After being absent from blogging for awhile, I am back.
The “home” I am referring to, though, is my flat back in Parnell, NZ.
The last two weeks, I have been traveling the south island. Right before this semester break, I was drowning in papers and exams and couldn’t get myself to write a post! But, no worries, I will make up for it.
At a glance, these past two weeks consisted of the most beautiful sights I have seen in my life. I’ll admit, I am not one to make superlative statements like the former, but in trying to come up with anything that has competed with what I witnessed on the South Island, I’ve got nothing. From twinkling stars in the night sky at Mt. Cook, to the majestical mountains of Queenstown, to every rolling hill, and lamb (of which there were thousands), everything seemed to put me in awe.
While this vacation, I’m sure, will be a highlight of my semester abroad (a climax to my friends and I, in fact, making me quite sad that it’s over), it also left me very contemplative. Before I divert, I will post in more detail about what my friends and I actually did and share some pictures that attempt to show how amazing it was.
Anyways, I typically don’t get “homesick.” Not even my first semester at college, or overnight camp, or the first few months here phased me. But, on this trip, which I loved and am so fortunate to have taken, all I wanted to do was share it with my parents, sister, family, and friends at home. Everything I saw or did or encountered seemed to remind me of someone back in the US. It was at these times that I actually felt that I am on the other side of the world.
I think a lot of this also had to do with my lack of access to the internet. I realized how much I rely on the internet to keep me feeling connected even when I’m so far away. This is definitely a good and bad thing; I was glad to not check my facebook and emails daily and live in the moment, but also can’t deny how much closer I feel to home with such resources at my fingertips.
But, what I think has stunned me most of all, is how excited I was to come “home.” This concept perplexed my friends before we realized that in the past two months, Auckland has become our new home. It’s somewhere we feel comfortable and anticipate returning to after breaks, a day trip, or a long day at uni. It’s somewhere we can be to ourselves, or knock on our neighbor’s door to hangout.
With this in mind, we all couldn’t help but ponder how great it will feel to return to our actual homes, with our family and friends, at the end of this semester. At this thought, I yearned for my old street and house which my family has moved from, but continue to understand that it’s the people who really make home, home.
Location: Auckland, NZ
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Great post about the feeling of being homesick, though with a month left I still do not wish to return just yet (but perhaps that is in part due to the Australian Summer/State College Winter aspect). I am also glad to hear you view Aukland as your “home” for now, and that you truly feel comfortable there.
I know what you mean about! While I traveled in London my first week in the UK, we had limited access to the internet, and a part of me felt liberated because I had no connection to the US. But another part of me yearned for the resources so I could feel closer to my loved ones back home. Being abroad in the UK has been my first experience of being away from home, so I was still feeling quite homesick while in London. Even though I am enjoying myself now in the UK, I still look forward to going back to the US and to my loved ones. I still have a few months abroad, however. But this first month away has definitely been a tough one for me. I’m thankful that it is getting easier for me. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself!