Prepare Ye

Yesterday was my last day working as a teaching associate in a Behavior Disorder classroom at Roosevelt HS in Des Moines, Iowa. I learned a lot, made some good friends, and gained extremely valuable experience that will be helpful in the future when I attempt to go to grad school and get a job or two. My last day was bittersweet-- but mostly awesome. There were times at the beginning of the year when I didn't think I would last all year, but I stopped being such a whiner and did it. Thankfully New Zealand has been the bright shining light at the end of the tunnel all year.

In September, right before I started my job, I visited Marj in Galesburg. September is one of the free times from the vineyard. Anyway, we had coffee and lunch at Innkeepers and she gave me a little more direction about what exactly I should do to make this thing happen. That sparked some more excitement.

In December, after a visit to St Louis, where Brian lives, I decided something drastic needed to be done. So, I applied for my Working Holiday Visa online with the NZ Immigration site on a Friday night and received an email Monday night saying I had been accepted! The application took 15 minutes and was extremely easy. Brian submited his application and heard back the next day. This major step REALLY sparked my excitement.

This is the stage of our pre-NZ life known as: Packing.
I got a great backpack for Christmas and every time I look at it I am excited about the challenge of stuffing it full of most of my belongings for a year. Brian came to visit Des Moines and we went on a lovely shopping spree and bought a set of luggage. Brian eventually got a backpack for himself and now we are set for luggage.

In our most recent visit with Marj, we learned that we need sleeping bags to keep us warm on the cold winter nights we will spend in a tent (until we can't take it and then we will move to a backpacker hostel) and grubby type clothes for LAYERING. Sleeping bags are next on the list of important things to bring. Grubby clothes are easy enough to come by.

Last night Marj called my mom's cell phone from NZ. I had a few questions for her but I am mostly grateful for her call because it demonstrated to my mom (and me too I suppose), that it's easy to call home and that we aren't going to be not communicating for a year.

I have been excited about this trip to varying degrees for 3 years. As it actually approaches... days away... I am beginning to feel nervous. I am not worried about bringing everything I need--it's a civilized country, I'll find things there. I am not worried about the long flight or any aspect of the traveling (Marj will see our plane fly over the vineyard and she will be at the airport before we are off the plane, so we don't have to worry about contacting her). Mostly I am worried about my leaving my family. I have gone 3 months without seeing them and we survived. It will be my absence at holidays and just knowing that I am not just a phone call or short drive away that makes this a little harder. But, last night Mom and I watched the Wonder Years. Karen was getting married and moving (with new husband David Schwimmer) to Alaska. I could certainly be doing worse than a 1 year adventure to New Zealand! The point is, it is time for me to have adventures and to journey away from my home. That is life--and now it is my life. However, that part of life comes with missing the hell out of my family (friends too, I love you guys!)

I met up with nearly all of my Knox friends in Galesburg last weekend for the Commencement festivities. Bill Clinton was the commencement speaker--he and the graduates drew quite a crowd. It was wonderful to spend some stree-free time with good friends in such a homey place like the Knox campus and Galesburg. I was totally full of love for all my friends and their various adventures-- hiking the entire Appalacian Trail, living in their own apartments or houses and working, becomming a professional actress!, joining the peace corps (fingers crossed) heading to grad school, heading back to live with the parents (it's not so bad), getting married!, and then coming together to catch up on the memories and look forward to making new memories in the future when we come back together a little more grown up (not necessarily more mature).

That is enough for today. I have an oil change appointment for my adorable rusty car who I leave in the hands of my brother for the year, hopefully she lasts that long. It's a cloudy morning in Des Moines, a perfect first day of summer for me. Especially since we are jumping back into winter in 2 weeks!