Beach Day

Hoping for sun, we headed to Somner, a seaside suburb of Christchurch, which boasts wide beaches, surfers, and rock formations. The town itself stretches over the surrounding rolling hills, fills the valleys in between and extends up to the beach, which is lined by a landscaped footpath, cafes, concessions, bistros, and surf clubs. On a sunny day, the beach would be full of surfers, para-sailors, para-surfers, jet skis, and other ocean athletes and vehicles; today the clouds were unrelenting and attracted only those wishing to enjoy the sound of the waves and the feeling of the soft, yielding sand beneath their feet.

I wandered, read, and took some photos, while the bravest of us dived in. She said the water was great, but not nearly as warm as the 60 degree air outside. While she tried to suppress the chattering of her teeth, we shared how we arrived at our projects and why in New Zealand. With formulaic responses, we answered these questions that we have been asked dozens of times before. And we'll do it again tomorrow when we meet the other Fulbrights in Wellington for our orientation.

But formalities aside, we shared the exhilaration, anxiety, and trepidation that comes with being in a new country, knowing no one, and carrying a responsibility to contribute to this place in some meaningful way. I think by reciting these semi-scripted mission statements to each other we felt more reassured and reminded of our goals. Besides, it was nice to hear someone else's spiel for a change.

After some time, we left the sparse, gray beach and headed back into town. The ocean was quiet and calming, but I mostly enjoyed the ride there and back: the road wound around the coast beneath colorful homes perched on the hills and cliffs dropping off into the ocean, and I was reminded of California, where I had been just one week ago. As we drive on the opposite side of the road, on the opposite side of the world, I find comfort in these small reminders of home.





Cheers,

D