Just one smol week ago we were enjoying the warmth, cooking up a Nivan feast, stocking up on beers for our party, and decorating the area by the pool to host all of the midwives and nurses from the maternity ward. We hosted a party at our place to honor and thank all the amazing folks in the maternity ward for their teaching, humor, friendship, and love, and we had a fantastic time. We ate, drank, danced, laughed and hugged each other for hours! As if all of these incredible women were not generous enough, the sister-in-charge made us each an island dress, called Mother Hubbards. And other midwives had us line up and each garlanded us with necklaces of beads and shells, and gave us other gifts. It was almost more than we could take, the occasion was so happy and sad all at the same time! We left each other in a flurry of hugs and kisses with hopes to see each other again....
It snowed yesterday in Seattle. Perhaps I need to head back to sunny Vanuatu sooner than later.
We departed Vanuatu the morning after our party and spent three lovely days in New Zealand. It is green, hilly, full of roaming cattle and sheep, and notably not full of people or cars. The geography and weather is actually quite similar to Seattle area, and the people are incredibly friendly, hospitable, and endearing. After we landed in Auckland we headed out immediately to the Coromandel Peninsula and spent our short time out there enjoying the landscape, and the torrential rains that they have not seen the likes of in some time. Literally buckets pouring out of the sky! So we did what any good wet traveler would do and headed to the pub....
Just to illustrate the generosity of Kiwis, one evening we stayed in the beautiful town of Coromandel. One of our barmates, who also happened to be the town butcher, wanted us to try the sausages that he makes out of mussels, oysters, and other locally raised, grass-fed meats. So he went to his shop, picked out his favorites, brought them to the restaurant next door to have them cooked up and presented nicely, and then delivered to us at the bar to try them out! And they were delicious, even to the vegetarians of the crew. Thanks H!
Our entire five week trip to Vanuatu and New Zealand was charmed, to say the least. We met such incredible, loving people, worked hard, had the times of our lives, and enjoyed each other's company all the while. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the time, luxury, and support to spend five weeks of my life in this way, and I know the other ladies do as well. Thanks to all of you who supported and loved us while we were gone, and continue to do so everyday. You made a difference in our lives and in every other life we were lucky enough to touch along the way.
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