Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The End. Actually...Fiji...then the End.
I'm flying to Fiji today. And I apologize greatly for the complete lack of updates that I have had in the pat 2 months, but when I get home, which is in TEN DAYS, I am going to attempt to fill everyone in on the incredible story that my life has become in the past 2 months. Think adventure, think excitement, think drama, think love and passion, think runaways and surfing and diving and exploring, think heartbreak and promises and undescribeable happiness.
But it will have to wait- Fiji awaits!
But it will have to wait- Fiji awaits!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Has it really been 4 months?
I was supposed to have flown out of Auckland for home YESTERDAY. WHAT?! that doesnt even make any sense in my head...that this trip was supposed to be over yesterday. I can honestly remember landing in the Auckland airport like it happened a week ago...I was greeted by my room mates Ed and Jason and we went off an explored the shit city of Auckland together..I remember crying in my empty dorm a little bit because it hit me like a sack of bricks that Holy shit, I am completely alone, with no friends or family around, on the other side of the world, for 4 months. But as soon as I manned up, the weeks flew by..wwoofing with the Mackintosh's, 2 weeks through taupo and rototrua and tongariro, becoming a surfer hippie in Raglan for a month, christmas, new years, 2 week road trip with Amy, messes and successes in Australia, back in NZ for stargazing and music..and then all of a sudden, I'm working on this freaking awesome boat and extending my stay for another 2 months. Good thing I didn't plan this trip out.
Mom, Dad, and Eric, I miss you guys a ton, and I'm sorry that I'm extending my stay here in New Zealand, and that you have to erase all of the red circles on your calendars marking my return to the homeland, but if you could see me now, how happy I am here, how much fun I am having on The Rock, the friends I've made, and the experiences I'm having...I know you would understand why. I wish so badly that you all could come here and visit, because I know you would absolutely love it and be really proud of me :). You have been the most supportive family I could ever ask for, and thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams, and for giving me the skills and confidence to take advantage of opportunities like this one. You're all the best! And eric- take advantage of being able to eat meat every day for dinner still while I'm not home haha.
But-The Rock Life...it's nearly a month into my employment, and I still get excited to go to woek every day. This job is so rewarding , but also so incredibly challenging...every single day I am learning something new, whether it be about handling the boat, driving the dingy, how to manipulate people into cooperating with you, how to pull up a 190 kg anchor while hanging off the bow of the boat, climbing up on to the roof of the boat while it's moving to turn on the wind generator...and yet every cruise, I still somehow make some sort of critical error that warrents either: 1. me getting a "stern talking to" by my boss (aka being made feel like I am 5 inches tall because I could not see another boat 800 m away), 2. me getting thrown into the ocean with my clothes on (for saying "ya'all", or for me just simply being American), or something being broken (i.e. 10 glass bowls, a wine glass, dropping a serving dish off the side of the boat and into the sea....whoops). It's a running joke now that Kristi gets thrown into the ocean at least 3 times during every cruise- once at the end to entertain guests, abnd the other 2 are usually done by Ben and Adam pretenting I need to check something off the side of the boat, and because I still don't know what I'm doing half the time, fall for it EVERY TIME, and then i get shoved into the water much to the delight of the crew and guests. But I guess my work problems could be a lot worse than getting tossed into the south pacific :).
We've done some amazing snorkels recently....the best had to be a muscle rock when after collecting hindreds of green lipped muscles, ben and I swam alongside a massive long tailed stingray. My favorite part of snorkeling is when I take a dive knife down with me and crack open the Kina- the fish go crazy for the eggs and you can be surrounded by about 30 feeding fish, all close enough to touch. Some day, Adam is going to take us all spear fishing for some Snapper...yum. a few days ago, a few of us went out for a sunrise fish on our morning off..and as I was eating my hot crossed buns and tea while out on the water at 6:30 am...I looked around me and asked myself, "how is this my life?" The sun was rising over the islands, the 3 of us were cuddled together in our hoodies sipping tea and pulling up little snapper, and we were all just so, so happy. And even last night, When i went back to my new flat and was having a quiet night to myself, my 3 room mates, a peruvian, an argentinian, and an spaniard, made us a family dinner and we sat and drank wine and talked about their different cultures and learned how to dance like a south American mamasita.
Yeah...I'm not quite ready to go home yet.
Mom, Dad, and Eric, I miss you guys a ton, and I'm sorry that I'm extending my stay here in New Zealand, and that you have to erase all of the red circles on your calendars marking my return to the homeland, but if you could see me now, how happy I am here, how much fun I am having on The Rock, the friends I've made, and the experiences I'm having...I know you would understand why. I wish so badly that you all could come here and visit, because I know you would absolutely love it and be really proud of me :). You have been the most supportive family I could ever ask for, and thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams, and for giving me the skills and confidence to take advantage of opportunities like this one. You're all the best! And eric- take advantage of being able to eat meat every day for dinner still while I'm not home haha.
But-The Rock Life...it's nearly a month into my employment, and I still get excited to go to woek every day. This job is so rewarding , but also so incredibly challenging...every single day I am learning something new, whether it be about handling the boat, driving the dingy, how to manipulate people into cooperating with you, how to pull up a 190 kg anchor while hanging off the bow of the boat, climbing up on to the roof of the boat while it's moving to turn on the wind generator...and yet every cruise, I still somehow make some sort of critical error that warrents either: 1. me getting a "stern talking to" by my boss (aka being made feel like I am 5 inches tall because I could not see another boat 800 m away), 2. me getting thrown into the ocean with my clothes on (for saying "ya'all", or for me just simply being American), or something being broken (i.e. 10 glass bowls, a wine glass, dropping a serving dish off the side of the boat and into the sea....whoops). It's a running joke now that Kristi gets thrown into the ocean at least 3 times during every cruise- once at the end to entertain guests, abnd the other 2 are usually done by Ben and Adam pretenting I need to check something off the side of the boat, and because I still don't know what I'm doing half the time, fall for it EVERY TIME, and then i get shoved into the water much to the delight of the crew and guests. But I guess my work problems could be a lot worse than getting tossed into the south pacific :).
We've done some amazing snorkels recently....the best had to be a muscle rock when after collecting hindreds of green lipped muscles, ben and I swam alongside a massive long tailed stingray. My favorite part of snorkeling is when I take a dive knife down with me and crack open the Kina- the fish go crazy for the eggs and you can be surrounded by about 30 feeding fish, all close enough to touch. Some day, Adam is going to take us all spear fishing for some Snapper...yum. a few days ago, a few of us went out for a sunrise fish on our morning off..and as I was eating my hot crossed buns and tea while out on the water at 6:30 am...I looked around me and asked myself, "how is this my life?" The sun was rising over the islands, the 3 of us were cuddled together in our hoodies sipping tea and pulling up little snapper, and we were all just so, so happy. And even last night, When i went back to my new flat and was having a quiet night to myself, my 3 room mates, a peruvian, an argentinian, and an spaniard, made us a family dinner and we sat and drank wine and talked about their different cultures and learned how to dance like a south American mamasita.
Yeah...I'm not quite ready to go home yet.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Rock Life
I can't believe I was meant to be on a plane home to America in 3 days, and now here I am, in my bed to my house that I just moved into in Paihia, taking advantage of the first night off of work and going out since I arrived here for my trial. I just changed my flights today, and am officially coming home May 6th. But I'm going to FIJI before that to do my diving courses. HELL YES.
The Rock is still a dream. We work our ASSES off for 25 hours, somtimes 50 or 75 hours straight with the only break being when we sleep, but I am still awes every day by the incredible opportunity that this job has become. Not only is it a way that I am saving money to go off to get my diving certifications, but I have also acquired a new family of 5 travelers from around the world, who even though we spend every waking and unwaking second with them on the boat, we still go camping together, to to waterfalls to climb together, still go to each other's house for port and pizza after work, and still dance on tables together at Pipi patch (a horrible excuse for a night club similar to Tomato Patch Euro Dance Nights in Corolla). I've also been learning a fuck load about boats, the Bay of Islands, fishing, the oceans of New Zealand, how to make a proper cup of tea, how to handle being verbally abused every day for being American by my boss and co-workers...the list goes on and on.
Here's a sample itinerary of what a typical cruise is like, just so you guys can kind of grasp what it is we do:
-Head to the wharf around 2 pm, picking up laundy, lunches, and various other supplies to restock the boat for the cruise that night. Spend 2 hours cleaning, prepping, cooking, and sometimes dancing/stripping to get ourselves into the Rock Mindset.
-at 4 pm, our other boat, Climax, heads to the wharf to pick up customers. The are taken to The Rock, where we greet them, bring them to their rooms, learn all 36 of their names by dinner time, and try to ease the awkwardness of 36 random people getting together on a boat by serving them alcohol or asking them questions about themselves that we must pretend we are actually interested in learning about (aka- where are you from, how long have you been in NZ for...etc).
-We start cruising out into the Bay around 6 pm, and while we cruise, guests get to shoot a plastic duck target with a paintball gun as a competition, while the other crew members make popcorn and continue prepping for dinner
-We find a secluded bay and anchor up, and we start preparing the bait for fishing, wich must be descaled, filleted, and chopped into pieces enough for 36 guests for an hour of fishing. We get the fiishing poles out for a sunset session, and hopefully catch fresh snapper or Kawhai for dinner, which has happened about 50% of the cruises. We have to unhook every fish that guests catch, and we can only keep snapper about 27 cm. The rest get thrown back. But the big ones we keep and get thrown on the bbq with brown sugar and lemon pepper. YUM.
-After fisahing, if we have a Kahwhai, Adam picks a guest to kill the fish by bashing it on the head, and then surprises the guest by telling them that by killing the fish, they have to eat the dead, still beating heart. They always succumb and eat the heart...except for one time, in which i was nominated, and my vegetarian ass had to eat the beating heart of a fish in front of 40 cheering people. Yum.
-We then set up dinner, which is a bbq of steaks, sausages, pasta, and veg. dinner is by candle light and is very romantic and fun
-We clean up everything, and then we prep the guests for night kayaking, where we take them on a 20 minute kayak to see phosphorescence in the water, which is INCREDIBLE. The other night, it was so bright, you ciould see the outlines of fish in the dead black water, and when they moved, it looked like fireworks. Amazing.
-When kayaking is over, we start a fire down the back of the boat and the guests roast marshmallows and play guitar.
-The next morning, we get up at 6:30 to prep for the day/make breakky. Breakfast is at 8 am, and right after breakky, we go snorkeling!!!!!!! which is my favorite part of the job, and since I am like a fish in the water, I am always on snorkeling duty :). We see heaps of fish, kelp, stingrays, eels, starfish, and we collect Kina and Muscles.
-After snorkeling, we bring the guests to an island, where we go for a hike to the lookout, and the play on the beach for the rest of the time. Weve had a few intense ganes of beach soccer, volleyball, and even beach flags going. Some of the crew has to stay on the boat, where they strip and make all 36 beds in a little over an hour.
-Guests come back to the boat, we give them lunches, and then we entertain them with music, board games, trivia...anything for the next hour until we cruise into Paihia and they leave.
- We clean for another 2 hours, and end the shift with a beer and a reading of the guests comments, which usually sing our praises :).
There is so much more to this job though than just entertaining guests- its customer service, being a tour guide, house keeper, chef, sailor, sea-man, team mate, conservationist, historian, and you have to do everything with a smile on your face and a skip in your step, even though 3 minutues earlier you just got reamed out by your boss because the mugs were facing the wrong way. But hey- I can take that if I get to go snorkeling every day and get paid to do it!
The Rock is still a dream. We work our ASSES off for 25 hours, somtimes 50 or 75 hours straight with the only break being when we sleep, but I am still awes every day by the incredible opportunity that this job has become. Not only is it a way that I am saving money to go off to get my diving certifications, but I have also acquired a new family of 5 travelers from around the world, who even though we spend every waking and unwaking second with them on the boat, we still go camping together, to to waterfalls to climb together, still go to each other's house for port and pizza after work, and still dance on tables together at Pipi patch (a horrible excuse for a night club similar to Tomato Patch Euro Dance Nights in Corolla). I've also been learning a fuck load about boats, the Bay of Islands, fishing, the oceans of New Zealand, how to make a proper cup of tea, how to handle being verbally abused every day for being American by my boss and co-workers...the list goes on and on.
Here's a sample itinerary of what a typical cruise is like, just so you guys can kind of grasp what it is we do:
-Head to the wharf around 2 pm, picking up laundy, lunches, and various other supplies to restock the boat for the cruise that night. Spend 2 hours cleaning, prepping, cooking, and sometimes dancing/stripping to get ourselves into the Rock Mindset.
-at 4 pm, our other boat, Climax, heads to the wharf to pick up customers. The are taken to The Rock, where we greet them, bring them to their rooms, learn all 36 of their names by dinner time, and try to ease the awkwardness of 36 random people getting together on a boat by serving them alcohol or asking them questions about themselves that we must pretend we are actually interested in learning about (aka- where are you from, how long have you been in NZ for...etc).
-We start cruising out into the Bay around 6 pm, and while we cruise, guests get to shoot a plastic duck target with a paintball gun as a competition, while the other crew members make popcorn and continue prepping for dinner
-We find a secluded bay and anchor up, and we start preparing the bait for fishing, wich must be descaled, filleted, and chopped into pieces enough for 36 guests for an hour of fishing. We get the fiishing poles out for a sunset session, and hopefully catch fresh snapper or Kawhai for dinner, which has happened about 50% of the cruises. We have to unhook every fish that guests catch, and we can only keep snapper about 27 cm. The rest get thrown back. But the big ones we keep and get thrown on the bbq with brown sugar and lemon pepper. YUM.
-After fisahing, if we have a Kahwhai, Adam picks a guest to kill the fish by bashing it on the head, and then surprises the guest by telling them that by killing the fish, they have to eat the dead, still beating heart. They always succumb and eat the heart...except for one time, in which i was nominated, and my vegetarian ass had to eat the beating heart of a fish in front of 40 cheering people. Yum.
-We then set up dinner, which is a bbq of steaks, sausages, pasta, and veg. dinner is by candle light and is very romantic and fun
-We clean up everything, and then we prep the guests for night kayaking, where we take them on a 20 minute kayak to see phosphorescence in the water, which is INCREDIBLE. The other night, it was so bright, you ciould see the outlines of fish in the dead black water, and when they moved, it looked like fireworks. Amazing.
-When kayaking is over, we start a fire down the back of the boat and the guests roast marshmallows and play guitar.
-The next morning, we get up at 6:30 to prep for the day/make breakky. Breakfast is at 8 am, and right after breakky, we go snorkeling!!!!!!! which is my favorite part of the job, and since I am like a fish in the water, I am always on snorkeling duty :). We see heaps of fish, kelp, stingrays, eels, starfish, and we collect Kina and Muscles.
-After snorkeling, we bring the guests to an island, where we go for a hike to the lookout, and the play on the beach for the rest of the time. Weve had a few intense ganes of beach soccer, volleyball, and even beach flags going. Some of the crew has to stay on the boat, where they strip and make all 36 beds in a little over an hour.
-Guests come back to the boat, we give them lunches, and then we entertain them with music, board games, trivia...anything for the next hour until we cruise into Paihia and they leave.
- We clean for another 2 hours, and end the shift with a beer and a reading of the guests comments, which usually sing our praises :).
There is so much more to this job though than just entertaining guests- its customer service, being a tour guide, house keeper, chef, sailor, sea-man, team mate, conservationist, historian, and you have to do everything with a smile on your face and a skip in your step, even though 3 minutues earlier you just got reamed out by your boss because the mugs were facing the wrong way. But hey- I can take that if I get to go snorkeling every day and get paid to do it!
Friday, February 18, 2011
BIG RISKS=BIG REWARDS!!!!!!!!!!! EMPLOYMENT=SUCCESS!!!!
I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!
After a 3 day, 11 hour a day bus mission, 1500 km, the flu attacking my stomach and being curled up in fetal position for the entire duration of the trip, I arrived in Paihia to have my trial, which turned into a 3 cruise, 75 hour straight complete submersion into this job, which I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED TO SAY THAT I HAVE!!!!!!!! How is this my life???
Apparently, there were 90 applicants for this one position, and only 6 people got invited for trials. And somehow, I managed to knick the spot, and I am now officially part of "the Rock Crew", which i found out last night at the pub, means I am basically a celebrity in the town of Paihia. No joke!!!
As soon as I walked onto the boat, I knew I made the right choice. The rest of the crew (Adam the Kiwi, ben, Donna, and Luke the English folk, and Tommy the Aussie), are all legends- they welcomed me on with open arms and I felt instantly like I had known them for years. I cannot even describe the chemistry that everyone has with each other on the boat- it's like everyone was feeding off of each other's positive energy. I've never been around a more witty, sharp, positive, happy, fun-loving group of people in my life.
So basically, it is a dream job. We go fishing for Snapper and kowai every night at sunset. We go for night kayaks and go star gazing. We have an open fire on board, a guitar, and piano. We eat amazing food. We play with guests. We snorkel with stingrays and dolphins. we wake up to rainbows stretching across the entire bay. We go Kina diving and Mussel diving. We hike up hills. We play beach soccer and rugby and volleyball. We eat fresh shell fish. AND I NOW GET PAID TO DO THIS!!!!!!!
Words cannot express how happy I am for this opportunity. Big things are going to happen from this, I know it. I cannot wait to see where this leads me. But check out our promotional video!!!!! www.rocktheboat.co.nz
WOO!!!
After a 3 day, 11 hour a day bus mission, 1500 km, the flu attacking my stomach and being curled up in fetal position for the entire duration of the trip, I arrived in Paihia to have my trial, which turned into a 3 cruise, 75 hour straight complete submersion into this job, which I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED TO SAY THAT I HAVE!!!!!!!! How is this my life???
Apparently, there were 90 applicants for this one position, and only 6 people got invited for trials. And somehow, I managed to knick the spot, and I am now officially part of "the Rock Crew", which i found out last night at the pub, means I am basically a celebrity in the town of Paihia. No joke!!!
As soon as I walked onto the boat, I knew I made the right choice. The rest of the crew (Adam the Kiwi, ben, Donna, and Luke the English folk, and Tommy the Aussie), are all legends- they welcomed me on with open arms and I felt instantly like I had known them for years. I cannot even describe the chemistry that everyone has with each other on the boat- it's like everyone was feeding off of each other's positive energy. I've never been around a more witty, sharp, positive, happy, fun-loving group of people in my life.
So basically, it is a dream job. We go fishing for Snapper and kowai every night at sunset. We go for night kayaks and go star gazing. We have an open fire on board, a guitar, and piano. We eat amazing food. We play with guests. We snorkel with stingrays and dolphins. we wake up to rainbows stretching across the entire bay. We go Kina diving and Mussel diving. We hike up hills. We play beach soccer and rugby and volleyball. We eat fresh shell fish. AND I NOW GET PAID TO DO THIS!!!!!!!
Words cannot express how happy I am for this opportunity. Big things are going to happen from this, I know it. I cannot wait to see where this leads me. But check out our promotional video!!!!! www.rocktheboat.co.nz
WOO!!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Big Risks=Big Rewards?
Well, here I go. Finally making a move. Deciding to chase after an opportunity instead of just letting it pass by, and then always wondering what would have happened if I had just made the effort and given it a go. I said I was ready for a change here, and well, here I go. Making a big, plan-changing, itinerary-altering, travel-stopping change.
I was on a backpacker job website before I left for Australia, and I stumbled upon a job notice for an "overnight crew member" aboard a small cruise vessel (a backpackers on the water, essentially). The job asked for water savvy individuals who were enthusiastic about traveling, comfortable being on the water and around boats, good with people, and a commitment until mid April. I thought to myself, "Hm. sounds like a pretty sweet job for someone like me." And I applied, thinking nothing of it, definitely not expecting to hear back considering the job posting was from a few days ago and I felt like this vacancy would get about 67854 applications. And then I left for Australia.
Well, currently, I am near the very bottom of the SOuth Island, about an hour North of Dunedin. And a day after I have my "epiphany", about making a change, finding work, getting my dive certifications, really taking advantage of opportunities, I get a phone call from the captain/boss of this boat saying, "Hey Kristi, we'd be really keen to have you come up to Paihia for a trial cruise for the overnight crew position! We're doing them this weekend so if you're still interested, let us know!". BLAMMO! AWESOME! Only problem is- I'm currently 1503 kilometers away from Paihia, and it is currently Thursday. Meanimg I would have had to leave yesterday if I were to make it there by this weekend, which clearly is impossible. And it would be a 3 day journey by bus, including a ferry ride to the North Island again. And I would be leaving the South Island before I got to see the Milford Sound, which was one of the top places to see while I was down here. And I didn't actually have the job- only an offering for a trial cruise, meaning I am competing with others for the position.
So I spent yesterday morning in turmoil because I wanted to have a go at it SO bad. I sat on the computer for 3 hours trying to figure out how I could possible get there- train, plane, bus...but it was impossible and I was devestated. So I sent a desperate email explaining to them my dilemma, and that the earlies time I could get there would be Tuesday. In which case I would leave today for Christchurch, spend the night in Christchurch, Head to Picton, take the ferry to wellington, stay in wellington, take the bus to Auckland, stay in auckland, and then take the bus to Paihia, arriving there on Monday arvo, exhausted and very very much over taking the Naked Bus. But- it was do-able. And, by some incredible stroke of luck, I acquired 9 free bus passes by my seatmate last time I was on the bus because he was headed to Asia the next day and had bought too many passes. So I essentially can transport myself there for free, it just will cost me loads of time and my sanity. And when I recieved the call yesterday, with the big bossman laughing and impressed that I would make the 1500 km journey, he told me to come on up for a Tuesday Trial cruise. And with that, I all of a sudden am leaving the South Island for a chance of a lifetime job up in the Bay of Islands.
Logic tells me it is ridiculous to do this; there are loads of job opportunities elsewhere, and 3 days travel just for a trial is a bit absurd, I know. But something is pulling me to go. It seemed like it just lined up perfectly- I decided I wanted to find work, make a change, I got those free bus passes, the commitment til april is exactly the time I wanted to head out...it was lining up in some odd, random way that is just screaming to me "GO DO IT!". So, I'm going. And I'm bloody excited about it- so I hope my insane mission will impress the boss-man and he'll hire me.
And it's a big risk, but the biggest risks reap the biggest rewards. And, if I don't get the job, well...that will suck. But I have to keep the ultimate goal in mind: Fiji and diving. I can find work elsewhere, sure, but I know if I don't go up and at least try this, I will wonder what I really missed out on. The opportunity to live on a boat for the next 2 months is just overwhelmingly tempting.
So- wish me luck as I head out today. Don't hate me because I'm leaving the south island before seeing the Milford sound...eek. But heopfully next time you hear from me will be from the middle of the sea.
I was on a backpacker job website before I left for Australia, and I stumbled upon a job notice for an "overnight crew member" aboard a small cruise vessel (a backpackers on the water, essentially). The job asked for water savvy individuals who were enthusiastic about traveling, comfortable being on the water and around boats, good with people, and a commitment until mid April. I thought to myself, "Hm. sounds like a pretty sweet job for someone like me." And I applied, thinking nothing of it, definitely not expecting to hear back considering the job posting was from a few days ago and I felt like this vacancy would get about 67854 applications. And then I left for Australia.
Well, currently, I am near the very bottom of the SOuth Island, about an hour North of Dunedin. And a day after I have my "epiphany", about making a change, finding work, getting my dive certifications, really taking advantage of opportunities, I get a phone call from the captain/boss of this boat saying, "Hey Kristi, we'd be really keen to have you come up to Paihia for a trial cruise for the overnight crew position! We're doing them this weekend so if you're still interested, let us know!". BLAMMO! AWESOME! Only problem is- I'm currently 1503 kilometers away from Paihia, and it is currently Thursday. Meanimg I would have had to leave yesterday if I were to make it there by this weekend, which clearly is impossible. And it would be a 3 day journey by bus, including a ferry ride to the North Island again. And I would be leaving the South Island before I got to see the Milford Sound, which was one of the top places to see while I was down here. And I didn't actually have the job- only an offering for a trial cruise, meaning I am competing with others for the position.
So I spent yesterday morning in turmoil because I wanted to have a go at it SO bad. I sat on the computer for 3 hours trying to figure out how I could possible get there- train, plane, bus...but it was impossible and I was devestated. So I sent a desperate email explaining to them my dilemma, and that the earlies time I could get there would be Tuesday. In which case I would leave today for Christchurch, spend the night in Christchurch, Head to Picton, take the ferry to wellington, stay in wellington, take the bus to Auckland, stay in auckland, and then take the bus to Paihia, arriving there on Monday arvo, exhausted and very very much over taking the Naked Bus. But- it was do-able. And, by some incredible stroke of luck, I acquired 9 free bus passes by my seatmate last time I was on the bus because he was headed to Asia the next day and had bought too many passes. So I essentially can transport myself there for free, it just will cost me loads of time and my sanity. And when I recieved the call yesterday, with the big bossman laughing and impressed that I would make the 1500 km journey, he told me to come on up for a Tuesday Trial cruise. And with that, I all of a sudden am leaving the South Island for a chance of a lifetime job up in the Bay of Islands.
Logic tells me it is ridiculous to do this; there are loads of job opportunities elsewhere, and 3 days travel just for a trial is a bit absurd, I know. But something is pulling me to go. It seemed like it just lined up perfectly- I decided I wanted to find work, make a change, I got those free bus passes, the commitment til april is exactly the time I wanted to head out...it was lining up in some odd, random way that is just screaming to me "GO DO IT!". So, I'm going. And I'm bloody excited about it- so I hope my insane mission will impress the boss-man and he'll hire me.
And it's a big risk, but the biggest risks reap the biggest rewards. And, if I don't get the job, well...that will suck. But I have to keep the ultimate goal in mind: Fiji and diving. I can find work elsewhere, sure, but I know if I don't go up and at least try this, I will wonder what I really missed out on. The opportunity to live on a boat for the next 2 months is just overwhelmingly tempting.
So- wish me luck as I head out today. Don't hate me because I'm leaving the south island before seeing the Milford sound...eek. But heopfully next time you hear from me will be from the middle of the sea.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Epiphany
I have had an epiphany. And yes, I believe my plans will soon me drastically changing.
Although this is hard to admit, and also probably from coming out of the blue if you are reading any of this travel blog and see all of the things I am doing/have done, but I have been in a funk for the past few weeks in New Zealand. Even before I left for Australia, I was feeling a bit down, a bit homesick, and a bit..well, unhappy. And although I would never admit it to anyone, it was eating away at me because I just could not understand why I was feeling unhappy when I am living out the dream of so many people, traveling the world at such a ripe young age, having all of these crazy experiences, seeing all of these incredible things...but I was just getting kind of, well, over it. It's not the living out of a backpack part that was getting to me; I am quite happy with living only with the things on my back. But every day, worrying about how I am spending my money, deciding to go to places SOLEY on the fact that they have free internet, accomodation, and laundry (where I am at now), well I thought to myself, "this isn't why I am here". I love New Zealand, it is a beautiful country. I have seen some of the most amazing scenery that I have ever seen in my life, taken risks and adventures that most people only dream about, but there seems to be a point where you get to the top of a mountain you just hiked 4 hours to get to, and you look around and you say, "well, this is pretty nice. not as nice as Mt. Cook though". and then you snap a photograph, and turn back around for another 3 hour downhill climb. I feel so selfish for saying this, but there is only so much hiking/tramping one can do before the beauty before you becomes almost commonplace. And it finally hit me that feeling this way means I am definitely ready for a change. The part of my trip that was by far the best was when I was working in Raglan at Solscape, surrounded by people who love the ocean, who were creative, musical, open-minded...
I think I am done with New Zealand. I have accomplished nearly everything I have wanted to here, aside from visiting Dunedin for the Uni of Otago, and then seeing the Milford Sound. Aside from that, I was nearly worried the other day when I thought about how I was possibly going to fill another 4 weeks time. Isn't that horrible? And that's why I know I need to make a change. I have been given an opportunity to truly pursue something I really want. No one is going to hand it to me- I have to work my ass off and do it myself. I am sick of just idylly passing the time away at this shitty backpackers and wondering why the fuck I am here, in this shit town where the only thing to do is visit a cheese factory, and pay 25$ to see penguins. PAY TO SEE PENGUINS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. and then, down the road, you can pay 2$ to see rocks. ROCKS for CHRIST SAKE!
So I am making a change. I have this wonderful working holiday visa which allows me to work and make money here in New Zealand, and I have not used it yet. And...I want Fiji. Yes. Fiji. Why? Because I desperatly want to get my Advanced Diving certifications. It's written down as one of my life goals- and what better time than now to go to Fiji, which is on the way home from New Zealand, and pursue one of my biggest life goals? Why have I not thought about this earlier? What was I THINKING?! Now, I don't have the money to take the courses now, but working in New Zealand for the next 7 weeks or so...yes Mom, I said 7 weeks...meaning I will stay here longer, will allow me to save enough to get me to Fiji and dive certified, providing I can find a job. What an accomplishment than will be. And the feeling of working towards something...well, I miss that.
Please, do not judge me harshly when you read this and thing. "wow, Kristi, you are such a selfish Bitch who will never be satisfied..you're in New Zealand for god's sake". And yes, I know how lucky I am to be here, TRUST ME. And I have enjoyed it SO, SO MUCH, but I really do think it's time to move on, to take advantage of this time a little bit more. Because who knows when I'll be in the South Pacific ever again.
Thoughts?
Although this is hard to admit, and also probably from coming out of the blue if you are reading any of this travel blog and see all of the things I am doing/have done, but I have been in a funk for the past few weeks in New Zealand. Even before I left for Australia, I was feeling a bit down, a bit homesick, and a bit..well, unhappy. And although I would never admit it to anyone, it was eating away at me because I just could not understand why I was feeling unhappy when I am living out the dream of so many people, traveling the world at such a ripe young age, having all of these crazy experiences, seeing all of these incredible things...but I was just getting kind of, well, over it. It's not the living out of a backpack part that was getting to me; I am quite happy with living only with the things on my back. But every day, worrying about how I am spending my money, deciding to go to places SOLEY on the fact that they have free internet, accomodation, and laundry (where I am at now), well I thought to myself, "this isn't why I am here". I love New Zealand, it is a beautiful country. I have seen some of the most amazing scenery that I have ever seen in my life, taken risks and adventures that most people only dream about, but there seems to be a point where you get to the top of a mountain you just hiked 4 hours to get to, and you look around and you say, "well, this is pretty nice. not as nice as Mt. Cook though". and then you snap a photograph, and turn back around for another 3 hour downhill climb. I feel so selfish for saying this, but there is only so much hiking/tramping one can do before the beauty before you becomes almost commonplace. And it finally hit me that feeling this way means I am definitely ready for a change. The part of my trip that was by far the best was when I was working in Raglan at Solscape, surrounded by people who love the ocean, who were creative, musical, open-minded...
I think I am done with New Zealand. I have accomplished nearly everything I have wanted to here, aside from visiting Dunedin for the Uni of Otago, and then seeing the Milford Sound. Aside from that, I was nearly worried the other day when I thought about how I was possibly going to fill another 4 weeks time. Isn't that horrible? And that's why I know I need to make a change. I have been given an opportunity to truly pursue something I really want. No one is going to hand it to me- I have to work my ass off and do it myself. I am sick of just idylly passing the time away at this shitty backpackers and wondering why the fuck I am here, in this shit town where the only thing to do is visit a cheese factory, and pay 25$ to see penguins. PAY TO SEE PENGUINS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. and then, down the road, you can pay 2$ to see rocks. ROCKS for CHRIST SAKE!
So I am making a change. I have this wonderful working holiday visa which allows me to work and make money here in New Zealand, and I have not used it yet. And...I want Fiji. Yes. Fiji. Why? Because I desperatly want to get my Advanced Diving certifications. It's written down as one of my life goals- and what better time than now to go to Fiji, which is on the way home from New Zealand, and pursue one of my biggest life goals? Why have I not thought about this earlier? What was I THINKING?! Now, I don't have the money to take the courses now, but working in New Zealand for the next 7 weeks or so...yes Mom, I said 7 weeks...meaning I will stay here longer, will allow me to save enough to get me to Fiji and dive certified, providing I can find a job. What an accomplishment than will be. And the feeling of working towards something...well, I miss that.
Please, do not judge me harshly when you read this and thing. "wow, Kristi, you are such a selfish Bitch who will never be satisfied..you're in New Zealand for god's sake". And yes, I know how lucky I am to be here, TRUST ME. And I have enjoyed it SO, SO MUCH, but I really do think it's time to move on, to take advantage of this time a little bit more. Because who knows when I'll be in the South Pacific ever again.
Thoughts?
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