Summer Wrap Up

So summer has once again come and gone in the Southern Hemisphere, so here is my high and low points of summer for 2013/14:

High points

1. I had another four months off from university, which was a much needed break after a very stressful year.
2. I got to spend the entire summer down in the South Island with my family and friends, it was wonderful.
3. All my hard work paid off and I got into the major I wanted. PR here I come!
4. During summer I worked the entire time and managed to save up a bit of money which will come in handy after uni.
5. I finally got my retainer off! No more braces or wires or dentist visits, success!
6. My sister and her boyfriend of six years got engaged! So excited.
7. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends at home, which was great! I miss them already.
8. Went speed dating, which turned out to be a lot of fun, despite the nerves before the event.
9. Meeting new people who I worked with, truly fantastic people that I can call friends.
10. I got to explore so much of the countryside in the South Island. Yes I've seen some of it before, but having a new camera made it so much more exciting.

Low points

1.  I had to move out from a wonderful flat. It was such a great place to live and all the flatmates I had there were amazing!
2. I craved sushi so much when I was home. Nothing compares to some of the sushi in Auckland.
3. I didn't save as much money over the summer as I would have liked to.
4. It was so hard to find a new place in Auckland! What made it worse is when no-one replied to emails, texts or calls. SERIOUSLY! did you want/need a flatmate? Oh wait you won't answer that questions since you don't respond.
5. Spending nearly four months in my hometown. To long, far too long.
6. I still have my job at BK. Need a new job ASAP!
7. I haven't been running as much over summer as I would have liked to. Time to change that.
8. One of my closest friends left the country and deserted us all for Germany. Miss her face!

So as you can see a pretty positive summer. I really loved being home for the summer because after this last year of study who knows where I will be at the end of the year. So getting to spend so much time with my family and friends really was a great way to spend my summer and in a way to say good bye to a town that helped made me the person I am now.

So goodbye sunshine, heat, relaxing and my tanned skin and hello falling leaves, new colours and crisp mornings.

My summer in a nutshell

This post has been a long time coming now, but with unforeseen circumstances it meant the delay in this post. However I am here to give you a list of my highs and lows for summer, as summer is now officially over in the southern hemisphere and autumn is slowly making itself known here in Auckland.
So here we go:

The Highs

• Having four months off Uni to enjoy the summer months was spectacular and possibly a very rare occurrence so I tried to soak up as much of it as I could.
• I turned 21 this summer!
• My birthday wish came true, that was for my family to spend my birthday in Auckland with me and half of my family surprised me by coming up which was AMAZING!
• Moving house and meeting my amazing new flat mates who are from all over the world, so I now have even more connections for when I travel.
• I read an inspirational book that has changed my life.
• I have become a more healthier person and do regular exercise which has resulted in me losing weight.
• It was my first summer away from home and I managed to support myself (with some help from my mother now and then) by working hard, and I feel I am a more independent person because of it.
• I only got sun burnt twice which is a new record.
• Going home for Christmas was a major high point as I miss them dearly.
• Getting to know all the locals who come into work was an unexpected bonus.
• My childhood friend came up to see me for a weekend, it was a great weekend.

The Lows

• Working for a majority of the summer meant I didn't get out as much as I would have liked.
• Spending New Years alone was a buzz kill night, and having to work the next morning made me feel even more lonely.
• Moving out of my old apartment was sad as I loved the place and I miss my old flat mate at times.
• Catching the worst flu right at the end of summer was not fun! (that is why this is being posted late)
• Getting sun burnt is never fun!
• Realising that I do not own a bikini because I am unsure about my body.
• Did not save as much money as I was hoping to. 

For my first summer in Auckland I would say it was a pretty successful one. Of course like anything there are low points but I'm becoming a more positive person and focusing on the positives in life and embracing what surrounds me.
I have to say that I am grateful for the amazing summer I had, but I am looking forward to some cooler months that are ahead as well.
So goodbye summer and hello autumn!