I constantly find myself taking pictures of things or thinking of things that I say in my head "will be great for my blog". Somehow, I never manage to actually get those things to my blog. So this morning I set my alarm at 5 to get up and go to the gym. I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, but decided this morning instead of working out, I would rather do nothing than update my blog. So consider yourself lucky. I'm doing you a favor and not me since I ate McDonald's yesterday....and the day before.
I have been in New Zealand now for almost 8 months. The time has flown. This time last year I was being told I was crazy. I started a great job in January, bought a house in March and decided to move around the world in June. My parents constantly got the 'ohhhh well good for her' from people wondering why they would let me do such a thing. First off, they didn't really let me. I did my research and came to them with a plan and said this is what I want to do. Anyone that knows me, and has for the last 27 years, knows that when I make up my mind there's no stopping me. I wasn't called the Mayor of Reed for no reason. They questioned my timing, but gave me their approval to do what I was going to do. Once they came to visit, they understood. This place is amazing. I mean utterly amazing. Words can't describe it and pictures can only do it so much justice. Queenstown is probably one of the most culturally diverse places in New Zealand. I could make the drive from Arrowtown to Queenstown everyday and still be awe. My dad said it reminded him so much of the valley in California where his family grew up. I have met a few people from Colorado that have said Arrowtown reminds them of Crested Butte, which is where my aunt and uncle live. So to me, this place is just a mix of everything beautiful. As the sun moves across the sky it casts different hues and shadows across the mountains. When there is snow on the tops of the mountains and the sun is coming up or down, it's crystal clear. Knock on wood, but it's a miracle I haven't gotten in a wreck because I spend more time looking at the scenery than the road.
I continue to get wedding invitations, baby announcements, pictures of the beach and pictures of all my friends together and I always say 'aww I wish I could be there'. I wonder if I'll be the old cat lady because all of my friends are married with kids and then there's me off gallivanting. Then I remind myself, I'm only 27. I have a whole life ahead of me. My friends are ready for families, I'm ready to travel. And with thanks to Facebook, I can keep up with all of my friends exciting life events even if I can't be there. If I find someone that wants to come along trotting the globe with me, then perfect. Until then I'll continue to travel, do what I want to do, meet amazing people and see the world. Oh and I'll never be an old cat lady because I don't even like cats, I'm a dog fan.
So when I left on this 'journey' my plan was a year in New Zealand being a grocery scanner or taxi driver. Then off for a year in Thailand teaching English. My year is 3/4 of the way over here. Everyones question now is 'what are you doing in September?'. I don't know. If I can survive the winter, then I would like to stay for another summer. December-May is the most amazing time here. I often ponder what I am going to do for a 'career'. Not just a job that gets me by, but something I can imagine myself doing forever. I love event planning and sales and marketing, but I get bored because I don't feel like I am having an impact. I love to volunteer, but unfortunately it doesn't pay the bills. So ss my year in NZ has gone by I have continued to ask myself what's next and what do I want to do with my life? I have decided I want to be a pediatric occupational therapist. When I worked at Springhill, I constantly found myself in with the OT and the speech therapists with the kids. I spent a lot of time volunteering at Mulherin Home or with children at St. Mary's Home. Their is no better way to combine it all than to be an occupational therapist.
However, the process is quite tedious when your major was Hospitality and Tourism Management. I have about 10 prerequisite classes before I can even apply for school. So I have found online classes at Alabama and Troy. Troy has an amazing new online set up and they have instantly responded to all of my emails. Alabama on the other hand, has been a total nightmare. Sorry to my whole family and their alma mater, but I sure hope the people they employ are not alumni, because they lack knowledge and sound depressed. I have found one lady, Michelle, and she has been the only one to help me and she even acts like she enjoys it. So as many of you can guess, I will be writing a lovely letter about her helpfulness since I love comment cards and telling people what they are doing right and wrong...since I know all ya know? Just kidding. I would love to start school in the Fall of 2014, but that's probably a bit optimistic, since I still have to have undergone a majority of the prereqs, take the GRE and actually apply to school. I would like to go to South, but it's quite competitive, so I will just have to see where the pieces fall. So there you all have it. I have a life plan! I don't know much more than that, but it's a start!
So today I am feeling thankful. Thankful for this place, thankful for my job, thankful for the friends I have made here, thankful to my friends and family at home that continue to send mail, packages, calls, text, emails and telegrams and thankful for the opportunities to travel around the world. I PROMISE, yes PROMISE, it won't be another month before I post. My brain is bursting with thoughts and my computer might implode with all of the photos it's dying to upload. Brace yourselves, because I am about to make up for lost time.
LOTS of LOVE, XO
