Up until today, I have no regrets.
Autumn made its presence pretty well-known. It was almost fascinating to walk through piles of dried leaves, their colors ranging from bright red to ocher-gold, hearing the crackling beneath heeled-boots and laced-up sneakers. I hadn't really taken notice of it in the beginning, but it was impossible to miss by now - autumn was here. Daylight itself was beginning to grow pretty scarce, too - the skies themselves were grey by six, prompting drivers to turn on lights within the bus.
Sometimes the wind would pick up in the dead of night, rattling doors and windows as it went. And yet on certain nights, it would be utterly calm and still. Those were the nights where I would twist open the kitchen door, stepping outside just for a look. And I'd marvel over the beauty of the sky, with its stars spread across the night. It was just so different from back home - here, the stars were everywhere. Some were larger than the others, standing out amongst the crowd while the rest of them were fine-grained and scattered around - flecking deep maroon with spots of white. The moon itself would shine a pure white, sometimes leaving silvery shades on the lawn.
Such beauty, I knew, never existed back home.
It was the simple things that made life so enjoyable. Life here was grumpily rising out of bed at seven in the morning, trudging into the kitchen and mixing yoghurt with canned peaches for breakfast. Life here was sprinting towards the building when you were late, ignoring the curious stares of onlookers. Life here was scratching the back of a cat's ears, listening in amusement as it purred and rumbled like a giant motorboat - then falling backwards frightfully as the claws swiped. Life here was walking along to lecture halls with the few people you were comfortable with, laughing and complaining about how darn freaking cold the wind was and how you didn't want to die while crossing the road. Life here was sitting in the library's chair, laptop and study paraphernalia all spread out before you. Life was shuffling through your iPod songs while you watched the bus pull up from stop to stop. Life was walking into tree branches, laughing at the most inappropriate things, and having the most ridiculous lunches because you were too darn lazy (or forgetful - it depends, really).
Life here was about being free to express yourself without being afraid of what people thought.
Life here was the courage to start anew.
Life here was the freedom to be who you were.
Life was just...wonderful like that.
...
Alright, on to some less poetic shit. Practicality ensues.
My host mum's grandchildren came over a few days ago, and my housemate (Haymarie) plus myself were in charge of hiding chocolate Easter eggs for the Easter egg hunt. Well, like, sure - we had no problem with that. Haymarie dropped hers off at relatively easy places, but I wasn't keen on letting the kids find the chocolate eggs I had so easily. No, no - it had to be more challenging than that. I stuck the chocolate eggs down bushes and fern trees, grinning gleefully as I did.
As predicted, the kids couldn't find the chocolate eggs I had hidden. I had to give them clues. And finally, their mum had to come in and join the search because my, uh, Easter-egg-hiding-levels were friggin' Asian.That so did not make sense, but whatever.
To my wtf-ness, our host mum had hidden some Easter eggs for Haymarie and I to search as well. The nasty glee faded, and I felt incredulous. But, what the hell - challenge accepted. I so did not come to New Zealand to be outwitted by some Easter egg hunt. But I couldn't lie - the childlike side of me was emerging, eager for a challenge. I knelt down and sifted through bushes, crawling through grass and getting stray pieces of vegetation all over my skirt.
In my haste, I had carelessly cut my knee. It was a wonder how my skin was torn and yet my black tights weren't. And they say clothing was lacking in quality nowadays...anyway, the result was that I had bagged some nifty Easter eggs - and had obtained a swelling, bleeding cut to boot.
It was still fantastic. Fuck adult logic, I loved the whole hunt. Period.
The one-week Easter break was bloody damn anticipated. The mid-terms had been wearing everyone out, including yours truly. I had booked a flight up to Auckland not just to visit my brother - but most importantly, to also keep a promise to a dear friend of mine.
I could still remember the day clearly when she told me she would be moving to Auckland - that had been last year, when the two of us were seniors in high school. She didn't like the idea of leaving, but I had promised her - promised her, of all things, that I would definitely go to New Zealand and visit her at 2012's Easter.
And here I go. I shall fulfill that promise. Anne keeps promises. Everyone knows that.
After that there would be more work. Group research - barely touched. Stories - barely updated. Lunch supplies? I suppose I'll have to do some grocery-shopping soon. Computing theory test (yes, there's one more mid-term subject) after the holidays? 'Dat shit be damned. Geography report? Kill me now.
Life was just...wonderful like that.
...
Alright, on to some less poetic shit. Practicality ensues.
My host mum's grandchildren came over a few days ago, and my housemate (Haymarie) plus myself were in charge of hiding chocolate Easter eggs for the Easter egg hunt. Well, like, sure - we had no problem with that. Haymarie dropped hers off at relatively easy places, but I wasn't keen on letting the kids find the chocolate eggs I had so easily. No, no - it had to be more challenging than that. I stuck the chocolate eggs down bushes and fern trees, grinning gleefully as I did.
As predicted, the kids couldn't find the chocolate eggs I had hidden. I had to give them clues. And finally, their mum had to come in and join the search because my, uh, Easter-egg-hiding-levels were friggin' Asian.That so did not make sense, but whatever.
To my wtf-ness, our host mum had hidden some Easter eggs for Haymarie and I to search as well. The nasty glee faded, and I felt incredulous. But, what the hell - challenge accepted. I so did not come to New Zealand to be outwitted by some Easter egg hunt. But I couldn't lie - the childlike side of me was emerging, eager for a challenge. I knelt down and sifted through bushes, crawling through grass and getting stray pieces of vegetation all over my skirt.
In my haste, I had carelessly cut my knee. It was a wonder how my skin was torn and yet my black tights weren't. And they say clothing was lacking in quality nowadays...anyway, the result was that I had bagged some nifty Easter eggs - and had obtained a swelling, bleeding cut to boot.
It was still fantastic. Fuck adult logic, I loved the whole hunt. Period.
The one-week Easter break was bloody damn anticipated. The mid-terms had been wearing everyone out, including yours truly. I had booked a flight up to Auckland not just to visit my brother - but most importantly, to also keep a promise to a dear friend of mine.
I could still remember the day clearly when she told me she would be moving to Auckland - that had been last year, when the two of us were seniors in high school. She didn't like the idea of leaving, but I had promised her - promised her, of all things, that I would definitely go to New Zealand and visit her at 2012's Easter.
And here I go. I shall fulfill that promise. Anne keeps promises. Everyone knows that.
After that there would be more work. Group research - barely touched. Stories - barely updated. Lunch supplies? I suppose I'll have to do some grocery-shopping soon. Computing theory test (yes, there's one more mid-term subject) after the holidays? 'Dat shit be damned. Geography report? Kill me now.
Still, the whole thing will be worthwhile. This is life. It's just, you know, a path. A process. And in order to achieve what I want, wouldn't I have to go through all these hardships?
Yeah, let's go. Auckland, baby!
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