As I stand at the cross walk, while walking to work (which just for the record: takes me less time to walk to work here than it does to drive to work in LA...ahh the joys of no traffic) I panic. I continue to stand there for a few more seconds, which turns into a few more minutes. Why? Because the flashing green man is not flashing. I start to panic because I have waited through a few light rotations. In the States I know that is okay to cross when the light is green for the cars, even if the flashing green man is absent. You just look to your left to make sure that no car is making a left hand turn on an arrow you might not see, and then confidently walk across knowing that no car is going to hit you.
Well, that is in the States where I know by instinct what side of the street people drive on. Where I know that when an arrow is green that the car will be turning into the right hand lane(not the left). That if I walk across on a green light that there is no one coming because of a law that I am unaware of.
Frozen staring at the traffic light with no idea what to do and with a KIWI smirking as he watches this process in my head from his car. I panic. I feel stupid. I want to laugh at myself, but there was more important things to figure out like how was I going to quickly not feel like an idiot and out of control, because I can't figure out how to walk across a simple cross walk when the flashing green man wasn't present in my eyesight.
I do what any respectable, prideful woman would do: I fake it with the utmost confidence. I whip around and start walking down the side of the road I am on and decide right then and there that I will just jay walk....and hope that there is not huge fines for that in NZ. As I so bravely flip around with my lap top bag, purse, and lunch bag, I hear a low chuckle from my left side. I briefly glance back to see a Kiwi smiling like he has just been privy to the discussion I am having in my mind and the emotions that are rolling through my body at light speeds. I make eye contact with him and think (as if he is truly inside my mind and could hear me) I will conquer this and I am not DUMB. Quickly turning back around, since now cars are coming at me I jump up on to the side walk and stroll away towards work, thinking I actually like this side of the road better anyway.
Now I know that the lack of a flashing green man did not cause the crisis I felt that morning, but I do know that it exposed my fear of not quite knowing how to be here. This was my first "feeling dumb in a different culture" moment. They usually just happen so much sooner for me, maybe because I usually can't speak the language, maybe it is because I have grown a bit... Either way it was there, reminding me that I am not invincible and no one asked me to be. And sometimes when the flashing green man is absent and life feels a bit out of control it is not the end of the world. So many times I long for the green man...someone to tell me walk now. But sometimes when you have to work a little smarter and harder the satisfaction is greater and you end up on a side of the street you didn't want to be on but realized you liked after all.
New Zealand is like any other place. Crosswalks that are confusing, people that drive you crazy, coffees that are made bad, days that you just want to cry or be pissed off, but at the same time it is full of life, people that make you laugh, beaches that make you glad you are alive, candy that makes you smile and life's fears that might never go away. Yet it is where I am living today and I don't want to miss even the flashing green men crisis' in my day because it is my day to enjoy and experience and I will never get it back.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Yep...it is full of Diet Coke
I went for a jog on the beach, sat there for awhile just thinking and being quiet, surrendered that which I could not control--mostly everything, seeing that my illusion of control is often strong, went into work, talked to people all day long, walked around the mount with a friend, had a great "family time" with Beks and Greg, and ended my night at a meeting of one of the leaders I will be working with who cast vision for 2008 for their team.
In all, it was a great day. I am still wondering what these next three months will look like, what I will accomplish, why I am here, but I was able to see the inside of the cup without freaking out. And it did appear more like Diet Coke than yucky medicine or poison:)
I love adventure and risk, but it doesn't ever come without fear. The fear is there it is just what I choose to focus on. And, quite frankly, I kind of like the fear...it is a bit of a challenge and adrenaline rush.
I am off to bed and excited to start a new day and see what it holds here in New Zealand.
Hope you are experiencing adventure, fear, risk and most of all LOVE today.
In all, it was a great day. I am still wondering what these next three months will look like, what I will accomplish, why I am here, but I was able to see the inside of the cup without freaking out. And it did appear more like Diet Coke than yucky medicine or poison:)
I love adventure and risk, but it doesn't ever come without fear. The fear is there it is just what I choose to focus on. And, quite frankly, I kind of like the fear...it is a bit of a challenge and adrenaline rush.
I am off to bed and excited to start a new day and see what it holds here in New Zealand.
Hope you are experiencing adventure, fear, risk and most of all LOVE today.
Monday, January 28, 2008
AGGHHHH..The glass is half full, but of full of what?
I know a few things about myself: I know that I LOVE chocolate, I know that I LOVE my friends, I know that I HATE traffic, I know that I like a clean kitchen, I know that I LOVE diet coke...just simple things, but I know these about myself. I also know that I see things in Big Picture, I view things very positively (I am a glass half full kind of girl), but I also know this: it takes me about two weeks to process what I just did, when I go into brand new situations. It is typically at that point that I freak out and any fear or insecurity that a normal person would feel at the beginning, I then feel and it comes crashing in on me.
Now, I know this about myself so it isn't a shock when it happens. But it does still crash....and "lucky" for me, it crashes in the middle of the night usually. Today I have officially been here two weeks. Wanna guess what happened in the middle of the night last night? Yep, woke up full of fear and worry. One tends to not be too rationale in the middle of the night, when I saw "one" I mean me. I had a friend say something to me last week that came back to me in the middle of this wonderful non sleep chaos that was like the half full glass (of cold water) that I was looking at hitting my face. He simply said God changed your life and that will affect others. All you have to be here is you and let the work of who you are come in contact with others. As I recalled that I was able to calm down a little and remembered in times past that words that are in the Bible have brought a sense of peace to me. I remembered a few word, silently repeating them to myself. I finally went back to sleep and woke up about 2 hours after I normally would have, but that's okay. My mind is a tad bit more rationale and most importantly I can laugh at myself this morning.
The glass will always be half full for me, but for me there is always this moment when I stop and think, "what is in the glass anyway?" For now I still think it is something great, like good ol' cold Diet Coke, waiting for me to take a great big drink and enjoy the bubbles and yummy taste.
Off for a run and to start my "first official" day....talk to you soon
Now, I know this about myself so it isn't a shock when it happens. But it does still crash....and "lucky" for me, it crashes in the middle of the night usually. Today I have officially been here two weeks. Wanna guess what happened in the middle of the night last night? Yep, woke up full of fear and worry. One tends to not be too rationale in the middle of the night, when I saw "one" I mean me. I had a friend say something to me last week that came back to me in the middle of this wonderful non sleep chaos that was like the half full glass (of cold water) that I was looking at hitting my face. He simply said God changed your life and that will affect others. All you have to be here is you and let the work of who you are come in contact with others. As I recalled that I was able to calm down a little and remembered in times past that words that are in the Bible have brought a sense of peace to me. I remembered a few word, silently repeating them to myself. I finally went back to sleep and woke up about 2 hours after I normally would have, but that's okay. My mind is a tad bit more rationale and most importantly I can laugh at myself this morning.
The glass will always be half full for me, but for me there is always this moment when I stop and think, "what is in the glass anyway?" For now I still think it is something great, like good ol' cold Diet Coke, waiting for me to take a great big drink and enjoy the bubbles and yummy taste.
Off for a run and to start my "first official" day....talk to you soon
Sunday, January 27, 2008
It's official: I am part of New Zealand
On Saturday we had a "family time road trip." Beks, Greg, Deby, Grant and I piled in Grant's truck and headed off down the road for a true New Zealand experience in Rotorou. We went to a Mauri village and I was welcomed onto the land of a Mauri tribe.
(this is me in front of one of the Mauri carvings as we entered their land)
It was a very emotional and powerful experience. The Mauri people of New Zealand are very connected to the land and take pride in where they have lived and live to this day. There is this very special ceremony that they have done forever and they make it possible for people like me to visit NZ and take part in it.
The Marae (the meeting house) is where all things in the village take place.
This was the place where warriors would meet any visitors and assess if they were friend or foe, then invite them in and welcome them in their tribe. Once you are welcomed you are able to come on the land and in the Marae whenever you want, but until then you are not allowed. At the Marae is everything from weddings to funerals.
A group of us waited outside the Marae until the warrior came and invited us in. Then we walked up the pathway, not on the grass because it is a sacred land. We took our shoes and any head wear off and were permitted to enter the meeting hall. This is where all celebrations take place. Once inside we were treated to songs, dances and games of the Mauri people. It was incredible to see their culture and their community. It was a privilege to take part in this.
The Mauri people were are extremely intelligent and strategic. They used the land and the elements in their favor to live, eat and create a life and legacy for themselves. In the summer they stayed by the ocean and in the winter they came to this spot: Natural Hot Pools and Mud Pools and a Geyser. The land has hot water springs all over it. In fact they have spots where they put corn in a bag and lower it into the ground and it boils the corn (we ate some it was YUMMY)
The only down side: the smell...sulfur. It actually wasn't too bad, but at one point the natural geyser blew and the smelly water got on us...there is a picture of it. Kind of gross but a natural part of how they lived.
It was so fascinating to see these people so graciously invited us into such an intimate ceremony and welcomed us in. What would life be like if we were quicker to invite people into our circles? If we had a history of hospitality that brought people into our world because we wanted them to experience what we were so proud to call family? The Mauri people have undergone so much in New Zealand, yet they are still a hopeful, hospitable people that love to share their stories,their traditions, their culture, their land, and their love.
What an experience! Deby and Grant and Beks and Greg continue to take good care of me and welcome me into their family and onto their land.
(this is me in front of one of the Mauri carvings as we entered their land)
It was a very emotional and powerful experience. The Mauri people of New Zealand are very connected to the land and take pride in where they have lived and live to this day. There is this very special ceremony that they have done forever and they make it possible for people like me to visit NZ and take part in it.
The Marae (the meeting house) is where all things in the village take place.
This was the place where warriors would meet any visitors and assess if they were friend or foe, then invite them in and welcome them in their tribe. Once you are welcomed you are able to come on the land and in the Marae whenever you want, but until then you are not allowed. At the Marae is everything from weddings to funerals.
A group of us waited outside the Marae until the warrior came and invited us in. Then we walked up the pathway, not on the grass because it is a sacred land. We took our shoes and any head wear off and were permitted to enter the meeting hall. This is where all celebrations take place. Once inside we were treated to songs, dances and games of the Mauri people. It was incredible to see their culture and their community. It was a privilege to take part in this.
The Mauri people were are extremely intelligent and strategic. They used the land and the elements in their favor to live, eat and create a life and legacy for themselves. In the summer they stayed by the ocean and in the winter they came to this spot: Natural Hot Pools and Mud Pools and a Geyser. The land has hot water springs all over it. In fact they have spots where they put corn in a bag and lower it into the ground and it boils the corn (we ate some it was YUMMY)
The only down side: the smell...sulfur. It actually wasn't too bad, but at one point the natural geyser blew and the smelly water got on us...there is a picture of it. Kind of gross but a natural part of how they lived.
It was so fascinating to see these people so graciously invited us into such an intimate ceremony and welcomed us in. What would life be like if we were quicker to invite people into our circles? If we had a history of hospitality that brought people into our world because we wanted them to experience what we were so proud to call family? The Mauri people have undergone so much in New Zealand, yet they are still a hopeful, hospitable people that love to share their stories,their traditions, their culture, their land, and their love.
What an experience! Deby and Grant and Beks and Greg continue to take good care of me and welcome me into their family and onto their land.
Friday, January 25, 2008
A Perfect Day at the Mount
The Mount, as it is fondly referred to by Kiwi's all over New Zealand, but especially those that live in Mount Maunganui and in Taurangau (the name of the entire area including all the other small "towns")
You can walk to the Mount from where I live, and most people walk around the Mount or up the Mount (which is a bit of trek) on a regular basis. On Wednesday before work, me and Beks finally took a walk to the Mount and walked around it. We were waiting for a sunny day so I can experience the Mount at its best. It really was breathtaking and unbelievable to experience. I don't have a great pic of the Mount (I will take more but for now that is it, plus you have seen it in some of my other pics on my blog)
Yesterday I needed a little regrouping and needed a good jog on the beach to clear my head and focus a bit. Nothing was wrong I just hadn't been truly quiet for a few days and wanted to get a bit centered. It is so different to have to get quiet or centered because you are having such a good time, not because you are enduring life. There are seasons in life and they ebb and flow much like the ocean, but I'm not going to lie I really do love the break from the hard of the past few years. What a treat, I don't take lightly, being in New Zealand and enjoying the people, the culture, the beauty, and the love.
So in order to do that, I jogged down to the beach (2 blocks) and ran down the beach towards the Mount. It was a GORGEOUS day with just a few people scattered along the beach and a few surfers attempting to catch the morning surf. I was in awe that I was running on a NZ beach towards the incredible Mount. The weirdest part was it didn't feel abnormal or strange to be doing this. I sat on the beach for awhile just watching the water and enjoying just being quiet for a little bit. I jogged home and spent a few hours just talking and hanging with Greg and Beks.
Then one of our friends wanted to walk up the Mount...which I was looking forward to doing, but it was the middle of the afternoon and I had just jogged for 45 minutes that morning. But I was super excited to brave the mid day heat and experience my first climb up the mount. So Aaron and I trekked up the mount and this is what we saw:
(Me and Aaron...he is a bit crazy and ridiculous if you can't tell)
(the other side of the Mount)
It was the most breathtaking view ever. And it is the normal every day view for people that live at the Mount. What a treat to live here and experience all of these things. I am listening and learning what life is like here as I get to know my friends and their culture. It is an interesting place to live and I am fascinated as I learn their stories and catch more and more of who they are as individuals and as a culture.
Walking up the mount was so fun and so HOT! We went for a quick swim in the ocean to cool off and then went and got ice cream:) We headed back to Beks and Gregs and I was wondering what Family Time was going to be tonight.
Have I told you about Family Time yet? Every night Greg cooks an amazing dinner, complete with yummy snacks before. We have thus deemed this Family Time. At the same time, we have been into the Flight of the Conchords, cracking any joke we can to start a new round of laughter. One of our favorites has been Business Time--check it out:
I have loved living with Beks and Greg and one of my favorite times has been dinner. I don't know how or why we started calling dinner Family Time, but isn't that the way some or our best memories happen--you don't know how they start they are just a part of you. One night we made up a whole song about Family Time to the tune of, you guessed it, Business Time. I will be sure to tell more of our fun family time stories but for now here are some fun pics to give you a teaser:
(Our first "family time")
(Dinner with Andy and Sally last night after the Perfect Day...I got to end it at their house and I LOVED it!)
(Fish and Chips on the beach with Beks brother, Nathan, and sister in law, Ingrid and their dog, Tyson)
(Beks, Greg, and me at the Fish & Chips Family Time)
You can walk to the Mount from where I live, and most people walk around the Mount or up the Mount (which is a bit of trek) on a regular basis. On Wednesday before work, me and Beks finally took a walk to the Mount and walked around it. We were waiting for a sunny day so I can experience the Mount at its best. It really was breathtaking and unbelievable to experience. I don't have a great pic of the Mount (I will take more but for now that is it, plus you have seen it in some of my other pics on my blog)
Yesterday I needed a little regrouping and needed a good jog on the beach to clear my head and focus a bit. Nothing was wrong I just hadn't been truly quiet for a few days and wanted to get a bit centered. It is so different to have to get quiet or centered because you are having such a good time, not because you are enduring life. There are seasons in life and they ebb and flow much like the ocean, but I'm not going to lie I really do love the break from the hard of the past few years. What a treat, I don't take lightly, being in New Zealand and enjoying the people, the culture, the beauty, and the love.
So in order to do that, I jogged down to the beach (2 blocks) and ran down the beach towards the Mount. It was a GORGEOUS day with just a few people scattered along the beach and a few surfers attempting to catch the morning surf. I was in awe that I was running on a NZ beach towards the incredible Mount. The weirdest part was it didn't feel abnormal or strange to be doing this. I sat on the beach for awhile just watching the water and enjoying just being quiet for a little bit. I jogged home and spent a few hours just talking and hanging with Greg and Beks.
Then one of our friends wanted to walk up the Mount...which I was looking forward to doing, but it was the middle of the afternoon and I had just jogged for 45 minutes that morning. But I was super excited to brave the mid day heat and experience my first climb up the mount. So Aaron and I trekked up the mount and this is what we saw:
(Me and Aaron...he is a bit crazy and ridiculous if you can't tell)
(the other side of the Mount)
It was the most breathtaking view ever. And it is the normal every day view for people that live at the Mount. What a treat to live here and experience all of these things. I am listening and learning what life is like here as I get to know my friends and their culture. It is an interesting place to live and I am fascinated as I learn their stories and catch more and more of who they are as individuals and as a culture.
Walking up the mount was so fun and so HOT! We went for a quick swim in the ocean to cool off and then went and got ice cream:) We headed back to Beks and Gregs and I was wondering what Family Time was going to be tonight.
Have I told you about Family Time yet? Every night Greg cooks an amazing dinner, complete with yummy snacks before. We have thus deemed this Family Time. At the same time, we have been into the Flight of the Conchords, cracking any joke we can to start a new round of laughter. One of our favorites has been Business Time--check it out:
I have loved living with Beks and Greg and one of my favorite times has been dinner. I don't know how or why we started calling dinner Family Time, but isn't that the way some or our best memories happen--you don't know how they start they are just a part of you. One night we made up a whole song about Family Time to the tune of, you guessed it, Business Time. I will be sure to tell more of our fun family time stories but for now here are some fun pics to give you a teaser:
(Our first "family time")
(Dinner with Andy and Sally last night after the Perfect Day...I got to end it at their house and I LOVED it!)
(Fish and Chips on the beach with Beks brother, Nathan, and sister in law, Ingrid and their dog, Tyson)
(Beks, Greg, and me at the Fish & Chips Family Time)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Only in New Zealand (part 1)
My friend Dan started a mini series of posts of "things you see in Redding." I have lived in Redding and in So. Cal. so it makes me laugh, plus Dan is so witty that I always find myself just laughing at the way he paints the pictures of Redding life for us. All in love, but very funny! I decided that I will start my own little mini series of "Only in New Zealand." This first one is a bit long, but has a few other adventures and thoughts along the way as well. Thanks for inspiring me Dan!
So how many times have you gone to Office Max, or Office Supply or any of those "officey" type stores. (yes I just used that word....it's okay to make up words in blog world, isn't it?) Today I went into the work for the first time. We had a staff meeting that made me giggle a little. I feel as if I have only learned a little Kiwi culture, but today felt very "kiwi like." It was efficient--short and to the point. It didn't feel rushed but wasn't a meeting that dragged on and on.
I much enjoyed, not only my first staff meeting (really for my American friends that isn't even the right word to use because to compare it to any of the staff meetings I have been in over the years it would not be the same at all! But for lack of a better word there you go) but my experience with this place so far, the people, the culture. The things that are valued here seem to be the things that I value. The other day I was telling one of my friends in LA I feel so weirdly known here, yet they don't know me well enough to see how known I really am. It was an eery feeling of just relaxing once I got here. My friend commented that those exact emotions are what she went through when she drove into LA. It was a city that just got her. A city that she connected to and felt like she had just come home. Many of my artist/industry friends have had that experience in LA. I had always heard that, but never really understood what they meant....I did not have that experience when I moved to LA. In face, I have wrestled through some really hard stuff since the week I moved to LA. It is intriguing to me that we are all wired so different, and there is such a spiritual aspect to our lives and our connections with places and land.
My New Zealand friends are very connected to the land. Over my time here I have learned that the native people of New Zealand (the Mauri people) value where the live and find identity in the space that they live and exist. As the meeting I was in came to the end Grant (who I work with and for) stopped me and said the first thing we will do today is get you a spot to call you own. This spoke so loudly to me that this was important that I felt like I had a place. I didn't expect it and was fine not having that. I even prepared myself to not have things like that for three months, but to them it was unacceptable not to help me feel ready to work, ready to create, ready to be apart of what they were doing. I thanked them a couple times for doing this because for me I felt so valued. They looked at me with such strange responses, as if their eyes were saying, "why are you thanking us? This is normal and the bare minimum you would do for someone." They couldn't know this, but these are the moments that add up to feeling so known by a culture--when a culture naturally values and prioritizes what you do, there is a sense of connectedness. I have had glimpses of this at times, and have listened to friends all over the world talk about this, but never truly experienced it before.
In order to feel like you have a place there are certain things that MUST be done--SHOPPING, of course:) Deby took me shopping....what else does one do when you need a space, but shop for practical and cute?
We picked out all the office type stuff. Which I actually love to do---I get a slight smile in office stores when I see all the paperclips, and post it notes, and things to organize. Ironically I HATE being in the office all the time, but for me to be creative and for me to have that sense of freedom and adventure I need to have some landing spot--a stable area that I can trust will be there. I am most free to create once there is an infrastructure in place. Some people are wired to experience life to it's fullest with no need for that safe place to land, nor do they need or desire an infrastructure of life in place. That even hinders them at times. And some of us are wired to need that and with it we come fully ALIVE and will far surpass what we even thought possible. For me this is why my parents stability of home and love has been so key in all that I have done. They are THE MOST CONSISTENT parents I know. And for creating a safe landing place no matter how old I am or where I live, I will forever be grateful. I will always pay it forward and carry on the legacy that they left me as well.
Which now brings me to why I felt such UTTER DELIGHT in the office store. Once you are finished, they ring up your items like normal and you pay your bill. NOT LIKE NORMAL they give you a HUGE box of chocolate covered almonds. Deby knew it was coming and had a smirk on her face as we payed, which I just assumed was her being happy to help me because I had thanked her a billion times already. Little did I know that I was about to get the best treat ever. I looked at the guy and all I could say was "I LOVE NEW ZEALAND!" And yes I definitely made the office supply guy stand their and take a picture with the bags of staplers, and post it notes and the yummy box of chocolates. [I did it on my phone so I can't post the picture, though:(] From now on if anyone needs office supplies I will gladly "sacrifice" my time and go get them for them:)
Only in New Zealand....
(small disclaimer--mostly for Amy R, Sea Jay, Amy and Danielle--remember it is only my first week and I am still in honeymoon phase, I am not moving here. We will see where I am at in 5 weeks time...no need to worry yet:)
So how many times have you gone to Office Max, or Office Supply or any of those "officey" type stores. (yes I just used that word....it's okay to make up words in blog world, isn't it?) Today I went into the work for the first time. We had a staff meeting that made me giggle a little. I feel as if I have only learned a little Kiwi culture, but today felt very "kiwi like." It was efficient--short and to the point. It didn't feel rushed but wasn't a meeting that dragged on and on.
I much enjoyed, not only my first staff meeting (really for my American friends that isn't even the right word to use because to compare it to any of the staff meetings I have been in over the years it would not be the same at all! But for lack of a better word there you go) but my experience with this place so far, the people, the culture. The things that are valued here seem to be the things that I value. The other day I was telling one of my friends in LA I feel so weirdly known here, yet they don't know me well enough to see how known I really am. It was an eery feeling of just relaxing once I got here. My friend commented that those exact emotions are what she went through when she drove into LA. It was a city that just got her. A city that she connected to and felt like she had just come home. Many of my artist/industry friends have had that experience in LA. I had always heard that, but never really understood what they meant....I did not have that experience when I moved to LA. In face, I have wrestled through some really hard stuff since the week I moved to LA. It is intriguing to me that we are all wired so different, and there is such a spiritual aspect to our lives and our connections with places and land.
My New Zealand friends are very connected to the land. Over my time here I have learned that the native people of New Zealand (the Mauri people) value where the live and find identity in the space that they live and exist. As the meeting I was in came to the end Grant (who I work with and for) stopped me and said the first thing we will do today is get you a spot to call you own. This spoke so loudly to me that this was important that I felt like I had a place. I didn't expect it and was fine not having that. I even prepared myself to not have things like that for three months, but to them it was unacceptable not to help me feel ready to work, ready to create, ready to be apart of what they were doing. I thanked them a couple times for doing this because for me I felt so valued. They looked at me with such strange responses, as if their eyes were saying, "why are you thanking us? This is normal and the bare minimum you would do for someone." They couldn't know this, but these are the moments that add up to feeling so known by a culture--when a culture naturally values and prioritizes what you do, there is a sense of connectedness. I have had glimpses of this at times, and have listened to friends all over the world talk about this, but never truly experienced it before.
In order to feel like you have a place there are certain things that MUST be done--SHOPPING, of course:) Deby took me shopping....what else does one do when you need a space, but shop for practical and cute?
We picked out all the office type stuff. Which I actually love to do---I get a slight smile in office stores when I see all the paperclips, and post it notes, and things to organize. Ironically I HATE being in the office all the time, but for me to be creative and for me to have that sense of freedom and adventure I need to have some landing spot--a stable area that I can trust will be there. I am most free to create once there is an infrastructure in place. Some people are wired to experience life to it's fullest with no need for that safe place to land, nor do they need or desire an infrastructure of life in place. That even hinders them at times. And some of us are wired to need that and with it we come fully ALIVE and will far surpass what we even thought possible. For me this is why my parents stability of home and love has been so key in all that I have done. They are THE MOST CONSISTENT parents I know. And for creating a safe landing place no matter how old I am or where I live, I will forever be grateful. I will always pay it forward and carry on the legacy that they left me as well.
Which now brings me to why I felt such UTTER DELIGHT in the office store. Once you are finished, they ring up your items like normal and you pay your bill. NOT LIKE NORMAL they give you a HUGE box of chocolate covered almonds. Deby knew it was coming and had a smirk on her face as we payed, which I just assumed was her being happy to help me because I had thanked her a billion times already. Little did I know that I was about to get the best treat ever. I looked at the guy and all I could say was "I LOVE NEW ZEALAND!" And yes I definitely made the office supply guy stand their and take a picture with the bags of staplers, and post it notes and the yummy box of chocolates. [I did it on my phone so I can't post the picture, though:(] From now on if anyone needs office supplies I will gladly "sacrifice" my time and go get them for them:)
Only in New Zealand....
(small disclaimer--mostly for Amy R, Sea Jay, Amy and Danielle--remember it is only my first week and I am still in honeymoon phase, I am not moving here. We will see where I am at in 5 weeks time...no need to worry yet:)
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Red Cell and The Butterfly
One of the coolest things about moving to Beks and Greg's place was the fact that not only was my room decorated so cute in Black, Red, Pink and White, but...
She had two butterflies up in my room on the shelves.
This is significant and cool because in one of my conversations with God years and years ago Butterflies were the topic. Each time I see a butterfly it is as if God is saying a quick hello and "I love you" to me. It is a reminder that He remembers me and that I have a relationship with Him.
Kind of cool....
Here is a pic of my new cell phone Grant and Deby bought me and brought over to me today. Little stuff like that means so much to me! They went and got it and I didn't have to go figure out how to make all that happen and work. They have all been so hospitable here and constantly have made me feel at home and part of their family.
(You can text me whenever just email me for my number here if you want it)
Here is a picture of me and Greg on the boat up where we vacationed
She had two butterflies up in my room on the shelves.
This is significant and cool because in one of my conversations with God years and years ago Butterflies were the topic. Each time I see a butterfly it is as if God is saying a quick hello and "I love you" to me. It is a reminder that He remembers me and that I have a relationship with Him.
Kind of cool....
Here is a pic of my new cell phone Grant and Deby bought me and brought over to me today. Little stuff like that means so much to me! They went and got it and I didn't have to go figure out how to make all that happen and work. They have all been so hospitable here and constantly have made me feel at home and part of their family.
(You can text me whenever just email me for my number here if you want it)
Here is a picture of me and Greg on the boat up where we vacationed
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Welcome to the Cyclone...
I have now been officially gone from CA for an entire week, yet have only been in NZ for 5 days (crossing the dateline and losing an entire day is an eery feeling, I am not gonna lie)
(I haven't been able to send emails for some reason, so for some of you that have emailed I will email soon, I PROMISE. And if you want my address here just send me an email and I will send you the address--but for now HI MOM & DAD:)
In that time I have experienced the beauty of NZ beaches/islands, eaten crazy stuff (Kinna--don't ask!, raw scallops, tuna fresh from the sea, YUMMY chocolate, Pavlova--NZ dessert which Sea Jay would LOVE it is like a giant cake that taste like a meringue cookie, L&P--a NZ soda, tons of GREAT cheese, and a FANTASTIC NZ coffee--YEP Derrick, you read that right I liked a coffee today)
(the Pavlova for Sea to see)
(see Derrick I really am drinking it)
At the same time I have entered a cyclone. Today on the Mount (what they call Mt. Maunganui) there are Cyclone warnings...tons of crazy winds, yet it is still warm with bits of sun here and there. In a lot of ways that is what I just stepped into. There is so much unknown, yet so much that I know I am supposed to be a part of while I am here. I forgot how much I thrive in the risk of that. I hated it in LA, and I am not sure of all the reasons why. But to reconnect to how much I thrive in adventure and risk has been good. It will be interesting as I hang out here and begin working to see if there is a reason why I come alive with the risk of the unknown.
There is really no "plan" on what I will be doing here, but there are people. Spending time listening to people and paying attention to what is spoken and unspoken is what I will do until I have clear direction. Relationships and trust are being built. They may be built to be able to help in some areas down the road or they may just be built because relationship are so important for life. Much like the cyclone that is coming there are many things happening all at once (wind, heat, rain, etc), all sorts of things relationally are happening (new friends, people feeling me out, new cultural difference to interact with, people watching me at all points and time, etc.) But even in the unknown and chaos of new beginnings this I believe to be true: Investments yield returns and investing in people is the most profitable thing I can do. I might never see the return and quite frankly there might be times when I lose something along the way, but to invest in people and trust the results beyond what I can see is what I believe is right and what excites me!
Cyclones bring chaos but they also add an element of surprise, sweep away things not needed, and make for very interesting things to see...The cyclone begins...come watch it and the effects with me.
Here are some pics for you guys to check out. Soon I will upload them all to flickr, but for now enjoy...
(My first house--camping at the beach--check out the luxury of my bed, seriously this was the best "camping" ever)
(My second house--Beks and Greg's)
(Beks and Greg in the living room)
(My Room)
(Me & Beks at brunch this morning)
(More of Flaxmill Bay)
(I haven't been able to send emails for some reason, so for some of you that have emailed I will email soon, I PROMISE. And if you want my address here just send me an email and I will send you the address--but for now HI MOM & DAD:)
In that time I have experienced the beauty of NZ beaches/islands, eaten crazy stuff (Kinna--don't ask!, raw scallops, tuna fresh from the sea, YUMMY chocolate, Pavlova--NZ dessert which Sea Jay would LOVE it is like a giant cake that taste like a meringue cookie, L&P--a NZ soda, tons of GREAT cheese, and a FANTASTIC NZ coffee--YEP Derrick, you read that right I liked a coffee today)
(the Pavlova for Sea to see)
(see Derrick I really am drinking it)
At the same time I have entered a cyclone. Today on the Mount (what they call Mt. Maunganui) there are Cyclone warnings...tons of crazy winds, yet it is still warm with bits of sun here and there. In a lot of ways that is what I just stepped into. There is so much unknown, yet so much that I know I am supposed to be a part of while I am here. I forgot how much I thrive in the risk of that. I hated it in LA, and I am not sure of all the reasons why. But to reconnect to how much I thrive in adventure and risk has been good. It will be interesting as I hang out here and begin working to see if there is a reason why I come alive with the risk of the unknown.
There is really no "plan" on what I will be doing here, but there are people. Spending time listening to people and paying attention to what is spoken and unspoken is what I will do until I have clear direction. Relationships and trust are being built. They may be built to be able to help in some areas down the road or they may just be built because relationship are so important for life. Much like the cyclone that is coming there are many things happening all at once (wind, heat, rain, etc), all sorts of things relationally are happening (new friends, people feeling me out, new cultural difference to interact with, people watching me at all points and time, etc.) But even in the unknown and chaos of new beginnings this I believe to be true: Investments yield returns and investing in people is the most profitable thing I can do. I might never see the return and quite frankly there might be times when I lose something along the way, but to invest in people and trust the results beyond what I can see is what I believe is right and what excites me!
Cyclones bring chaos but they also add an element of surprise, sweep away things not needed, and make for very interesting things to see...The cyclone begins...come watch it and the effects with me.
Here are some pics for you guys to check out. Soon I will upload them all to flickr, but for now enjoy...
(My first house--camping at the beach--check out the luxury of my bed, seriously this was the best "camping" ever)
(My second house--Beks and Greg's)
(Beks and Greg in the living room)
(My Room)
(Me & Beks at brunch this morning)
(More of Flaxmill Bay)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Surreal: Dana in NZ
Seriously.......
(This is where I went right when I got off the plane---can you see the color of that water?)
(Me and Grant right before he went diving for Scallops---which I ate raw)
(the scallop that I ate...raw...right out of the sea)
(me almost eating it)
(me eating it...WAS VERY YUCKY AND SLIMY)
(Uncle Nevel and me...he is why I ate it! He reminds me so much of my Dad--Grant does as well--so it is so fun to have that connection here. But he has had me try so much GROSS stuff! But I LOVE a challenge and won't say no. Seriously at some points I thought I was on fear factor!)
(This is where the new Narnia Movie--Prince of Caspian was filmed)
I often wondered what the definition of surreal was...I no longer do. I stepped off the plane and entered this other world. I spent the last few days up in their Holiday Spot--Flaxmill Bay. I was greeted with smiles and a HUGE WARM welcome. They all "camp" and I use that term very lightly. It is LUXURY camping for sure. I had a bed waiting for me (okay so it was an air bed, but still...it came complete with sheets, cute white comforter, matching pillows and a welcome basket!)
Instantly, I felt like family! It was the most surreal feeling to experience all that I thought was going to happen. I just kind of knew that it was going to be a place I just fit into, like I had always lived there. And that was what happened.
We definitely had fun and they treated me unbelievable. It was a mix between "I was the new guest" and "I was family, get your own drink:)" At the same time I have already started "working." I know, I know...tough life working in paradise like that! But there was many of the leaders I will be working with that came up and stayed throughout the time we were all up there. Grant and Deby opened up their Holiday Time for any of their leaders to come and stay for as a little or long as they liked. (they have been up there since Dec 26) It took about 4 hours of being off the plane for me to kick into listening and observing mode. For the most part, I will function like a consultant that is here to help them get better. In order to do that I must get to know them and help them to trust me. The moment I arrived people began asking me questions about how I do what I do. While others were a little more reserved and needed me to just get to know them.
Hanging out with Grant and Deby and Uncle Nevel and Alli and Beks and Greg and so many others has been such a fun way to enter this new community.
I can't really put it all into words yet, but now I am back on line I will have many more updates...this is just the beginning!
Here is a picture of me and Beks (I knew her a little before I got here and I have had such a good time with her this last week and am now living with her and her husband in Mt. Maunganui--that is where the pictures that I posted before I left for NZ were from---I will blog more about this place soon...unbleviable is all I have to say for now!)
(This is where I went right when I got off the plane---can you see the color of that water?)
(Me and Grant right before he went diving for Scallops---which I ate raw)
(the scallop that I ate...raw...right out of the sea)
(me almost eating it)
(me eating it...WAS VERY YUCKY AND SLIMY)
(Uncle Nevel and me...he is why I ate it! He reminds me so much of my Dad--Grant does as well--so it is so fun to have that connection here. But he has had me try so much GROSS stuff! But I LOVE a challenge and won't say no. Seriously at some points I thought I was on fear factor!)
(This is where the new Narnia Movie--Prince of Caspian was filmed)
I often wondered what the definition of surreal was...I no longer do. I stepped off the plane and entered this other world. I spent the last few days up in their Holiday Spot--Flaxmill Bay. I was greeted with smiles and a HUGE WARM welcome. They all "camp" and I use that term very lightly. It is LUXURY camping for sure. I had a bed waiting for me (okay so it was an air bed, but still...it came complete with sheets, cute white comforter, matching pillows and a welcome basket!)
Instantly, I felt like family! It was the most surreal feeling to experience all that I thought was going to happen. I just kind of knew that it was going to be a place I just fit into, like I had always lived there. And that was what happened.
We definitely had fun and they treated me unbelievable. It was a mix between "I was the new guest" and "I was family, get your own drink:)" At the same time I have already started "working." I know, I know...tough life working in paradise like that! But there was many of the leaders I will be working with that came up and stayed throughout the time we were all up there. Grant and Deby opened up their Holiday Time for any of their leaders to come and stay for as a little or long as they liked. (they have been up there since Dec 26) It took about 4 hours of being off the plane for me to kick into listening and observing mode. For the most part, I will function like a consultant that is here to help them get better. In order to do that I must get to know them and help them to trust me. The moment I arrived people began asking me questions about how I do what I do. While others were a little more reserved and needed me to just get to know them.
Hanging out with Grant and Deby and Uncle Nevel and Alli and Beks and Greg and so many others has been such a fun way to enter this new community.
I can't really put it all into words yet, but now I am back on line I will have many more updates...this is just the beginning!
Here is a picture of me and Beks (I knew her a little before I got here and I have had such a good time with her this last week and am now living with her and her husband in Mt. Maunganui--that is where the pictures that I posted before I left for NZ were from---I will blog more about this place soon...unbleviable is all I have to say for now!)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Going Dark
Next time you hear from me I will be in New Zealand. I get on the plane in just a few hours. I have had such a great day and suprisingly have not been emotional or sad. I was able to spend the day with the Reyonlds, kind of being in denial that I was really leaving. We went to lunch and celebrated my good friend's Zane's bday, and then just hung out at home until I had to go. What a great way to be sent off!
I am so excited to start this new adventure! I won't be able to email for the week (hence the title: going dark) I will be back on line most likely at the end of week.
See you soon!
signed,
White Dana (hehehe...that is for you Amy R)
I am so excited to start this new adventure! I won't be able to email for the week (hence the title: going dark) I will be back on line most likely at the end of week.
See you soon!
signed,
White Dana (hehehe...that is for you Amy R)
Good Bye Party
It seemed very fitting that my very first friend at Mosaic, who I also fondly refer to as my "grandma friend" threw me a GREAT "going away" party. She had my favorite YUMMY salsa she makes that is HOT! She had tons of Mexican food (since I won't get much of that in NZ). And she had a fun cake. Plus it was at her house which was the perfect place to have it.
I have tons of pictures but it would only let me upload this one tonight...so since it is 1AM--way past my bed time I will add more later and update my Flickr when I get to NZ. Here is one fun pic though:
(Sueann, Dana Elliott, Nicole and me)
Less than 24 hours and I am on a plane!!!
I have tons of pictures but it would only let me upload this one tonight...so since it is 1AM--way past my bed time I will add more later and update my Flickr when I get to NZ. Here is one fun pic though:
(Sueann, Dana Elliott, Nicole and me)
Less than 24 hours and I am on a plane!!!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
On One Hand
I can count the number of days until I leave for New Zealand on one hand! I am not sure how I feel about that???
This has been such a weird week. Most people are in denial I am really leaving and I think I am too.
I get on a plane so soon and face a lot of big fears that no one can see except me. I kind of like security and stability and right now I don't feel a whole lot of either. I have been so reflective and so sad the last day or two. So much change has happened in the last 6 months and I am about to step into so much more. Adventure is fun and I crave it, but I forget that after the glamour of adventure wears off there is so much emotion left behind for me to sort through.
That is what this week is all about. I love to dream and feel a little stuck right now because I don't know how to dream about New Zealand and I definitely don't know how to dream about April. Everything feels stuck in this spot with this overarching feeling that surely I missed what I am supposed to do with my life. Kind of like my driving in LA. I always seem to second guess myself and freak out that I missed my exit or that I am lost. I typically get off the freeway at that point turn around and end up more lost and more late than if I would have just waited a little bit longer. When in reality if I would go just one more exit I would see the exit I was looking for. Yesterday and today I so badly wanted to just jump off the freeway as fast as I could...but the dreamer/adventure part of me wants so badly to see what is next. But it is SO HARD to be in this spot today.
I am still excited and can't wait to just be on the plane Sunday night, but I am not gonna lie...I did ask this week what the heck I am doing? It is funny how past situations can so shape your attitude and your mindset. This week a couple fears came up that shocked me and immediately made me say I am not going to trust anyone in NZ. Healthy, right? I will figure out how to trust, but man running away seems like a great option right now.
I am excited to see my friends in New Zealand. I am excited to see what is there for me. I am excited to see a part of me come alive there. But I am sad to say good bye to friends here. I am sad that my workplace will move on without a skip of a beat. I am sad that I don't know if I will really ever live here again. I am sad that I haven't put roots down anywhere yet.
I guess the future is always unknown but today I just feel the reality of it so acutely.
Who knew that on one hand so many emotions, thoughts, fears, concerns, and dreams could rest?
This has been such a weird week. Most people are in denial I am really leaving and I think I am too.
I get on a plane so soon and face a lot of big fears that no one can see except me. I kind of like security and stability and right now I don't feel a whole lot of either. I have been so reflective and so sad the last day or two. So much change has happened in the last 6 months and I am about to step into so much more. Adventure is fun and I crave it, but I forget that after the glamour of adventure wears off there is so much emotion left behind for me to sort through.
That is what this week is all about. I love to dream and feel a little stuck right now because I don't know how to dream about New Zealand and I definitely don't know how to dream about April. Everything feels stuck in this spot with this overarching feeling that surely I missed what I am supposed to do with my life. Kind of like my driving in LA. I always seem to second guess myself and freak out that I missed my exit or that I am lost. I typically get off the freeway at that point turn around and end up more lost and more late than if I would have just waited a little bit longer. When in reality if I would go just one more exit I would see the exit I was looking for. Yesterday and today I so badly wanted to just jump off the freeway as fast as I could...but the dreamer/adventure part of me wants so badly to see what is next. But it is SO HARD to be in this spot today.
I am still excited and can't wait to just be on the plane Sunday night, but I am not gonna lie...I did ask this week what the heck I am doing? It is funny how past situations can so shape your attitude and your mindset. This week a couple fears came up that shocked me and immediately made me say I am not going to trust anyone in NZ. Healthy, right? I will figure out how to trust, but man running away seems like a great option right now.
I am excited to see my friends in New Zealand. I am excited to see what is there for me. I am excited to see a part of me come alive there. But I am sad to say good bye to friends here. I am sad that my workplace will move on without a skip of a beat. I am sad that I don't know if I will really ever live here again. I am sad that I haven't put roots down anywhere yet.
I guess the future is always unknown but today I just feel the reality of it so acutely.
Who knew that on one hand so many emotions, thoughts, fears, concerns, and dreams could rest?
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Traveling...
AGHHH!!!
13 Hours of traveling down the state of CA (which I will remind you is the size of the entire country of New Zealand)
12 Hours of RAIN!
8 Hours of talking on the phone
1 Hour with my parents (barely...sorry dad I got less with you)
1/2 Hour of crying about the transition of my life--I made myself stop because I couldn't handle it...so the crying time quite possibly could have been 13 if I would have let myself feel all that is in me. Oh well...denial is okay sometimes I think
1/2 Hour of anxiety about not knowing what I am doing in April...got over that after calls from Sea, Danielle, and Amy THANKS!
45 Minutes with college roommate drinking a YUMMY Milky Way Steamer:)
2 Hours of the best podcast (especially for LONG road trips) -- I can't remember the name but it the coolest & most intriguing American stories told on a Chicago Public Radio station--THANKS SCOTT! It made the grapevine doable!
(I'll post the name after I find out what it is called--my podcast on iTunes says WFHB Hola Bloommington, try searching that)
1 Hour on the Grapevine
What did all that get me you ask? Coming home to an empty apt (well empty of all my stuff), carrying up all my stuff up in the rain...three trips, sleeping on the couch in a storm with no heat (don't ask...)
AND...thinking about getting to see Amy, Scott, Audrey, Zane, Cindy, Janice, Moni, Lori, Daryl, My GYM friends (did you miss me Andy?), Sueann, My Roommate, Andy, and so many other friends! :)
What will 13 hours of travel in one week get me, you ask? NEW ZEALAND BEACHES!!!
Ahhh the funny ups and downs of life...just depends how you look at it!
13 Hours of traveling down the state of CA (which I will remind you is the size of the entire country of New Zealand)
12 Hours of RAIN!
8 Hours of talking on the phone
1 Hour with my parents (barely...sorry dad I got less with you)
1/2 Hour of crying about the transition of my life--I made myself stop because I couldn't handle it...so the crying time quite possibly could have been 13 if I would have let myself feel all that is in me. Oh well...denial is okay sometimes I think
1/2 Hour of anxiety about not knowing what I am doing in April...got over that after calls from Sea, Danielle, and Amy THANKS!
45 Minutes with college roommate drinking a YUMMY Milky Way Steamer:)
2 Hours of the best podcast (especially for LONG road trips) -- I can't remember the name but it the coolest & most intriguing American stories told on a Chicago Public Radio station--THANKS SCOTT! It made the grapevine doable!
(I'll post the name after I find out what it is called--my podcast on iTunes says WFHB Hola Bloommington, try searching that)
1 Hour on the Grapevine
What did all that get me you ask? Coming home to an empty apt (well empty of all my stuff), carrying up all my stuff up in the rain...three trips, sleeping on the couch in a storm with no heat (don't ask...)
AND...thinking about getting to see Amy, Scott, Audrey, Zane, Cindy, Janice, Moni, Lori, Daryl, My GYM friends (did you miss me Andy?), Sueann, My Roommate, Andy, and so many other friends! :)
What will 13 hours of travel in one week get me, you ask? NEW ZEALAND BEACHES!!!
Ahhh the funny ups and downs of life...just depends how you look at it!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Hunkering Down...
(Fun Times on New Year's Eve)
So many FUN times in Redding the last week and a half. I can't believe I have already been here this long. I have had so much fun just doing nothing and laughing all the time. I watched my friend's kids, watched movies, did a million errands in Redding in about 5 mins...the beauty of small towns, played Wii, took so many silly pictures, hung out with my favorite Kimberly:) and get to see Hols tomorrow, and now I am "hunkering down" for the HUGE storm Nor Cal is getting. I had to laugh at everyone running about to the grocery store to buy food for the big storm coming in. I forgot what it is like to live in an area like this. A big storm in LA is rain for more than an hour. We think that means we can't leave the house for sure, but the reality is we all know it isn't that bad and are just simply wimps, but here it is real. So my friends are praying I get stuck here:)
And I leave for NZ in 9 days! I don't know what to be nervous about so I am not, but I still wake up thinking YIKES my life is really about to change!!!
(Photo Shoot of the kids...notice who is really getting there picture taken)
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