In May, I bought a one-way ticket from Vermont to Auckland, New Zealand. That was the extent of my planning for my trip. I had nowhere to stay, no roadmap, no timeline. No plan, no expectations, no problem! The time between when I bought the ticket and when I was set to leave, people often asked me, “Aren’t you scared to be going to a country you’ve never been to by yourself?” and the answer was always the same “Of course I am. I’m terrified, but it wouldn’t be worth doing if it wasn’t scary, now would it?” I still stand by that. If it wasn’t, that would mean there’s nothing to lose and no room to grow.

View of Central Auckland from my Airbnb balcony my first two nights in New Zealand

I’m on my way to the other side of the world with a backpack, suitcase, and a camera bag. I don’t even know what I’m doing after my plane lands. I catch a bus into Central Auckland and get there around 8 am, but Airbnb my check-in isn’t until 3 pm. I know I’m not going to go sightseeing lugging all my bags around, so I end up in a little cafe where I get myself settled. I remember that my buddy Abel lives in Auckland and decide to hit him up just to see where in the city he lives. Luckily for me, he’s less than a five-minute walk up the road from the cafe. I drop my bags at his place and we make our way around the city.

Traditional Maori pit-smoked BBQ from Hangi Masters food truck in downtown Auckland

“Eating ice cream is a national pastime in New Zealand. Even in the winter,” he tells me.

So our first stop was a gelato shop by the water. Having my first meal in New Zealand be a scoop of ice cream is a sure way to set the precedent that my life here is gonna be “sweet as.”

After a morning of exploring the city and getting some errands done, we make it back to Abel’s apartment where we look up the address for the Airbnb I’m staying at. It turns out to be the building right next door to his. What are the odds? I’m not sure what to believe, but it seemed to align too perfectly to call it just coincidence. But life’s funny like that, so maybe we’ll just call it a coincidence to avoid the philosophical questioning of fate, God, and the mysterious workings of the universe.

After a couple of days in the city, I move north into the suburbs. Each day, I send applications through Workaway, but each day I hear nothing. I begin to lose hope as I near the end of my three-day booking on Airbnb as I still have no accommodations lined up. I make my way further north using Auckland’s mediocre bus system to get there. On my way down the street, I’m greeted by the friendliest, most beautiful cat I’ve ever met. A cloud with legs and eyes blue as the sea, he became my companion during my stay at this new Airbnb. Each day, he and his other furry friend come by my half-outdoor home and demand attention. The place is beautiful. A small garden lodging with an outdoor shower and kitchen; it feels like a fairy paradise. So based on that, I name my kitty friends Oberon and Fae. Those two became bearers of good luck because as soon as I begin to rethink my plan of working for accommodations, I get a reply.

Oberon the cat watching over the roof of my bedroom at The Peddlers Paradise

Rory and Jennifer are permaculture farmers and educators who live in the south of Auckland in the rural town of Waiuku. Though I have no experience doing farm work, I take the opportunity because at this point I’m willing to learn how to farm if it means I get a place to stay. I don’t end up needing to learn farm work though because the majority of my work involves helping out with cleaning around the house and cooking. Two things I have plenty of experience in. One of my tasks which I have no experience in is collecting eggs from the thirty hens that live on the farm. Unfortunately for me, I’m severely allergic to eggs, so I have no use for the wonderful, organic, happy chicken eggs that I collect each day. However, seeing the hens each morning quickly becomes my favorite part of my morning routine. If you’re ever feeling down, find some chickens and just watch them, I promise you just can’t help but smile.

It’s been quite easy to adjust to my life on the farm. Good coffee each morning, fresh organic food to cook with, and ice cream after dinner. As much as I love good food, Jennifer and Rory truly have made my time with them spectacular. They are so warm and welcoming and go out of their way to make sure that I’m adjusting well to my new New Zealand life.

Lavender bushes line the entrance to the farm in Waiuku

And that’s where I am now! After a month of being in New Zealand, I found a small community that I’m beginning to feel a part of. Most of the people I have met have been thanks to Rory and Jennifer who open their home to others who want to learn to farm and live sustainably. Tomorrow I leave Waiuku for a week to go to Te Aroha to take care of a couple of Rottweilers and an old old dog. Though it felt like a rocky start, things have fallen into place better than I could have ever planned myself. It seems like life has its own plan for me; I just need to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Hey there! If you enjoyed my story and want to give a little to support me on my journey, you can buy me a coffee 🖤

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