22/06/2026
Some journeys teach us that home isn't one destination.
It's the place where your roots began and the place where your life unfolded in unexpected ways.
You can belong to both. You can be grateful for both
Three years ago, after 18 years in New Zealand, I went "home."
Turns out, when you leave a country after building a life there for 18 years, where you saw your children grow up, built lifelong friendships, and perhaps grew yourself beyond what you thought was possible, it's not entirely clear whether you are going home or leaving home.
Over the last few days in New Zealand, I've found myself revisiting familiar roads, familiar faces, and familiar memories.
The Mighty Waikato River still flows at its own gentle pace.
The country feels both the same and completely different.
And so do I.
When I first arrived in New Zealand, I came with a profession.
What I didn't realise was that the country would also shape me as a person.
It was here that I taught future healthcare professionals, worked within public health, deepened my understanding of wellbeing, and learned lessons that continue to influence my work today.
For many immigrants, there comes a point when two places begin to feel like home.
One is where your story began.
The other is where part of your story was written.
Neither replaces the other.
Both become part of who you are.
Returning to NZ has reminded me that while we may leave places, some places never really leave us.
And for that, I am deeply grateful
