Josh took some beautiful photographs on the way back to get Reirei last week. He also picked up some Finnish hitchhikers along the way because he’s nice like that.

The first few days of my new teaching job have gone very well. They have been overwhelming since I have had loads of information jammed into my brain but it has been an awesome experience. The students start back this coming week so that is going to be something else to look forward to, as well.

I got here a day before Josh. I brought as much as I could carry in my car and then he and his dad brought the trailer and the rest of our things.

They were running late that day, but everything had seemed to be going well by the texts that I had been getting from Josh. I was still at work, though, so I couldn’t keep in full contact. Plus, they were driving in and out of cell phone reception on their way here.

Finally, they got here. I was so excited to see them. Josh stepped out of the truck and I gave him a big hug.

“I have some bad news,” he said.

I backed away from him. I probably shouldn’t have but I guess it’s just instinct to go in the opposite direction of bad news. Also, I suppose it didn’t feel right to be hugging the bearer of bad news even if it wasn’t his fault.

That’s when I started looking for Reirei.

“Reirei ran away when we were packing up. It was in the last five minutes. She ran out the door. There was nothing we could do. We looked for her for a half hour and we just had to leave.”

He looked really upset and I knew he was probably just as upset as I was but I didn’t care. I ran away and hid behind the curtains in my house since that’s all there existed so far to hide behind – there was no furniture in the house yet – and I cried.

I cried all night.

Josh told me that he had all of our old neighbors looking for Reirei and that they would send him a text if they found her and he’d drive right back to get her.

We didn’t get a text that night. I was really upset because I knew that her chances of surviving would get lower and lower as time went on since she was so small. I was hoping that one of the neighbors who didn’t know us had found her and taken her in not knowing and that when Josh’s dad went back the next day he could somehow sort everything out and find her. Our chances seemed slimmer and slimmer, though.

The next day I went back to my second day at work, downtrodden and heartbroken. All my new coworkers were so nice and supportive about it and hoped that she would turn up. Some offered me cat carriers for when Josh would go back to get Reirei because they were confident he would have to because she’d be found.

Later that day, Josh texted me to let me know that Reirei was indeed safe and sound. I couldn’t believe it! Apparently she had NEVER left our little cottage. She was hidden behind the stove – the only thing left there. Josh didn’t think she was small enough to hide behind it but apparently she had wedged herself behind it and our other neighbor found her in there when he looked for her. Josh was true to his word and drove right back and got her. Over three hours each way. He opened up the cottage door and Reirei was sitting there on some blankets that our next door neighbor had brought over from their cat. She looked at him calmly as if nothing had happened and came up to him and started purring.

There’s never a dull moment. I’m glad she’s safe now. Well, she was actually always safe but I’m glad that we have her here with us now where she belongs. I don’t think my heart could have handled losing Reirei after moving and starting a new job this week as well as having to leave Moko in New York too. Maybe one day I’ll finally be able to get Moko over here too and the four of us can be one happy family!

I saw Mary do this at her blog and I wanted to do it. I haven’t done anything like this in a while and the questions were interesting. I enjoyed reading her answers so I figured I would do it, too!

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?
riding bicycles (once I get a bicycle again)
playing video games
catching up on internet fun

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.
Arrested Development
Stargate SG-1
Doctor Who

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?
Take them! I really enjoy taking photos as is probably evident by my many photos in every blog post.

4) Why do you blog?
I enjoy life and I enjoy writing about life! It is a way for me to document certain things, as well as share them with others. Also, since I moved overseas, it is a way for me to still share with my family and friends about what is going on in my life while I am so far away.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly.
Facebook
GoogleReader
Reddit
MyFitnessPal
Pinterest

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?
My best friend Kierstin who is back in New York. I miss her like crazy. @ifearthemoon

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.
greek yogurt and granola
carrots and hummus
cheese doodles
peanut butter and banana

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?
Yes, two cats.

Moko, who is still in NY for the time being until we can get her to NZ.

Reirei, our new kitten.

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?
my glasses
my camera
my computer

10) What’s your favorite drink?
water

11) Do you enjoy cooking?
Yes but I am not as good as I want to be or think I am.

12) Do you have children?
Nope.

13) What are your favorite hobbies?
blogging
working out
singing
photography
playing video games

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?
I think I’m a pretty outgoing person, in general. There are certain situations where I can be a bit timid or quiet but I’m always still social and approachable.

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
Besides the obvious “oh my gosh, I want to lose more weight,” I would like to try to not make unrealistic or too many goals for myself. That could be an entire blog entry in itself.

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?
I don’t really have one.

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?
Move to a new town and start my new teaching job!

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?
FAR! I think I live about as far away from my family as someone can, unfortunately.

19) List three of your talents.
Singing.
Teaching.
Giving advice.

20) What is your greatest attribute?
My inherent belief in myself that does not come off as overconfidence but instead as optimism and a love of life that make other people happy when they are around me.