Home and Away

Sailing on Pontchartrian

Kiki

I have been home for a few weeks now, but before that I was in the Italian region of Switzerland. I went to visit another friend who works as a canyoning guide. He was a great host and took me out with a friend of his to explore a canyon and to see the night life in the area. The canyon was beautiful, but it had some interesting abseiling. I had a crash course in it as they were roping me up. I think the lesson consisted of NEVER let go of the rope. As I was abseiling down one water fall my rope got stuck and I had to climb back up to untangle it from the rocks. This would mean that I had to let go of the rope. I remember that when I got down to the bottom I was so relieved to feel that freezing cold water.  The next day I went on a hike to a near by mountain. It was about four hours up a steep incline to the top. When I got up there I hiked across the ridge for a little while. If I hiked longer along the top I would not be able to make it back before dark. I was going to take the gondola down to save my poor knees the 1,000 meters worth of torture, but when I got to the gondola they told me I would have to wait for two hours. There was no way I was waiting, so I left on foot. After two minutes I got a call from my friend that he was in the area and he could pick me up if I got down before he finished getting the groceries. The race was on. I took off at a run down the mountain.  Running down a mountain path is pretty exhilarating. I made it down in 40 minutes. I did not fall once, but I did feel like I was going to die at the bottom and my knee was screaming at me.

Exploring the local castles

Hazelnut tree along the trail

Horses in the backyard

Lunch by a stream

Monastery half way up the mountain

Before I got to the 12 meter jump

I am the red dot at the top

For dinner we were going to go to a grotto and get a traditional meal, but when we arrived they were closed. Then we were going to go to a local pizza place. They were closed too. It was a bit disappointing but we had leftovers and it was fun to just pull everything out of the fridge and have a smorgasbord. It was also okay because I went the next day to the grotto and had a great lunch of fresh bread and sliced local meat with fresh cheese made in house. Delicious. I wish I had taken a picture but I am always too excited about eating the food. I always think about taking the photo when the plate is empty. I should tell you that the grotto was made completely of granite nestled in the side of a canyon overlooking a waterfall. Beautiful view and amazing food. I could not have asked for more.

Dad and the half Cuban at Versailles in Miami

As for being in the States, I am having a great time. Lots of cooking and reading and cycling. I went to the coast and saw one of my best friends and went sailing. I went to Chattanooga with my parents and had some of the best fried chicken ever at Champy's. A great veggie burger at Urban Stack, and the biggest breakfast at Aretha Frankenstein's. Plus my parents and I went on a hike that halfway through it started to down pour and we got soaked. It has all been great. Though there has been all that down time in Corinth that I just don't know how to fill. I go to Oxford to see Salty the best geologist ever and to knit at a great knit shop there called Knit 1 Oxford. They have been so helpful and nice. I feel welcome every time I go. I also saw Mammy in her new house. We went out to get pizza and then had a glass of wine back at her place. It was nice to see her again even if it was just for one day.

learning how to sail

Fried jalapenos, tamales, and fried chicken (I felt like I was going to die after) 

hiding from the rain and the camera in Chattanooga

Dolly and me on the way to the vet

Then it was off to New York. I saw a friend outside the city and one in the city. I went to Scranton to see Carter and had so much fun I want to move there. Plus I met some great people. I had coffee four times at Northern Light a coffee shop on the square. Last night I had a great time there. I don't think I have laughed so much in the past 8 months, and I love to laugh. Actually, the last month or so has been filled with laughter and that is how I like it. I am excited to hear about how Australia is treating you. I am also excited to find out what I will be doing in the next 6 months. I am hoping for some job to come up in my search that will make the decision easy. At the moment it is a bit complicated, well, not really I'm just making it complicated. One day I will have to learn how to make a decision.

A bag full of fresh baked bread and bagels from Rockland Bakery in New York

Trying to Zumba

After the class with Bernie

After a night out in Scranton

Good Time Laura (new nickname from Scranton)

Natalie out by the pool

A Big Farewell!!!

WWWOOOOOHHHHH!!!!! (the exact word coming out of my mouth)

Dear Lula,

Man what a last week in New Zealand!  I am officially done with work!  While I enjoyed learning a bit about the vineyards, I am not at all sad to say goodbye.  I guess when you go so long without working its hard to go back.  It was a bit repetitious to say the least.  All the wine tasting made up for it though.  I also made a lot of really good friends out of it too.  I have been out to dinner at a different friend's house every night saying my farewells.  It is hard to say goodbye but I am ready for my next move!  I think this is the most excited I have been for a move in a while.  Maybe staying in one place for a while recharged my batteries, or maybe it's because I get to meet up with Sofi again, or maybe I am just ready for a change after so long in one place... well, whatever the reason, I can't wait for Aussie!

I was a bit excited... can you tell?

I promise they do this for everyone not just me!!

I am really about to jump out of this thing?!

Today I gave New Zealand my big farewell by jumping out of a plane at 16,500ft!!!! All I can say for the experience is.... AMAZING!!!!!  I think I had a stupid grin on my face and was screaming waaaahhhhhhooooo! all the way down.  Actually, I know I did because they took a video of it.  I will try to post it but no promises.  I highly recommend sky diving to anyone who can get the nerve up to do it.  My next goal is to do the training course so I can jump on my own.  I wish you could have jumped with me!  After many failed attempts to talk my friends into jumping with me I just ended up going by myself.  Can't let that stop me!  It was amazing and I felt like I was flying.  Unfortunately, I was actually falling and before I knew it my instructor was pulling the shoot.  I was free falling for 75 seconds going a 120 mph!  I wasn't ready for it to end.  It was beautiful up there.  On the parachute ride down I took in all of the amazing views of the snow covered mountain ranges around me and the golden beaches along the coastline.  We even went through a cloud!  I have always wanted to fly through a could.  I guess it has always been a little childish dream of mine.  When we were going toward the cloud a circular rainbow took shape.  They call it a glory apparently.  It was really cool!  A perfectly round rainbow.  And then we flew straight through it.  As we were approaching it I could see our shadows in the center of it.  I know I have already said this, but what an amazing experience!

There is that silly grin I was talking about!!

Amazing view!!

Look Mom! I Can Fly! I Can Fly!

Holy Shit! I can't believe how high we were!

Apart from that, the Rugby World Cup is going on now.  I think I already told you that in my last message.  I have been having fun watching the games with friends.  I think I am finally getting the hang of this game, at least the basics anyway.  The American team is playing here in Nelson.  I was going to go see them play, but unfortunately they play the day I leave for Australia.

Sadly we did finally have to pull the shoot

Safe and sound and ready to go again!

I have a few more dinners planned for a few more goodbyes and then I am off.  Australia here I come!! 

How are things with you?  I imagine you are back home by now.  It has been a while since your last update!  Let me know what you have been up to.

Love,
Tita