Another summer past, another autumn near. At least for you folks back home, for I won't be witnessing it this year ;) Spring has just set in here in Hawera and I'm enjoying every minute of it. It's raining right now though, giving me the perfect opportunity to sit down and finally get my space updated about my trip so far! It's taken way too long, I know... This has already been my third week here in New Zealand and there's a lot to write about. As always. I know I kept you waiting for this update for way too long, but I'm sure that you'll understand that I've had my hands full around here...
I haven't written anyone (back) yet since I've been here either. (except for Elise of course ;))  This is because I wanted to have this space update finished before I started writing people. Hope you understand :) I HAVE been reading everything I received and I can't tell you how much it pleases me to read them. After I finished this update right here, I'll be right back up emailing/messaging again - so please don't hesitate to leave a message here, or an email or anything at all! ;D It's great to read what's going on up there, especially because of the distance... You're dearly missed :)
I do have some bad news however: my phone broke down just this week so I can't read or respond to any text messages or answer phone calls anymore :( It's weird, because I feel so much further away from home ever since it broke down.. Still working on a replacement for it but I'll keep you updated on that.
Right! That having said, let's just move right on to the actual matter at hand here, shall we? ;) The beginning is always a good place to start.

September 1st...!! The day I'd been looking forward to for so long, had finally arrived. Do you know that feeling when you've been looking forward to something for so long, but when it's finally there, it's... I don't know, it just felt weird. I still couldn't realize that this would be my last day at home for the next few months. Even had some trouble convincing myself that I was doing the right thing, leaving everything and everyone behind like this... My farewell-party from the night before had been a huge success (thanks again for coming you guys.. I don't think I'll ever forget that night), but I still hadn't packed anything the next morning! XD Typical, I know... So I got up the next morning at 7 and prepared everything, with barely enough time to say goodbye to everyone at home.
And this was tough, it really was... It might even have been the last time that I'll ever see my grandfather. Can you imagine what that was like...?! I couldn't. I honestly didn't know how to feel when I was standing there at his bed... Would he still be here when I get back? Will I ever see him again? Would I ever...
I hardly even got a chance to think about all of this, because it was a matter of minutes before he told me to head on to the train station or I'd miss my train. So typical of him to always be worrying about that... Turned out he was right though - I DID miss my train that afternoon ;) But I don't regret taking a little more time for that.

Monique was so sweet as to join me all the way to Schiphol (nogmaals bedankt hiervoor Mniq, ben echt blij dat je mee bent gekomen), so after waiting an additional hour on the train station with her, we were finally on our way... I had a last good look at the place that I call home and I felt a little home sick already. Anxious, nonetheless! The thought of not-seeing Elise anymore did bother me quite a bit though, but we both had and still have a good feeling about this, which is very comforting :)

The sight of Schiphol reminded me of January 1st right away: my weekend with Rene, Hannes and Beata. "...Who?" You know, the Finnish/Polish couple! New year's eve? Some fond memories there.. Although I'd been there several times before, I still had some trouble figuring out where to go. So went to inspect the signs and tables everywhere, and as we were doing so, some weird lady suddenly walks up to me saying "Die kant op meneeer". I turn around and it's my sister Noor smiling back at me! XD GREAT surprise!! And y'know, it's kinda funny, 'cuz as we were looking around where to go, just the three of us.. I loved seeing how those two seemed to get along, I got a certain sense of pride... Proud of my sister towards Monique, and the other way around. It was then that I realized that I was really gonna miss those two...
Noor has always been quite an advanced traveler. In fact, she's on her way to Africa as we speak! With this trip, she's got every single continent covered! Not counting Antarctica -_- This also meant that she knew her way around Schiphol, so I couldn't have wished for a better guide ;)

Checking in didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped either..! There was this huge line, and as I was trying to figure out the computers there, I was looking around and BAM! Renske, her boyfriend and Emiel standing behind me! Doesn't anyone call anymore?! XD Hadn't seen Emiel in a pretty long time, but Renske & Daniel... It was nice 't they came to say goodbye, but - some of you might know that it hasn't been all "topsy-turvey" between us lately. There've also been some issues between her and Monique, so this was... I don't know, a bit awkward.
After a little chat we went on with the check-in and it turned out that I had way too much luggage on me: almost 9 kilograms over the maximum 20kg :x but after some switching some stuff around, we managed to work it all out.
After the check-in we spent our last 90 minutes together, eventually said our goodbyes and I'd be on my own from here on...!!!

This is where my journey began...!! What it all came down to. The very second everyone had gone, first thing I did was grab my iPod, scroll down to Dearly Departed, to play the first track of what I like to call the Soundtrack of my Journey: Clear For Takeoff. As the drums started playing, everything that'd been bothering me throughout this whole day just on-the-spot: the check-in-issue, the awkwardness with Renske, the doubts... I took a deep breath, smiled, and walked toward the boarding area.
New Zealand, here I come!!

Lots of people have asked me whether I've flown before or not during the months before my departure. Yes I have, but I hardly remember anything about it..! I think I was 8 back then, so I consider this my real first time ;) And what an experience it has been!! They seated me next to the emergency exit without any trouble, on both flights.. I never even had to ask for anything, they asked me! Being this tall is a blessing, I tell you ;)
I'd already been looking forward to takeoff for the last FEW WEEKS and it was everything I'd hoped for!! I was sitting there like a little kid in a rollercoaster XD Except I didn't scream like one, or tossed my hands in the air, but you get my point.
Here's something I don't understand though: How a 50-ton, massive, iron machine can defy gravity the way that it does, that's a bloody miracle, right?! And yet everyone is sitting there looking like -_-... How people can act so casual around something like that is... It's beyond me. Of course I don't want them to throw their hands in the air and start screaming like little kids, but a little enthusiasm never hurt anyone.
And here's another thing: the food...! As the stewards same out with their carts, I leaned over to my neighbor to ask: "How're we supposed to pay for our food? What currency?". So the guy looks at me and says "You don't!". Apparently they just keep handing out food and whatever! This flight was getting better and better! :D (I know, I know! The price is included with your plane-ticket.. I just prefer my version, shut up)
Oh, and before I forget... Spiderman 3? Don't bother.

Arriving in Shanghai was almost exactly as I'd expected: shabby looking airport, the weird language, and they were even growing rice right there next to the runway! Yup: we're in China. I had a blast though: I walked on to the customs department, hand over my passport and - I shit you not - the first thing this guy asks me is "Do you play basketball?". I liked China already.
And it got even better! After checking out with the rest of the passengers, you walk up to the pick-up-point where everyone has their friends or relatives waiting for them, and they're all staring at me like they'd never seen someone so AWESOME!! ...Either that or it was my tallness of course... I'm not sure. I think they could hear my footsteps resonate throughout the whole building. I walked out of their with this huge grin on my face, trying not to laugh XD It was like a live version of Madurodam.
...Okay, so I like to exaggerate. Sue me.
I had 3 hours to kill here in Shanghai, but I didn't really get to enjoy those.. Instead, me and the rest of the passengers traveling on to Auckland went through quite a hassle to get our LUGGAGE back! We were told that they sent it straight to Auckland, but as we were trying to explain that to them, they just laughed at us (I thought Chinese people were always so polite?) and told as that "Nooo, you need go back and peak dem oop". After being sent back and forth all over the airport we eventually got our stuff back and got in the plane way on time. Was a fun adventure though, of COURSE this trip couldn't happen without something like this going wrong.. It's typical. Met a few nice people because of it though, so it's all good!

The flight to Auckland was even better than the previous one: every chair came equipped with it's own computer, monitor embedded in the chairs and came with these little remote controls... I actually thought they'd placed my in business class or something! I could watch movies on this thing, LOTR to Mr. Bean.. Music; Kings of Leon to Coldplay to Pink Floyd... Even games! I watched "Surf's Up!", even laughed out loud a couple of times while everyone was sleeping :P Great, great movie. And you could even monitor our current position on the globe in 3D-view, all the stats (temperature, speed, height, distances, etc)...
I don't know why people hate flying so much!! Up above the clouds, movies, music, games, free food, great chairs... I'm already looking forward on my flight back home! ;P

(last paragraph, I promise! :P) (I told you I had a lot to write about)

Setting foot on New Zealand felt surreal... I couldn't believe I was actually going when I left home, but now I was being forced to believe it. before heading off to the customs section and picking up my bags, I just sat down for a while and let it all sink in for a while.. Can you visualize 16000 kilometers?
After working my way through all the baggage-checks I found my uncle Jan waiting for me in the Terminal. I'd be spending my first week here with them in Auckland and I'd never even seen them before and it was way overdue! The resemblance between him and my dad is almost creepy. Their physical appearance differs quite a bit, but their way of speech.. Their voice, their accent is identical. And it's funny, 'cuze he switches back and forth from Dutch to English even more than I do! His wife Joanne seemed very nice as well, they really made me feel right at home; it's great to have family living way out here.
During that week, I've seen both the worst and the best of Auckland, at least when it comes to the weather ;) It really is an amazing city: built in an ancient valley of volcanoes, it counts almost 50 of inactive volcanoes! If you have a good look at the city in Google Maps, you can even see them scattered throughout the city: they're the grassy hills with the hollow tip. try and count'em ;) I went up Mount Eden: amazing view up there.
What I like most about Auckland, is how a city covering over a 100 kilometers (!) can be so in touch with nature. They have this law that prohibits buildings having more than 2 stories outside the city center, so it just looks like a town when you're walking through it.. And there's parks, reserves and beaches scattered all over the place! Even right there in the city center...
We also went to see some of the area's highlights: the Waitakere Ranges, Muriwai- and Piha Beach. One looking even better than the other... But I'll let you be the judge of that!
I got some AMAZING shots of the entire trip so far. I managed to get my hands on a new camera, just a few days before I left, and the results are amazing! I'm sure you'll agree: have a look for yourself!!

Right now I'm here in Hawera, with the family I told you about earlier. It really took some getting used to, but I'm actually starting to feel at home here :) They're really making me a part of the family and I'm... just flattered by their hospitality. It's just been pretty tough not being able to see Elise for so long, but we've been staying in touch on a daily basis and I really do have a good feeling about the whole thing :) I'll introduce you to the family and the region in my next update, this one's long enough as it is! Just check out the photo's, as they say more than I possibly could.

Hope you enjoyed reading all that; I should head off to bed! It's 3am right now and I DO have to work tomorrow ;) I hope to hear from you guys soon, and that everyone back in Wolvega had a great time at the Linde Festival.. It's a shame I had to miss out this year, but I'll catch up next year! Be sure to tell me how it's been.

~Cheers!

From New Zealand