[jess]

Just realized I've been here one year as of today! It took a long time for things to settle back down into a routine (don't know if that's a good or a bad thing - it was good to shake things up). I miss having family and longtime friends nearby, but we're enjoying the heck out of it here.

Random list of some happy NZ things:
view out my window
Kapiti's tons of reserves and parks
less consumerism (certainly not non-existent but less about labels)
Burgen bread
Wellington's free events
far left of US politics
freakishly huge clouds
Kapiti brand cheese & ice cream
slower pace
living in walking distance of grocery and OH's work without being on a crowded street
Tuis and Pukekos
cheap car insurance
cheap doctor visits with no insurance
having more time with OH
short day trips to places I've never been
tree and a bench stops
over the counter ibuprofen with codeine - gets rid of a bad headache quickly!
the rugged beaches with tree limbs washed upI miss some U.S. things besides the obvious tug of family and friends:
MorningStar Farms Grillers and Veggie Dogs
Cheap house paint
Cheap, generic brand Tylenol PM or Benedryl
Cheaper most anything :P
Some favorite restaurants and Tex-Mex
Less traffic backups on the main road
Only one country's worth of tax forms to deal withA few pics:


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/lagoon_path.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/lagoon_whitebaiting.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/kapiti_silverwater.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/kapiti_volcanic.jpg

[jen]

Congratulations on your one-year anniversary! Beautiful pictures,too. Nice to read that things have worked out so well for you.

We're at 3 months & I can relate to a lot of the items on both your lists - I think for us as well the 'big picture' advantages (politics, slower pace, insurance) will outweigh the downsides (distance from family/friends being the big one).

Some little things I miss from the US are:

Triscuits - didn't realize how many I used to eat!
Trader Joe's - Moore Wilsons is nice, but I'm still in mourning.
Being able to put outgoing mail in my mailbox and have it get delivered
The Colbert Report
Marshmallow Peeps! So what if the chocolate is better here - Easter just isn't the same with my annual fix of artificially pastel-colored stale marshmallow covered in crunchy sugar! :laugh

Jen

[Cindy]

Jen,

Believe it or not, I was chomping on Triscuits/cheese while reading your post. Oh nooooooo, you mean to tell me there no Triscuits? Sheesh, I'm already upset about no girlscout cookies and now this! Oh well, I've already started practicing the Money Diet so maybe it should go hand in hand with Goody Diet. This way I'll be well prepared for New Zealand.

[Cindy]

Jess,

My husband and I really enjoyed the pics. Also, thanks for sharing your 1 year post. I think my OH's perked up when I mentioned "ibuprofen with codeine". He's an Audio Engineer and after days of non-stop music and sound design, he takes a hot shower and in to bed to sleep away the throbbing forehead. He says nothing works fast enough for him. I think he's ruined his stomach from taking twice as much of what's recommended. I'm more excited about the free events in Wellington. We can't wait!

[toesonthenose]

No Colbert Report!!! Does that mean no John Stewart!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[barryp]

The Daily Show runs fresh on C4, 10pm, so you won't have to give that up. (Praise All Deities.) But you get to see Colbert's 30 second plug, minus the actual show.

This upset me at first - Steven is hilarious - but now I am grateful. There is no point to Colbert Nation in NZ, which is a very good thing.

[speckythecky]

Congrats on the year anniversary.

Great pics, especially the last one with the colourful sky

[zardell]

Congratulations on your anniversary.

I love the pictures - and aren't the NZ skies wonderful !

Julie

xx

[pinkpiggy]

Great pictures and congratulations on your first year anniversary!

[jen]

Believe it or not, I was chomping on Triscuits/cheese while reading your post. Oh nooooooo, you mean to tell me there no Triscuits? Sheesh, I'm already upset about no girlscout cookies and now this! Oh well, I've already started practicing the Money Diet so maybe it should go hand in hand with Goody Diet. This way I'll be well prepared for New Zealand.

The Goody Diet is what I need to start to recover from all the new-to-me NZ goodies! There's no Ben and Jerry's here :wah, but as Jess said Kapiti Ice Cream is to die for and for research purporses I've had to try every single type of slice (like a bar cookie or cake) sold in the cafes.

Jen

[Cindy]

Jen,

I'm wondering what makes NZ Ice Cream better than the stuff in the States. My favorite is Black Cherry and Pistachio, mmmmm. I'm drooling just thinking about it. I wish I was in my early twenties again. I'm afraid as I age, my stomach tells me not to consume as much dairy. Ugh, adverse affect of too much lactose isn't pretty. As my two year old says "No fair, no fair!"