1-21-06

If you haven't been following this blog since my 2nd post, you are now required to go back and read it. This will also explain the oddball title I chose for my blog.

Ok. Glad you're back.4 years ago today I was in the midst of one of the best weekend's of my life.

It all started so innocently. Classes ended on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., my study abroad friends and I picked up our three rental cars, packed our bags and headed out for an adventure in Rotorua, New Zealand. The drive was beautiful and we managed to stay on the left side of the road.

We arrived at Cactus Jack's Backpackers and settled into the "new" room containing 4 sets of bunk beds. Apparently this room was new because months earlier a wayward backpacker didn't remove the lid from a can of beans before cooking it on a hot plate. Essentially the room exploded and now hot plates aren't allowed in rooms.

The next morning, we woke up and headed to what is essentially a sheep themed park. Now is the time I'm obligated to reveal my favorite kiwi fact: Sheep outnumber people in New Zealand 17 - 1. Yep. 17 sheep for every 1 person.

The clear highlight of this park is zorbing. Zorbing, invented in Rotorua, is a "sport" defined by crawling into an inflatable hamster ball with 2 of your closest friends and a couple gallons of water and rolling down a hill. It is disorienting. It is amazing.

Then we headed over to Kaituna Falls for a white water rafting adventure. Nothing like sailing down a two story fall (highest navigable waterfall in the world!) for your first white water experience. It was terrifying. It was amazing.

Then it was back to Cactus Jack's and off to the Grumpy Mole for dancing. I still maintain that the Grumpy Mole is the best name ever for a bar. I dare you to disagree. Then it was off to bed for an early wake-up call.

Saturday we went to Waitomo for some world-famous glow worm caving. We entered the cave by repelling down a waterfall. We trudged through freezing cavey muck, but thankfully had waterproof boots and wetsuits to protect us.

Now the point of this post isn't to brag about my international adventure or to compare the rafting and caving excursions to White Water and Fantastic Caverns of my childhood.

So now on to the good stuff.

Somehow Saturday night found Mr. H and me alone in a bar after everyone else had turned in for the night. Yes folks, you guessed it. This weekend was all build up to the day Mr. H and I politely had a conversation about "liking each other as more than friends." Scratch that. Let's try this again. This was the day that upon leaving the bar I decided he should hold my hand. So I grabbed his. Hey, that went well so I decided he should kiss me. So I kissed him.

And that my friends marks our anniversary. The rest is history.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Study Abroad Friends at our Wedding

Table names inspired by our study abroad trip