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  Thames, North Island, New Zealand
Friday, October 24, 2008

Think: Moulin Rouge richness; with velvet drapes, black lace-like lamp shades, feather boas randomly peeking out of stuffed-full closets and elbow-length satin gloves hanging limply from half opened drawers. Picture: 1950's retro kitchen appliances and  mishmashed vintage furniture that doesn't match and yet, because of that, it fits together perfectly. This house is me. Through and through. With so many little delightful details I'm always grinning with the pleasure of finding one. (Like yesterday, finding the Edmonds High Grade Flour container that's probably circa 1958 and is so cool it makes me want to hide it in my luggage!)

Jennifer, the owner of the store, is always wearing skirts and  high heels even when she's cooking something ridiculously complex in the store kitchen. Her seven year old daughter, Genoveva (hen-oh-ve-vah), was born in Spain and, like my sister, is obsessed with High School Musical. Kate and Lucy are from Liverpool and I find my tongue getting all confused when talking to them because it wants to mimick their accent and I'm forcing it not to. Though I am picking up various bits of slang that, honestly, just fit so well. I love their parting words of 'Tra, luv!

Thames is a small town in the Coromandel, nestled into a valley with gorgeous green hills popping up behind it and the ocean not too far away. The Kaueranga Store, where I work for room and board, is attached to this brilliant house I live in and though I wouldn't call the work challenging, it's certainly interesting because of all the people who come in and out during the day. The work is simple, relaxing and completely void of stress. Perfect. After Hamilton, this is just what I need.

Part II of my Samoa trip is in the making, just uploading the pics.
Hope all is well, less than two months before I'm on the plane to Canada! (wow)
xox K

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