what a lovely last day it has been here. slept in, gave reagan a sleepy hug goodbye (wishing i'd been a little more aware of what was happening cause it was kinda a lame goodbye) finished up a little packing and headed into howick. i walked up to get some cash out and just walked through the streets, it was windy but not cold and i thoroughly enjoyed myself. what a wonderful little town.

then i went to visit my kids at school. got attacked walking through the door but it made me so happy because they had missed me the past two days. i was there just hanging out with them for a little bit, got about 20 cards stuffed in my face with lots of glue and random letters, love them all though. got to eat my last wednesday of sushi, yummy and hang out in the staff room for a little bit. helped with super start, such cute kids, and headed back to my room where we were able to play outside for a few minutes which was fun. i gave all the kids a cuddle before leaving. sweet little mia who doesn't speak much english said "miss anderson don't going back to america please" love that kid. anyway it was a little easier to say goodbye, maybe, but i could feel my emotions starting to well up. it was great saying bye to the parents in my class again they are just so wonderful. i did cry saying goodbye to sally and we had to make it brief. then emma and sue and then kerry and other teachers in year 0/1. weird weird weird, but it's ok because they've already made travel plans to attend my wedding whenever that is.

it is definitely strange saying the last goodbyes. i said bye to lisa, lexi and devon last night as well as kate and bree (sharleen's sister-in-law and sister and their children) and it was all starting to sink in. i'm sure i'll be a mess at the airport tonight, looking like one of those girls in a movie crying by herself. maybe i'll save myself the embarrassment and wait til i get on the plane. signing out now. official goodbye coming later, putting it off as long as i can.

tomorrow (wednesday) i leave what have been three of the best months of my life. what a wonderful experience new zealand has been, truly beyond words. i'm feeling a little of the same anxiety i felt before coming here, it is filled with excitement of what my future holds as well as the sadness of leaving all the amazing people i have gotten to know here. its time for the real world to begin. i feel like i've been in a bit of a fantasy, graduating college, facing some huge personal changes, living over here with a family who cooks for me and takes me places not earning my own money and traveling around this gorgeous country. its almost like back to reality for me. i'm looking forward to what God has in mind because well i'm not really sure what i have in mind for myself. here we go again...

spending my day packing my bags. weird. more to come on that. wanted to stop in for a brief weekend update! we spent saturday-monday at kawau island. this is located about an hour north of auckland, the same path we took while driving to bay of islands. it is only accessible via water taxi or boat, or helicopter (they had a heli-pad in the backyard) and there's not really anything do there at all except be at the beach and relax. the house was gorgeous, nice and simple and cozy and place perfectly at the top of one of the steepest hills i've ever climbed, and what a stunning view. we really just spent our days reading, watching movies and hanging out by the fire. it wasn't the nicest weather, just really windy but it was still wonderful.

on sunday morning i got up and pj, reagan and olivia were out on the wharf fishing. with reagan's help (he actually felt the bite) i reeled in my very first, and only, NZ snapper! i was very excited but dropped him twice, i even stuck my hand in his gills to pose for a photo. we also found some time sunday to walk through the bush walk which led to a road on the other end of the island and down to the beach. it was fun to be on the beach, and this bay is the only one on kawau with a sandy beach so that was awesome. we walked along the beach, then took the rocks back to get around to our wharf. it was very adventurous and cool. then we played a little bit of what we liked to call "backhands and beer" at mell st. it was fun. granddad john joined us for doubles and we named ourselves venus and federer after we defeated olivia and reagan haha. then pj came and reagan and i lost, but we played really well thats all that matters!

it was great weekend filled with good food, good relaxing time, and good company. i loved my time at kawau. also here's how they make s'mores in new zealand: put marshmellows (which are a little sweeter here) inbetween two chocolate chip cookies, wrap in tin foil and put over the fire. very tasty i must say. what a wonderful way to spend some of my final days here!

the outside fireplace.

 my snapper!

 view from the porch.

our walk on the beach.

 tennis time.

 goodbye kawau.

 our house at the top of the hill.

 what's a ferry ride without a little wine? haha.

"it takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. but there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. there is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." 

-alan cohen