I made it

I am proud to say that I successfully made it to New Zealand!

As I was waiting for my flight in Los Angeles, I saw a young man with Iowa State sweatpants who was with another guy. Before too long, I was having a nice conversation with them and found out their names were Evan and Joey. They were on the same flight as myself and headed to New Zealand to study abroad. In talking to them, I learned that they are planning to travel in the same direction as I am before they begin their studies. I got their email with the possibility that we may meet up along the way.

The flight itself was uneventful. From Los Angeles, it ended up being a little over a 13 hour flight. I am a happy Quantas customer. The seats were comfortable, the flight attendants were friendly, and the service was great. Upon waking up from my slumber, I was happy to find a little snack bag on my tray table filled with goodies. Because I was able to sleep on the plane, I am not suffering from jet lag.

I arrived in Auckland around 9:30am. Going through customs was a breeze. Aside from asking what food I had brought, I wasn’t asked any other questions. They didn’t even ask what I was doing or if I had a way back to the States. Guess New Zealand doesn’t care how long I stay! :) I soon collected my backpack and made it though a baggage screening. I was then warmly greeted by Jeff, who took me back to his home where I met his family. I am grateful for the Pelz’s hospitality as I stay with them the next couple of days in Auckland. After Auckland, my plans are to head north to the Bay of Islands.  

January 29th: the day before January 31st

Today is January 29^th. Tomorrow will be January 31^st. For me at least. Because of the time change, I will not have a January 30, 2012. When I leave LA it will be the 29^th and when I arrive in Auckland it will be the 31^st.

I am currently sitting in the Los Angeles airport awaiting my flight to Auckland. The past couple of days have been spent finishing up last minute things and hanging out with the family. It wasn’t until I was on the way to the airport that it finally began to sink in that I’m actually leaving. I’m going to New Zealand!!! As hard as it was saying goodbye, I am excited as well.

I successfully checked my bag, made it through security, and found my gate without any problems. Shortly before boarding, I had a delightful conversation with Pete, a man who was on the same flight to LA. Although I don’t care for the hustle and bustle of airports, I find airports fascinating. Let me restate, I find the people and interactions fascinating. An airport is a place that attracts many types of people at various stages in life, each having a different purpose in their travels. I find it ironic that conversation can come easy by beginning with the simple question, “where are you going?” Yet at the same time, you can also be sitting within 6 inches of someone on a plane and not say a word to them. Fascinating I tell you.

In other news, check out my new look.    

That’s right, sporting the socks and sandals! In most cases, I would not support this fashion statement. So why am I wearing socks and sandals myself? I’m glad you asked. If for some reason, my checked bag gets lost, I’d prefer my chacos over my tennis shoes. I’m wearing socks because I don’t want my feet to get cold on the plane.

What I’m reading: Presidential Campaigns. I picked this book up at a thrift store not because I’m interested in politics but in order to expand my knowledge. We shall see how it goes. 

At the Denver airport

In case you were wondering

Soon I wil be leaving the land of my birth. It feels so surreal. Here are answers to some of the questions I have been asked.

How do you feel? I feel surprisingly calm. Excited but calm. I think this may partially be because I still have a regular routine. It may not hit me until I’m at the airport that I’m actually leaving the country.  

Where are you staying? I don’t know. I have tentative plans to stay with missionaries that my home church supports when I arrive in Auckland. After that, I don’t know. Hostels. Couchsurfing. The beach. Hopefully, locals will invite me into their home. We shall see.

What are you going to be doing? Backpacking the country. I have a holiday work visa so I hope to find short term jobs as I go. Finding a job in a hostel would be great. At the some time, it would be awesome to do a job that I never imagined myself doing.

How are you going to get around? My two feet. Walking will probably be a daily occurrence. Bus. Boat. My goal is to meet fellow backpackers that I can hitch a ride with so I can get off the beaten track. Hitchhike (maybe). It may sound odd but I have a desire to hitchhike. There is something about it that thrills me; probably the unknown.  

What are you taking? Stuff. If I get around to it, I may write a post later answer this question.

What are you going to eat? Food. I will probably eat out some but I mostly plan on buying food at a grocery store that I can either make in the kitchen at a hostel or food that I can carry with me (nutella J, granola bars, fruit, bread, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs).

Any goals? Sky diving and bungee jumping are at the top of my list. I would also like to sheer a sheep. See a kiwi bird. Eat a kiwi (the fruit, not the bird).

 Do you know anyone there? Nope. But if you do, I’m all for making connections with people.

 How will I communicate with you while you are gone? I am taking a small notebook computer with me on my travels. Where I am and how the internet connection is will effect how often I will be able to check emails and such. I would love receiving messages from you all! Just because I’m out of the country doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear about your life. Although I am unsure of what it will be like to travel by myself, I’m sure there may be times that I get lonely and a message from you would brighten up my day.  

 What are you going to do when you get back? I don’t know.

 How can I be praying for you? I would very much appreciate prayer while I am gone. Here are some ways in which you can be praying for me.

            Safety: Self explanatory. I will be traveling by myself which may be a bit more  dangerous. I will also being doing many physical activities such as walking, hiking, swimming, sky diving, etc. I’d prefer not to break any bones.

            Opportunities: That I would have opportunities to meet fellow travelers and locals, and in meeting different people that I may make unique and memorable experiences. Also, that I may have the opportunity and boldness to share Christ in my actions and speech.

            Growth: This experience is bound to challenge me and cause me to grow in many ways. I pray that God’s hand would be at work in this and that I would grow closer to Him during this time.

 If there is anything else you are curious about, feel free to ask.

To Be A Man

Today I was in Target getting some items for my upcoming travels. One of these items included shampoo and conditioner. Rather than get these items individually, I sought out to find a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner to conserve space. I know, women, you are probably frowning upon the idea of 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. I’m not too fond of it either but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. What I pack, I have to carry. My hair may suffer the consequences of this decision, but I think it will survive; unless for convenience, I decide to shave my hand. Moving on, let me give you a glimpse of what I saw during my search. Different colors and brands littered the aisle. There was shampoo and conditioner for women with long or short hair, curly and straight hair. Each of these having varying effects such as frizz control, volumizing, moisturizing, nourishing, repairing, smoothing, shine, color shield, and anti dandruff. And let’s not forget about scent. To put it simply, selecting a hair care product is not an easy task for women. For men, on the other hand, it is rather straightforward. Shampoo. Conditioner. Body Wash. Of the limited selection offered to men, most of them were 2-in-1. Better yet, they even offered a 3-in-1. Simple. Why can’t it be that easy for women? Guess we are just too complicated eh? I finally settled on a 2-in-1 gender neutral shampoo and conditioner. It will do the job. Although the thought is not new to me, this was yet another time I was reminded of how sometimes I wouldn’t mind being a man. Don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful that I am a woman, but there are things about being a man that I wouldn’t mind.

On another note…I could spend all day in REI.