I have missed home here and there throughout the semester, but I realized after getting to Queenstown I've never actually felt homesick ever in my life. I am sort of at that half way point. I have been in New Zealand for 2 months now, and I have a little more than 2 months left to go. The day I got to Queenstown was also the day everyone moved into Roger Williams to start their semester. It's really strange to see pictures of your friends all together and consciously know you are half a world away.
I suddenly started hating New Zealand and resenting how long I'm here for. All I have known my whole life is the little town of Washington, CT where everything is comfortable. In New Zealand I'm surrounded by people with different accents, words, phrases, values, etc and it really puts me out of my comfort zone. Yes, it's always good to be put out of your comfort zone every now and then. But for more than 1/4 of a year? It's hard.
Particularly the hostel in Queenstown was full of really energetic travelers who loved to socialize. The entire hostel often went out on town together at night and took trips together during the day. At every hostel I have easily talked to and made friends, except Queenstown. I was so alone in feeling homesick. Whenever I asked how long people were here for, they always said "not long enough". One woman was even crying about having to go home for only a month before she could return again to NZ. Everyone in my study abroad program is always talking about how they never want to go home. It's really hard to talk to people who are on completely different emotional levels than you.
Homesickness isn't just a thought in your mind. It isn't even completely an emotion. I felt homesickness in every pore of my body. My muscles ached and it felt quite literally like I had weights on my shoulders. It's funny because, not that I have never valued family, but I have never considered myself to be really a home-body. I guess this trip has made me realize how much "home" means to me. Whether it's my comfortable home in Washington or a person such as Connor, "home" is something I now value more than anything.
That being said, I did take some trips in Queenstown. I hiked a mountain, and got these incredible views of Queenstown:
I also went to Wanaka, which is known as the "chilled out" version of Queenstown or the "New Zealander" Queenstown. (Queenstown is so touristy that most New Zealanders avoid it and go to Wanaka).
15 minutes outside of Queenstown is Arrowtown. Not only is it the cutest little town, but has stunning views!
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