The ongoing (and really fun) adventures of Derek Nott

The following message from Derek Nott from, well, just about everywhere, is one of many special greetings that SooToday.com received over the holidays from expatriate Saultites.

We'll post one more greeting (from the Rankin family) later tonight, ending our special holiday messages for the season.

********************* Hello again, and seasons greetings to all.

Well, this year has been an adventuresome one to say the least.

As you might know, I was living on Grand Cayman Island, a small island in the Caribbean just south of Jamaica.

I left Cayman in June of this year, just before it was destroyed by Category 5 Hurricane Ivan.

The island was left for seven weeks without electricity or fresh running water. After a quick two-week trip to Cuba, and a few months back in the Sault to say hello to friends and family, I began a four-month journey to New Zealand, where I am living now.

I started the trek in the Czech Republic, the home country of my beautiful girlfriend Daniela.

Here I spent two months learning the Czech language.

The challenge was both frustrating and exhilarating.

The ability to communicate with the Czech people in their native tongue is amazing. After Czech I spent some time in Ireland and England, before departing for New Zealand.

The trip to New Zealand took us through Dubai, and Melbourne, and finally to Auckland where we are living now.

Auckland is a beautiful city, but just another city all the same.

We hope to leave here within the month, and travel the beautiful and mountainous South Island.

Learn to sky dive, take the world's highest bungee plunge, walk the glaciers, and hike in the mountains. After New Zealand it's off to Australia for three months, and Southeast Asia to follow.

This year has certainly been an adventure, hopefully only to be improved upon next year. I send my warmest holiday wishes to all my family and friends at home.

And I assure you, that no matter how far I travel, I still miss the snow. Love, Derek Nott

********************* Other 2004 holiday messages from SooToday.com readers

Sault hockey mom becomes an international TV star A holiday note from London, Ontario Brandi says hi to all the 'crazy Mounties' Someone please shovel this woman's driveway Merry Christmas from Denmark Merry Christmas from British Columbia Merry Christmas from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Christmas in Iraq Hello from the mountains of the Dominican Republic 'Memories of the Soo' guy starts a family Adam Carricato says 'Fröhliche Weihnachten' A radio guy misses the Sault Happy holidays to the Bertos and the Mackans 'Bury our bones in Sault Ste. Marie,' say Connie and Steve Where the Turcos are, it's too hot to cook at Christmas Damielle Lukenda drops us a line Why Bobbi Reid is hanging up her scissors Darlene's life in British Coumbia is one big happy Meet the 'Memories of the Soo' guy's sister Hello to Backdoor Bob and the rippers at Westside Cafe Happy New Year from Mr. Cupello Former Sault girl knows all about Defiance Jackie and Hayley educate the South about pack sacks Look who's hanging out in Washington with Joe Lieberman Anybody remember Lynne Harper? And now, a word from Bert Bertolo The only snow Brittany sees is on SooToday.com Hey nonna and nonno!

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