Coming home

Yesterday we took the train from my parents house in Hamilton down to Palmerston North, which is about 20 minutes north of where I grew up, so itʻs a very familiar place. The train was awesome. Itʻs not like the bullet trains in Japan, they only go the same speed as the cars do (100km/h) but you donʻt have to stop for lights, traffic, or trains :) And thereʻs a bathroom, buffet wagon, and you can walk around and even go outside for a while. The track goes through the back country and the views are so beautiful - untouched scenery in all itʻs glory. It took 6.5 hours though, so by the end of it we were ready to get off and settle into our hotel.

Kylie came and picked us up from the train station and after we cleaned up and unpacked, we went out to dinner with her family.

Selica is heading down to Christchurch today to help with police security while they try to get the city close to normal again. Kamuela was pretty disappointed that he wouldnʻt be able to cruise in the patrol car with her while weʻre here, but Iʻm sure heʻs going to be too busy anyway.

Weʻre staying at the Quest Palmerston North, which are actually apartment/hotels, so each unit has a kitchenette, nice big bed, TV/DVD player, and is located right in the heart of the city. The awesome thing about Palmy is that everything is pretty much situated around the Square, so I walk everywhere I need to! Itʻs so convenient and the hotel is really nice, plus we have free access to 2 of the gyms here too. And the view! We look straight over the Square at the old clock tower and the pond, all of which, along with the trees, have lights shining when it gets dark. Itʻs beautiful.

Although the city has changed a lot since I was last here about 4 or 5 years ago, and I never gave it a second thought all these 7 years since Iʻve left NZ, I actually find myself quite at home, and wishing we lived here (yet again). I really love Hamilton, but Palmerston is full of so many memories, and so many friends and family members. 

So far, my highlight has been that I went to visit my old dancing teacher (and friend) Maxine. I was one of her very first students, when she was 16 years old and just starting her own dance school. My sister, brother and I started tap with her, when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I stayed with her 11 years, and hadnʻt seen her in 8.

I was so happy to see her! I called into her studio and watched the kids dancing and Kaʻihi wanted to get down and join in :) Iʻm so glad he loves to dance. The school has grown A LOT from what I remember. She is so cute and pregnant with her third baby, and looks just the same! I canʻt wait to go back tomorrow and see my friends and maybe join in a tap class.

On an unhappy note I think I lost all my pictures I took over the last couple of days. Iʻm so sad, there were pictures of Kaʻihi with my parents and brothers, family ones, and some of the train ride. Technology makes life amazing but can be complicated and frustrating sometimes.