HOME SWEET HOME
So here I am in LAX for the last hour and a bit of this trip. I'm in Terminal 2 this time, not the Tom Bradley In'ernational terminal, and I can say in all seriousness that it's bigger on the inside.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
It was, idiotically, really awesome to hear Kiwi accents and see a guy in Dickies stuff in the queue to check in. And, god, travelling on Air New Zealand again instead of American Airlines. :D And our stuff was weighed in kilos and not pounds, and when we get to Auckland, the temperature's going to be in Celsius! Oh temperatures below thirty degrees I never thought I'd be so relieved. And people will be pronouncing their Ts and not their Rs... It's good to be coming back.
That said, this has been a good trip. Real relatives instead of fake cousins (I love my fake cousins, but really). Not being the only idiot still on the computer at one in the morning. Impromptu trips out of state for icecream, for gas, for donuts, for coffee, for videogames (actually this impromptu trip never happened but the intent was there). Witnessing $30 formal dresses. My accent fitting in. Being in a closer timezone to people I care about (oh my Kiwis, I'm not saying I don't care about you). Not having to think a day backwards for RP. Space Mountain. Wicked fifteen feet away from me. New York City. Not just New Zealand birds in the museum. Summer without constantly carrying a jacket. Stepping outside without instantly getting sunburnt (okay, so I may be exagerrating a little bit). Hot girls Disney characters casually coming up to my table. Hot Topic. Wal-Mart. Getting lost in Target. A mall five minutes' drive away. Not having to go ten minutes down a hill first to get anywhere. (Okay, so that's more New York than Colorado because everywhere in Colorado is in the middle of nowhere.) Witnessing Raeann, of all people, constantly playing videogames. Mexican food. Impromptu singalongs at all hours*. Driving without parents and the singing along louder than the radio. Movies out here first. Videogames I care about. Videogames for under fifty dollars without being used. Digimon: Data Squad on TV and not downloaded. University campuses that go out instead of up. Wireless everywhere and still failing at it. Kuya Joey's amazing ability to strike up conversation with anyone and everyone. Rock Band. Authentic Disney stuff. Being five foot two meaning something. Swimming pools in backyards.
And, of course, coming home.
Mom: "Papa says it's been stormy in Wellington."
Me: "Oh, good times!"
Mom: "He says it's been raining the past few days and it's cold."
Me: "It's just like hom--"
Me: "..."
Me: "That was a new level of stupid."
I met this guy before the security checkpoints who was wearing a T-shirt declaring, "The Dark Knight SUCKED!" Given the amount of fanboying I endured in New York, this guy is my new hero. I still had to check, though.
Me: "Did it really?"
Guy: "Yes."
Me: "My cousins were trying and failing to drag me to it."
Guy: "Don't go; it's a waste of your money."
Me: "I'll keep that in mind.
I think I'm in love.
* Okay, I got the mic out during one of these impromptu singalongs so here are a couple of lame quality recordings (crappy mic ftw). Kuya Joey on guitar and vocals, me singing a bit closer to the mic cos, well, my computer and attention seeker, Ate Patti singing somewhere in the background. This was just for kicks, so no expecting musical genius. :P Well... Actually, Kuya Joey's fantastic on guitar, and I wish I could've recorded him on the piano. And that I didn't go hideously off key at random points. ;P
Wonderwall
Behind These Hazel Eyes
And I'm back in the domestic terminal of Auckland International Airport as I write this. Oh, New Zealand. No sodding Pringle vending machines, no wireless taunting me (I take that back. What is this 'Internet Oasis'?), looking at prices without converting in my head or rounding up to the nearest dollar for sales tax, turning on switches on power outlets (honestly, American outlets don't have switches, no wonder America uses so much power), this place apparently only plays New Zealand music (I missed it so much in the States that I resorted to flailing every time I heard Don't Dream, It's Over)... ♥ God defend New Zealand.
Aaaaaaaand back in glorious windy Wellington where it's freezing! 8D I have a new laptop battery! And...Dad's been lonely and bored without us and apparently he took this out on my room. HE CLEANED IT! I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING, OR I FIND THINGS IN WEIRD PLACES. I HONESTLY WALKED IN AND WAS LIKE "WHERE IS MY KEYBOARD?!!" (Before that I went into the kitchen and went "WHERE ARE MY MUMS?!!" I found them, but they are still dying. I don't know what to do.) What if I'd had porn or alcohol in there?! (Actually I'm kind of amazed he left my chocolate stash where it is.) AUGH. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
It was, idiotically, really awesome to hear Kiwi accents and see a guy in Dickies stuff in the queue to check in. And, god, travelling on Air New Zealand again instead of American Airlines. :D And our stuff was weighed in kilos and not pounds, and when we get to Auckland, the temperature's going to be in Celsius! Oh temperatures below thirty degrees I never thought I'd be so relieved. And people will be pronouncing their Ts and not their Rs... It's good to be coming back.
That said, this has been a good trip. Real relatives instead of fake cousins (I love my fake cousins, but really). Not being the only idiot still on the computer at one in the morning. Impromptu trips out of state for icecream, for gas, for donuts, for coffee, for videogames (actually this impromptu trip never happened but the intent was there). Witnessing $30 formal dresses. My accent fitting in. Being in a closer timezone to people I care about (oh my Kiwis, I'm not saying I don't care about you). Not having to think a day backwards for RP. Space Mountain. Wicked fifteen feet away from me. New York City. Not just New Zealand birds in the museum. Summer without constantly carrying a jacket. Stepping outside without instantly getting sunburnt (okay, so I may be exagerrating a little bit). Hot girls Disney characters casually coming up to my table. Hot Topic. Wal-Mart. Getting lost in Target. A mall five minutes' drive away. Not having to go ten minutes down a hill first to get anywhere. (Okay, so that's more New York than Colorado because everywhere in Colorado is in the middle of nowhere.) Witnessing Raeann, of all people, constantly playing videogames. Mexican food. Impromptu singalongs at all hours*. Driving without parents and the singing along louder than the radio. Movies out here first. Videogames I care about. Videogames for under fifty dollars without being used. Digimon: Data Squad on TV and not downloaded. University campuses that go out instead of up. Wireless everywhere and still failing at it. Kuya Joey's amazing ability to strike up conversation with anyone and everyone. Rock Band. Authentic Disney stuff. Being five foot two meaning something. Swimming pools in backyards.
And, of course, coming home.
Mom: "Papa says it's been stormy in Wellington."
Me: "Oh, good times!"
Mom: "He says it's been raining the past few days and it's cold."
Me: "It's just like hom--"
Me: "..."
Me: "That was a new level of stupid."
I met this guy before the security checkpoints who was wearing a T-shirt declaring, "The Dark Knight SUCKED!" Given the amount of fanboying I endured in New York, this guy is my new hero. I still had to check, though.
Me: "Did it really?"
Guy: "Yes."
Me: "My cousins were trying and failing to drag me to it."
Guy: "Don't go; it's a waste of your money."
Me: "I'll keep that in mind.
I think I'm in love.
* Okay, I got the mic out during one of these impromptu singalongs so here are a couple of lame quality recordings (crappy mic ftw). Kuya Joey on guitar and vocals, me singing a bit closer to the mic cos, well, my computer and attention seeker, Ate Patti singing somewhere in the background. This was just for kicks, so no expecting musical genius. :P Well... Actually, Kuya Joey's fantastic on guitar, and I wish I could've recorded him on the piano. And that I didn't go hideously off key at random points. ;P
And I'm back in the domestic terminal of Auckland International Airport as I write this. Oh, New Zealand. No sodding Pringle vending machines, no wireless taunting me (I take that back. What is this 'Internet Oasis'?), looking at prices without converting in my head or rounding up to the nearest dollar for sales tax, turning on switches on power outlets (honestly, American outlets don't have switches, no wonder America uses so much power), this place apparently only plays New Zealand music (I missed it so much in the States that I resorted to flailing every time I heard Don't Dream, It's Over)... ♥ God defend New Zealand.
Aaaaaaaand back in glorious windy Wellington where it's freezing! 8D I have a new laptop battery! And...Dad's been lonely and bored without us and apparently he took this out on my room. HE CLEANED IT! I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING, OR I FIND THINGS IN WEIRD PLACES. I HONESTLY WALKED IN AND WAS LIKE "WHERE IS MY KEYBOARD?!!" (Before that I went into the kitchen and went "WHERE ARE MY MUMS?!!" I found them, but they are still dying. I don't know what to do.) What if I'd had porn or alcohol in there?! (Actually I'm kind of amazed he left my chocolate stash where it is.) AUGH. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO.