New Zealand Book is Finished!

I finally got all of my memories and photos into one semi-consolidated book!!! It's 154 pages, but who's counting. That was after much editing and deleting and re-adding and more editing of photos and fun stories. Understandably, it's just not easy to summarize the incredible year I had! My hard copy arrived very quickly last Friday and every time I look through it, more memories come flooding back.

You can preview my book here. A combination of blog posts, photos, and a few additional memories, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I hope you like it:

Adventures in Aotearoa by Jessica Martin | Make Your Own Book

Please note: If you really like it, you can purchase a copy for yourself through the site. Although my main goal for posting it here is so you can preview the finished product, I know several people asked about purchasing a copy. Also, there are a lot of pictures so sometimes it takes a minute to load (particularly on slower connections) just be prepared for that.

It really was one of the best years of my life and so I thank you for being a part of that, even if it was just as a supporter through my blog. I look forward to getting back to New Zealand again sometime soon. Until that point comes, I'll have to be satisfied with my new visual reminder instead. And I'll continue to blog when I have new fun memories to share.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

After spending so long without a proper snowfall, I'm happy to say that the snow is finally falling in Chicago. We have had unseasonably warm weather this winter, including 50 degrees over the holidays, which meant I could look cute for New Year's without worrying about the bulky clothing. So you would think that this weather would only help people appreciate the snow more when it finally came, because we are in Chicago, it will come. But over the last two days 90% of the people I talk to are miserable about it, or at least I thought they were.

Walking home from work along North Avenue, Chicago

I have a new theory... when you talk to someone about the upcoming snow in Chicago, it's just our way of saying "Hey, how you doin'?" It's a conversation starter. It's a good opening line so you don't have to spend an elevator ride staring at the weird pattern of the carpet. I have a suggestion though: don't throw them off by telling them that you actually like the impending doom that may be falling on the city. Because that act alone throws off the balance of it all and gives away that you don't belong...even if you've been in the city for nearly 10 years.


And in case anyone had any doubt of my sanity, I'll be stripping down to my swim suit and plunging in Lake Michigan on January 28 with the Lakeview Polar Bear Club. After all, if I'm going to cross this off my bucket list (again, since I did one in Auckland already) I might as well do it during a warm winter. Care to join me?

Looking Forward to Another Great Year

Where am I now?

Today I was definitely called out on my lack of blogging, so I thought it was time to revisit and start answering a few of the questions I've been getting a lot of lately:

What exactly are you doing?? This is my favorite and given the insane amount of activity I've had in the last 18 months, it seems quite boring to just say I'm living in Chicago now. But if you know me, you know that my life is never without activity. After all, I rescued a lost child, aided a woman who fell in the street, helped a woman who had a seizure while shopping, not to mention my crime fighting job... just your everyday activities. Alright, well, maybe not the fighting crime, but all of the other things really did happen. What I don't think I've ever experienced before is such a connection to so many of the people around me. I have stopped to help countless people with directions, I've had brief conversations with some of the most random people including the guy begging for change (and in our brief connection he never once asked for anything). I don't know if this is because I have more time to appreciate the people around me or because I've become more open to everyone after living in New Zealand. Either way, I like what has happened.

And, when I'm not saving lives, I stay busy with other activities (including shooting guns, hosting a Friends-thanksgiving, and a few bar crawls). I'm make ends meet with contracted jobs and temp work. I haven't resorted to standing on street corners yet...

How are you handling all of this? I am naturally a pretty positive person. I have confidence that things will work out eventually, at least, based on my past experience I have no reason to believe they won't. One of the positives: I get to spend more time with my family around the holidays.
Have you thought about moving back to New Zealand? Absolutely. If I were to move anywhere right now that would definitely be on the top of my list. But it's hard for me because I have such wonderful friends in Chicago and my family is now close enough for me to easily visit. With summer hitting the Southern Hemisphere and so many friends still back in New Zealand, I constantly think about what it would be like to move back there again, but for now, I'm sticking to Chicago.

What is your next adventure? I love this question because it means that people are supportive of my crazy whims. I just took my first train ride from Chicago to Kansas City and I loved it! I think it would have been even more fun if it hadn't been dark outside for a majority of the trip, however, it was still a great experience. Monday I fly out to Colorado where I am meeting up with more family for a week of skiing. Saturday afternoon I head back to Chicago to enjoy the holidays, hopefully with some snow and a picturesque walk along Michigan Avenue. I'd like to make it to Miami and St. Louis early next year to visit friends and as the weather warms I'm also hoping for a trip to Washington DC. But much of this planning has to be put on hold for now so that I can build up my savings again and be able to afford these trips and adventures. In the meantime, I have a guest bedroom and an air mattress and anyone is welcome... just don't expect much food in the refrigerator.