Two Months in McCall, Idaho

It’s been two months, and yet it’s only been two months. I’ve moved into such a beautiful part of the world, and I’m so lucky to be here. Before I launch into the details of what I’ve been up to, I wanted to write down a few quick things about being in America so far.

• Whoever invented four way stops needs to step on a lego
• No one does holidays like the Americans – I haven’t felt Christmas spirit in a long time and I did here
• If you need to estimate the length of anything, measuring in subway sandwiches is almost as effective as using the imperial system
• At this rate, Americans use Fahrenheit purely out of spite
• If you ask an American to say water bottle in a kiwi accent they will definitely loosen all muscles in their face, deepen their voice and string the words worrdduh boddel at you. Damn wahterr bahtels.

I spent the first two weeks with my second family, who’s daughter is the main reason I travelled over here in the first place. Every person that comes into the shop generally asks where I’m from, which is immediately followed with the question, ‘how did you get to McCall, Idaho of all places?’

Keely has been my best friend since 2017, and I don’t know where I’d be without her. She’s been there for me through so much and getting through 5 years of a long distance friendship is no small achievement. So naturally, with the freedom I found myself with after graduating my diploma, I decided to move here.

Four days after arriving in the country, I started work at the local ski resort’s retail department. After the first week I’d resigned myself to the fact that maybe McCall was like Kerikeri in NZ. Not a lot of young people. That was until I met three boys in the rental & tune shop – Logan, Graden & Josh. From there, more and more people around my age started showing up – I’d just been early. I can now confidently say I couldn’t have asked for a better workplace. Screw the corporate tourist ski resorts, I’d take family-run small town Brundage any day.

Not long after, an absolute legend of a young lady started working in the rental shop. Maddie is like the big sister I never had. I’m so thankful to have met her, and can’t wait to see where the friendship goes.

After three weeks, I moved into the employee housing in New Meadows – about 20 minutes drive from McCall or the equivalent of Waipapa from Kerikeri. It’s here that I met a whole bunch of the lifty team, with people between 18 and 30 staying from all around the country. I guess that’s something that is so weird to me, is the idea of being the only international. Full stop. Everywhere else I’ve worked before always had people from all over the place, even if just from Australia. My wish to experience American culture firsthand has been well and truly granted.

Something I’ve never had before is Thanksgiving – I guess this year was the best time to be invited to three. I had the official day down in Boise celebrating with Keely’s family, but I was lucky enough to have a Friendsgiving with Graden, Logan & their friends, and a second one with Keely & her friends.

A favourite spot to hit is the Trail Creek hot pools. The pools are on a mountain pass towards Cascade about an hour away. They’re completely free, clear water (unlike the mud ones of NZ) and sit right next a little stream that’s fun for hopping in and out of once you start to overheat.

The snow hasn’t come yet. Most of the conditions are very similar to NZ. A lil icy with patches of nice soft snow. Skiing in trees is cool, but I haven’t been able to fully experience it due to the risk of messing up my skis on a stray rock.

On the note of skiing, I was lucky enough to be able to take time off work to go and ski Jackson Hole, to help set a world record of ‘most people skiing down the mountain in jeans.’ Funnily enough, my home mountain in NZ had the previous record of 104. In Jackson Hole we smashed that with 3,112 people skiing in jeans.

I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day working but got a lovely dinner with Keely’s family. It all felt a bit surreal, skiing on Christmas and driving through snow to get to Keely’s house. I’ve never had a white Christmas before, and it was weird talking to family who were all surfing, boating or out near the ocean in the heat. It made it cozier and was a good excuse to wrap up warm however. I could get used to the idea of snow at this time of year.

I’m working again at New Years, but I get to lead a kids torchlight parade and photograph the fireworks show before heading to friends in the evening. So, I’m not worried.

All in all, I’m just glad to be here. After all the stress, money and planning it was all so worth it. The friends I’ve made, the experiences I’ve had and all the memories I still am yet to make.

I’m not sure how often I’ll check in like this, but it’s mostly just a record for where I’ve been, and who I’ve met.

Until next time – big hugs from McCall,

Emma xx