Aotearoa: A Trip to Remember

Caroline Edge

May 29, 20244 min read

Kia Ora friends!

When I think of the word home, many things come to mind. My little brown suburban farmhouse inspired home in Kansas City, my grandparents actual farmhouse in Ft. Scott KS with its horses and cattle, and their current home in DeBordieu, SC. My other grandparents house in the villages on the golfcourse. Even Savannah, GA where I found my jiu jitsu gym, so many friends, and a place to call home while I was in college.

These are all places I've lived or visited, but I now know "home" is so much more than that. It is the people in my life where I feel most myself. Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a place where I truly found myself, both old and new, and I consider it one of my greatest homes.

In the time I left last September till the beginning of May this year, I have been in a constant state of travel. It has been incredibly fulfilling, uncomfortable, and inspiring, forcing me to get outside my comfort zones and really grow. You may notice it's been a rather long time though since my last blog post, and you would be correct, so let me fill you in a bit on what exactly happened.

On November 4th, my birthday, I lost my best friend and also grandmother unexpectedly at the age of 92. She was and is one of the greatest lights in my life. Now that may sound very old, and not surprising that it was her time, but Nana was a woman who hummed with energy and a vivacious spirit. She was the best pie maker and sewer I know, she could do 30 pushups the week before she passed, and her last decision was to ride her stationary bike for some daily exercise before a day of activities with her friends at her new independent living place. We all thought she would make it to 100, but alas it was her time to move on.

I stopped writing these then. It was too hard to keep it up for the rest of my trip, knowing she was not reading my updates and admit that she was no longer physically present in my life. My thought process was if I never wrote what happened down, then it didn't happen.

However, as time has gone on, and I've grieved and learned to live without her, I found profound strength in myself and unwavering love from my family and community. I finally feel able to write this and accept everything that happened.

My trip to Aotearoa helped me grow exponentially as a person in body, mind, and soul. When I look back, I see the wonderful person I came to this country as, but how through every experience, both hard and wonderful, has transformed me into the resilient, loving, driven, newly awakened version of myself I am today.

When I look back, I would say some of my fondest memories were...

My time in Balclutha at the Fern and Thistle Inn working as a Hospitality Attendant and Graphic Designer for Matt and his family where I also met life long friends Kimber, Emily, Malte, and Phillipe.
Meeting and befriending Jordan Ranson, a person that fundamentally inspired me in growing my mindset and knowledge of the spiritual world and how I want to fit into this world. I look forward to our creative collabs!
My 80K hike of the Heaphy Track with friends Sawyer and Daniel where we trudged around massive trees, through rain, and magical forests. Only dying a few times.
Exploring the Golden Bay and doing some sick hikes on the coast. So many sheep!
Serendipitously meeting my new friend Rafa in a brief visit to Sidney, Australia at the hostel Zen Harmony. I met him, Jai and many other wonderful people chilling in a cosy living room while it rained, eating dhal, exploring a museum, and had a cute brunch before I had to leave.
Being in Queenstown and Wanaka and meeting up with friends Austin and Mechi (QT) and Allison and Campbell (W).
Having the best hot chocolate in existence in Christchurch and gluten free chicken fingers. Delish!
Meeting Audrey at Ora Retreat - instant best friend
Driving up Fjordland and the west coast - the nature was so untouched and pristine - though the sandflies were less than ideal.
Milford Sound of course!
and so many other memories I am currently blanking on, that I will remember once I publish this.

Aotearoa brought me home in a way I never knew existed and gave me a place to truly be myself without compromise. I see the future I want, and I now know I can achieve it. The lessons I've learned will stay with me the rest of my life, as well as the friends and new members of my soul family will. I will, without a doubt, be back soon.

Ngā mihi my friends

Sending aroha to everyone I've met and will meet.

On to my next adventure!

I've included probably way too many pictures, oh well! Enjoy!