Day 1 - Flat Hills Farm, Christchurch NZ: The Welcome

G'Day!
22 hours on a plane later, and an 8 hour layover I am finally in New Zealand! I arrived at midnight last night and was greeted by my host family. I got a great nights sleep in a bed with a pillow, and now I'm ready to take on the country! I awoke this morning to a gorgeous view and hot sun :) I began my day working with Vanessa mucking out the paddocks and now I am having some "down" time until I can go for my ride. Outside, there are 6 horses here right now, ranging from 1 to 20. Inside, There are two humans (Jo and Vanessa) and two very friendly dogs who think their human. They all seem sweet. I have my own room with a bed and a few windows that look out into the pasture. Jo has made me feel welcome and comfortable. I was told to 'make myself at home' (minus the mess and walking around in my underwear)
I'm happy to announce that my phobias of mean kiwis and being welcomed into a concentration camp are not playing out as I thought they would....

..."Sophie, welcome to Flat Hills," a dignified English woman said in a monotone voice. Her shadow creeped along the dark walls. "You will find that being a stupid American that you are, you will sleep in the basement with the dogs." Two bid pit bull great Dane mixes flew out from the back of the basement and started growling and nibbling at my ankles. The voice laughed and continued talking, "But please be aware that the dog bed in the corner surrounded by the newspaper is their domain. You can find yourself a cardboard box to sleep in if you wish... Also, If you want to eat, you're going to have to grown your food yourself, I suggest you get started if you wish to have a carrot by springtime... and we Better not catch you nibbling on the seeds!!"....

Things here will be very relaxed, there will be some work involved, and personal expectations from me, but that's what I was expecting.
I'm happy to finally be "home" well, at least for the next month.

Day 0.5... Turbulence at the Airport

Ah the long awaited, and dreaded airport. A traveler's prison filled with anxiety and angst. The sea of empty seats represent those who have gone before, who have since been asked to board their flight and who've reached their destination. For me, the airport is a necessary evil, if I could take a train or a boat, or even a flying elephant, I might. But those of Alaska and United or similar to, pray on the simple fact that once one enters this this strange land of check points and lettered gates, the only way out is to return.
So here I sit now. Smack dab in the middle of Gate N-13 with a passport stuffed with papers of itinerary changes and time to kill. I can vividly picture New Zealand. But the faint smell of day old McDonald's and crackling intercom announcements of flight delays and boarding calls quickly jolt me back to Seattle. I guess for now I'll keep my mind in this country. One stop per country... Seattle, US to Vancouver, Canada (lay over: 3 hrs), to Sydney, Australia (lay over: 8 hrs), finally to Christchurch, New Zealand (final destination). "The hardest climb is getting there" I was once told "You're over and down the mountain after that". I'm starting to see how this statement holds true. My only thought now, besides my want for some sleep is who will be willing to come pck me up at midnight from the Christchurch airport....

So, a little rocky start with flight complications and baggage. But all in all, a pretty seemless start to a fabulous adventure!