Kiwi at heart, New Zealand always on my mind.

Still thinking of Ross Herman and his family and friends. It's amazing how much the Centre community really gets around and is everywhere. I'm so glad I am a part of it and hope that we, as a community, continue to support those in it and close to it.

Speaking of the Centre community, I've been so lucky to have the friends I do, whether they are in Cincinnati, Louisville, the tri-state area of Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio, somewhere in the US or even abroad. I've been visiting friends close to Cincinnati, and have found some other alumni that are living in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. It's nice to get a break from the "stress" of chemistry and grad school by getting together with some good ol' Centre kids. We all understand each other, regardless of year or major or what we choose to do with our lives, and we all support each other in our endeavors. I couldn't ask to be a part of a better group of individuals.

With Centre on my brain, another place/memory that always pops up is my trip to New Zealand. It's that time of the year again where CentreTerm is coming up, and luckily the New Zealand trip is going again this year. I had a person going on this years trip ask for suggestions on where to travel to in the South Island, and I was just transported back to the most beautiful place on Earth. I know it sounds very subjective, but I don't care. I found myself again there. I figured out what I wanted out of life, and that is the place and the beginning of me and positive thinking. There is NOTHING better than hiking a huge mountain/volcano and getting to the peak and just looking out for miles at wilderness. It's so peaceful, and a great to really think, meditate, etc. I know that it sounds corny, but sometimes the best place to find yourself is in a place that you have no idea about. To find yourself, you have to first lose yourself. And what better place to lose yourself than in one of such beauty?

 Don't believe me? Here are some photos to try to get you to believe me:

View of Auckland from Devonport.

Rangitoto (a shield type volcano)

Muriwai Beach. Known for being one of the only homes to gannet colonies.

Murawai

Can't remember... somewhere on the North Island?

On top of Rainbow Mountain (yes, that's its real name)

On the climb up to the Mount

On top of the Mount.

White Island, a still active volcanic island.

Huka Falls.

Looking across Lake Taupo at Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.

At the Tongariro National Park.

Ngauruhoe and Tonagriro

Mt. Doom, if you will.

Part of the Tongariro Crossing.

Emerald Lakes.

Franz Josef glacier.

Lake Hawea in the South Island on the way to Queenstown.

Lake in Queenstown.

Milford sound and the Fiordland

Nature cruise through Milford Sound.

If that doesn't make you want to go visit, I don't know what will. It's been almost 2 years since I've been to New Zealand, and while I have forgotten some of the smaller names of places we went, I remember the important places, and I remember the feelings I had there, and what I learned from the islands across the Pacific.

Does this mean that I'm condoning a trip across the world to "find yourself"? If you can, go (doesn't even have to be New Zealand). If it's not possible, just lose yourself in nature. It may be a little cold to do that now, but once it warms up, go on a hike. Look at the trees, the paths, the animals around you. Disconnect your mind from the world of work and stress, and just connect to the beauty around you. Each step you take gives you a different view of the path you are on.

Yes, I know I sound like a nature-loving hippie getting all transcendental, which is completely the opposite of what I do in my normal day-to-day life. But it's good for everyone to take a break from who you are. Reload, refresh, get re-energized. Then get back to what it is that you do. But there is nothing wrong with taking a break and looking at how beautiful this world is, one that we tend to take too much for granted.

New Zealand, I promised you when I left that I'd be back. I'm going to keep that promise. It might be 10, 20, 30 years down the road, but I will get back to you. There is so much nostalgia to just up and forget you. I hope that you continue to awe and inspire all the people that visit you. You definitely stole my heart, and I am a Kiwi for life.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas season. Let's just remember what it's all about :) Happy Holidays!