Every morning I awake at 7:00, I put on my pencil skirt, pressed blouse, and walking shoes and exit my hillside home. I walk down the winding roads and long stone staircases past oceanside views, and old colorful homes tucked inside their verdant caves. Through flower gardens and old Jewish cemeteries and eventually skirting in and out of businessmen and women in the city, I arrive at my work. My office is filled with cheerful faces and though my actual work can sometimes get monotonous and rather tedious, the more than occasional joke and pleasantries passed between my coworkers make it worthwhile. At lunch I pull out my little lunchbox filled with either a banana and nutella sandwich, or an avocado and tomato sandwich, and walk to the little grassy patch in front of the Parliament nearby. At 4:30 I pack up and make the ascension towards home. Once home, usually out of breath but feeling accomplished and happy, I sit outside in our great backyard and read. Rachael and Chris and sometimes Elliot and Caitlin join me and we wait out the rest of the sunlight together (this is on a good day, of course, it has been quite rainy and windy as of late). Then it is time to eat dinner (which I make in a real kitchen!) and then comes my retreat to bed where I read until I cannot keep my eyes open any longer. I fall asleep in my tiny single bed and wake up hours later to birdsounds and do the whole thing over again. It must sound terribly boring, but the repetition and schedule is new to me, and therefore still very exciting. The weekends are far better of course- barbecues and lots of wine and laughing and stumbling around town with my new wonderful friends.
I already feel like I belong here. I no longer notice the difference in accents, the food and the culture feel familiar, and I know my way around pretty damn well.
It is almost Christmas, and I must admit that despite being quite happy for the most part, I also am feeling a little bit lonely to be so far away and in an atmosphere so unlike what I have grown accustomed to for the holidays. I miss my family and friends dearly, especially those who I have unfortunately lost touch with due to busy schedules and distance.
On Monday I leave for the Coromandel beaches where I will stay for a few days on my own until I meet up with the others for new years on a nearby coast. I can't wait to see it all, but I also wish I had someone to share the Coromandel with. Alas, I will enjoy it on my own, just as I have all of the other magical places I have singularly experienced.
I am still unsure about my future plans, but content with not knowing for the moment.
Today is my first day of holiday and I will be spending all day in the sun listening to my new favorite musical discovery: Agnus and Julia Stone.
I will really try and post more often, there are so many funny stories and beautiful things that need to be told.
Merry Christmas!
