It’s only been nine days since we landed in New Zealand, yet somehow it feels as though we’ve lived a month’s worth of experiences. We’ve settled into our small, but cozy Airbnb in Rothesay Bay, growing more and more accustomed to the slower, quiet life of living on the North Shore. We wake up each morning to texts from friends and family, sipping coffee as we catch up with those back home and preparing ourselves for another day of balancing the never-ending list of “to-dos” with creating moments of joy for Larsen.

With only one week under our belt, we’ve accomplished quite a lot: Purchasing SIM cards, getting official NZ phone numbers, opening a bank account and learning the bus system with our new bus passes. Perhaps most significant of all was Austin securing a job at BNZ (pronounced bee – n – zed), one of the “Big Four” banks in New Zealand. After fostering a strong connection over the past few months, Austin met with the BNZ team last Tuesday, and by Wednesday he had secured himself a solid offer with an incredible company. We are beyond proud of him and grateful for the security and relief this provides our family.

Despite this huge accomplishment, we find ourselves struggling to fully celebrate the big (and small) achievements. For each item we check off our list, new “to dos” appear, leaving us feeling exhausted and stressed once more. One thing in particular I’ve noticed is that the big things aren’t what weigh us down or create the most joy. Instead, it’s the small things (good or bad) that have the power to make or break our day.

For Larsen, the unique taste of New Zealand ketchup (or tomato sauce, as the Kiwis call it) could push her over the edge after a long day of patiently waiting for buses and dodging the rain that always seems to come, whether it’s predicted or not. On the other hand, playing catch with mom and dad in the backyard with a balled-up airplane neck pillow or doing yoga with mom might be exactly what she needed to feel a bit of normalcy, even if just for a moment.

For Austin, forgetting a rain jacket on a day that is meant to be sunny is no small mistake in a country where you experience four seasons in a day. (I did my best not to say “I told you so,” but I did…tell him so). But setting up his Xbox to play video games while Larsen and I head to bed, offers him a slice of normalcy and peaceful contentment, a nightly routine he was missing from our days at home.

As for me? I’ve uncovered New Zealand’s best kept secret is its remarkable non-alcoholic beer selection, of which I am heartily exploring. Also surprising was the realization that the lack of quality time with myself was really wearing me down. As an extrovert and adventure enthusiast, I failed to realize the significance that spending quiet time with myself had on my mental health. Back home, I would take walks by myself or enjoy quiet reading time in an empty house. Realizing I needed to create space for myself here, I started doing morning yoga and meditation, relishing in the moments I had alone with my thoughts. I’ve come to realize how much I enjoy my own company and the peace it provides.

It’s expected that we will feel overwhelmed starting a new life thousands of miles away from everyone we know and love. Austin and I have to remind ourselves that it’s only been nine days. Nine days of touring a new city, looking for a house, relying on public transportation, and adjusting to a new climate, cuisine and culture. Nine days of everything being new and nothing feeling normal. It’s easy to forget we only just landed – but it’s harder to slow down, celebrate the wins and focus on the small things.

Yesterday, as I stretched my body through familiar yoga poses, my bare feet grounded in the wet grass behind our house and the warm sun kissing my face, I spotted a small worm edging past my toes. A mere inch from where I had just stepped, defenseless and exposed to the world around it, the worm kept moving along with a clear goal in mind. It was very possible it would get stepped on…but it was also possible that it might reach the edge of the yard and the garden of dirt that awaited.

I smiled to myself at the thought that while at times we are overcome with the challenge that lies ahead, slowly but surely, we will make our way. And sometimes, it will be the small things, like seeing a worm crawl through the grass, visiting a local Cat Cafe, playing tennis with your Dad, or meditating at the beach that gives you to strength to keep pushing forward.   

See below for a few more pictures and fun memories from the past week!