a lucious green chill

this morning (after a total of 18 hours on a plane and 9 hours waiting in airports) we arrived here in christchurch, nz.--the most beautiful place in the world. geez, it really is like a magically fairy wonderland here! from the sky, i could watch the snow capped mountains melt into rolling green pastures, and gently fade on to white sand beaches; ocean drift off into the distance.



all in all, the experience feels magical and i am reminded of how comfortable i am engaged in travel. life is so new; the sky stretches on forever, daffodils are blooming next to the dandelions and palm trees. the sun looms in the northern sky. i lived only 3 hours of october 7th; another phenomenon that blows my mind.

it is now sunday here. the streets were quiet, cozy, and calm. kiwi's know how to take days off. life feels so slow that i have found myself standing next to my friend genieve, staring at the ducks on the pond in awe. this place, these moments are so dramatically different from the life i thought i would have a year ago. the hustle and bustle of chicago, that invigorates me sooo, seems like a stressful fast paced moment in the speck of the universe of what can be. yet a dear speck. how large the universe is. and we have so many possibilities. that is the wildest part!



i walked through the botanical gardens today. the air chilled me as fall does back home...only here the chill signifies the end of the winter rather than the beginning. the bright autumn leaves that mesmerized me last weekend in minneapolis are now transformed into yellow and pink blossoms. poppies line the streets, and some trees have not yet budded. the air smells earthy here. even the birds are relaxed. and the earth moves on into summer. summer is on my way. mine will just a mighty cold one.

this afternoon we also took a gondola up to the ridge that overlooks christchurch in one direction and little artsy town called littleton in the other. here is a view of littleton.



tomorrow, i'll be issued my cold weather gear at the cdc (clothing distribution center). i hear the weather in mcmurdo has cleared and our flight is to fly as scheduled. i am up for it! *grin* and as ready as you can be to fly to a desolate place that is -15 degrees with 24 hours of sunlight! and i am continuously told that i have a great job! so, with all the lovely, awesome, talented, creative, handy, and adventuresome, people i have met, an interesting job, and a completely wildly new life...i think i am bound to have a good time. and my commitment to learning how to live a more balanced life gets stronger by the day. i am excited to see where my new commitment takes me.

here is a wee snapshot of just a few of the fabulous folks i'll be working with everyday. together we are 5, of the 20 people on the shuttles crew. from left to right: dave massie (massie), andrea, me, marty, and micheal.



my love to all of you.
ta ta until soo soon.