"It's A Wonderful Life"

So as our year ends and we prepare for reentry into life, what have we learned? Have our lives changed? Was it worth it? What now?

Logan, Ellie and Jordy at Tai Rd Beach

Interestingly enough as I reflect on the year the first thing which comes to mind is, "Why?" As in "Why are you going to New Zealand?" Often asked before we left, I clumsily attempted to answer this in the months leading to our departure. I would babble about having read about the experience while in residency, about how we needed to time it to try to minimally disrupt the kids' lives and how New Zealand was doable in a year and Australia would be too big but I never really answered the question. I continued to wonder this even as we travelled across the globe and moved into a new life down under.

Eli, Coach Kingsley Young and other U-15 Kaponga Soccer Team members enjoying the Hawera Pools

Now, I believe I can answer the question. If I had not left my practice temporarily, it was only a matter of time until I would have had to leave it permanently. What I was doing professionally and personally was not sustainable. I felt I needed a change but could not change things while in the middle of it all. I needed to step out of my life in order to reclaim it. Now, do not get me wrong, it was not as if my life was horrible or anything, it was just...not...what I could do for very much longer. It was a life of my own creation and I had no one to blame but myself and therefore it was I who needed to deconstruct it in order to reconstruct it. I needed Clarence the Angel to show me what life would be like "without" me in a sense. So here in New Zealand I have found "Zuzu's petals".

Peter under some waterfalls near Omapere

I did try to get my personal health in order, to lose weight and become more fit. I decided early on to make this a year to change myself. And I am happy to say I have been successful! I had never really tried to lose weight...I paid it lip service and tried to eat healthy but always ate too much and never really tried. I think I was afraid to try and fail. So at the time of writing this entry I have lost 28 kgs! (55 pounds) The secret to weight loss is no secret. The simplest change was to actually weigh myself periodically and then respond to the data with a change of behavior. If I lost weight keep doing what I was doing and if not then CHANGE something. You cannot do the same thing and expect a different result. This in turn fueled the rest. Diet changes=way smaller portions! Like 2 tablespoons of yogurt+nuts and berries for breakfast. Two carrots or celery sticks for lunch + some peanut butter or salad dressing. And generally try to stick to, no more than 2 cups of what ever we were having for dinner. And try really hard not to snack or eat mindlessly before, during or after dinner. A wholesale change in the perception of what constitutes 'enough' food. Exercise regularly=walking became, walk-running and eventually, running, 3-4 times per week. Thank goodness for the book, "Running For Mortals" which taught me it is ok to run.  Throw in a little bit of weight training with Eli and just like that (12 months later) a new body! Was this Peter's mid life crisis? Well, I don't have a new sports car (but that amazing Bugatti on Top Gear would be nice), I have not left Shelley for a teenage girlfriend and I have not given up medicine to sell hats on a beach in the Caribbean (hmmm that's an idea?) Maybe it was. It was at least the time for me to re-examine my life to date, to examine my life for the near future and to perhaps establish some new dreams for the far off future. So yeah this year will be counted on as life changing for me just from that accomplishment alone.

Logan, Ellie, Shelley and Naniseni

Oh Christmas tree...

In addition, we believe we have found a way to "retire" and travel in a way which is desirable for us. In other words rather than working to be a tourist, we hope to travel and WORK and LIVE among other peoples in other places. We had expected to have a rich cultural experience and lots of fun and adventure but what we did not expect was to create a another home, another community, frankly another 'family' and so the realities of doing this over and over again is not one any of us relish. We hope to return someday to our wonderful friends and the special place that is Opunake, New Zealand in the not too distant future.

Relaxing after their Urenui Mud facials

Now we are in the midst of re entry...happy to be home but sad to be away from our new found friends and other 'home'. Right now we are a bit out of sorts. It feels like home but everything takes a bit more time and thought in terms of our 'flow'. How do we get the kids off to school? How do I do my notes at work? When do I take off my boots, in the mud room or just inside the kitchen door? Never had to think about these things before. How to run/walk on roads that are covered in ice? Eli was welcomed with open arms, the basketball team desperate for another body, squeezing in his 10 mandatory practices before he is allowed to play, straight to the mountain for a Friday snowboard, off to the 10th grade semi-formal on Saturday, and then off to the Patriots game on Sunday! Logan, thrown into a new school, not quite sure how to get to his new classes or to get himself lunch? Izaak welcomed back to elementary school, forgot his sneakers the first day, could tell he was a bit shook up by this minor glitch but recovered nicely once we found some spares in Mr Hebert's office!...and Dad did not get him to the bus on time on the second day (thanks to Mr Hayford for the bail out and quick drive to his school). Today was easier than yesterday which was better than the day before so it will come with time but right now is a bit uncomfortable. Well see ya until the next time, I am not even sure if we will continue this blog as we are now home, but I suspect it will be nice to write things here when feeling reflective on our bi-hemispheric experiences and to keep in touch with those down under. Until then, cheers!

The Legend of Mount Taranaki

Found this cool little movie about the legend of Mt. Taranaki. "Our" mountain which has dominated our lives for the past year.  We will miss him.

Titletown, New Zealand.

In the centre of the rugby universe we have been swept up by the excitement surrounding the 2011 Rugby World Cup, hosted by New Zealand and finishing as it should be with a New Zealand victory! Their first Rugby World Cup Championship since the inaugural World Cup in 1987. The legendary All Blacks, think Canadiens or Yankees or Celtics, the winningest rugby team in history but time and time again denied the Webb Ellis Cup since 1987. The pressure was akin to the pressure over the Red Sox now the Cubs as they tried to get the monkey off their backs. They dominate world rugby but choke when it comes to the Cup. Not this year, the Boys in Black gutted out multiple injuries to their top players and outlasted the pesky French in the final by a score of 8 to 7.

Eli at the Wellington FanZone RWC 2011 Finals All Blacks v France

We were on our holidays and trying to return to Opunake in time for the final but due to a delayed ferry, we decided to stay in the capital, Wellington, to watch it. It was pretty exciting watching the final in a "Fanzone" with thousands of other Kiwis. The excitement and anticipation prior to the game degenerating into silence and tension as the game was far too close to enjoy until the final seconds ticked off. The echoes of Al Michaels' legendary call of the final seconds of the USA vs USSR 1980 hockey epic in my mind, "Do you believe in miracles!?...Yes!"

Locally, our region, Taranaki also got in on the "hardware" as they brought home the provincial title having scored the Ranfurly Shield at the end of the season. This was highlighted by their defense of the Shield during their final home game. The Shield made a dramatic entry via helicopter to open the match.

Henrik, Shelley, Logan and Izaak entering Stadium Taranaki .

Ranfurly Shield Defense

Ready for USA v Ireland

These colors don't run!

Nuff said

Stars and Stripes down under

Irish bodysuits, they're fannnntastic! Or something...

USA v Russia

Yeah!

Lastly, though not in rugby, Eli's Kaponga Soccer Club U-15 Team took home the Title for the first time and received their trophy and medals in an awards ceremony in the basement of Peggy Gordon's, New Plymouth's Irish Pub. Ya gotta love it!

Kaponga U-15 Soccer

U-15 Soccer Prizegiving

Unexpected seal encounters.

Over our ten months here we have seen our fair share of seals, up close and personal.  Only once were we actually looking for them.  The pups are darn cute, and the mammas and pappas rather intimidating when you accidently come upon them.

Hike to Red Rocks in Wellington, totally worth it!

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A little too close for comfort.  We didn't notice him when we hiked up a rock on Waverly Beach.  Interrupted his nap

A Day In The Life-Peter

A day in the life...I usually get up around 0645 ish and head out for a run/walk with Shelley for about 45-60 minutes typically I do the Opunake coastal walkway as it affords great views of foreshore, the mountain and of course, cows. Occasionally I will head up the Ihaia Rd if I want a change of pace.

 I arrive home and cool down for a bit, making myself a cuppa and helping the kids off to school but at a pretty leisurely pace as I do not have to be at work until a little before 0900 and they usually don't leave for school until 0830.

My commute is a rough one, a gut wrenching 5 minute walk into town. Talk about road rage, there is nothing worse than having to wave at people walking or driving by...sheesh!

I start my day and see patients from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Calling them in from the lobby and into my lone office/exam room. I take their vital signs and listen to their needs. On site phlebotomy is performed by the nurses. A small general purpose procedure and urgent care room gives us space to perform most office based procedures. The visits are straight forward and to the point. A quick review of anything which may be due in addition to their presenting issues, then write my notes and on to the next one.

Lunchtime! I may brown bag it or return home for lunch, however now that my 'partner', Ken Taylor, has returned to San Diego via Bali, I am a bit busier so I am returning home less often. I see more patients from 1:00 PM until 4-4:30 PM. I tidy up my notes, review the inbox and am usually home by 5-5:30 PM with little to no work hanging over my head.

The medicine here is very similar to back home in terms of rural healthcare. I have said many times it is as though I took my practice from Wilmington and plopped it down under. Scheduled patients occasionally punctuated by some urgencies/emergencies. By virtue of our geography as well as the 'system' we try to take care of the majority of the problems which walk in thru the door. I find the patients pleasant, hard working, tough and hungry for regular consistent healthcare. The fact I am actually staying for a year is a welcome surprise to them. Honestly, if I was in a different place in my career, not so rooted to our home in Vermont and were not a half a world away from family and friends, I would be sorely tempted to stay as I sense the need is great.

I am blessed to work alongside a very dedicated and skilled staff. They work hard but love a good laugh and always have time for tea. They have helped make the transition a smooth and painless one. Even the patients respect the idea that we have needs and are quite accommodating.

Afterwork varies depending on the day of the week; Mondays Eli will have an Opunake Senior A Basketball Game and/or Izaak will have his Opunake Dragonballers games. Tuesdays I try to make it to Logan's basketball games; Thursdays I take Eli to his Kaponga U-15 soccer team practice; and Fridays I am off to see Eli's Opunake Basketball League games.

Home for dinner then, surprisingly enough, a little TV, as we did opt to get the NZ "freeview channels". We often watch a show or two. Afterwards we will end the evening with a game of cards or some reading time. As it has gotten quite chilly here we often have the kids bring in wood from the shed for a roaring fire. We do not have heat per se just a wood stove in living room, a gas stove in the den/kitchen and a hallway space heater. The kiwi way is to take hot water bottles to bed to get you a bit warm and cozy. The mornings are quite chilly and the air is damp so it is a down to the bone chill. The actual temp is around 0-10 degrees celsius usually. Highs up to 15 degrees.

On the weekends; Saturday we are trying to keep 3 boys on the move and not forget anyone; Izaak has his rugby games; Logan his soccer games and Eli has his Kaponga U-15 soccer team matches in the mornings and his Kaponga Men's Senior League games in the early afternoons. Afterwards if the weather cooperates I will take the kids to the beach at Kina Rd for some fun while I fish for dinner. We usually eat something I catch about once a week.

Sundays are generally a day to do something as a family and we try to do something outdoors or perhaps a little more afield. Trying to balance the 'we here in New Zealand and need to do (touristy) stuff' with the 'we live in Opunake and have friends we want to see and do things with.' It is not as if we go to Boston, NYC or Walt Disney World every weekend when we are at home in Wilmington.

Special family time a.k.a. 'forced family fun.'

Shelley and I wondered about how our family would be affected by this trip. We wondered if the kids would be able to adjust to a new life. Well, here we are at the halfway point and the kids, after a sluggish start have come right. An unintended consequence of our journey has been the time we have had to just "be" with one another. I am not sure what is so different as we are increasingly busy here with friends and school and sports just like at home but I guess because we are the "only ones here" and have a little bit of a "we are all in it together" mentality I see a more open and obvious closeness now. I smile as I watch my sons interact with one another. We look forward to watching a TV show together or playing a game of "Hearts". There are giggles and laughter between a 15, 11 and 8 year old. I am reminded of those nature shows where the great apes are grooming each other as my kids pick through Shelley's hair looking for nits (yes we all got lice except for me! a silver lining to having a shaved head). Eli, the teenager, actually seems to enjoy his family. Of course if asked, he would rather be off with his friends doing other things but being stuck here with us he has embraced this rather than being moody and sulking about it. We spend days at the beach, building forts, collecting bones and fishing for kahawai.

Maybe its not them, maybe its me, me having the time to reflect on these moments as they happen, realizing they will be short lived, and soon relegated to imperfect memories. It has been really really nice to have this time together, I wonder what it will all look and feel like years from now when we think about our time here....

Wilma, our little girl!

Most people connect sheep with New Zealand.  So why not become sheep farmers while we are here? OK, I guess we are not really sheep farmers, we are in fact 'townies". However, we are raising a lamb.  She was born during hurricane Irene, so we named her Wilma after our hometown! (We thought about Curly or Betty, but Wilma won!)

Izaak will be showing her at the annual calf and lamb day competition at his school.  Because most of the people raising lambs live on farms ours gets special attention from all the neighborhood kids whose parents wouldn't let them get a lamb.  She spends most of her day lounging on the deck by the door, but starts "baaing" when the kids come home from school.

Yes, we were putting pj's on our lamb for awhile because she was always sleeping in her poo!  But she has cleaned up her act a bit so we have stopped humiliating her.  But she was darn cute in pj's.

We have eaten quite a bit of lamb here, it's tastier than in the States, but Logan has put a moratoreum on lamb as long as we have her!

I know it sounds kind of silly, but having an animal around has helped us all feel a little more settled in.  Helps make this house feel more like a home.  Eventually she will be going to live out her days, which may be numbered, on our friends dairy farm.

Raising a lamb has us toying with the idea of trading in our lawn mower for some sheep. We know some of you have tried this.  Any advice?