2 Days to Go - It's getting close!

So, here I sit, amazed to say that I really only have 2 days left before I depart for New Zealand. It's so unreal... I've been so excited about it for so long and now it's nearly here! I can almost not believe it. But there are certain things that make it so clear it's happening: I've got my housing assignment: 363 Leith Street. I got a list of other people in my Arcadia orientation group, and their addresses for the semester. We received an orientation itinerary. I've talked to my Kiwi hosts, Sarah and Jess. Probably the most clear indication that I'm about to go is that I'm pretty much all packed. I didn't have any trouble fitting what I needed into 2 suitcases: one is about 30 pounds, the other 20, so they're well below the limit. I'm surprised: I'm usually terrible at packing light. But I knew I had to, so I did. And I visited Jeff this weekend, and said goodbye. It was sad, but we'll be able to talk on Skype, which is really nice. Tomorrow is my last real day in the States for about 4.5 months (Wednesday doesn't count, I'll be in airports or traveling the whole time). It's weird to think that. Despite loving the Rufus Wainwright song "Going to a Town," I'm not "so tired of you, America." I mean, sure, America has its problems, but I love it all the same. Mostly I'll miss the people I am leaving behind. I am really excited to embrace new people, and a new culture, and learn and experience so many new things.

46 days to go: Visa

Just before I moved home for the summer after the spring semester at William and Mary, my passport arrived in the mail with a new addition: my student visa! It is a sticker on the first 'visas' page. It's blue and says I can't enter New Zealand on that visa after February 15, 2009, and that I can extend my stay until then if I want. Of course, that won't really happen, but it's nice to know. My forms are all in, and I should hear about my housing assignment within the next few weeks. Literally, all I need to do is pack and go.

I have been reading some travelogues with the intent of finding cool destinations. During the last week of classes, I met up with two girls who had been to Otago before. One of them, Kristen, was there last spring (for us). She was really nice, and quite excited for me. She had written up two lists of things to do: one on the South Island in general, and one of things in Dunedin. It was through meeting her that I learned how to actually pronounce Dunedin, in the proper Kiwi manner. Kristen went through AustraLearn, and had a fairly good experience with them. I was really happy talking to her, because she seemed to have a lot of the same attitudes and interests as me, and the fact that she absolutely loved it makes me think I will too. She thought the city of Dunedin was charming, which was not the way Stephanie viewed it. Stephanie was there last fall, so she went during the same season I did. She told me how miserably cold I'll be. That is the one thing I'm not really looking forward to. She gave me some traveling suggestions and also gave me suggestions on which grocery store to go to, and other really practical everyday types of things. Both of those meetings combined will be really valuable for me, I know.

Now I just need to figure out what to pack, and get excited (well, I already am)!

The early days of getting ready: 82 days to go

I decided to go ahead and start my blog, because I feel like it. I will be leaving for New Zealand on June 25 at 3 PM from Dulles International Airport near DC. My journey has already begun in some ways, since I have had to do a lot of paperwork already. I applied to the University of Otago program through AustraLearn in early January, and had a lot of problems with them. They 'lost' my application materials at one point, and seemed very disorganized. My parents decided I couldn't go through them, and for a moment I thought I had lost my chance for going to New Zealand. But Arcadia University had a program at Otago, and the deadline wasn't for two more weeks. So I quickly applied. Before I had even gotten all of my materials in, the program coordinator, Sue Richardson, called me to see if I had any questions. I immediately felt relieved and taken care of, and am feeling very good about Arcadia. I have taken care of my housing and course paperwork. The only thing I need to work on before going is my student visa, which I apparently can't apply for yet. I booked my flights last week, which got me really excited about the fact that I am really going. Here is my itinerary:

Wed, June 25
Depart IAD 3 PM
Arrive LAX 5:10 PM (5 hr 10 min flight)
Depart LAX 10:30 PM
Arrive AKL 6:30 AM (Fri, June 27) (13 hr flight)

Mon, June 30
Depart ROT 9:15 AM
Arrive CHC 11 AM (1 hr 45 min flight)
Depart CHC 1:35 PM
Arrive DUD 2:20 PM (45 min flight)

Sun, Nov 9
Depart DUD 11:20 AM
Arrive WLG 12:30 PM (1 hr 10 min flight)
Depart WLG 1:00 PM
Arrive AKL 2:00 PM (1 hr flight)
Depart AKL 7:15 PM
Arrive LAX 10:10 AM (11 hr 55 min flight)
Depart LAX 3:55 PM
Arrive IAD 11:35 PM (4 hr 45 min flight)

IAD = Dulles; LAX = Los Angeles; AKL = Auckland; ROT = Rotorua; CHC = Christchurch; DUD = Dunedin; WLG = Wellington

I am not exactly super excited about the length of some of those layovers (not to mention the LA-Auckland flight and returning), but it will be well worth it. I have never flown alone, so this will be interesting. I actually had to book two separate flights, because there was an Arcadia group flight from LA, but I have to actually get there first. Also, I've never been to California! I know I will most likely only see the inside of the airport, but it's still exciting.

Now I am just left to do more research and try to get prepared. I have been looking at some online travelogues and at photos on Flickr. I want to get an idea of what places in New Zealand I want to visit. I am really excited!