Wrapping up

It’s been a month since we ended the semester and our 2022-2023 academic year! I find it hard to believe I’ve been back in Kaikōura, NZ (and working with CCSP) for about 10 months now. In many ways, it feels natural and easy to be in this place, with these people, enjoying this part of the world. In other ways, it continues to be challenging – I miss home (TX mostly but also NC and MS) and loved ones and there’s uncertainty about my next steps in life. I trust that it will all work out.

I feel ready to move on from this academic year and do a bit of travelling. I’ll visit a couple of friends on the North Island before returning to Kaikōura. Two days after that, I bus down to Christchurch to begin my long journey back to the States! I’ll be there for a long (5+ weeks) visit before returning again to NZ. I want to kick off my months of travel with sharing a few photos from the past two months! Enjoy. 😉

John and Steph came to visit over term break! It was so good to see these dear ones. Unfortunately, I had Covid but once I was free we visited Arthur’s Pass to see some Kea!
The West Coast trip – aka Terrestrial Ecology – was wonderful as always!
On this trip we spotted one of my favorite plants – an epiphytic orchid (earina autumnalis)
Pororari River -The students took their Terrestrial field exam along this track
Tui and I became friends during one of our bathroom stop on the way back from the West Coast. I spent my entire break sitting on the sidewalk petting her. 😉
Final course of the semester – Environmental Literature II with Lucas Sheaffer! This class is always a favorite of mine to TA.
Fish and chips on the beach on one of our last Sundays together – I miss these friends!
Gorgeous Kaikōura sunset – these never get old!
Clearing the tomatoes from the backyard garden – Tulip helped keep me focused.
I spent the last 2 weeks dog-sitting for some local friends. Nudge (black lab), Boomer, and Tucker (not pictured)
It’s hard to capture the beauty of fresh snow on the mountains.

That’s it! I’m about to walk down to the West End to catch the bus up to Picton for the beginning of my travels. Thank you to you all for supporting me by reading these entries. It’s been fun recounting my NZ adventures to you! I plan on continuing this blog once I return to NZ in August. Take care until then!

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