Lemon & Paeroa

Life is slow and steady in New Zealand so far. We're on Day 3 of 15 in Whitford working for Turanga Creek. Today is Sunday and we've got nothing that really needs to be done. Sadly our French and fellow American flatmates have to work all day in the kitchen. As mentioned previously, we helped with the dinner event last night and that went well enough aside from moving three back-breaking, ginormous tables to a garage. We worked alongside a famous chef and he his apprentice made some dang good food from tofu kebabs to beefy bruschetta appetizers and something that looked like breaded octopus tentacles that were deep fried (probably not what I thought it was). I didn't try the latter. We were "paid" in scraps for our work, and when I say scraps, I mean huge chunks of beef, two loafs of freshly baked bread, a bag of herbs (crest?), Lemon Lime Bitters. Not bad. I'd be happy to do that again.

Each day that passes I realize just how "easy" it is to do this. This being traveling. Prior to our departure I had so many reservations--so many thoughts, maybe worries...yeah, worries. "Oh, what if I lose my credit card? What if such-and-such gets stolen from us? What if we mix up times and end up stranded somewhere?" But nothing like any of that has happened, and now I foresee no reason to hold onto irrational fears. My heart was thumping hard and stupidly at Customs in the Auckland airport last week. "Oh man, what if we got the wrong visas? We've worked so hard and put so much effort into this... what if it's all wrong and we're deported?" We slid right through, over-prepared actually. Nearly half the things that were supposedly required for us to enter the country weren't even asked about or looked over. Passports and home-printed visas did the trick. Why did I fret?

Also as mentioned in previous posts, we left our things behind at our campsites with no problems whatsoever. Even here at the house I've come to trust the others, realizing they're just like us, and possibly have fears similar, "Oh, I hope my credit card isn't stolen!" We're in this together. I realize now I've rarely had trust for other people. It makes me feel selfish in a way, or at least stupid. Sure, there's plenty of reason to be cautious, especially in certain situations or places. It's not wise to abandon reason or sense just to be all la-di-da with life. But, it is very freeing to trust. I'll continue to be careful enough, nonetheless. 

I write all this (previous posts included) to inform, encourage and whatever else. And yeah, sure, it's fun to talk about goofy things that happen and it's an easy way to keep friends and family in the loop of what's going on. But when all is said and I done, I want people to walk away with this idea that they can travel to or chase their dreams or just believe and accomplish something that's truly important to them. You've only got one life to live. Don't waste it on wishes and wondering. 

Whatever your dream or goal is, it's yours, make it happen. In the famous words of the Nike shoes.... "Just do it."

Oh yeah, and Lemon & Paeroa is an awesome lemon-y soda they have here that tastes way better than Sierra Mist or whatever.