I departed for my travels knowing they would change my life forever ...
While abroad I was lucky enough to have experienced so much, I was able to live the lifestyles of some great friends and trying new and some times not very nice things. But I am a traveller, not a tourist, true I had one or two unhappy times but I don't dwell on them, food poisoning clears up lol. I have been asked many times "what was your favourite place" or "best part", and the answer I give now is the same I have given; I can not choose just one thing. America for example, each state is like it's own little country, different ways of life, slang, temperatures and even accents. I managed to stay in about 40 states while there, some of the things I'll never forget, which are probably things Americans take for granted, things such as: chip munks, squirrels, 3 day corvette show, lightning bugs, the smog, the difference in taste with food and water. I say the smog for a couple of reasons, one is we don't have it where I come from and the second it makes amazing sunsets and sunrises.
I have been asked if I would do this trip again, I think the answer would be no, because even thou I enjoyed myself so much, all this non stop, living out of a suitcase travelling for seven months really pays a toll on your body (and bank account). I think if I was to do it again I would do it more slowly, spread it out over a longer time, some places I think would look better in winter with the ice and snow, others would just be good to see it in a different season. Another question I have been asked was "what was the main thing you missed from home", that is a hard question as nearly everything is different, even everyday things like bread and water.
I think to be honest I didn't really miss anything that much, I believe we are brought up knowing one way or one thing. What I have done is just opened my horizons, some things took a bit of getting used to but after awhile it was as if I had always had it. The fact I was away for so long could have helped in that I suppose. But if I had to choose one thing I missed would be a friend, someone to talk to, or someone to listen to, a shoulder to cry on when things got me down, someone to share the moments.... I think that was the biggest thing I missed, not having that friend there for support. 
I took over 1000 photos, mostly of landscapes. I narrowed it down to about 300 of the best but is still too much to display on this site. I have been showing people as I meet them, these 300 photos, some think they are postcards until they see the back of the photo, others think 'wow your good' but in reality I'm the same as everyone else taking pictures outdoors. I was just lucky enough to have great scenery to work with. 
Food fight in Las Vegas, skunks doing the wild thing in the cabin door way, 118f heat, corvette road trip, Mardi gra in New Orleans, rodeo in Texas, seeing a few famous people are some of the strange things that happened, as well as experiencing a record low conversion rate in not one but two countries (America and England) trying to learn three new currencies (American, Canadian, English/Scottish) always adjusting to different time zones and temperatures. ..... The list could go on, but every hour of every day has been a very special day, ones I hope to never forget. 
One thing I got used to, and miss, is the American accents, I think I have been here to long and have grown used to them, I can hardy hear an accent anymore (accept the southern). I still know I'm here though, they drive on the wrong side of the road lol. :)England is a very old country, but I guess we all know that. One thing that got to me in England/Scotland was the fact every thing is the same, sure the accents change the further you go up but all the buildings, roads, everything is the same where ever you go. The old castles were good to see but the English are prudes, they charge you to see anything and everything, even Stone Henge has a fee. Most of the bigger castles are all commercialised, modified for the tourist, which really ruins the history of it all. I think England/Scotland would have to have the highest cost of living anywhere, food, petrol everything is so expensive but the wages can be really good.
Sitting here thinking about some of the things I have done and seen, I am surprised I lasted nearly seven months, even though I cut two months of my trip due to a death and sickness in the family and getting low on funds. Thinking about it now I guess if I wasn't so busy travelling around I could have got home sick. I could have missed my waterbed, my own pillow, my friends, my life style (not that there was much of one in the last couple of years saving up for this trip). If I was able to work in either country I doubt I would of gone back to New Zealand, sure NZ has a lot to offer but I think my destiny is in America. 
On a funny note, there were and probably are a lot of rumours about me and this trip, even before I left they started. Some saying I was going to sleep my way across America, (I know who started this one, I wont mention his name, but lets just say I feel sorry for the couple of people that believed his lies and decided not to meet up with me - their loss) that I was very rich (I wish), that I was after a rich American woman so I could marry, and a few other even weirder ones. I guess these people that start these things are just very lonely and have nothing better to do, I laugh every time I here a new one (rumour that is). Ok if you have got this far you either are bored as hell, have nothing better to do or can't sleep and are hoping this will put you to sleep :) well I think I might tell you all about the time I went to jail, na better not you might think I was a bad ass :p The jail is a major landmark, has featured in a few films etc, can you think which one it is?
I now have to return to my own country, I can take memories, photos, souvenirs etc but I can't take back all the things I have grown to except as everyday things. It has only been seven months but I will have to adjust back to the New Zealand lifestyle that I left behind. It shouldn't take me long to readjust but I think it's apart of me that doesn't really want to. New Zealand is an easier way of life but the American lifestyle just has something about it, not all of it, just bits.
Sigh
I wrote the above while in America, after starting a long version in England but decided it was way to long and decided this will do, now I'm home and can add more before I post this I will :) I can't mention peoples names, or rather wont but if something we did is mentioned I'm sure you'll remember :) If nothing is mentioned, don't be upset, I am trying to keep this short (not doing to well lol) I would also like to take this time to thank everyone that put up with me. Thank you so much, you have changed my life forever and I'll never forget you all.
I took a lot for granted being in the comfort of my home, all the little things like water, fruit, bread etc. you'd think they would be the same but I was shocked to find out otherwise. I'm used to drinking water from the tap; it was a shock to have to drink bottled water. A lot of the fruit in America is from New Zealand so I didn't expect that to be different, but it was, I guess the distance makes it harder to send freshly picked fruit. I think I offended someone when I asked if the sandwich bread I was eating was fresh, to me it tasted stale but I soon found out it was just the way it was made there. One thing I did have a little bit of trouble with is the fact I talked to fast down south, I loved the southern accents but found myself quite often slowing it down the second time.
One of the things I will never forget and could never get enough of was Wal-Mart, I love Wal-Mart. That place is amazing, as well as the biggest department store I have ever seen the "stuff" you can get there is anything from the smallest chocolate bar to a ride on lawn mower and everything in between. The first time I went there was with the intention of just getting a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk, 3 hours later I got dragged out. I enjoyed seeing all the sites, the touristy and not so hot spots, I loved the national parks, Bryce, Zion, Yellowstone to name a few, I wasn't to ken on the big cities but took advantage of what they had to offer. But I think I had the best time in the suburbs staying/visiting some of the people I had meet on chat. These peoples let me into their lives and let me experience their way of way, something I will always be grateful for and will never forget. Some of the most fondest memories were introduced to me by these people,
things like Wal-Mart (Wally world), snakes (no snakes in NZ), log cabins, A beautiful place called Whatcom falls, getting lost in a car park :), getting a speeding ticket, catching, or rather trying to catch fire flies/lightning bugs, how to eat buffalo wings the right way, the many stairs of a light house, Daytona beach, Daytona speedway, watching ****** run out of petrol while racing at a smaller race track, chatting in one of Dallas's finest hotels (I didn't stay there), seeing tabacco plants, seeing cotton fields, holding a 9mm gun, shooting a shotgun, carving a pumpkin ..... the list could go on Well looking back over this I can see it's all over the place, I should really edit it and tidy it up abit, but then again I think it does what it should. I had so many experiences I could write a book on them, but I wont ;) You can send your thoughts to me from here :)
Thank you for taking the time out to read this, I hope you've enjoyed reading it.
If anyone is planing a trip like this, or any, I would well advise doing it. I was meant to do this trip last year but business etc kept me away but the point is I did and if all goes well hope to return to America sometime soon.