Well i guess i should really update my current situation on here as to where i am, what i do and what is in store between now and leaving for NZ...
Currently i'm living in Stoke on Trent and have been here for the last 4 years. It has certainly come time to leave here and move on but upon deciding to get out of here, i was left with another decision.
WHERE??
Moving back home wasn't an option. The work i do is not as well provided for back home and having had so much time living on my own, i would not cope with losing that independence, as affording the rent in St.A would not be feasible. I didn't know about moving to a new place in the UK as i just couldn't settle on a place that would serve me well without a feeling of longing for somewhere else or something more. And from there i turned my attention to moving abroad. My brother left for Vancouver in January 2007 and is still there so i figured how hard can it be?? Not really was my answer! I applie for my visa, was granted it within two weeks and booked my flight. This was it, i was going to New Zealand.
I hadn't really formed a plan of where to go, what to do, how to do it, but i didnt mind that. I see myself a pretty resourceful so to me, just turning up in a town or city, i would be able to find somewhere to live, eat, work and meet people so my date was set for 4th November with little more than knowing that i was arriving in Auckland on the 6th November...
Since sorting that i have spoken to a friend who moved to Auckland a couple of years back and have sorted out that i can stay with her for a week when i land so i can find my feet and not have to sort myself right from the get go. Other than that no other plans have been made but i seem to be metally gravitating towards Christchurch on the South Island as somewhere to head to look for work, and people to meet.
So what do i do in Stoke? Well i currently work at an Outdoor Education Centre which mainly deals with primary school aged kids on a residential basis. The centre is based just on the southern tip of the Peak Distrct and provides me to phenominal access to a wide range of work with a great bunch of clients. I origionall came to Stoke to study at uni but since graduating and landing a job here, it sucked me in for another year.
When i am not working as an outdoor instructor, i am out there living it. I'm big into my rock climbing and mountaineering, and mountain biking right now. Almost every weekend i will be away in some part of the UK, or France more recently, getting the most out of my time and living the dream of just being out there, pushing myself to finds new places, new experiences, with a great bunch of people who share my love for the great outdoors. I will be sad to leave these people and this place behind for the time that i am away, but i will be leaving safe in the knowledge that i shall meet new people to share the new experiences i will have in NZ, who can show me another side to this world, and who can teach me new ways, which when i return i can meet up with the old crew again, tell my stories, listen to theirs, and get back to it just like we always did, having grown in different ways but still bonded by an eternal desire to enjoy the natural world and explore it in many modes; to climb it, hike it, ride it, paddle it, and most importantly, live it, Live that dream, the dream that keeps us going out there time and time again, and always brings that smile to our faces...
Saturday, 22 August 2009
NZ so far...
So what have i sorted to date...
Well i guess the biggest of my list i have got through is managing to obtain a visa to permit me to travel to New Zealand in the first place. I have a working holiday visa which is valid for 12months. My 12 months will start on the day i enter NZ and i can leave and return as many times in that period as i wish. My conditions of the visa are that i do not undertake permanent work, and must now keep a job/study/training period longer than 3months. Other than that i am pretty much free to roam as i see fit in the country.
I have also booked my flight now. I elected to book a one way ticket to allow maximum flexibility of my trip as i may be able to extend my visa once in the county, or i may decide to head somewhere else before returning to the UK. It might cost me more in the long run, but i;m paying for the freedom in my opinion and that is what i want this year to be about.
I leave the UK on the afternoon of the 4th November and will arirve in Auckland after a connecting flight in Los Angeles on the 6th November. One of my old work colleagues lives in Auckland so i shall be spending my first week with Clare and Tony, with their little boy Charlie too. Clare is also pregnant and expecting their second in January. It will be great to see them again as it has been about 3 years since i last saw them, but also to have a local contact who can help me out in my first weeks in the country.
So far that is as far as my plans go once i am in the country, i've a few ideas of where to go and what to do which currently involves getting into a hostel in Auckland to meet some like minded folk and see who is up for a trip somewhere. From there i'm trying to sort a work placement at the national outdoor education centre on the North island which can be as short or long as i want, then make my way to the South Island for some adventures! My current feeling is gravitating me to Christchurch region, not sure why but just seems to be where my gut is saying to go. From there i'm hopfully score a place to live, find some work and then get out to the mountains for some trekking, climbing, alpining and skiing when the winter season hits. All in, i'm so psyched for it all but i know i've got more to sort here with wrapping up my life in UK before i leave, but more on that later...
Well i guess the biggest of my list i have got through is managing to obtain a visa to permit me to travel to New Zealand in the first place. I have a working holiday visa which is valid for 12months. My 12 months will start on the day i enter NZ and i can leave and return as many times in that period as i wish. My conditions of the visa are that i do not undertake permanent work, and must now keep a job/study/training period longer than 3months. Other than that i am pretty much free to roam as i see fit in the country.
I have also booked my flight now. I elected to book a one way ticket to allow maximum flexibility of my trip as i may be able to extend my visa once in the county, or i may decide to head somewhere else before returning to the UK. It might cost me more in the long run, but i;m paying for the freedom in my opinion and that is what i want this year to be about.
I leave the UK on the afternoon of the 4th November and will arirve in Auckland after a connecting flight in Los Angeles on the 6th November. One of my old work colleagues lives in Auckland so i shall be spending my first week with Clare and Tony, with their little boy Charlie too. Clare is also pregnant and expecting their second in January. It will be great to see them again as it has been about 3 years since i last saw them, but also to have a local contact who can help me out in my first weeks in the country.
So far that is as far as my plans go once i am in the country, i've a few ideas of where to go and what to do which currently involves getting into a hostel in Auckland to meet some like minded folk and see who is up for a trip somewhere. From there i'm trying to sort a work placement at the national outdoor education centre on the North island which can be as short or long as i want, then make my way to the South Island for some adventures! My current feeling is gravitating me to Christchurch region, not sure why but just seems to be where my gut is saying to go. From there i'm hopfully score a place to live, find some work and then get out to the mountains for some trekking, climbing, alpining and skiing when the winter season hits. All in, i'm so psyched for it all but i know i've got more to sort here with wrapping up my life in UK before i leave, but more on that later...
Friday, 21 August 2009
So it begins...
So today is the day i start my blog. The cursor has been flashing at me for a while now, i've honestly no idea what to put on here. I guess i've started my blog now as i'm off to New Zealand soon for a trip that currently has no defined end point which is pretty exciting. So far i've scored myself a visa for 12months, booked a one way flight and now just want to get there! I've still plenty to organise between now and leaving but this is going to be my way of keeping everything together, trying to stay organised, but most importantly keep in contact and keep updating on my escapades on the other side of the world...
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