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I spent about a month in New Zealand during my travels in 2008. And like most travelers, hearing that a disaster has hit somewhere that you’ve spent a bit of time, is naturally a little more disheartening than some far off place that I’ve only seen in pictures. So this week’s Forkover Friday is for Red Cross New Zealand for the Christchurch earthquake.
I flew in to Christchurch from Sydney on a rainy, and very Northwest-y autumn day back in April 2008. I had been experiencing a bit of homesick blues, and the similarities between Christchurch and Oregon were really fun. I stayed in a hostel at Cathedral Square, spent time at the botanical gardens, meandered about town, and then stopped in Christchurch a second time after looping around the south island, so by the time I jumped back to Christchurch for a third time for one night between flights from Auckland and waiting to head to Thailand, it was nice knowing where everything was and a good end to my stay in New Zealand. So seeing pics & video of the destruction around Christchurch feels that much more real.
Forkover Friday Week 8
Who it helps: New Zealanders
What non-profit: Red Cross NZ
Where: New Zealand
Why: 6.3 earthquake that hit Christchurch on Tuesday.
101 Things Before I Die
February 28, 2011 at 8:20 pmYeah, we spent just one night there last March. To see the cathedral’s tower knocked down, knowing that I had seen it just a year ago, was heart wrenching