Sweet As

Dunedin at sunrise

And so begins the end of a fantastic adventure...

This post is out of place, and after writing it I will be posting at least 6 more about my last few road trips and memories. So I hope that the chronological order of things does not make you too confused.  Prior to today, Brady and I went on an 8 day road trip around the south island with a day trip in Wellington, and I have loads to tell you about it, but for now and for this moment, I am going to write my farewell.

To the reader, this will be to you my first draft, but in reality this is my 5^th one.  I have so much I wish to say but don’t know how to express before my emotions get the best of me, that I cannot seem to write it all in one sitting.

I am now on the plane, listening to Florence and the Machine and admiring my last views of New Zealand.  I’ve got a good 11hours flight ahead of me, so what have I got better to do than write?

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

As I look down at the expanse of land and look at exactly where I had explored, I can’t but feel I am leaving too soon.  I’ve yet to make my mark in this country and there is still so much I wished to see and do, trails to walk, mountains to climb, adrenaline stunts to complete.  And yet all too soon, my time here expired and now I am on my way home.  I have made plans to return in a few years time, along with concrete plans to travel and see my friends again.  But still, I cannot help feeling as though a small part of me is being left behind, a part of me that was whole and complete and which I do not want to part from.  Even though I will be back, and I will get the opportunity to finish exploring all that NZ has to offer, it will not be the same because it is not the country that makes the adventures and the trip worth it.  It is the people you meet, the friendships made, and the people who surround you.  So here is what I have to say to them:

Thank you.

Prior to leaving for NZ I was a little anxious about what I might find here.  Although I was 100% excited to come to NZ and not at all afraid to travel to a foreign country for 6 months with complete strangers, I was worried my expectations were too high and would not be met.  I am glad to say that my experience here went above and beyond anything I could have expected.  And I owe it all to you.  You made it all worth it and memorable, and above all the best trip I had in years.

Gillespies Beach at Sunset

I was surrounded by an amazing group of neighbors and friends from all over the world, and had one of the greatest Kiwi hosts.  I met the most extraordinary people and travelled with the best friend(s) I could have asked for.  Not one minute spent in the flat, in town, or on the road was wasted, apart for the occasional lazy Sunday, but everyone needs a rest now and then. ;p

My ultimate goal in coming to NZ was to find myself again.  To discover what I wanted to accomplish in my life and what sort of person I really am.  After some of the conflicts from my past, I still have a ways to go, but I have found some answers as to what it is I want to do. As for who I am, a person changes depending on the people who surround them, as we are constantly influenced through life by our friends, family, acquaintances and situations.  You have all changed me in some way, and what I fear the most is that the version of me you knew in NZ will slowly disappear as I travel to new or old places.  But it is inevitable and is a part of growing up.

So thank you, for making me a better person, for sharing the trip of a lifetime, and for being my friend.

I will miss you all so much and hope that our paths cross again.

Until then, this is W.W.A. Rhondiggity signing out (physically) from New Zealand.