're not over the person/place; it's just that, at some point, they were such a big part of your life, and it'll never be completely out of your mind.

I don't know exactly what was so magical about the place and the time and the people--everything just fell into sync. It was my first chance to really experience the single college life, complete with binge-drinking and promiscuity (sorry, Daddy). It was absolute freedom. I was as far away as I could be from home with a clean slate, people who didn't know me, and a beautiful, mystical land. It was everything I needed at that time. At the end of the trip, I got to fall madly head-over-heels in love in a tragic, wouldn't-work-out-anyway whirlwind romance. NZ was the total package. I hope I get that kind of thing back some day.

In the mean time, I have Marmite, Katchafire, and Flight of the Conchords to keep me company, as well as a plethora of NZ friends who are still in my life. I'm so glad I've stayed in contact with so many people; it was one of the things I was most worried about a year ago. I even saw/traveled with many of them on my road trip extravaganza in August! Thank goodness.

I don't know what would happen if I went back to New Zealand. I'd really love to move back eventually, probably to Wellington, but I'm a little afraid that I would be expecting too much out of it. What was easy and natural and social and youthful in 2008 might be lonely and lost and broke and stressed within the next couple of years.