There is no place where I freak out about light more, blink harder at the staggering beauty of contrasting landscapes, and feel the need to point out every farm animal I see while driving than in New Zealand. Finishing out my working holiday visa this fall was marked by opportunities to learn from a generous visual journalist, get a permanent addition to my body placed there by an incredibly talented artist to remind me of this place that feels like home, and go on a beautiful trek across the South Island. After I returned and began processing my experiences, I found I developed a stronger sense of self and have, perhaps, become more prudent in how much emotional labor I do for people. As Zora Neale Hurston once said, "There are years that ask questions and years that answer" - and it's propitious when the question and answer happen to come in the same year.

Also, I did run over a possum while traveling in the South Island. We had just finished the Routeburn Track and it was a dark and windy road in the mountains. In my defense, I had just learned from the DOC ranger at the Lake Mackenzie Hut that possums are killing off many native bird species in New Zealand so, I guess, I did it for the birds.

*The Pinnacles, The Coromandel, New Zealand*

*Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park & Coromandel Forest Park, Waikato, New Zealand*

*Bag-End, Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand*

*Crown Range Lookout, Otago, New Zealand*

Routeburn Track, Mount Aspiring National Park, South Island, New Zealand

Routeburn Track, South Island, New Zealand

Key Summit, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand (Photo by: T. Allison)

Tongariro National Park, Wanganui, New Zealand

Since arriving in New Zealand I have been blown away by how consistently beautiful this country is. In an effort to live out my many Lord of the Rings fantasies, I have hiked mountains, sought out waterfalls, and traversed the North Island - I've even found the perfect Gandalf-style walking stick. Here to help me realize my LOTR dreams are my Kiwi camp friends I made while at Becket Chimney Corners YMCA in the States (I expect they will be thrilled at the prospect of dressing up as elves, dwarfs, hobbits, etc. to go hiking). As the great Galdalf the Grey once said "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" and with that I will spend my days here exploring, petting Kiwi birds, and shouting "you shall not pass!" whenever the mood catches me.

*Mount Doom (aka Mt. Ngauruhoe) Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand*

*Ngarotopounamu Lake, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand*

I Ran Over a Possum (and Other Happenings in NZ)

Mount Doom: The Time I Simply Walked into Mordor