What's not to love about the North Island?

My last hour of waiting at the grotty hostel was redeemed by meeting Josh. It was his 19th birthday that day and he has been traveling around NZ to surf. He spent his youth growing up in Zambia and West African countries as his dad worked for WHO as a physician. He was personable, polite, intelligent--a young man to make every parent proud. I wished I had asked him for his mother's email, so I could tell her what a terrific young man he is.  The world is going to be just fine with kiddos like him.

My Birthspirit Workshop was better than I could have imagined and I am renewed with hope and love for midwifery.  I got to spend a week with some of the 9 of the coolest midwives and had two great coordinators...Sara Wickham and Maggie Banks both are PhD midwives and both have a strong belief in normal birth, especially at home.  My workshop attendees included: 2 Aussies, 3 UK, 2 Americans--the other one has residency and has lived in NZ for 7 years...but she trained as one of the little known Certified Midwives at the Downstate program and is credentialed through ACNM. Our brochure and the cottage where we all stayed. 

What I found fascinating was that most of the midwives had traveled or lived in other countries-which added to our worldview.  After the workshop, I spent a couple nights with an awesome midwife--who is a recent graduate in NZ. However, she has extensive years of experience being a doula in the UK and a midwife assistant in Australia. Thanks Penny for being such a wonderful host~~~
 

I had some time afterwards--seeing a bit of the North Island--the best was swimming in the warm sea.  The sheep below was taken in the corrugated sheet metal capitol of NZ.  The stone sculpture was taken in Hamilton--it is a sculpture version of a Maori feather cloak which were highly prized.

 I think this one is obvious...

Ladies lawn bowling in Rotorua and me standing in front of the Rotorua museum...with the very English gardens.

Drove through the Kiwi fruit capitol of NZ and this is interesting to see how they are grown.

Last, but certainly not least for LOTR fans...I drove through the Shire.  Yep, it is quite lovely--but the whole darn country is pretty beautiful!  No, I did not do the tour, as I did not have enough time...but I would have for my children who loved the story and movies.