I've woken up after my first night in Tauranga in New Zealand. (11/9/15) Tauranga is in the North Eastern Island of New Zealand.
My trip couldn't have come at a better time. I booked this in back in March this year (when I arrived back from Europe) as it was meant to be at the end of the contract for my first job. Since then, I started a new job but already had the flights book. Also, since then, my dear grandmother 'Bobute' who I am close with had been sick with bowel cancer since March this year, and her funeral was only last Friday. The whole family were very involved in her care.
So naturally I've been needing a bit of decompression time.
In the same week that I started my new job (about a month ago) I also moved on to the house that I bought a year ago. Lots of changes and different life events compacted in to a short time that life is sure to always bring.
On the way here, airport security seems to have increased a lot in Sydney. You basically need to get naked through customs to get in and the process takes forever! I was left with only 20 minutes before boarding. I had only just found out as I checked in my luggage before, that no meal was included in my fare. All orders for meals were cut off 24 hours before the flight. You can't buy food on the plane unless if you had a credit card. You could buy a voucher before the flight to use for food on the plan but only snacks could be bought. So in a panic that I would be starved the whole trip,I bought tons of crappy and overpriced airport food. How can one stuff up a bacon and egg roll? Well yes, it appears you can.
Turns out my flight was only 2 hours long then I had to toss all of my remainding food at quarantine! Oh well, you live you learn.
I'm staying with my friend Andrea in Tauranga, which is within the Bay of Plenty; South East of Auckland (The North Island). I last visited Andrea two years ago. Since then, she has an 18 month old called Mason. Andrea is a single mother and an inspiration. She is so happy, optimistic and doting to her son and has been so hospitable to me. She has even bought her own house, it's so gorgeous and homely and of course so much more affordable and nicer than anything comparatively in Australia!
I met Andrea years ago when she was working as an agency Nurse in Canberra. I was really struggling as a New Graduate Nurse when I met her, and she really supported me. She believed in me and I will be forever grateful for that.
Before I left for this trip, people kept asking me what my plans were. Naturally, if I have an opportunity to surf, I may do so. Andrea has agreed to partake in all of the awkward physio exercises that i have been allocated to do for my injured body (from running). But there is something very refreshing and liberating about just letting plans make themselves. And to be honest, I'm just happy to be here with Andrea, no matter what we do.
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