Homesick

I’ve been away from home for nearly nine months and I haven’t experienced homesickness until now. I never thought I would get homesick because as much as I love the mountains and valleys and my parents house in Idaho, New Zealand’s landscapes have always overflowed my cup in terms of scenery. What I realize now is that it’s not the place that I miss, but rather the people. 

When I moved to Wanaka with seven of my best friends from childhood, we made our house at 3 Pepperwood Green a home. We covered the walls with free posters from the gas station, collages from our collage nights, and thrifted photos of mountains that were awkwardly small for our big white walls. More importantly, we filled the space with an abundance of laughter and conversation. Although we technically lived in different houses, the other house would always be at our home. And during our time at our home in Wanaka, we had more than fifteen friends visit (I lost count how many). Whether it be during family dinners, movie nights, or playing the game salad bowl, there was always something to do and someone to make you laugh. I remember a conversation with Lyla where we realized that we had never laughed harder in our lives. My favorite part about our home in Wanaka was the amount of carpet space where we would lay for hours in the sun knitting or reading or chatting. If it was cold, we would cram around the wood stove and warm our toes while talking about everything and nothing. Time would pass faster than what felt possible.

As time passed, friends left. But as one person left, another three would enter our lives. Eventually we had to move out of 3 Pepperwood Green but by this time, I had enough of a community to really realize it wasn’t the house at all that made Wanaka a home, it was the people. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t so hard to leave our house. Because I still had the people. Man I miss that home.

Like I said, New Zealand fills my cup of scenery so much so that I don’t miss the mountains and valleys of my true home in Idaho so much. What I miss recently is the people. I miss the smell of my mom’s cooking and her laugh after making an inappropriate joke. Or Chopper’s grilling on the big green egg. I miss family dinners in the summertime with my sisters and grandparents where we eat food from mom’s garden and share stories and new (debateable) opinions. I miss my friends who make spontaneous decisions to go on some wild adventure out some dirt road, up some mountain, or down some river. I miss sitting around the table at Shorty’s Diner with 15 people after a night at Quinn’s house all in bonus world. I miss home for the people. 

When I left Charleston, I had no emotion at all - something that scared me in the moment. I wasn’t sad to leave the city, partly because I knew I’d be back and partly because I was so excited for my adventure ahead. But recently, I’ve come to miss it dearly. I miss ending my days on the couch with my roommates watching movies and laughing about the characters on the screen or laying on each other's beds talking about pointless things. I miss driving with the windows down across the bridge to find a good place to watch the sunset together. I miss coffee dates at a new cafe every Wednesday or a morning surf with Brooke. I miss the people that made Charleston home. 

This feeling of homesickness does not make me want to go home, but it helps me realize what I want for myself after New Zealand. While currently planning what’s next, I have made my decision based on the people, not the place. You know what they say – home is where the heart is (or something cheesy like that)…

Thanks to everyone who has made each place a home. I love you all!

Cheers,

Maddy

February 25, 2026 - Written by Maddy Dunn