In 2003, in Holton, Kansas, I went cyber and found, among other things, a tiny forum in cyberspace where I eventually became the member with the most posts, but I digress...
On this forum I met people from all around the world. One was a guy in New Zealand (although for some reason I thought he was from Australia). We flirted. We pm'd. We IM'd. We emailed. We webcammed. We talked on the phone.
Being older than dirt and having lived in several parts of the US, I've never been one to take chances, but after 20 years of comfortable singleness and never having thought about traveling abroad, I stepped out of my comfort zone and accepted the fact that I would have to be the one to travel if we were to ever meet face to face.
I came to New Zealand in July of 2006, with July 4th vanished forever in the travel. In December of 2007, my bestie from Kansas came to visit and Hubby and I got married off the shore of New Plymouth amid family, a few friends and a host of seals and seagulls.
With the wedding reception of fish and chips on the beach, I daresay it was a unique day.
My first blog, My Views of New Zealand is the story of my scary but fun transplant to a new country and new life. The landscape amazed me when I first laid eyes on this country and I started taking photos...lots of them! I share them with you here on this blog as I explore the beauty I find.
Using my own photography, I started a Facebook page of quotes called Incidental Imagery. You can click here if you're interested.
You can contact me at tenfootheart (at) gmail (dot) com if you have any questions about New Zealand. I will do my best to answer you.
Hi Betty! Thanks for linking with my Picture Perfect Party Linky on Amanda's Books and More. Your internet love story with a happy ending is very interesting. I can identify with the part about learning a new culture and photographing the country you now live in, as I am an American raising our four kids in my hubby's country of South Africa and taking photos to share with the world. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm now following you with GFC.
You might like my photography blog at http://1camera1mom.blogspot.com
Thank you for visiting on my blog and for your comments. You have nice pictures and very interesting personal story :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is so very interesting!! Thank you Betty for visiting my blog and leaving your comment!! :)
ReplyDeleteI like love stories like yours:) And what a risk you took!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story.I found your comment on a blog I had forgotten that I started. Is it OK if I join your linky from time to time?
ReplyDeleteHi Betty,
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing your comment on my blog I came here and have been reading your story and looking at your photos for almost an hour. Wow is all I can say. And I will come back. I live in Wisconsin and I always enjoy reading bloggers that have seasons opposite ours. Gives me hope in the dead of winter. I knew I would enjoy your posts when I saw you had written this...When we travel, we consider accommodations just a place to rest. I totally feel the same. Anyway, I have enjoyed seeing NZ through your eyes today!
So funny reading your comment about July 4th vanishing. That happened to me as well on a flight back to NZ :-)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just happened to find your blog (and linked my Wednesday-article) and liked your story. I, too, married in another country (I come from Romania and married in Germany...). I think it just happens nowadays, the world is getting small :-)
I like to travel, but I've never been to NZ... it is one of the two countries on top of my travel wish list. Someday, when the kids are older. My husband went there ages ago and for him this was the most beautiful country he visited.
All the best!
Ioana
P.S. I'm trying to translate bit by bit every article of my blog in English, but till then, if you are interested, google translator should help :-)
Personally I think you deserve a huge hug for everything so please take it!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteWhat a romantic story! Hope you are happy where you live:)
ReplyDeleteNun bin ich endlich hier, es hat viel zu lange gebraucht! Entschuldigung!
ReplyDeleteIch hab mich so sehr über deinen Besuch am 30. April gefreut und dir auf meinem Blog gleich
geantwortet, war dann kurz hier, nur hat es mit dem Schreiben nicht geklappt...
Aber heute sollst du auch ein paar Worte hier von mir finden!!!
Wie hast du mich entdeckt?
Du hast Recht, wir können viel von der Natur lernen!!!
Gerne war ich hier bei dir,
einen schönen Tag dir und viel Freude an deinem Blog, auch bei mir bist du herzlich eingeladen!
Grüße von Monika*
Now I am limited here, it has used too long! Excuse me!
I have been glad so much about your visit on the 30th of April and to you on my Blog immediately
answered, then was short here, only it has not worked with the writing. . .
But today you should also find a few words here from me!!!
How have you discovered me?
You are right, we can learn a lot from the nature!!!
Here with pleasure I was with you,
a nice day to you and a lot of joy in your Blog, also with me you are warmly invited!
Greatings from Monika*
I loved reading this Betty, and glad I did as I had no idea you came from Kansas. What a great story. My story was from England to America about 40 years ago. I have enjoyed coming to your blog, your photos are great and I need to visit your other blog more.
ReplyDeleteGood morning dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI do not stop to amaze me the same flowers that exist in New-Zealand and Portugal.
Congratulations on your beautiful photos.
Manuel
Hi Betty, gosh I had no idea of The circumstances leading you to New Zealand. Life can be so wonderful and beautiful when you opt to really live. You're a brave cookie and darn an awesome photographer. I'm a bit partial to the ocean scenes. I still swim but I miss the ocean. Lake Michigan is lovely but the ocean is healing. I'm so happy that we have connected and thank you for sharing your story and photography talents. I look forward to seeing more. Becky
ReplyDeleteHallo Betty,
ReplyDeletewas hält der www doch für kleine und große Wunder bereit!!! Da finde ich Dich und Deine herrlichen Bilder und bin mitten in meinem Traumland Neuseeland!!!
Was für eine Geschichte!!! Ich wünsche Dir in Deiner neuen Heimat so viel Glück und Zufriedenheit, wie Dein Herz festhalten kann!
Alles, alles Liebe
Heidi
Dear Betty,
ReplyDeleteit's a nice life story. At some point we take all our courage and dare a decisive step. I like to visit your blog and marvel at your wonderful photos.
All the best!
Loretta
That's a lovely story. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I love a beautiful love story.
ReplyDeleteHello Betty.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful your garden! Well planned. Congratulations
The trees are magnificent.
Hello Betty,
ReplyDeleteI have linked to your Wednesday linky for a while now and we have more in common than just the love of photographs and beaches. I moved from Germany to Scotland over 20 years ago and raised my two children with my Scottish husband. Sometimes that step into the unknown is the best thing you ever did. :D
What a wonderful and romantic story Betty. I have been in Australia for 15 years but have yet to visit New Zealand! Your photos are stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting in Monday Murals and hope to see more of you.