Yesss, it's been a month already. One month ago. We packed up some essential stuff, got on the plane in full swing European summer, flew some 30 hours, crossed the whole world and arrived to our destination: winter wonderland in the Southern Hemisphere. And to my moments of inspiration :)

Here are 13 little stories, impressions & a recap of our 1st month in New Zealand. 

In the midst of a new beginning. New experiences, new impulses, new adventures. Yet looking for something familiar. Something that makes you feel home. Secure. Cozy. Loved. Installed. Surrounded. Attached to bits and pieces of your past, yet in the present. Something you know... Something that is so deeply imprinted in your memories... Something you recognise the smell of... Something that makes you feel AT home. 

Departure. Arrival. Settling in. Starting from scratch.

It's good to have a place you can call home. Or at least, if it's not your home yet, you know it will become your home soon. And if not even, to have a temporary home. Where at least your vanity bag can cosy up on the shelf while you are having a bath. :)

But what is home? Where is home? Is it where your family is? Is it the place you lived for the past few years? Is it where you made friends? Is it where you know where to buy bread? Is it your nicely decorated room?
Can you have several homes? Or home is within?

Home is where you make home... isn't it? Or home is where you feel a bit home even though you are not at home yet?

Some years ago, a friend pointed out that once she moved to a new place, she liked to identify and name certain buildings or points of interest that reminded her of similar things back home. This is how her soul found shelter. It made adaptation a lot easier. I liked this point of view a lot. 

I found a bit of home. My toiletries are nicely lining up next to the sink in the bathroom. I discovered the local Tour Montparnasse next to the French bakery in Takapuna. The croissant tastes good. And the best, I spotted the local Badacsony that I see every day - the Rangitoto. Even though the setting is totally different, the shape of the volcano in the pinkish sunset, the wandering sailboat and the smell of fresh fish make me feel like I was by the Lake Balaton again... A bit of home.

What makes you feel home?

One week ago we were still in Europe. Unbelievable. I am not sure if I am fully aware of the situation yet. We really made it! We DID move to New Zealand!!! After all these months of dreaming, planning, preparing, here we are. Enjoying the views of the most beautiful beaches of the world. 

The first days flew by. Arrival. Jet lag. Trying to sleep. Trying to sleep back. Traveling a bit. Organizing our new life. Getting around. Phone. Bank. And the others... And we still have some big challenges ahead - finding a car and a place to stay. To call it a new home. Far away from home...

I find this quote very relevant at this moment of my life. Traveling and moving to a new place opens your eyes, opens your soul. It gives you a new perspective. It gives you wings to fly, to discover. The world, the others, yourself... And... sooner or later, it also places you out of your comfort zone. To contemplate, meditate, reflect. And thus make you grow.

I have been traveling all my life. Moved to a new place, to a new country several times. I learned to cope with change, although it was very hard at the beginning. Changing homes, changing environments, changing lifestyles, changing school, changing work, changing colleagues, changing friends, changing basically everything. You leave things behind that make you feel secure. Not easy at all.

But it made me stronger. Now I just love it. In a way it sets me free. It makes me stretch my boundaries. And learn something new every day.

Settling in. Adjusting. It takes time. Energy. Effort. First joy and then pain (or vice versa). First, everything is super exciting, new, full of new impressions. Then comes the time when you realize you have a culture shock, you are homesick, you miss your environment that you are so used to. You get frustrated and don't find your place. It happens to everyone, I would think even to the most experienced travellers. Just a question of time. 

Many people asked us how are we so brave (or "crazy") to make this big move. How on earth? To leave to the other end of the world. In kilometres and time. Far from home, family, friends. Plunging in to the unknown and insecure and undefined.  Leaving a relatively comfortable life behind. With a small baby. 

We just wanted to follow our dreams. Not to wait until we grow old and regret that we have never done it. We fell in love with this country some years ago. The nature, the laid back lifestyle, the love for outdoors, work-life balance, the people. And it is a perfect time in our life to make this move. Now or never.  We planned it. Prepared it. Saved for it. Drew up the pros and cons. Weighed the scale and made some tough compromises. And yes, ultimately followed our dreams!!!

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This moving really put me out of my comfort zone. I spent the last few days trying hard to reflect upon it... I knew it will be like that. And I wanted it. I just didn't think it will come so fast. Maybe it is because I am also traveling an inner journey of deeper self discovery. Maybe it is also because it is the first time that I am moving abroad as a wife and a mother, not as "me". Maybe it is because of the huge jet lag. 

I wonder where this dream, this journey will take me. Exciting, isn't it?

All inspired by a cup of tea...