Hello!
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| Sani Pass, Lesotho: Computers for Africa, 2005 (I'm 2nd from right) |
I am now ready for the BIG ADVENTURE!!
Back in August, my friend C and I were discussing our itchy feet - the travelling kind! She said, why not go to New Zealand to visit our friend, W, then on the way back we can travel to the places we want to go... Mexico, Thailand, Cuba, Malaysia (though maybe not in that order). There was some discussion before we arrived at said conclusion, don't you worry. I said if she was going, so was I, and a plan was set. I can't remember what we said exactly, but it was something along those lines.
A few weeks later, and after a bit of research, we got our Working Holiday Visas. We were going, our plan was coming together! Excitement rose. Our friends and family were excited for us. I was excited for us!
Because I'd been to Spain and Portugal for a grand total of 3 months over the past 5 years, I had to have a chest x-ray. And I had to have said x-ray, pray it was clear, get it signed by a doctor AND sent to Auckland, all within 15 days. Damn you, Father dearest, for living so far away! This is because both of those countries have a medium TB risk, rather than a low one like the UK. Grrr.
So I had to fork out £115 for the opportunity, on top of my (rather cheap actually) £89 visa. I got all the way to the hospital, and despite calling them in the morning to check if I had everything, I was told I had to have a passport picture with me. If I was going to Australia, they said, they could take one there. They thought I was going to Australia and therefore had told me I had everything I needed. Unfortunately, this meant getting back on the bus, travelling to the nearest shopping centre, and forking out another £7 for some dire looking pictures of myself. Not allowed to smile. Boo!
My paperwork was completed by a doctor, it was sent to my work, sent to Auckland within... 16 days! Thankfully I had emailed the visa office in NZ and told them my worries of my application not arriving in time and they held my application for me. What nice people. Three days later... I was accepted!
C and I began planning. We bought our flights through an online company. They actually have an office in Edinburgh too, phew! £724 one way. We realised we'd need around NZ$350 per month budget wise (£175), and if we got a one way ticket, we could come home any time.
Our flights are 42 hours long. On February 4th 2014, we would fly from Glasgow to Christchurch via Dublin (3.5 hour stop), Dubai (8.5 hour stop), Bangkok (1.5 hours) and Sydney (1.5 hours). The last two are re-fuel and passenger... swap stops. Our flight allowance is 30kg and since we fly Emirates between Dublin and Christchurch, we get in-flight meals and films to watch! I'm still taking my travel scrabble though!
After talking with some family friends around the beginning of November, we decided to do some WWOOFing first, the World Wide Organisation of Organic Farmers. You become a voluntary farm hand for 2 weeks (or so) for around 4 hours a day in return for free accommodation and your meals. Sounds great, right? I've heard some good and bad experiences about this kind of thing, but I'm going to take the risk and go for it. We decided on Kaikoura first (South Island, north of Christchurch) - a place famous for it's whale watching, crayfish and being able to swim with seals and dolphins. We just had to give each farm a few weeks notice, rather than tell them months in advance as plans can change! I even looked it up on google maps- street view. Here you go...
Beautiful... right? Our plan was solid. I thought. Travel, work, volunteer, explore, make friends...
Then comes 12th December. I'm on the way to Bristol to see family and realise there's a message in my Facebook inbox which I can't open while in the air. C has changed her mind. My first thought is a very rude word. But I don't cry or panic. She says she hasn't saved up enough, and with her job cutting her hours back by two-thirds, she doubts she'll be able to go with me. She also thinks, she tells me, that she'll get homesick too soon and come back within a few weeks, if not a month.
There is no point flying half way across the world for such a short period of time. I don't blame her at all, it is a huge step - and I'm glad she told me so far in advance. I can see where she's coming from, but at the same time, I didn't think we would get homesick so soon - because we'd have each other. Our friend W is in Queenstown, and on the same island as where we land. He's a little piece of home. I also have three friends in the Otago area.
I talked it over with my dad and my sister, H, who flew down with me. Not at any point did I think, well then, I won't go either. That was never a thought and yes, I'm still going. Solo.
In actuality, I think New Zealand is a lot like Scotland, only with a few less people, plus bigger mountains, bigger adventures and no midges (though there are sand-flies). They have one single poisonous spider, which is apparently lucky to see, and they have more sheep than us (mmm lamb). They even sell Irn-Bru! (For emergencies only).
Of course I'll get homesick, and of course I'll miss everyone, but I know that my friends and family support me in my decision to go, so that will hopefully push me on. And I always have the knowledge that I can come home any time.
Today I handed in my notice at work. My flatmates have already found someone else for my room. I only received travel-related presents for Christmas, as requested, including a guide book which I have not stopped looking at.
This is finally happening!!
Leaving on a Jet Plane: 39 days...
