We ended our trip in Tim’s hometown of Papakura in South Auckland. It is also the town I spent a year in at age 16/17 when I was a Rotary Exchange student. I was placed at Tim’s high school called Rosehill College. We met in band class and traveled with the choir, band and kapa haka group to Wellington. We were good friends and remained in contact after I left NZ.

It was so wonderful to be in the Beals’ beautiful home and make meals from their garden. Seeing where Tim grew up was touching and so fun to see the kids playing with the old toys.

We were able to meet Tim’s grandparents and had them over for lunch. Such a special afternoon together with them!

We also had a few people over from my rotary club as well as 2/4 of my host mums one afternoon. Such a colliding of worlds moment!

Our last full day we spent celebrating Silas’ 9th birthday a bit early. We decided to go to the Auckland Zoo! Afterwards we explored downtown Auckland quickly. Great timing as the America’s Cup was happening on the waterfront!

Papakura highlights:
-showing the kids Rosehill College (the plan was to kiss there, but grumpy big kids and crying baby got in the way)
-public pool swim
-Totara Park with Gran
-walk along the estuary
-final dinner/Silas early bday celebration with uncle Mike and beals (last hokey pokey ice cream experience)