"Excuse me, can I ask you for directions?"

Today I made a quick trip to town to run a couple errands before classes started and something happened that made my day: a group of Kiwis stopped me to ask for directions. I guess this means I no longer look like a confused tourist! I don't know when it happened exactly but sometime in the two and half months since I arrived in New Zealand I went from feeling somewhat lost and confused by my first experience overseas to feeling almost at home in Wellington. I no longer feel the need to carry a map with me every time I venture to town and although I haven't seen everything the city has to offer, I feel like I can find my way around pretty well. Knowing I'll only be here for a few months has motivated me try and fit as much stuff into that time as possible and see as many places as I can. It got me thinking about life back home and how I too often put things off, thinking I'll have time to do them whenever. And knowing I'll have just one more semester in College Station before I graduate makes this feeling only that much stronger. I love New Zealand and although I'll be sad to leave, I can't wait to go back home with a fresh outlook and 'tourist' mindset - carpe diem!