This past week marked a year since I arrived in Wellington, a city which felt more like home than the city I have lived in for most of my life. I have thought fondly of my time spent in New Zealand, and most importantly, the people I met there. The general friendliness of Kiwis remains one of my fondest impressions about my experience there. There was always someone smiling at me, and it helped me to feel like less of a stranger than I truly was. I have discovered that Canadians and Kiwis share an inexplicable connection that makes the process of meeting new people and friends effortless. If you have ever thought about traveling to New Zealand, do so, because none can rival the hospitality of Kiwis.
Wellington is a city full of art and culture. Everywhere you go in the core of downtown, you will find street performers and artists, music of all kinds, and friendly people going shoeless. The city is very pedestrian-friendly and so you see more people in a given day than you would trapped in a vehicle necessitated by suburban sprawl. If you go to the Cuba Street Mall, (which is not a mall by Canadian standards, it's a street) you're bound to see someone you know, even if you know very few people. This constant face-to-face contact with other residents develops a very strong sense of community, one which I have not experienced anywhere else I have ever been. Wellington is a remarkable place.
All of the people that I met in New Zealand have a special place in my fondest memories, during the best summer I have ever had. Well, so far.
Also, I am dying for a Moro Gold chocolate bar.
