so yeah, it has been a while since I posted, and unfortunately I don't have the convenient excuse of having been abducted by aliens. However, I have been frantically busy and trying hard to get everything sorted out as I head into my second to last week or work, and third to last week in my beautiful New Zealand.
What the HECK! I know! three weeks today I'll be sleeping off the jetlag somewhere between Vancouver and Winnipeg and wondering why on earth I packed my bags the way I did.
It's very strange being in this "preparing" mode again, and also kinda difficult, but it is good, having a lot to look forward too and a lot of amazing and loving support from so many people for what I am going to be doing.
Support raising is going so well, God is amazing, and I now only have $400 left a month to be pledged for me to reach my target. Right now, the big prayer point would be my visa, which is still in processing in Sydney. So yeah, keep that in mind if you can, that would be sooooo appreciated.
so i'm frantically trying to keep raising support, seeing people, spending time with mum and dad, walking my dog, trying not to put on ALL the weight I lost in Canada again and get rid of all the stuff that I can't believe I stored for a year.
Oh ok, here's a cool thing. I got an amazing free hair cut on wednesday. Totally good, and when mymum drov eme to the appointment they gave her a free cut too. all in aid of polishing the new hairdresser and promoting the new salon. mmmmm, freeee
also ummmmmmm, what else also. not sure
so yeah, on that note, i hope that rachel, you are appeased and can take the tin foil off your head, and now I am going to go make some soup.
love ya
hill

So I’ll tell you something funny about my life here in NZ. My dog (chockie, short for Chocolate cuz she is like a Dalmatian but brown and white not black and white) is really really badly behaved. Last night we has roasted chicken for dinner, and when we went to bed, my dad had left the roasting pan on the stove to clean in the morning. The dog jumped up and pulled it down and licked all the oil, spilt some on the floor, licked that too, but worst of all hit the gas burner on with her paw, and since there is no ignition thing, the gas just started leaking out into the kitchen, so when we woke up the whole kitchen and living room was full of gas and smelt awful and my dad is walking about saying stuff like “nobody turn on any lights or strike any matches or we’ll all die”
So that was funny. And yet not.
What a drama eh
So, after a near death experience or two, what else has happened today
Not much
But I did promise more blogging, so there it is.
How is Canada today?
How is Norway today?
How is wherever you are today?

So, yeah I did decide to get with a new template. I tried a few, and I ended up on this one. I don't really like this one as much either, but none of them seem particularly great.
I'm going to test this one and see how it goes, gimme some feedback?
Okay, so amazingness of amazingness. I broke the $1000 mark today!!!! YEAH BABY! THANK YOU GOD!
It's crazy ridiculous and schweeeeeeeeeeeeeet that this much support has happened, I'm not even sure how it all happened, and now I am reeling with writing thank you letters and otehr random follow up.
wow
am looking for a laptop still, so keep me posted if anyone hears of any nice laptops going for cheap. if all else fails, i'm goign to wait til the last minute and buy a Dell dealio, but i'd like to save as much as i can now.
Short post today, I'll think of other things to post tomorrow
Lots of love
hill

So it’s kinda cool being able to read up on my blog stats and see who is reading from where. Ok so I can’t really tell who, but I can see what countries people are reading in. Who do I know in Norway? I don’t know. Norway reader, I welcome a comment to say hi 
Well actually I welcome comments from everyone who reads my blog. Say hi, make a joke, tell me a story. Comment eh?
So what is actually going on here in lil’ old New Zealand?
Not much really. I’m at work right now, it’s a little on the slow side to be honest. There is an air of Friday afternoonitis, even though it’s only Friday morning. I’ve been as productive as I can so far, but now there is really nothing left to do.
Speaking of lil’ old New Zealand though, I read a great book called “The land of two halves” Gavin actually recommended it to me and it’s a good read for all you canucks and other non Kiwis, to get a bit of a handle on how amusing and lovely my country really is. And it’s written by an ex-jouranlist/columnist so it’s really very good. How’s this for excellent: “…the ladies in the street in their tartan skirts, wearing shoes so sensible they’d go to church on their own….” brilliant
So I got the opportunity to share at Lou’s church yesterday. It was really awesome, there was a kind of missions focus, and two missionaries who know my friend’s Kristina and John in Sudan were speaking about the work they are doing in Madagascar. Very cool, and great to meet more missionaries and hear stories and pray together. Got some cool words when we were all praying together at the end, and was generally a really encouraging night. Have loved going along to ‘Base’ and I really like how outward focused they are as a group and yet also how close they are as friends and church family. Been very good to be around with how isolating this whole “re-entry” thing has been.
I have been listening to a very cool CD Lou lent me yesterday, Jose Gonzalez. Now apparently he is very popular and amazing and his songs are already being used as advertising soundtracks, but I had never heard him before. The verdict? Sweeeeeeeeet.
It’s funny, I’m going to the travel agent tomorrow to pay a big huge chunk of my airline ticket, which will probably break the bank for the next two weeks until the next pay day, but will be a very encouraging step on the way to get me back to Vancouver. It’s strange, take off day is only 5 weeks away today. Too fast. I feel like I’ve kinda skimmed in, not really landing or sinking or even getting into life here properly and now I’m taking off again.
Very cool though on the GOING BACK front, is that I have somewhere to stay all sorted out. I’ll be sharing a flat with Jacqui and Pam, both staffers at the base, and it’s going to be sweeeeeeet. YAY! God is Good!
Support raising is going alright, though I’d appreciate continued prayers as I keep making follow up calls and emails. Still another $600 monthly support to go.
Very cool thing is that I have got a bike to bring back now. Free, and even though it’s been left in the rain a few times and not used for a while, it’s in great condition and with some oil, cleaning and time with Dad and I it should be in good working order to bring back to Van! YAY!
Next on the list is that I need to find a good, yet affordable laptop to take with me. Dell has been having some sales, but still a bit too much. Anyone getting rid of a good laptop anytime soon?
So yeah, anyways, back to work, Jose, a bit of Johnny Cash, and then hopefully some chillaxing and a surprise birthday party planning session.
Oh and for those of you who knew about the ball that was going to be happening on 22nd or 29th of July (depending on who you heard from) it’s unfortunately been cancelled due to umm, ‘artistic differences’. Thanks for the support of everyone who said they would be involved, but yeah, it won’t be going ahead.
Ok, lots of love and hugs
Hill
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY EILEEN
PPS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN
PPPS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY

so i learned the deaf equivalent of the 'slow clap' tonight.
You know that moment when someone is umming and ahhing about whether or not they will perform on stage and the audience gets that laughing slow clap going and then speed up and bust out in applause? yeah the deaf version. soooo coool. it starts with putting your arms up in the air and then down and then up again in the same rhythm you would with the slow clap. and then you stomp your feet on the floor, slow at first then faster and faster and faster like you do on bleachers at a sports game, because they can feel the vibrations through the floor.
soooooooo fun
it was basically an amazing awesome night. I went with Margaret (my amte nic's mum) to watch the Storyfest 2006. IT's an annual signlanguage competition, where people come together to see who can tell the best sign language story. It was sooo funny, and sooooooooooooooo amazingly good to get back into sign language and deaf culture again. In the intermission, I also managed to catch up with my old NZSL teacher Sonia, and we had an awesome talk catching up on everything that has been going on. She doesn't know this yet, but hopefully i will be able to have a few coffees with her to pick up some of the basics of American Sign before I come back to Vancouver.
Soooo exciting. This is the biggest natural high, soooo much better than TV! and coming from me who just spent 4 hours NOT TALKING, that's pretty sweet, and yet a dramatic turn of events.
Had a bit of a crazy God thing last night. Went along to my mate Lou's church and some stuff was goin on, and have come away feeling kinda overwhelmed, but with a lot to think about.
On an amazing note, my support has just broken the $900 mark!!!!! God is good!
And if any of you reading would like a support pack, and a groovy magnet you just let me know. KEep up the praying!
I'm getting my eyes checked tomorrow. another irony about working at the foundation of the blind and being obsessed with sign language. but yeah, we'll see how it goes. new glasses woudl not be a great thing to have to buy now, but better that than not seeing right.
So yeah, it's been an amazingly wonderful night.
And now i'm gonig to bed
love you lots
email me you crazy cats
hill

So Happy Canada day my dears. For yesterday here, but I know that it's still Canada day in there!
I can't even believe it that this time last year I was sick, in a pub and then watching the Lions game at the Soho in Vancouver!
What the heck.
So it's been an amazingly lovely day in Auckland today. I like that midwinter Auckland is sky blue clear skies and a light breeze and no clouds! I decided I don't have nearly enough pictures of this beautiful city and I'm gong to be back in Vancouver even before I know it, so I better remedy the situation.
Alastair and I drove all round with a chair, and a NZ teddy bear that for all those BroTown fans out there we have named Sione! He (of course) will be coming back to Vancouver with me, and therefore so will a nice little bit of nesian goodness.
Speaking of that, does anyone have a copy of Nesianmistik's first albumt hat I could borrow?
I wanted to let you know too that the fundraising ball is going ahead.
Saturday 29th of July, 8pm, at the Homestead in henderson (wow how many people reading this still know what that means?!) everyone is welcome, $25 a head, it's going to be a great night, email me for tickets as soon as possible!
Ok tha'ts all for now
I miss you all very much you Canadians and I am looking forward to hanging out with all you Kiwis in the next 6 weeks. And 6 weeks will have to be it because I booked my tickets today! flying into Vancouver at 6pm on Friday August 18th! Jill's birthday! can't even handle how exciting this all is. crazy go nuts.
And everyone from everywhere else? We definately have to party soon.
Poker night and pineapple lumps and pilsener pacific? we are way overdue for a renunion, you know who you are! :D
ok night night all
have a good week at work
love, hill

So today is Helen Keller day. It was her birthday today and is now a day in New Zealand (and maybe everywhere else too?)
used to promote deaf/blind awareness. i know this because I am working at the Royal New Zealand
Foundation fo the Blind and today they had a birthday cake and balloons for that exact reason.
And you know what else I found out today? There are apporximately 1500 deafblind New Zealanders at the moment.
What the heck. And an estimated 3600 deafblind Canadians.
What the Heck.
Touch is the primary source of communication for people who are deafblind, and they
have programmes set up to teach deafblind children the same way Helen Keller was taught,
using a manual touch alphabet and language and braille. There are also tools like telletalkers where someone can type in words and then
a temporary braille strip is produced for the deafblind person to read. again i say, what the heck.
how inspiring that people live, learn, work and study all through touch.
wow. how am i not more grateful for my hearing and sight!?
So now, I am practising the deaf/blind alphabet. very similar to New Zealand sign language alphabet, in terms of the shapes and
movements that are made,
but different becuase where for the deaf it's visual using 2 hands, both the "speaker's", it uses two hands, one of the "speaker"
making shapes on the palm and fingers of the "listener"
amazing
So yeah, I am really learning a lot at this job, it's kinda fun being the perceived "font of all knowledge"
that people ask for "Information and Advice" when they ring or visit the foundation. tehehe
I just kinda do my thing and it seems to be going alright.
Had lunch with two girls that I used to teach drama to when I was in high school, one of whom is now dating
my little brother Alec (not so little, he's living in Japan right now studying Japanese!) Very cool.
Good kebabs too. though pretty messy.
So am listening to a lot of country/pop kinda music at the moment. Cheesy I know, but it's like my
Vancouver soundtrack. Keeps it all fresh while I sit here and type at work.
Have a bunch of pictures on my wall here too, so Auckland gets to see a bit
of Vancouver and many of you.
My goal is to have pics of just about everyone i know with me when I am back in Vancouver. I like having pictures with
me as most of you know, and so far the collection is pretty good. I took all my stuff out of
storage and those boards of pictures that i had up at my 21st/goodbye party
are still in good nic and are definately coming with back to Vancovuer in the bottom of my suitcase!
Hmmmm, what to do now.
It's a slow day.
It was really cold this morning, so I was wearing two sets of arm warmers, one on top of the other
Nerdy yes, but also warm! and who can hate black and grey stripey arm warmers.mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
It was so cold last night there was actually a frost and my windscreen needed hot water to be poured on it to thaw
it out
I'm serious Canadians, STOP LAUGHING
tehehe
Funny bad moment of the day was when i was talking about seraching our database for details and
excluding deceased members from the search. My boss turned around and asked me if "i knew how to
bring up the deceased if necessary" . ouch.
I have curly hair at the moment. Makes a nice change. I might get this done permanently. can I do that
without it looking like some kind of crazy eighties disaster area? it's not really curly it's just loose wavey and not poker straight like
my hair normally is.
so who in vancouver is reading my blog? i really want to know the website and the name of the programme
that leigh and ange downloaded to help them learn languages. apparently it was a free one that they
downloaded off the internet. can anyone help me out with that? Ryan? Jaqcs? Need to start working on my Cantonese
whiel I am still around my mum so she can help me practise.
so yeah anwyays
that's all for today folks
Happy Birthday Helen Keller

So my darlings, New Zealand is even as we speak preparing for "the coldest night of winter yet..." I'm not even kidding, and, Canadians please contain your laughter and superior smirking, it's expected to drop to a frigid low of two degrees. centigrade. there will be frost. and up to a foot of snow in some places.
sigh
so how is the true north? i dunno, i'm here in the true south!
But life in the true south is good. i had my first official day of real work, having real responsibility of the "advice and information line". it was good, though i needed my lunch break for sure. was a good one too, as i met up with darragh and orla, gavin's brother and sister who are here for a visit. it's been fun hanging out with them, will post pics from our driving tour of auckland by night here as soon as orla emails them to me!
otherwise it's slow going here, things are just keeping on keeping on.
enjoying it, and excited for the future, and watching dvds lol.
good recommendation this week, goes to de post belgian pub on mt eden road. mmmmm, good feeds belgian beer and chill out place when it's raining and storming.
am tired. it's late. it's bed time.
will post again soon
have a lot more to say, well kind of, but it'll all keep
i miss you
i love you
and i'll write soon
hill

So here goes.....
LETS GO ALL BLACKS LETS GO! 27-17 YEAH BABY!!!!
So in the midst of a driving rain and some nice black sky and clouds, we got to be drenched for the sake of a SWEET game of rugby, ALLBLACKS vs. IRELAND. And lucky me, I got shouted my ticket by Gavin's big brother Darragh, and ended up doing my absolute best to out shout him, their sister Orla, and their English friend Vicki. But, it was totally worth the sore throats and the drenching, because we took it out in the second half for a good 10 point win. Lots of Irish were there, and it was great to have some good kiwi experience and cheering and have an allround good night. I tell you, when the Rugby World Cup is on, I will be glued to a screen in a pub somewhere in Vancouver, the haka still brings shivers down my spine!!!
Life here is going alright, it's good settling into my new job, I am now the "Information and Advice officer" at the RNZFB, and it's been going really well, Monday is my first day of having total free reign of the desk, so yeah 0800 callers be prepared!
Support raising is going well, the Pizza magnet has so far been a hit, all of them are gone, the other ones are moving much slower! but more pizza ones will be printed by monday so it's all good.
Mum and Adeline are watching Troy, terrible movie, but seriously (and i know it's tacky and superficial) but between Bradd Pitt, Eric Bana, and Sean Bean, it is a seriously good looking cast :)
Anyways, it's strange to think that if all goes well I will be back in Vancouver in less than 9 weeks. It seems pretty crazy actually, but at the same time I am excited. Am stocking up on Kiwiana to take back too, maybe not too much, but definately an All Blacks flag to add to the Kiwi one I have in storage there in Jacqui's living room.
Okay,
bed and warm dry snuggly pajamas are calling.
Love you lots and lots
hill

Yeah, like I said, which one do you think this is in my mum's opinion?

So I should clarify.
When I said I thought Queen's birthday happened while I was in Vancouver, I meant Queen Elizabeth IIs actual birthday. Like, for real, happy birthday to her!
Just to clarify :)
So had my first day of work today. Was alright, and it was exciting really feeling how this is the first step back to Vancouver and missions and YWAM and all that good stuff (aye layne?) It's pretty chilled out work and pretty straight forward and it looks like i have a lot of fun cool people to work with.
Have finished my magnets, have 2 designs, to give people options (my mum refers to them as the one for my friends and the one for normal people! lol)
But have attached a sneak preview of one of them (guess which one it is!) just for a laugh.
I'm so sad for the Oilers. I kept tabs while I was at work but missed the third period *sigh*
it can only get better though!
Anyways, dinner time shortly, so will sign off.
Love you lots and lots
hillbo

So, am watching the West Wing, season three, on DVD with my mum.
Was supposed to be designing my "pray for me" fridge magnets, but my lovely camera ran out of batteries as i was loading pics so i guess it will have to wait til tomorrow.
Things are going alright, it's been pretty tough being home to be honest, good to be with friends and family, but with more than enough stressful moments with the same.
Am speaking at church on sunday to give the big update, story sharing, support raising, picture showing thing, so here's hoping it goes well, all prayer much appreciated.
Tomorrow is a public holiday and I was a little weirded out to realise that I not only didn't remember that when i came home, but then when informed that it was a long weekend I couldn't remember why. Queen's birthday apparently, but i'm sure that happened while i was in Vancouver. But then again if she's queen she's allowed to have more than one birthday i guess. plus as queen that would mean more than one pretty cool parties whenever you want.
Ok so i'm a bit tired.
I miss Vancouver, I love Auckland, but Vancouver.......
I start full time work on Tuesday, at the Royal NZ Foudation of the Blind working on a short term contract, and have applied for another job doing two nights and a weekend shift, so we'll see how that goes. mostly going for that one to pay for the gas/bus to get to the main one! but we'll see.
Support raising is going ok too, thank you so much for the support and prayers that are happening on my behalf.
I miss so many of you so much, you know who you are.
Oh and before I go......
GO OILERS
tehehe
even if i am the only one in NZ cheering for them!

So I'm back in New Zealand.
Thanks for everything everyone, both in Canada and here.
I will reply to emails asap, but for now, just wanted to blog and let you know I am safe and sound and home.
Flew from Van to LA and arrived at 9, to wander around downtown LA for the majority of the day, exploring taking pictures and generally being touristy.
Got on the plane to Auckland at 9pm, and slept for the majority, and 12 hours later (43 minutes from sweet NZ) we got diverted to Fiji, because all the airports in NZ were closed from fog.
7 hours later though, to blue skies and a barmy 16 degrees, I set foot in Auckland International Airport again.
Lou and Sara and Alex braved the airport at 5, but then left for church when they found out about the plane, but Lou came back and was there with my parents and with my dear Alastair who didn't know about the plane had waited it out for the whole 7 hours in the airport! What a trooper.
So yeah, not much else to say yet, I'm dizzy (literally) and keeping awake til 10 even if it kills me and am super super excited that the oilers won the western conference even though I wasn't there to cheer.
I love you and miss you Canada and Canadians, and I am glad to be home and seeing you all soon Kiwis.
Will blog more later
and email too
lots of love
h

so bearing my last ration of Tim Hortons (sesame seed bagel, toasted and a candian maple donut) all stored safely in my carryon for my 11 hour lay over in Los Angeles airport, I am sitting at the internet terminal in Vancouver international using my last canadian loonie to blog for the last time for a little while in beautiful Vancouver. The sun has just come out (through some rather appropriate grey clouds and drizzle) and my coffee from the 24 hour place that Rachel knows en route to the airport is just kicking in.
Have been up for 24 hours so far, and am due to fly in 51 minutes to LA aboard the lovely Air Canada. Thankfully my two gigantor bags didn't get weighed and got checked straight through so I can pray and then wait to pick them up in Auckland without a worry. She'll be right, right?
It's bitter sweet to leave, to be so excited I can't sit still that I am coming home and then so sad I'm teary eyed (though i guess i could blame the caffiene) that I am leaving this home. Have had too many teary hugs and goodbyes in the last 4 weeks staggering it all out as I floated from house to house and person to person, and yet am excited that in the next few days there are certain to be some teary reunions.
It was so strange packing stuff up, dividing things into the "need, take back to NZ" and "it'll keep, store in Vancouver". Having 2 dressers, one filled with stuff and a box of clothes in storage on the other side of the world is just the first nervewracking step to a two year commitment I am both excited and jittery to make. But here's to obeying and waiting and praying and hoping.
I miss Vancouver and Canada already, but can't wait to see home sweet home.
Ok, my loonie is officially done.
See you on the flip side

So the whirlwind is drawing to a close.
It's been amazing, but it's getting time to go home. I think I'm actually ready for it this time.
Chicago was amazing fun, and I arrived in Toronto on Sunday night. The plane was fine, the airport was slow, but it was great to see Caroline at the airport and hang out at her place over late night pizza and wings and catch up with the Oilers winning the second game of the series in the background!!! :)
It's a beautiful day in Toronto and I am chilling out taking it slow exploring around and going to meet up with Will for lunch/coffee shortly while Caroline is at work. Yesterday was a public holiday (Queen Victoria's birthday?) and we joined a day tour out to Niagara falls. Between the water, the ice wine tour, the lights and the road trip, it was a really really great day.
It was strange flying over Toronto and Lake Ontario and seeing the beauty of it all as the sun went down. Then within 24 hours to see the majesty of Niagara falls and just be struck with how awesome God is.
I had the Chris Tomlin song 'Indescribable' in my head the whole time and couple of times just couldn't hold it in, thanking God for this amazing world and that I got to stand there and just soak in it. (no pun intended given it's a waterfall!)
but yeah, pretty amazing stuff.
Will be back in Vancouver on Wednesday night and then on the plan pretty much all day Friday and Saturday to arrive in Auckland at 5am on Sunday 28th. Crazy go nuts to be sure, but it's going to be awesome.
Pineapple lumps and rugby here I come
I miss Canada already!



'Indescribable' - Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God

Inconquerable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Anyone wanna buy me an Apple G4 laptop? :)

So I typed up a legendary, entertaining, insightful, witty blog entry yesterday and then Adam's computer deleted it. grrrr.
So here goes again
Things are really good here, it's been a bit of a non-stop whirlwind but it's been pretty awesome.
We left Winnipeg on Sunday night and made the drive east to Kenora to visit Matt's house for some late night movie watching, boating on the lake goodness before Jessa, Adam, Josh and I roadtripped it down to Minnesota on Monday night.
I'm amused to say that I entered the United States of America wearing socks, flipflops and my pajama pants! (who does a 8 hour road trip wearing jeans!)
But yeah, it was super fun, and good arriving in Minnesota.
Minneapolkis was beautiul and we had fun driving around and exploring the zoo, Laura's work (mmm icecream) and the Uptown area. Laura's place is so beatiful and relaxing, and it was so fun to meet her family and hang out with her and Krista and Joel again. Also compelte with a Adam/Laura/Hill morocco reunion making couscous for everyone's lunch on wednesday.
Josh Adam and I headed south and east on wednesday night for Chicago area, and yesterday was the all out American experience day. Adam and I hit Chicago for the Cubs vs. Washington game, complete with hotdogs, soft salty pretzels (bleh), and a souvenir Chicago cubs blanket. We even managed to get photographed twice by the fanfotos guys, so you can check us out on www.cubs.com/fanfoto and select the "Thursday 18 May" game and then we are the first pic on Gallery 11 and then about halfway down the page on Gallery 33.
It was fun, though a bit on the windy side, and sadly the Cubs lost. But we still cheered and shouted and sang "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.
We completed the day by walking up and down Michigan ave, eating Chicago style stuffed pizza (heart attack but sooooooooo good, best pizza ever) and stopping by the cheesecake factory, the Hershey store, Ghiradellis and then to the coolest Apple Mac store EVER, where we took the following pics :)
Basically I think Chicago is about regaining the 50 pounds I thought I had successfully lost inthe last 18 months! tehehe jk, but I don't htink I'm cut out for life as an American. I'll see you soon Commercial drive dollar grocery SALAD!
Can't even believe I'll be back in NZ in 11 days. Not even computing yet. Excited but crazy all at the same time.
Am loving it here and will be flying out on Sunday night to Toronto to see Caroline, Will and Jenny and then back to Van and back home. Not sure where the next post will be from, but will be sure to include highlight pics of all the different stops along this crazy adventure month.
Hopefully a bunch from Chicago Chinatown too, the 2nd biggest in North America I think.
Ok, that's all from me today
Going back to enjoy some sun and EXCERCISE in the yard.
Love and sausage patties
hill

So this has been a crazy crazy whirlwind trip, but it's only just beginning.
I am writing from Laura's kitchen in Minnesota, and this is one of the most beutiful houses i have ever been in. It's right on one of Minnesota's 10,000 something lakes and there are birds and trees and beauty everywhere. It's amazing and I'm so sad to leave here tonight. We had a nice day yesterday with beautiful weather, exporing the minnesota zoo, the uptown area where laura works and hanging out with Jessa for the last time. Very sad, goodbyes suck. Doing them staggered like this is a much better idea, until I am onthe plane by myself and then...doh! But then I'll be excited about coming home, so it will only be 13 hours of stress before it's all good again.
Am very excited about Chicago, Adam and I are going to party it up, and our first thing is a Chicago Cubs basebal game. sooooo cool.
But one thing I noticed, being here in the USA, I miss Canada! IT feels different here and they sell guns and ammo off the self in Wallmart.
But yeah, life is keeping on keeping on.
Will write again soon
Love, hill

So apparently you have to change some setting on your laptop so that other people can actually post comments. tehehe
oh well.
so it's been a crazy weekend. It still is, but we are sadly drawing to the close of it.
We arrived in Winnipeg at 9.15 on Friday morning and it was totally crazy, I think we were the three most excited people to ever land in winnipeg. We got totally laughed at but it was worth it! we did the whole yellin and screaming and shouting and run and hug and had so much fun hooning around. It's been sooooo good to see everyone and hang out and hug and just catchup on life. The whirlwind "tournado" has begun.
It's pretty amazing too, 13 out of 24 students made it here for the weekend, and Dave and HEathr managed to make it down fo our picnic and bbq yesterday. So good to see everyone.
Today we leave for Ontario, We are going to spend the night and tomorrow at Matt's house in Kenora, and then Jessa, Josh, Adam and I road trip it down to Minnesota, and then the tour goes on. It's crazy exciting to think this is all happening and then I am going home! Back to good old kiwiland. I already have 2 standing orders for shipments of pineapple lumps, and I am so excited to see you all.
Will post pics when my feet hit the ground again
Love and pickles
Hillary

So yeah, I'm officially old.
It's weird, but 22 doesn't feel too much different to 21.
Actually who am I kidding. It's super weird.
It's been fun though, have so far spent the day chillaxing with Amy and Kate (Jill's 5 and 11 year old sisters) who each gave me a beautiful hand made birthday card and then proceeeded to decorate the house with balloons and streamers for me with Neal (14 yo bro) help :)
Very cool.
It's been so awesome staying here, their family is so cool and hospitable. Have really enjoyed it, but at the same time am soooooo excited to be going on to winnipeg tomorrow for the birthdya party to end all birthdya parties. and then on to all the other cool places i get to go. not to mention my beautiful new zealand, in practically no time at all.
Sigh
It's all good
Am going to cruise again, will take a bunch more pics and post some fun ones like Krista attacking logs, Andrew and I Tim Tam slamming, and Jill and I doing facials.
Love you loads
Happy Birthday to me :)
Hillary