I’m in Christchurch, New Zealand now and for the first time on the trip I’m actually staying at a youth hostel. And while the hostel is quite nice and a bit eccentric really - it’s built in a remodeled historic jailhouse – it’s definitely still accommodations for the masses in my ten-bed dorm room. This led me to think that it is pretty wonderful that we’ve not had to stay at a hostel until now thanks to the kind generosity of friends around the world. A few well-deserved shout-outs to them:
Thanks to Erin and Etienne in Tokyo, Japan who let us join them in their housing at the Canadian Embassy and showed us where to get the best sushi in town; to Kate in Nam Yang, South Korea who let us squash into her efficiency apartment and joined us in our travels south; to Josh in Bussan, South Korea who let us squeeze into his even smaller efficiency; to Rebekah, Andrew, Juno, and Alastair for welcoming us to their home right before Christmas – Alastair even gave up his room for us!; to the Kienhius family for kindly hosting us over the holidays in Melbourne and Ocean Grove and introducing us to lots of Aussie culture; and to Graeme and the crew at QDOS for welcoming us as wwoofers and giving us fine tree house-style accommodations. And thanks as well to the many other friends (old and new) we met along the way who helped us experience the places we were visiting in ways we never could have on our own.
Tomorrow we are picking up our hire car and heading off to explore the south island. I already miss being able to pop down to the Lorne beach, but it’s hard to be sad when New Zealand awaits. (:
-Julie
Posted by julieanneluthien 
