2018 Mid Year update
Amy had a brilliant idea recently. She suggested that me, Sepha, Amy and Cesca send email updates as well as our little whatsapp conversations, and whilst I originally groaned at the idea, I loved receiving their emails, written in their unique styles, and getting something a little more in depth than a few snippets here and there. For me, I found it very cathartic writing everything down - I could be more personal than I am on the blog, and the act of writing it down made me feel better.
I have been pretty down the last few weeks. America was awesome, but I felt sadness at returning to New Zealand and my job - I really enjoyed being parented by Aric's folks, it made me miss my own and my friends, I've been feeling a little out of place in New Zealand recently. Friendship groups have been changing, living with a boyfriend can be slightly isolating after living in shared houses with friends for 12 years, I hate my job and the stress of not knowing where Aric's next posting will be and if I will get residency has been taking its toll on our relationship and my general happiness. I have been putting on weight all winter (and Summer too if I am honest) as I am much less active than I was last year, and I came home and cried after my first pilates session after our holiday because I was the fattest and ugliest girl in the class.
So I wrote my friends a life update, went to the gym 3 times this week, received my residency (wahoo!) and Aric just got told his new posting will be in Beirut. I feel so much happier. I feel more normal and me again. Before I felt sad all the time and like there was no hope. It's hard to get yourself out of that hole. And I am pretty bad at hiding my emotions so I come across like I am in a bad mood and like I am angry with everyone when really it's just my insecurities and my brain being silly. I think also the winter has something to do with it. I barely have bad moods in the summer but I feel pretty low in the winter.
I really enjoyed America. Los Angeles was pretty terrible - a beige concrete jungle filled with cars, but we stayed with his cousin and her husband, baby daughter and toddler son and dog. They were so lovely to us, lending us their cars and not letting us pay for anything. We went for a big family dinner with his Aunt and Uncle and cousins, and I met his great Aunt and Uncle, who took us for a spin in his 1960s truck. We went to a Dodgers baseball game which was quite the experience - all you can eat hotdogs and fireworks on the field afterwards. We drove down to San Diego where me and Aric fought over the fact he bought 3 baseball caps when he already has 50 back home, and I got mad at America because a guy was skateboarding on the pier and got told off by a tannoy system. (I think I was slightly jetlagged this day hence all the anger). We bought lots of clothes (when I say we, read Aric), ate lots of Mexican food and drank lots of beer (again, Aric).
The next 2 weeks were spent in DC, New York, Baltimore and the Shenandoah Valley. We had a few days in DC to chill with his parents, I met his beloved dogs (and realised I don't want a dog of my own, at least not now) and we went to the DC zoo where I waved at an Orangutan and he waved back, and we spent 30 minutes watching a baby Orangutan playing. We had a fight in a hipster cafe because I was tired and had constant stomach cramps and felt super grumpy. We then drove to Brooklyn where we had an awesome afternoon strolling around in the sunshine, stopping off at bars Aric was randomly selecting off google maps, including one that had heaps of arcade games in it (conveniently called 'Barcade'), finishing up in a late night diner for blueberry pie. We stayed in an airbnb where our room had no windows, it was stifling hot, Aric slept on an airmattress and there was an indoor cat who had the smelliest piss alive. We went to Manhattan where it rained and the cloud was down low so we couldn't see the tops of any buildings (like my last time here, argh!!). Aric's friend works at the Met and gave us free tickets and a mini tour which was awesome. We shopped (Nordstrom Rack is amazing) and walked along the Chelsea Highline. We wandered round Central Park in the rain, which sounds romantic but the reality isn't.
The following morning we woke very early and there was a tremendous rain storm, so we decided to call it a day and left for Baltimore, which we reached by 10am. Here we strolled around the inner harbour area, bought tickets to explore a submarine where I forgot I was claustrophobic, and an old slave hunting ship. This was brilliant and I highly recommend if you ever find yourself in Baltimore. We went into the Barnes and Noble, located in an old powerstation, an amazing bookstore with games, books, stationery and gifts. We ate Chick-fil-A at the waterfront and drove home.
Back in DC, I spent Saturday with his mum, getting a massage and having lunch and shopping, whilst Aric hung out with 2 of his best friends who were in town. On Sunday his parents opened up their home to friends and neighbours, who all came to welcome Aric home. It was really lovely meeting all these people from all walks of life, who knew Aric or his parents from work or home or church or hobbies. I was a bit terrified meeting all these new people but I enjoyed myself, though I did hide in the bedroom a few times for a breather.
We then headed down to a log cabin in the Shenendoah National Park that his parents had kindly rented for 2 days. It was AMAZING - 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, huge living area, a dedicated games room with table football, pool and ice maker in the built in bar, a lake with kayaks, a golf cart, a hot tub. All 6 of us (that's 4 humans and 2 dogs) had a whale of a time, taking walks and reading books on the deck overlooking the lake. It was extremely relaxing and exactly the downtime we needed after our non stop schedule and socialising.
Our final few days were spent exploring Mount Vernon - George Washington's home, which I found incredibly interesting, surprising myself. In school we learned nothing of America's history or the war between Britain and America in 1775 or 1812. The museum at Mount Vernon is excellent - interactive and very educational. The house itself has been restored to its former glory as when George Washington lived there, and is stunning.
America this time round was different to my previous trip. I guess this time I was much less of a tourist, travelling with a local. I found everyone to be friendly, though Aric's neighbourhood did creep me out a bit in the beginning - everyone knows each other's business, they all bake for each other, they drop by for coffee - it was like in the movies except in real life and it made me suspicious. I spent the first few days in LA worried we were going to get shot and being baffled by the fact that when cars indicate they don't have an orange blinker, and that you can turn on red. I really enjoyed the company of Aric's parents and being parented and looked after. I was sad to leave and look forward to returning.
Right, now I am off to do Beirut research...
I have been pretty down the last few weeks. America was awesome, but I felt sadness at returning to New Zealand and my job - I really enjoyed being parented by Aric's folks, it made me miss my own and my friends, I've been feeling a little out of place in New Zealand recently. Friendship groups have been changing, living with a boyfriend can be slightly isolating after living in shared houses with friends for 12 years, I hate my job and the stress of not knowing where Aric's next posting will be and if I will get residency has been taking its toll on our relationship and my general happiness. I have been putting on weight all winter (and Summer too if I am honest) as I am much less active than I was last year, and I came home and cried after my first pilates session after our holiday because I was the fattest and ugliest girl in the class.
So I wrote my friends a life update, went to the gym 3 times this week, received my residency (wahoo!) and Aric just got told his new posting will be in Beirut. I feel so much happier. I feel more normal and me again. Before I felt sad all the time and like there was no hope. It's hard to get yourself out of that hole. And I am pretty bad at hiding my emotions so I come across like I am in a bad mood and like I am angry with everyone when really it's just my insecurities and my brain being silly. I think also the winter has something to do with it. I barely have bad moods in the summer but I feel pretty low in the winter.
I really enjoyed America. Los Angeles was pretty terrible - a beige concrete jungle filled with cars, but we stayed with his cousin and her husband, baby daughter and toddler son and dog. They were so lovely to us, lending us their cars and not letting us pay for anything. We went for a big family dinner with his Aunt and Uncle and cousins, and I met his great Aunt and Uncle, who took us for a spin in his 1960s truck. We went to a Dodgers baseball game which was quite the experience - all you can eat hotdogs and fireworks on the field afterwards. We drove down to San Diego where me and Aric fought over the fact he bought 3 baseball caps when he already has 50 back home, and I got mad at America because a guy was skateboarding on the pier and got told off by a tannoy system. (I think I was slightly jetlagged this day hence all the anger). We bought lots of clothes (when I say we, read Aric), ate lots of Mexican food and drank lots of beer (again, Aric).
The next 2 weeks were spent in DC, New York, Baltimore and the Shenandoah Valley. We had a few days in DC to chill with his parents, I met his beloved dogs (and realised I don't want a dog of my own, at least not now) and we went to the DC zoo where I waved at an Orangutan and he waved back, and we spent 30 minutes watching a baby Orangutan playing. We had a fight in a hipster cafe because I was tired and had constant stomach cramps and felt super grumpy. We then drove to Brooklyn where we had an awesome afternoon strolling around in the sunshine, stopping off at bars Aric was randomly selecting off google maps, including one that had heaps of arcade games in it (conveniently called 'Barcade'), finishing up in a late night diner for blueberry pie. We stayed in an airbnb where our room had no windows, it was stifling hot, Aric slept on an airmattress and there was an indoor cat who had the smelliest piss alive. We went to Manhattan where it rained and the cloud was down low so we couldn't see the tops of any buildings (like my last time here, argh!!). Aric's friend works at the Met and gave us free tickets and a mini tour which was awesome. We shopped (Nordstrom Rack is amazing) and walked along the Chelsea Highline. We wandered round Central Park in the rain, which sounds romantic but the reality isn't.
The following morning we woke very early and there was a tremendous rain storm, so we decided to call it a day and left for Baltimore, which we reached by 10am. Here we strolled around the inner harbour area, bought tickets to explore a submarine where I forgot I was claustrophobic, and an old slave hunting ship. This was brilliant and I highly recommend if you ever find yourself in Baltimore. We went into the Barnes and Noble, located in an old powerstation, an amazing bookstore with games, books, stationery and gifts. We ate Chick-fil-A at the waterfront and drove home.
Back in DC, I spent Saturday with his mum, getting a massage and having lunch and shopping, whilst Aric hung out with 2 of his best friends who were in town. On Sunday his parents opened up their home to friends and neighbours, who all came to welcome Aric home. It was really lovely meeting all these people from all walks of life, who knew Aric or his parents from work or home or church or hobbies. I was a bit terrified meeting all these new people but I enjoyed myself, though I did hide in the bedroom a few times for a breather.
We then headed down to a log cabin in the Shenendoah National Park that his parents had kindly rented for 2 days. It was AMAZING - 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, huge living area, a dedicated games room with table football, pool and ice maker in the built in bar, a lake with kayaks, a golf cart, a hot tub. All 6 of us (that's 4 humans and 2 dogs) had a whale of a time, taking walks and reading books on the deck overlooking the lake. It was extremely relaxing and exactly the downtime we needed after our non stop schedule and socialising.
Our final few days were spent exploring Mount Vernon - George Washington's home, which I found incredibly interesting, surprising myself. In school we learned nothing of America's history or the war between Britain and America in 1775 or 1812. The museum at Mount Vernon is excellent - interactive and very educational. The house itself has been restored to its former glory as when George Washington lived there, and is stunning.
America this time round was different to my previous trip. I guess this time I was much less of a tourist, travelling with a local. I found everyone to be friendly, though Aric's neighbourhood did creep me out a bit in the beginning - everyone knows each other's business, they all bake for each other, they drop by for coffee - it was like in the movies except in real life and it made me suspicious. I spent the first few days in LA worried we were going to get shot and being baffled by the fact that when cars indicate they don't have an orange blinker, and that you can turn on red. I really enjoyed the company of Aric's parents and being parented and looked after. I was sad to leave and look forward to returning.
Right, now I am off to do Beirut research...
Very interesting to hear about your travels
ReplyDeleteRegards Cath