I first arrived to New Zealand an excited and nervous international exchange student.
I left the country only a few hours ago as a changed person…a better one.
I believe living in New Zealand did me good and made me change my perspective on life for the better. These are the reasons why I am immensely grateful. This is my very small, but honest way of saying thank you.
Thank you for welcoming me with open arms,
For being the diverse country that you are.
Thank you for showing me that there are still kind people in the world,
For every Kiwi that smiled at me, walking down Queen Street.
Thank you for the friendships I have built here,
For the nights of dancing, laughing and absolute fun.
Thank you for Auckland with its beaming Sky Tower,
For being the city of sails.
Thank you for Wellington,
For your roads that lead to ever more beautiful landscapes.
Thank you for showing me that there are still clean rivers in the world,
For the shades of green and blue of your water.
Thank you for your volcanic heart,
For the vast immensity of Lake Taupo.
Thank you for every single time I raised my eyes to the sky to find the most breathtaking scene yet,
For Wanaka and Queenstown.
Thank you for being Maori,
For being Aotearoa.
Thank you for the ever-present silver fern,
For the never-ending nature that extends through your land.
Thank you for showing me what winter actually looks like,
For the first snowy flakes of my life.
Thank you for your beaches,
For leaving me in awe of natural beauty.
Thank you, New Zealand, for changing my life.
I leave you knowing that I will come back.
Knowing that my life will be better because I lived here.
Knowing that I will carry a piece of you in my heart forever.
Back in crazy and crowded but beautiful Mexico:
I will always be a little Kiwi.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Haere Ra