notes from the road

When one makes travel plans, it might be good if “where the cute boys are” doesn’t rate all too high on the factoring list : )

I seriously almost went on a 5 day hike (5 DAYS!!! ) on a trek that I’ve already spent 6 hours doing (which I didn’t really like and which nearly KILLED me) because a gorgeous (I mean, he was HOT) Swedish guy asked me to come with him. In the end, I decided I’d rather be remembered as the girl he thought was cute and enjoyed talking to one night at the hostel then the girl who looked like a nut after a week with no shower, passed out hiking, and complained like a son of a gun.

Speaking of cute boys who one might rearrange their travel plans because of, I got to hang out with Mr. Edgar Frey this week. He came to Nelson a few times to visit and I went to Motueka one night and then he declared his undying love for me and we decided to run off to Germany together. HA.

Speaking of ending up a crazy old lady all alone with her cats, I met a Scottish lass by the name of Louis who confessed the same such fear within minutes of our first conversation, a moment which bonded us as neurotics with hopelessly romantic and humorous outlooks on life, love, and lentil soup. HA.

Speaking of instant best friends, it’s so cool how people that you maybe talked to for 10 minutes in one town will feel like a good friend when you bump into them in another town and by the third time that you meet up along the beaten NZ path they almost feel like “home.” (This actually happens fairly often since NZ is quite the small country and most people have the same basic itinerary.)

Speaking of people who are awesome, I’m rooming with some Asian girls who make the best sushi and curry I’ve ever eaten; they even packed me a lunch to take on my long bus trip to Christchurch (thanks JoJo!!!!!) One of the Villa girls took a bus to Nelson to spend the day with me. And I met an Israeli guy who made the funniest jokes about terrorism and gave me tips on how to impress guys by telling stories about the constellations.

And finally, speaking of happiness, I am.