I have been in Summit County in Colorado for two months now and its been a bit of a roller coaster ride.  I am working as a Lift Operator at Keystone Resort which is one of the five Vail mountains.  The money sucks and the hours are terrible but it could be worse.  I have to constantly tell myself that it’s not forever.  And it’s true… its only another few weeks and it pays the rent (barely) and gets me on the mountain and down the slopes everyday.  I go through stages of hating it and loving it.  Working outside is awesome on sunny days but hell it gets cold out there sometimes!! I’m kinda getting over being cold every day and having to put on a hundred million layers to go outside.  But other days it’s not so bad.  I work with some really fun people; young, but fun.  I have made some good friends there.

As with everything, you have to take the bad with the good.  And there are a lot of awesome things about Colorado too.  Many good things actually!! It is amazingly beautiful here.  Living amongst huge mountains is epic and I never get tired of looking at them.  I get to snowboard everyday if I want to (don’t always want to!) and I am learning and getting better all the time.  This week me and two of my roommates are off to lake Tahoe for a few days of riding where they are actually getting some decent snow, and then hitting Las Vegas on the way back.  It will be an epic road trip.  I’m really looking forward to it.  My roommates also make life here totally worthwhile.  There are six of us living in a wicked four story condo right underneath the mountains in a cute little town called Frisco.  Barret, Scotty and Jon are all from West Virginia, Tommy is from Chicago and Alyssa is from upstate New York but is a Coloradian at heart.  Malte is staying with us for 6 weeks from Germay, and Mac and Steve come up every weekend from Boulder.  We all have a lot of fun hanging out and often stay in instead of going out cos we are having too much fun at home (totally fie by me – its friggen cold out there!!!).  There are always extra people staying at our house which makes it crazy at times, but its always a blast.  It’s great having Carrie around too, although we don’t get to hnag out as much as I’d like. Our schedules aren’t very compatible and she’s got a lot of stuff going on at the moment with Crystal Seas and her new house.

So over the last couple of weeks I have experienced the hardest part of being so far away from home.  Three of my family members and my best friend have all ended up in hospital with varying health problems.  It’s a horrible feeling not knowing what’s going on and not really being able to talk to anyone and finding out whats happening via facebook and email.  I feel so helpless and homesick right now.  I just hope that everybody knows (and I’m sure they do) that I’m thinking of them 24/7 and that I wish i could be there.

So i guess at the moment, the grass back home in NZ is greener than the white snow here in below freezing Colorado.  But it’s mianly becuase of all the stuff going on back home.  I still have a lot of adventures to look forward to before heading home.  I am even more proud to call myself a kiwi after being over here.  I get so many comments from people talking about how wonderful NZ is and how much they loved it or how badly they want to go there.  I haven’t heard a single bad thing about my beautiful home.  I’m really looking forward to being back there and surrounded by all that wonderfulness and all my favourite people.

So the last time that I wrote, I was about to head to Costa Rica for 10 days with Carrie and her parents before heading over to explore the east coast.  CR was an amazing trip! We spent the whole time on the Nicoya Peninsula in the Crystal Seas house (Thanks Angie and Jo!!!) and a couple of nights in Montezuma at a hotel owned by a friend of a friend (such a small world – thanks Ferry John!).  Surf, sun, relaxation and quality time with my US family.  It is one of those places and experiences where you feel like you can really escape from reality – not that I want to escape from my wonderful existence! We had some really fun adventures while we were there. Poor Julie had to miss out on a bit due to etting sick not long after we arrived.  But she was a good sport and held down the fort while Cam, Carrie and I explored our beach and went surfing at Mal Pais.  She managed to join us for a day trip to Montezuma to hike to a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole and an afternoon spent ziplining through the canopies above the forest.  Carrie and I were really proud of Julie for joining us after a bit of doubt that she would agree to it.  But she was a real trooper and we had a ton of fun.  Carrie and I spent the last few days by ourselves in Montezuma after farewelling Julie and Cam on their own little adventure (we were oblivious to the fact that they spent 9 or so hours travelling back to San Jose) and revisited the waterfall and Mal Pais to try and improve our surfing skills somewhat successfully.

I really enjoy visting other countries and experiencing the differences between cultures.  Despite NZ and the US being very similar in  lot of ways there are a lot of subtle differences as well.  And then you really notice it when you head somewhere completely different like Central America.  Aside from the usual things like food and customs, I find the most interesting thing to be the different ways that people interact and relate to each other, particularly between males and females.  In the US I have noticed that guys and girls tend not to have so many issues just hanging out as friends and talk a lot more openly than we do in NZ, which I find really refreshing.  In Costa Rica, females are appreciated more as objects than equals.  I look forward to experiencing and comparing more as my travels continue.

After our journey to Central America, Carrie and I headed over to the North East and the shock of the US winter approaching after the warm (hot) climate of Costa Rica.  We visited Jessie on Martha’s Vineyard (the North Easts answer to the San Juans – or is it the other way around?) and spent many hours eating peanuts, being entertained by the locals and making new friends at the Off Shore Brewery.  We then found ourselves at a Toubab Krew concert in the heart of Boston where the music was rockin’ and the drinks flowing.  After a morning of Urban Hiking, I sent Carrie and Jessie up to Maine while I hung out in Boston for a few days with Gretjen, who I me at Burning Man back in September.  She showed me how the Bostonians party and we bonded over boys, Milo and cowboy boots.

A Greyhound bus (which I have been warned about and now know why) took me up to Maine where I spent the next few weeks being looked after and totally spoilt by Cam and Julie Weaver. I was treated to a real American thanksgiving where in true tradition I spent the day in the kitchen cooking with Julie before stuffing myself as full as possible with delicious treats from an array of fabulous Maine cooks.  I send out many thanks to those who welcomed me with opena arms and made the occasion something to remember and cherish.  I will forever be astounded by the generosity and hospitality of the many people I have met since coming to the states.

Back to Boston, where Carrie’s college friend Brett showed me a little of the Boston art scene before boarding the China Town bus (which I am now sending out a warning against!) to – dum dum daahhhh – New York City!!! The concrete jungle where dreams are made of… there’s nothing you can’t do… when your in New York, New York…. Yeah Ok, lame I know, but do you know how many times I heard that song in the week that I was there?  So New York City has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl.  I had big plans with Monique for New York and Im disappointed that my first trip there was without her, but the next best thing was hanging out one of my fav US Kiwi’s, Laurel.  We were complete tourists and managed to tick most things off our list. Running in Central Park, hanging out in Times Square, climbing the Empire State Building, taking the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (where being a blonde foreigner will get you everything!), seeing a comedy show in Brooklyn, catching Bon Jovi at the Jimmy Fallon show at the Rockefeller Center, etc etc, you get the idea.  It was freezing the entire week that I was there and I ended up with a really bad cold which left me house bound for the one weekend that I spent there.  at least it gave me the opportunity to get to know Elayna better and spend some quality girl time with her eating Smac and Cheese and watching cheesy romantic comedy’s.  I know I keep saying it, but the most amazing part of this journey is the beautiful people that i meet and get to hang out with.  So thanks to all those that have taken me in, showed me around, made me laugh, smile, shout and contributed to this awesome experience. you know who you are!!

After walking 20 NY blocks in the rain with a heavy backpack, another crowded China Town bus (no I didn’t learn the first time) took me the 8 hours to Richmond, Virginia, where  Laurel picked up a wet and miserable me and took me to her home in Suburbia, Virginia style.  We spent a frantic week trying to sell Laurel’s car and attempting to experience the south and the history and uniqueness that it encompasses.  We visited a plantation, Hollywood Cemetery, were taken back to Historical Williamsburg, and acted our age at the childrens museum.  We made the commute to Washington DC on a freezing cold day where we rushed around the National Mall trying to see everything we possibly could in the few hours that we had.  I’m really glad that I got to visit DC.  Even though it’s not my country or my history, it really is a cool place to see.  It has a certain air of pride and beauty about it that I find hard to explain.  I would love to go back and explore a bit more someday.

Richmond, of all places, was where I experienced my frist snow storm and I was amazed at how unprepared and panicked the locals were when that white stuff started falling form the sky. I guess if your not used to that much snow it can be overwhelming.  But all the stores closed early, people shut themselves in their homes, flights were cancelled – including mine to California! So i had en extra few days to spend with Laurel before heading back to my beloved West Coast to spend Christmas with my fav California boys.  We made the most of the unexpected snow and built a beautiful snowman called Larry and made snow angels in the soft powder.

I finally managed to get a flight out to California – only 2 days late – where I spent the next 10 days warming up in the California sunshine.  It’s always a pleasure hanging out with Ty, Adam and Ian and their many friends.  Again, so welcoming and generous. It was a few days of many firsts for me – Sake Bombs, ice skating, snowboarding… mixed in with a family christmas with the Hills in Chico where I was able to meet the people who raised such great people.  Aaron, Jan, Skipper and Alena’s family. Thanks for letting me crash your family time and for not making me feel bad about it!! Quite the opposite actually!! Your all wonderful!

So now I find myself in Summit County in Colorado in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, working as a Lift Operator at Keystone Resort.  I am trying somewhat successfully to embrace the snow and the cold and am attempting to master the art of snowboarding.  Again this journey has thrown me in amongst great people who will continue to amaze me and make my time in the states unforgetable and something truly magical!

Kelly, Carrie and I have now gone our separate ways – Carrie to Colorado, Kelly to Alberqerque and beyond, and I am relaxing with my fav boys in Sonoma.  We said goodbye beneath the daunting heights of Al Cap in Yosemite and again at 1145 Florida, remembering the fun and adventures we had over the last four weeks and promising to ourselves never to let go of the memories.

From here, Carrie and I will both fly to Costa Rica to meet up with Cam and Julie and spend 10 days chilling, surfing, and hiking, before returning to the chilly fall temperatures of the east coast for thanksgiving.  I am yet to know or decide what life will bring after November, which while a little unsettling, fills me with excitement and anticipation.  I now know that I can make it happen and will inevitably see more, do more, and learn more as time progresses… watch this space!!

To all those who provided us with food, showers and beds along the way (Jamie, Sarah B, Eric, Lizzie, Dave and TJ, John, Ian, Adam, Ty, Uncle Andy, Andrew, Al, Brian and Kristen) – thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!! We owe you all so much and I hope that we can return the many favours some day soon.   To my girls, Kelly Carrie, Sarah and Mere – I love you like a climber loves the feel of the hard rock under her fingers, and like the trees love the feel of the warm summer sunshine, and like sealion loves to ride the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean…

Well a lot has happened since my last post. Burning Man has come and gone, but left a lasting impression on me and provided me with lifelong friends and memories. Never did I think that everything that I have been trying to achieve and learn from my adventures away from NZ could be realised in one crazy, chaotic, epic weekend in the Nevada desert. Truly a once in a lifetime experience! I have tried to explain the effect that BM had on me but have failed miserably!! If you ever get the chance to go – grab it with both hands and run with it all the way to Black Rock City! Ty, Adam, Ian, Aaron, Dave , TJ, Gretjen, Will – your all amazing!! Thanks for the memories.

Back on the island, the days are shorter, the leaves are turning red and yellow and are starting to fall, the blackberries are finished and we are all done with kayaking for the season.  I am sad to be leaving the island.  It has provided me with so much over the last few months but I also feel that it has no more to offer me right now.  New adventures await, and with those will come many more memories, friends, experiences and ever important life lessons.  But we finished the season on a high with an overnight kayak trip to Sucia Island.  Such a fun weekend exploring beautiful Sucia and spending some quality time with some of the most important and wonderful people in my life right now.  Thanks ladies (and Joe)!! You’re all amazing and I love you so much.

If someone had asked me a year ago where this year would take me, there’s no way that i would have pictured myself sitting on a sailboat at midnight anchored in a beautiful bay singing at the top of my lungs with amazing friends then jumping into the freezing cold water with no clothes on, only to smile bigger and laugh louder than I did before.  What an incredible night to add to an already incredible summer.  Skinny dipping at south beach in the middle of the day, getting covered in scratches picking delicious blackberries, picnicing on the west side as the sun sets and the whales swim calmly by, kayaking on water that looks like glass, holding a sea star in my hands and having a seal pup play with my paddle… how amazing is this?  Dance parties in the kitchen, drinking and singing around a campfire in our own backyard, a live musical on the way into town, kareoke, beer-pong and bananagrams… I am so lucky….

3 weeks back on the island and have managed to stay put for a while!! Had some crazy travelling going on there for a while.  It’s been nice to stay on the island and actually get into a bit of a routine and settle into life on this beautiful little island.  Have been working pretty hard and have been really enjoying it for the most part.  Like any job it has its downfalls in the form of frustrating customers, bad weather conditions and 12 hour days.  But for now there is no where else I would rather be.

Life at the guide house has been a little chaotic with many friends and visitors staying over the last couple of weeks.  This has been a lot of fun but also an exercise in remaining calm with the lack of privacy and personal space!  I am thankful that I was not in charge of entertaining the masses though and could remain as a bystander and participate in the fun and activity where and when I felt like it!  While I have never really had to share my own spce (i.e. bedroom) until now, i firmly believe that Sharing is Caring.  I feel that being from NZ has taught me how to be open and hospitible to visitors. Especially now that I am travelling myself, I would hope that the way I treat others will come around and pay off when I am in the need of a place to stay.  Many people young and old alike would be very limited in their travelling options without a network of friends and friends of friends to open their various doors to them.  Not that i am wise and worldly traveller just yet!! My adventures are only just beginning!

Ok, so I’ve just realised that I was lying and I actually have been off island since we came back from Maine! I took an overnight trip over to Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada, a week or so ago.  It felt really good to go somewhere on my own and to know that I can coordiante myself enough to sort it all out and have an amazing time in my own company.  I feel a lot better about future travels knowing that I am capable of entertaining myself, and also that it felt really good to only have me to worry about.  It was nice to know that any decision was mine and mine alone and that I only had to worry about what I wanted to do, see, eat, etc.  Quality time with yourself is really important and I am definitely learning this (esp in our current living situation)!  But anyway… my visit to Vancouver Island was really fun. Victoria is a great town with some really cool spots and a lot of history. I wis that I had had more time there.  I spent my two days checking out the water front area and doing touristy things like the wax museum, parliament, an old castle, the butchart gardens and generally wandering around and seeing the place.  It’s pretty touristy but I think that added to its appeal somewhat because it brought out all the street performers and markets.  I checked out the opening night of the Victoria Ska Festival the night that I was there.  I wasn’t quite confident enough to get up and dance by myself but the music and atmosphere were great.  You have no idea how much trouble I had trying to tell people that I went to Ska Fest though! Don’t know whether it was the accent or if they just don’t know what Ska music is!!

My trip to Canada did not take place on a Paddle Board though!! That would have been an experience!  Carrie and I had a bit of adventure day around the island on our day off.  We biked out to a dirt road and then ran 1 1/2 miles down (and up) the road to check out a little cabin that Carrie wants to rent next summer.  It’s the cutest little place with a firepit out back and great places to put hammocks (I NEED to own a hammock!) and a great view over the water and surrounding islands.  Perfect for Carrie. I can’t wait to stay there with her beofre I leave the States next year.  We then biked out to Roche Harbor on the North end of the island and went Paddle Boarding for a couple of hours around Pearl Island.  A good challenge for core muscles and balance, especially when boat wakes hit us!!  We came across Kelly and Albert on posy with their multi-day trip.  I think they thought that we were a little crazy!  So much fun though. It took me a little while to get used to stabilising myself and paddling standing up. Hilarious!!  After biking back to town we hung out at Dan’s pond drinking Mamosa’s and eating watermelon, before checking out a local softball game.  All up it was a very relaxing and enjoyable day. Thanks Carrie!! Was great to have some quality time just the two of us.

So now we are in Maine where it is beautiful despite the grey weather (likely chance of sun for the next few days) and it feels great to be in a family home and be able to relax and unwind and be looked after and eat good (GREAT) food. We are headed to a resort in Booth Bay tomorrow for the Weaver family reunion which I am very grateful to be an honorary member of!

Back in Washington it has been very busy. I have finished my 10 training trips, safety training and one 5 day multi-day trip and am officially allowed to guide on my own! First solo paddle next Tuesday upon return to Washington!! I’m pretty excited to get out on my own!

Making friends in a new place is always hard so I’m glad that I have Carrie and my room mates around and that the people I work for and with are so great to hang out with. I love that our bosses feel comfortable enough to drop in whenever they like and have a drink and gossip with us Loneliness is a given during traveling, especially so far away from home and is has definitely snuck up on me at times. I just have to remind myself why I am doing this and that I have a lot to learn and much growing to do and it’s all part of this amazing journey I am on. I wish sometimes that I was a more open, confident person who was able to instantly engage with people. Unfortunately, certain life experiences have taught me to be wary of new people in new situations. While not an altogether terrible thing, I am hoping to be able to overcome some of my hesitance along the way. Being here and hearing and reading about other travelers experiences has given me a new found confidence in myself and my ability to live my dreams and survive by myself in this crazy world. I am very much looking forward to the many things I have yet to experience. For now I would like to thank the Weavers for their acceptance and hospitality and for very much making me feel like a part of the family. xox

Here are a few things I have learnt so far:

- To talk slowly
- That it is totally acceptable to go for a whole day without showering
- That going to the pub in the clothes I have been kayaking in all day is completely normal
- To try everything twice (thanks Batchie!)
- To embrace dirty feet and raccoon eyes
- That my clothes will constantly smell like campfire
- If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. (in the crusade to save energy and water)
- Down time is imprtant
- To never fly to Dallas – ever again!!!

It had now been almost three weeks since I arrived in my new home and what an adventure it is turning out to be! We were finally able to move into our house on Argyle St in Friday Harbor itself. Its a great place to hang out even if it is a little cramped with 5 of us in a 2 1/2 bedroom house! I am sharing one of the upstairs areas with Kelly and we have made a cosy little space for ourselves. Carrie also lives upstairs in a little nook she calls home. Sarah has the only real room downstairs and James has inhabited the laundry room. There has been a definite party atmosphere since we arrived due to the work being reasonably slow at the start of the season. My house mates have been introducing me to the different tastes of American and West Coast beer in the search for one that I actually like – not an easy task!!! We frequent a local bar called Herbs on wednesday nights for Kareoke – in which I have participated for two out of three visits! Parties at South Beach are regular as are sunset trips to the west side with wine bottle and snacks in hand.

I am learning all about the tricks and secrets of the kayak guide trade (no BS please!) and about the wildlife and sealife that inhabit these beautiful islands and waters. I have had a few sightings of Orca’s and many of other creatures such as Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, Porpoises, varying kinds of Sea Stars, etc. I am only one training trip away from being able to guide on my own! I feel confident enough now to be able to instruct our customers on how to safely use a kayak and also provide them with an enjoyable and informative trip.
Kayak Safety training in Angie and Johannes’ “beautiful” pond left me with aching shoulders and bruised legs but definitely more at ease about my ability on the water. Thanks to all of those who were there to help guide, participate and teach in my training, your knowledge and advice is invaluable!
I still have a few anxieties on the water such as reading and interpreting the tides and choosing the safest route for our customers. Have had one hairy moment getting caught in a crazy current whilst trying to get myself out of the way of a mother and daughter in a double kayak and had to do some serious paddling to stop myself from being dragged out to sea! But all is well that ends well and I am looking forward to spending a lot more time out there. Watch this space for more adventures on the water!

It has been three weeks today since I arrived in Sunny San Francisco in California, and I guess 3 weeks and one day since I left the rainy days of NZ behind. It was a hectic and emotional few days before I headed out and I wasn’t sure how I would react to leaving my country, family and friends behind to enter a world that is unfamiliar to me. AT least I can speak the language here – even if Americans often struggle to understand me, esp when drunk! Woah sidetrack… So I think I handled the whole departure thing relatively well, not too many tears on my part (Sorry Mum!). I should pause here to thank everyone (you know who you are) who put up with my anxiety and moods in the days and weeks before D Day. The flight was long and uneventful – despite almost getting lost at LAX trying to find the gate for my connecting flight.

Upon arrival at a very empty airport in SF, it took me and Carrie a while to figure out where each other was but somehow made it – the hugs totally made up for the jetlag! Carrie it’s great to be here with you, thankyou for making this all possible. I find it amazing and so great to have a friend like you who I can go without seeing for 6 or so years and still be so familiar and comfortable in your company.

We spent a few days in SF sightseeing and getting all of Carrie’s worldly possessions ready for the trip north. SF is a very diverse and exciting city and I really enjoyed my time there. I meet some great people who made me feel instantly welcome in the form of Carrie;s room mates and her uncle Andy – who I am very much looking forward to seeing again. I enjoyed being able to see the city from the perspective of a tourist but also through the eyes of those who live there. My favourite part was drinking a beer on Carrie’s rooftop in the Mission in our underwear (glorious California sun).

We began our Road Trip north on 101 on Friday 15th May. The next 5 days took us up the northern part of the California coast and the bottom half of the Oregon coast and then up through Portland into Washington. The California and lower part of Oregon coast are very similar to NZ which makes sense with us sharing the Pacific Ocean! We were continuously amazed by how beautiful it was. Camping on the beach was a new experience and a lot of fun – despite the presence of a wildcat with its prey right outside our tent one night. We found ourselves retiring and rising with the sun – which at the moment is setting about 8.40 and staying light till 10ish and then rising again about 5am. OK so I’m exaggerating rising with the sun ever so slightly!!!

The road trip was a great experience and I’m glad I was able see this part of the world that was new to both myself and Carrie. Surprisingly we managed to spend 5 days together in close proximity sharing car and tent without incident and some funny stories and interesting people along the way.