"WHAT am I doing HERE?!?"

Dear friend,

Let me set the scene.

I write to you sitting on a plush queen sized bed at 11pm, on the second floor of a relatively (by NZ/"normal" standards) large, beautiful summer vacation house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The window is half opened, the screen letting in a cool refreshing summer night's breeze as well as the overwhelming symphony of crickets in the backyard forestry. We are in a cul-de-sac in a small town in Cape Cod, the quintessential New England vacation spot, ten bazaillion cars in the driveway (one for each person staying here), an American flag waving on the front porch, and a thirteen year old gold lab with cataracts. There is a hot tub in the backyard, and outdoor shower (screened of course; without a doubt, gloriously refreshing after a hot day at the beach), and a lounge full of lovely New Englanders with burly American accents (just the way I like it!). Oh, and did I mention beer on tap.

(I kid you not.)

Since my leaving Seattle yesterday, I found myself wondering on more than one occasion, "WHAT am I doing HERE?!?"

Seriously.

*Pinch*... pause... *Pinch*

Wait, no, I'm still here. This isn't some strange movie. I'm not asleep. This is actually my life.

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you'll get."

I woke up 4.15am yesterday in Seattle (after only six hours of sleep) in order to get ready in time to leave for the airport by 5.30am. [Note to self: next time you plan an epic trip, remember that even a 7.30am flight is too TOO early.] My friend was a true champion waking up that early to drive me to the airport, given she was still not feeling that flash. A quick hug good-bye later and I was off, alone again with my two pieces of luggage, my faithful companions for the next three months. As I checked in I stumbled across the realisation that the reason I wouldn't arrive in Boston until 6.30pm despite flying out of Seattle at 7.30am was that (a.) the time difference, and (b.) there was fine print on my itinerary which I probably should have read. "One stop." Urgh. I didn't realise there was a stop. And where that stop would be was never mentioned.

Two hours later, I found myself in -- of all places -- Denver, Colorado.

"WHAT am I doing HERE?!?"

What the heck was I doing in Denver?!

Life definitely has a sense of humour.

So yes, I can now say that I have been to Denver. Although, all I saw of it was the view from the airport terminal -- a flat farmland horizon stretching on for miles and miles.

I was in Denver for about an hour, switched planes, and was off again to my final destination (for now), Boston, Massachusetts. The last time I was here, six years ago, I flew direct from LA and at night, the last hour of the flight through a storm. So a little different this time around. Despite having a window seat I spent most of the four hour flight trying to find a comfortable position for my head as I dozed (at which I failed miserably). This lack of sleep business is contributing to those premature wrinkles I have no doubt I'll get. (My only theoretical redemption being the fact I can afford much needed "serious" anti-wrinkle creams from here on out.)

I arrived into Boston around 6pm, not really sure what to expect.

What I've really appreciated from this trip thus far, and what I'm making an effort to do, is to not have any expectations whatsoever. I'm not sure if you've ever seen the movie Dan In Real Life, but it finishes with Dan's voice-over talking about plans and how sometimes instead of making plans we should "plan... to be surprised." And I think that's the kind of mentality I've been trying to have jumping into this crazy adventure. No expectations. No plans. Except the plan to be surprised. And stretched. And challenged. And to grow. Whatever form that may be.

So I picked up my luggage from baggage claim and headed outside to wait to be picked up by my friend who lives in Boston. Our history is, six years ago, while I was back in NZ for high school I went to Harvard Summer School (they have a special program where high school students can come and take two college classes, live in their dorms etc and get a taste of college life) and we were roommates for the summer. It was a pretty life-changing experience for me -- the defining experience of my adolescence -- and she had been a big part of it. What's more amazing is we have managed to stay in touch. A combination of my knack for maintaining long-distance friendships (no lack of experience here!) and her knack at being lovely and warm and just a seriously awesome human being. She is, without a doubt, one of the most naturally socially intelligent people I have (and will ever) meet -- and she doesn't even realise! She's not even trying! LoL

She and her boyfriend were there to meet me, and we went straight to Cambridge (the town next to/?part of Boston) in which Harvard and MIT reside. Her boyfriend actually grew up in Cambridge -- yes, some people actually live there as per normal life, completely apart from the universities, much to my surprise and disbelief! (I mean, I guess in theory in makes sense, but the thought had never crossed my mind, LoL; it's just so defined by Harvard! Crazy) We grabbed a quick bite from a sandwich place nearby, and then headed for Cape Cod. Her boyfriend's family, being true locals to the area, have a summer house "at the Cape." And, it being the tailend of summer, and this house having oh-so many available beds, a lot of her boyfriend's family and their friends were here for the weekend too.

I am taken aback by the warmth with which they have received a complete stranger into their home. And I have to admit, it helps being, in many respects, a novelty. More than being a New Zealander, a totally Asian looking chick with the most unexpected accent coming out of her mouth definitely helps break the ice -- in the very least, you'll never be short of topics for conversation.

And the bed. OH MY GOSH, the bed. I had NINE hours sleep last night, and it was 100% glorious. A plush, ginormous bed with FOUR plush, ginormous pillows. I have been spoiled. And I have done absolutely nothing to deserve it. Enjoy it while it lasts, I tell myself. It's going to be a fascinating change once I get to Africa, that's for sure. But I will remember you, Bed, and think back with fond memories of how amazingly perfect you were and our two glorious nights together.

After that incredible sleep -- and sleep in -- it was all go for a perfect day at the beach.

Learning point of the day: "going to the beach" can mean something fiercely different from one might expect. It was a process, let me assure you. Ten beach chairs, a pile of freshly washed beach towels, three coolers of drinks and food (chicken, burgers, sandwiches), various beach game things, one very excited dog and his bag of necessities (leashes, poo bags, water bowl, etc), and two cars full of people -- one being a truck with a license for driving onto the beach itself.

It was beautiful. And perfect. I know, I've been overusing those words, but there really isn't any other way of describing it. And, to be perfectly honest, I'm not even a real "beach-y" person. I'm more, let's go for a nice drive to the beach, walk along (barefoot on the sand if I'm feeling adventurous), get something nice to eat, then go home. Never anything requiring sunscreen, if you get my gist. But, half an hour into it, I was converted. Fully. Whole-heartedly. Without any reservations whatsoever. And boy, I now have a mean New England summer tan. :)

I left a bit early to meet up with two friends (a married couple) whom I also met the summer I spent in Boston six years ago -- they were seniors at Harvard at the time. The guy is currently an O&G resident (=registrar) at Yale, which is in a town a few hours drive away, so we met at a designated halfway point. It was SO lovely to see them. They have been a source of encouragement despite being half a world away. They prayed for me at the end of our two-hour catch-up and, as we parted ways, I found myself again overwhelmed with a sense of Blessing.

I love New England. I can see the attraction. And I am thankful God has given me this truly unique, completely unexpected insight into how "the other half lives." But, as has happened before, instead of making me want it more, it is making me more sure of the person I am. And the person I am is not the person I once thought I wanted to be... if that makes any sense at all.

I am enjoying this opportunity though. An experience you literally couldn't pay to have. So unbelievable... so utterly God's doing.

Tomorrow we will spend the day exploring Cape Cod, then head back to Cambridge.

I have the most incredible hosts. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.

Always,

-A

Thought of the day: Sand between your toes so quickly becomes an addictive feeling.