Joyful Thinking

Rotorua & Taupo: The first of many weekend holidays

By: Samantha Joy July 27, 2014July 27, 2014

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This weekend was the first of many grand adventures of my New Zealand side getaways. I took a three day weekend trip to Rotorua, Taupo, and Waitomo. And boy did I get to see the many wonders that these places had to share. Through Mana Tours, 16 of us took on the role of a…

The United Girl

By: Samantha Joy July 21, 2014

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From the very beginning I’ve felt like an alien peering through a looking glass into the strange world on a island down under. I’ve heard a few other au pairs refer to me and my fellow Americans as the “united girls”. I am assuming that is short for United States girls. Either way, I found…

“Sweet as”

By: Samantha Joy July 13, 2014

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Quite often I find myself turning my head to the side with a half confused/half contemplating look when I hear certain phrases come out of my fellow New Zealander’s mouths. Most of the time I depend on the context of whatever we’re discussing to give away the meaning, but other times I just smile and…

Wise Words of a Native

By: Samantha Joy July 11, 2014

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I am a true believer in the idea that we meet specific people within our lifetime that give us words of wisdom for certain reasons at specific times. And so I often find comfort in conversations with strangers… although I always attempt to make sure I’m not coming across any super sketch strangers… but just…

The Fringe Cafe at Titirangi

By: Samantha Joy July 8, 2014

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A lovely Sunday morning brunch was experienced at The Fringe Cafe this past weekend. A family friend, and New Zealand native, took me out for a delightful meal that overlooked the luscious greenery of Titirangi. This town was quite enchanting with the incredible views outside our window and along our drive. I’ve never seen so much…

America’s Independence Day in New Zealand

By: Samantha Joy July 6, 2014

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To think I’ve only lived in New Zealand a little over a week, with a brand new group of people and they’ve already opened their arms wide to the bit of culture I have to offer them. It truly amazes me how giving and open-minded my host family has been and continues to be. Yesterday…

What We All Must Remember

By: Samantha Joy July 2, 2014May 19, 2020

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What we all must remember is that we are doing amazing things. But the more often we find ourselves too involved in other people’s amazing things, we lose track of our own. Live freely in the present, for it’s all we actually have a grasp on.

Just a Bit of My Food for Thought

Disorientation

By: Samantha Joy June 30, 2014

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Somehow what I didn’t realize before coming here is how the influence of driving on the opposite side of the road is far more influential on the cultural disorientation scale than I would have expected. Not only do I feel very displaced by the cars driving opposite, I also tend to walk up to the…