Full circle

Photos while running: Rangitoto from Beach near Takapuna, North Shore. Auckland

It has been a full year since I arrived on that windy, rainy day in Auckland.    I arrived ten days before the start of work, to get my bearings.  Now, two weeks remain in my work contract. I will miss Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud.  Mostly, I will miss the people I have come to know.  No, they are not family, nor have I built a community, a home, although, with time, I have no doubt I would.  Through work, I have come to know nurses, cleaners, orderlies, administrative assistants, barristas, cafe workers, consultants, house officers, registrars, patients and others.  Outside of work,  through travels and casual conversation,  I have come to know train conductors, fellow  travelers, locals and foreign transplants. ~ a myriad of people in a true multicultural community. People  have shown me such kindness.  Folks have loaned me books, an ear, brought me food, invited me to dine, introduced Caleb to Auckland and other young adults, helped me learn about medicine, held my hand through long days and difficult moments.   It truly has been a privilege to work with and get to know the many faces of Auckland,  as well as met those from Wellington, Greymouth, Christchurch and smaller kiwi towns.  Some friends have moved on ~ to the US, Australia, England, Germany, Israel, Japan, China, India and further afield.  Others I will leave behind.  I will hold them in my heart.  To all of you, friends: If your travels happen to take you to San Francisco, or wherever I find my home, I hope you will come stay a while. The door will always be open...

Contemplative tidal pool. More photos while running...

This land, where I have run, walked, soul searched, swam, explored, will forever be in my memory.  In the past few weeks, I have been working on revisiting places I love and seeking out those sights I have intended to see but somehow postponed. I visited the old art museum before its scheduled closure.  A new museum is set to open on Sept 3 which I hope to visit next weekend.  The nation is putting its best foot forward as the world focuses on NZ with the Rugby World Cup which opens Sept 9th. I ran to the new waterfront art and cafe walk, and later went on a date to an art show there.  Last weekend, I went back to Muriwei, my favorite  beach spot.  The long black-sanded beach makes for a lovely run; watching surfers, seabirds, dog walkers, and horseback riders provides pensive entertainment.  Observing the gannets court and cavort in the wind following the run was like a fine appertif to be savored.  I could have stayed for hours, but my feet were numb and cold.

Sunday run photos...

This is winter??? photos while running

Today, I ran along the shore from Takapuna beach toward Devonport, the eastern "North Shore" of Auckland. Running the coast, over rocks and along the bluffs was stunning.  The sun was warm, reminiscent of summer. It is hard to believe that by the calendar, we were still in winter.  (yet last week we had the first snow in 80 years in Auckland!!).  Unfortunately, I bonked... and had to lay down in a cemetary to recover before running the rest of the way to my car.  Dinner and Jasmine tea at a Thai Restaurant in Devonport revived me.   I consider  the land my feet have covered in NZ: from Russell, in the Bay of Islands north of Auckland, to the waters of Milford Sound, the tracks in Marlborough sound, and the streets of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin; the Coramandel, Rotorua, D'Urville Island, Taupo, Mt. Manganui,  and Taranaki.  Alternatively, I have considered  the varied  topography of NZ from glow worm caves, to surfing waves, volcanoes, glaciers, muddied tracks, dry hard pack, sheep trails, farm, bush, parks,  and city streets.  It has been a lovely adventure.  I am not sure yet what it all has meant and how I have changed as a result.  Time and distance may provide that perspective. Now, I am busy attending to work, job hunting, and moving with little time for contemplation.  That time will come.

Just past Takapuna. Run photos.

Many have asked what is next for me~

The month ahead will bring me a year's worth of seasons: winter now, next week heralds the first of spring (which in NZ is the first of September).  In two weeks, I will venture to Samoa (which will feel like summer).  I will leave NZ on Sept 21, the first day of autumn.

Devonport Picnickers: music, food, friends, dogs... Photos while running

At this point, I have two job prospects: One is teaching at Pacific University in Hillsboro, OR (near Portland), the other working in GI Oncology at Stanford University Hospital.  I will live with my sister, Margaret, in SF until I find my next home.   I do seek community and a home base from which to continue to travel, exploring the world, my own backyard, and myself.

Hauraki Harbour, Coromandel Penninsula in the distance. Photos while running

I will likely write few more blog entries, namely one from Samoa, and one upon my return to the US, before putting my blog to rest.

Auckland, as seen from Devonport. Photos while running

Thank you all, dear friends, family and readers, for allowing me to share my journey; my thoughts, travels, and pictures.  Thank you for taking time to participate in my life.  I hope I can lend an ear, provide support, pick up mail, show my love to you as well as you have  through your support in this past year.

but wait there is moa