Return to Wellington

Saturday April 22

After two weeks in the South Island, it was time to return to the nation’s capitol and my current home, Wellington. We gathered up our luggage and took an Uber from our Christchurch motel to the airport. It was it was a quick hour flight over to Wellington.

Upon arrival, we were going to bring our luggage to the Air BNB but it wasn’t ready yet so instead we took a taxi to my flat and my family unloaded their stuff in my room. As you may recall, my parents had spent a couple days in Wellington with me already but Elina had not been there yet so there was a lot to show her.

When we dropped off the stuff, none of my flatmates were home yet to meet Elina so we just put the stuff down and headed off to Lambton Quay. My mom and I got some lox and cream cheese bagels from a cafe for us to have for lunch and Elina got some sushi. I called the family I celebrated Passover with (Lynda and David, the ones my third cousin met when he studied in Wellington) to figure out where to meet them. The plan was that while I rushed around Wellington showing Elina the classic sites, Lynda and David were going to spend some time meeting my parents.

We ate lunch in a nice little park and then Elina and I headed off. We walked along the harbour and I showed Elina the classic hand face, the Wellington sign, the statues and the boats. We took a quick visit to the Te Papa museum to look at the Gallipoli exhibit and then proceeded to Cuba Street! We also went inside to look at my Visual Narratives classroom and Elina, by chance, got to meet my tutor (teaching assistant) for the class.

We stopped for popsicles on the way back and we ducked into a store so Elina could buy a few New Zealand souvenirs. At this point, my parents were back from their adventure. Elina and I quickly went to a wool clothing store she wanted to look at and it turns out the woman working there lives in Everton Hall and recognized me!

My parents had a lovely time with Lynda and David. Lynda drove them up to the top of Mount Victoria and took them to a cathedral. We reunited and took the cable car up to the botanical gardens. The usual cable car narration wasn’t playing so I had to take on that duty for Elina. I pointed out the transition mural and the colored lights in the tunnel that can be programmed for different occasions.

After getting the classic Wellington picture, we walked in the gardens and then headed back down the cable car to my flat. This time some of my flatmates were back and Elina got to meet them! I also showed her around the hall. We gathered what we needed for the night and walked our stuff down the road to our Air BNB.

Elina and I went on a google search hunt for dinner options and eventually found a good place in town. After we ate at the Air BNB, the whole fam went to get ice cream at Cafe Eis, my favorite ice-cream shop in Wellington. They finally had their really good banana flavor back in stock!

My parents were done for the night but Elina and I were only just beginning. We first went to Countdown and got some groceries we needed for the next day and then we went to get crêpes at a little crêpe kiosk. Elina needed something to eat on the plane the next day so she asked the woman behind the counter if the woman would make a bunch. The woman was happy too. Next on our agenda was to check out Courtney Place, the nightlife street in Wellington.

After getting a vibe for that (it didn’t take long), we hopped over to the beach and ate our crêpes. I was trying to take Elina to the beach in the daylight but we had too much packed in and daylight leaves early these days. the beach at night is pretty cool though! After the beach, it was to end our adventures so Elina and I returned back to the Air BNB.

And when I woke up in the morning, Elina was gone. She was off on her journey home. I’m gonna miss her. There’s no one else I’d eat crêpes on the beach with at 11pm.

Sunday April 23

When my parents and I woke up in the morning, my mom made some scrambled eggs with the New Zealand eggs I had purchased the night before because I thought New Zealand eggs taste better than any I have ever had and wanted my parents to experience that as well! The eggs are simply so natural – once, I even found a feather in the carton!

We watched a bit of Educators since it’s the last time my parents will really be able to and then we packed up and left the Air BNB. We dropped stuff off at my flat and made our way to the weekly farmers market. There I discovered a very strange shaped melon so naturally, I bought it!

We then walked over to Te Papa and worked our way through the Gallipoli, Nature, and Māori exhibits. We got lunch from the museum cafe and ate outside before returning to my flat. My parents gathered their belongings and we all rode over to the airport.

It felt so much harder to watch my parents leave than it did when I myself left back in January. These two weeks seeing the south island were incredible. I am so grateful I was able to share that experience with my parents and with Elina.

But now, break has come to an end. My new normal life here in Wellington must continue. And continue it shall!