The Exile

"Yes, she had left America, and America had forgotten her, and were she to come back to it permanently she must build herself anew into another niche....She left America with rare tears brimming in her eyes and loneliness in her heart. There was more than the physical separation this time; there was a beginning of a separation of the spirit, and she went out somehow homeless."

- The Exile, Pearl S. Buck

I just finished reading the biography of Pearl S. Buck's mother, a missionary to China. Now, I know that her going to China as a missionary during the late 1800s is very different from me moving to New Zealand, but I identified a bit with the above quote. I made the decision to move here over 3 years ago and I knew I was ready for a change. I wasn't running away from anything, not trying to reinvent myself, not sick of the political and economic climate, just ready to do something I said I always wanted to do. And now I've been here for over three years and I'm trying to decide what to do next. Do I stay in New Zealand or go back to the States and pick up (hopefully) the great job and life that I left behind? Sometimes, when I get frustrated with life here, my first thoughts are that I don't fit in here, that I belong back in America. But, when I go back to visit, I feel less and less like I fit in there. What is it that makes someone ready for change? What is it that makes people feel content in their surroundings? Maybe it's just life that, at times, makes everyone feel restless and maybe I find the obvious thing to blame it on. Or maybe living in different cultures is honestly difficult - even if its 2010 and cultures have blended and the world has gotten smaller.


Sometimes I do feel stuck between 2 worlds and both are beautiful and wonderful and it's hard to figure out where to go next - whether to stay or leave. I suppose it's a good thing to like so many places and people because that's what makes the decision making difficult. I'm not surprised by missing my family and firneds back home and the longing to just pop over to familiar places for a visit. I am surpised by the homesickness for Baltimore and familarity and wintry mixes in the winter and humidity and heat indexes in the summer.

My Not So New Digs

I've been in my 'new' flat since beginning of October. I guess it's not so new anymore. I absolutely love it. I live on my own- I was definitely ready for that.

It's a tiny 2-bedroom flat that is just right for me. I love that I can be as social or anti-social as I want. Most of you who know me well enough will know that I usually opt for the 'as social as I want to be.' I love having people over for dinner and I'm in a central location (I sound like Michael Scott - near the elevator for a central location for the Scranton party) so people feel free to pop in. I love it.

Here's the deck and "yard." The grass is getting a bit long but I think I'm just going to use scissors to trim it. I'll try to take some photos. Celine gave me all the plants on the deck and the barbecue and Ben and Bobbi gave me the deck furniture.


Here's the 'view' from my deck. Those are back of the shops which are on the main drag of the Mount. My view is the back ally, the Mexican restaurant and a few pubs.

The living room was decorated courtesy of Sair and Rhooky, Ben and Bobbi, Emma and Chris, and Ted. I did buy the leather chair.

Kitchen, with very high microwave. It just fits perfectly up there and I can't see in it to clean it.

Bedroom furnished courtesy of Celine and Ben and Bobbi.

Dining room set - courtesy of Ben and Bobbi.


I love my place but I love the friends that lent me furniture even more. I love the evenings spent on the deck talking, the card nights in the dining room, friends washing dishes, cooking dinner, blending in the morning, watching movies and to quote Aunt Trish 'making memories.'

I think we're speaking the same language...

When I moved to New Zealand 3 1/2 years ago I sometimes couldn't tell if I was speaking the same language as Kiwis. They all seemed to talk out of half their mouths, and they were mumblers and quiet talkers. I always had to ask people to repeat what they said and then after the third time, I'd get tired of asking and just smile.

After 3 years, I can understand the Kiwi accent and the Aussie and British accents as well. But, sometimes the colloquialisms from each culture still surprise me and context clues don't even help.

So, here are some of my favorites (or favourites) with translations:

British/Kiwi ... American translation
It's all swings and roundabouts... Six of one half dozen of the other.

I'm not tellin tales out of school... I'm not saying anything I shouldn't be.

Can I have a squiz?... Can I see?

It all went pear shaped... It didn't turn out as expected and went bad.

Turned to custard... It didn't turn out as expected and went bad.

Money for jam... Getting paid for doing nothing.

Up at sparrows fart... Up at the crack of dawn.

I got stuff all done today... I didn't get anything done today.

Mutton dressed as lamb... An older woman trying to look young. A cougar.

I was talking with my boss - who I got some of the expressions from - and he was surprised that Americans didn't have as many sayings. I couldn't think of any. Do we have any expressions or metaphors that are half as interesting? Maybe it sounds so out of the ordinary and noteworthy and, I hate to say it - quaint, because of his thick London accent. Whatever it is, it definitely makes life at the office a bit more interesting.

Anyway, thanks for having a squiz at my post.

B-more Part 2

What would a Sunday in winter in Baltimore be without the Ravens? I finally got my very own Ray Lewis jersey and I wore it proudly that Sunday. And I will be wearing it proudly this coming Sunday when we play the Steelers. I'm pretty sure I will be the only person in the pub, in my town, maybe even all of New Zealand who will be wearing the Ravens jersey on Sunday morning but I will wear it with pride.



Garrett's birthday party




Here we are singing Happy Birthday the best we can



Abby performing jingle bells on the trombone


And a good time was had by all

Back In B-more Part I

"This is going to be the best New Years party. We bought noise makers and party hats." (Quote by Amy)

And Amy was right. Noise makers and pots and pans and party hats and Fuh(sp?) and games and fire and football in the street make for a great night. Jolene even got to bang pots and pans at midnight - apparently it's a Baltimore tradition. I thought everyone all over the world did it at midnight.







Hiking, hiking, hiking. Favourite hiking spots in Baltimore: Lake Montebello, Gunpowder, Prettyboy, RVR and Double Rock - just to name a few.


I become more and more amazed at the varied beauty of nature. The sea, the mountains, sunny days, windy rainy days, green trees, rolling hills and barren trees on a crisp winters day.

Back to blogging - for now

My New Years resolution was to get off fb - which I did - but most of you know I have a lot of words that I need to get out so I figured I'd pick up the blog again. Actually, I'm not off fb yet - I had to submit a request to cancel my account and once that was submitted, then it will take until the 23rd of January to be deleted. It's worse than the DMV and the mob.

So, most of you know that I surprised my family by going home for a quick trip to the states for Christmas. If I didn't get to see you, I'm sorry and would have love to, but it was super quick.

My flight came in about 15 minutes before my sister's and my dad had planned a few surprises. He surprised the fam by renting an SUV limo for the whole fam to head down to the airport. Then he surprised Amy by having the whole fam down there. then, I may have 'one-upped' his surprises by surprising everyone. Amy knew I was coming in. It was so much fun to actually pull it off especially because I'm the worst secret keeper - ever.

After all the shock and being frightened of me wore off, we all pile into the limo and drove through the city to see the Christmas lights. Then we spent the night at mom and dads, woke up, had breakfast, went for a hike in the freshly fallen snow, watched the Ravens win, and went to Uncle Jerry's for more hanging out and pizza. It was pretty close to perfect - except for the stomach bug that went around.

I wrote a lot about that first day because it was so magical that none of us took about pictures. I do have pictures and will post them as soon as I get home from work. Right now I'm busy at the Salvation Army sending emails and writing a blog.