Home

So after something in the region of 13 years I finally decided it was time to head back to New Zealand.  This was a fairly difficult decision, I had been unwell for quite some time in Germany by the time I decided I should give in and go home.  But it was also a decision based on being so far from my family and my father who has been sick, and also because I missed being able to engage in random conversations with strangers.  (Yes this was technically becoming possible through my German classes, but not quickly enough)

It has been a little strange to be here, this is the first time that I have been unemployed in almost 15 years, and living on the government assistance that I receive is just awful.  I have no idea how anybody does it.  I am just lucky that I can live with my parents for awhile as well.

I have mostly been enjoying the time to relax, feel better (yes my health has been great since coming home), and to just enjoy my home country for a change.

Right now I am actively looking for jobs, there are some prospects but nothing certain for now... will I end up staying in New Zealand? I am not certain yet... but everything is being handled one day at a time for now.

And what about this blog? Since I have walked back home.... I am actually going to keep it up, there will be a post about the Aurora Australis, and one about Seaward Bush a neat little bush walk near my house.

I don't aim for my travels to be over either, I want to visit some friends in America within the next two years, and I still have things to see in Europe and some cherished people there who will be overdue for a hug by the time I can get back there.

Love,
Abigail

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial license.

Super lazy unmotivated creature of Sloth

I haven't really traveled in awhile, and even when I did, I really just didn't feel like picking up my camera at any point.

And its not that there would have been nothing to take a picture of, it's just a general feeling of apathy recently.  Like I am just auto piloting along with no real highs or lows, just a general consistent flow of things.

I am trying to snap out of that... but it's not easy when your social contact is so heavily limited to Facebook or a handful of people.

I visited London for a Star Trek convention which was really fun and had my picture taken with the Next Generation crew (well most of them).
Somewhere back in time a very young Abigail would be astounded by that.

And yet jaded slightly empty feeling Abigail just floated through that moment as well.

In Sydney I would have considered myself an extrovert easily, I loved to be the center of attention and was constantly talking to new people.  And now I rarely talk to anyone unless there is some special need for it.
I don't honestly know which method is better, but I have a feeling I was happier when I was an extrovert and that being away from the source of so much amusement has not done anything good for my head.

All of the amazing moments, beautiful places, and once in a lifetime things I have done these past 2.5 years are great.  They are.  But they're not as great as regular hugs and conversations with people that actually MEAN something.

Anyway... this is my one emo post about this.  Just to vent.  And to apologize for those that expect more posts and I have not provided for.

Peace out kids.

*BONUS* London for Christmas

This is not a real post, since there is zero tourism, it is just a way to show that I didn't spend Christmas entirely alone crying into a microwaved pizza or anything like that.

Christmas Eve I flew to London, and visited with my friends Eden, Marie and Sara for an Orphans Christmas, it was beautiful, we all wore cheesy Christmas jumpers, had stockings full of candy, and amazing food.

Christmas Eve was wines and catch up chats, Christmas morning we had a nice champagne breakfast then headed off to mass at the local Catholic Church (bit different given I hadn't really been to a church of any denomination in awhile)

Then it was time for amazing Christmas lunch, exchanging presents, and inevitable shenanigans involving far too much red wine.

 

 

And then back on a flight home... before I head to Edinburgh for New Years!
Which will be my next REAL post... hopefully sometime in the next few weeks.

Preparations

This blog is going to be my little hideaway from reality, wherein I post my observations and pictures from far off lands, and basically attempt to record the world through my eyes.

Very arrogant of me of course, and self-involved, but for the people who I walked away from it might prove to be a window... and hopefully through that window we can touch at least on an emotional level.

Basically I am planning on moving to Germany within the next few months, I will outline some of the trials and tribulations of doing that, as well as some of the things I have been thinking about before/during and after.

Once we have these initial preparations out of the way, this will become more along the lines of a conventional travel blog.

Only I don't intend to tell you about the amazing cafe hidden behind an abandoned warehouse, I intend to tell you about the people I meet, the way that the sunset shines over a lake, and how the first bite of a freshly baked baguette is a religious experience.

I will do my best to locate a camera which will help to expand all of that, and I will endeavor to ALWAYS document my travels.