go Eskimos

I can’t help but share these amazing photos taken by Adam McKertcher a few friday nights ago when Adam got Leah and I free tickets to go see the Edmonton vs Calgary football game. Sadly Calgary won..

finally updating

After three weeks of being back in Canada, the rain has provided me a day off work.. the perfect chance to reflect on and write about my time in New Zealand and update you on the last month of school and travel I had in New Zealand. I’ll be posting updates in chronological order and there will be heaps.. enjoy!

Canada Day 2011

On Canada Day after work Leah and I went down to the Legislature, Alberta’s Parliment, to enjoy the evening outside and see the fire works. 

Alberta bound

After an awesome day together my Aunt and Uncle dropped me back off at the airport to catch my flight to Edmonton. I will be spending the rest of the summer until around August 19th in Edmonton working. I was in Edmonton last summer with a leadership program with Campus for Christ for four months. In addition to volunteering and my involvement  with Campus for Christ while I was in Edmonton last summer I also worked Monday to Friday at the Outdoor Room, a landscaping supply, design and construction company. This year I have gone back to work for the same company and am living here in Edmonton with Leah, one of my friends I met here last summer. So Alberta bound I was .. three hours delayed and without baggage ..but in no time I was back in Canada and headed ‘home’ to my new apartment.

Outdoor Room 2010

end of the summer work party last year

yepp this is me

and again ..

Good Morning San Francisco

Flights went fairly smoothly as I left New Zealand, it was a long haul but there was no delays on my flights from Christchurch to Auckland to San Francisco.  I had a ten hour layover once I arrived in San Francisco, which I spent with my Uncle Brett and Aunt Mary. We had a lovely day together, getting to know one another and exploring San Francisco. We went and saw the San Francisco Botanical Garden, visited the coast by their home in Pacifica, saw the Golden Gate bridge and had a amazing meal at the Cliff House right on the coast. 

looking out over San Francisco as the fog rolled in

bye New Zealand I will miss you

On Friday morning I woke up early finished packing up, had one last good byes and then met up with Karen and John for coffee, a quick shopping trip and then lunch before we said our final goodbyes as well when the dropped me off at my gate in the airport. It all seemed so surreal at the time to be actually leaving New Zealand...

I miss New Zealand but more than that I miss the people.. I am so thankful for all of the people I was able to meet in New Zealand and for the times we shared !

one last day at Lincoln

I arrived back in Lincoln after an awesome time up north with Chris and Che’ on Wednesday night. I really enjoyed my time with them and the chance to go back to Punakaiki and experience Arthur’s Pass by train - I honestly couldn’t have spent my last week in New Zealand a better way!

After getting back though, I had to study for my Recreation and Tourism Management exam the next morning. My exam went well on Thursday and the rest of the day and long into the night was spent saying good bye and then eventually packing up. I went for lunch with Kate at our favorite Bakery in Lincoln and then went quickly into Hornby with my friend Nicole. Michaela and Melissa took me out for dinner that evening and helped me pack up all my stuff fitting it all back into my one large suitcase and backpacking bag.