Erinn Goes Abroad

The tug between two homes

On Friday I was given a farewell lunch at my internship.

My dad always says the best part of traveling is not the sights or the souvenirs but the people you meet along the way. He is right as usual … and will probably don a gloating smile when he reads this. Don’t get me wrong; the internship wasn’t only about networking. Performing various tasks at the office was important and observing adjudications was enlightening. But none of those things will match the satisfaction I’ve received from forming bonds with my colleagues. It makes me feel a lot less alone in this country that is so far away from home. It makes this country feel a lot like a home. Maybe that’s because it is now.

 Pat, one of my favorite colleagues, Gosh— probably one of my favorite people of all time, and I were walking along the waterfront after the lunch. She’s easily one of my favorites because of her unwavering positivity. The sun was shining about as hard as Pat was smiling and not a cloud loomed in the sky. I can’t remember the last time I felt this warm in Wellington. Pat took me by the arm and said,

“I want to give you something special. I must because I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again after this.”

Those words have been echoing in my head ever since. In the end, she gave me a curious chocolate caterpillar, which was unique and will always make me think of her when I eat chocolate. But more important were her words.

How many people might I not see again after I’ve left here?

I know it’s not productive to think in such a way, but it’s hard to avoid reality.

I told one of my friends recently that I feel torn.

“If I never went home and stayed in New Zealand, I would always somehow miss home. But now that New Zealand has become a home, when I return to the USA, I won’t be able to avoid missing New Zealand. My heart is now in two places.”

I was reminded of this yesterday as I cheerlessly nibbled on my chocolate caterpillar.

Also, the team I worked closely with gave me a greenstone necklace and a card signed by everybody. I can’t tell you how privileged I feel to be associated with these folks! Good people!