Get that pack on my back!

I'm still where I was nearly 5 months ago. In Hastings, with my family.
The last five months have been a little bit of a roller coaster. I have been very stagnant, working in retail, going to the gym and sleeping. Things I'd be doing in my hometown, but on the other side of the world.  Countless times I considered giving up work, flying off somewhere new, flying home or just throwing my backpack on and trying to survive on a dollar a day.
That being said, they were usually fleeting thoughts and of course, I didn't. I stuck it out at work for 3 and a half months and stayed with the family over Christmas. I have really loved getting to know the family I have been separated from by the oceans all these years and I'm going to miss them terribly when I leave.
I met some amazing people through where I worked. It's amazing how much of an impact you can have on people in a few short months. I believe I will be missed by the friends I have here, they have made Hastings my home away from home and will of course be missed in return.

I have much less money than I planned, but, as always, I will try my best to make do with what I have and see how far it will take me. I will endeavor to see as much of this beautiful country - it's rolling hills, snowy mountains and hot beaches - as possible.

I have a friend, Tim, whom I met in Thailand coming to visit me on the 17th January and we'll be doing a road trip to Taupo and Rotorua in my car. I visited these places when I was 13 years old and loved both, so I look forward to a trip down memory lane. Once Tim jets off to his next destination, I will be alone again, just me, my back pack and a lot of opportunity.

First destination is Blenheim, at the very north of the south island. I have a contact there also, a Dutch girl I met in Thailand works and lives there. I feel some sense of security in that someone down south knows I exist! I have heard there are vineyard and hospitality jobs galore. If I can pick up work for a few weeks, for a bit of extra dollar in the pocket, it would help me a lot.

From Blenheim, anything can happen. My hope is that through staying in a hostel, I will meet lots of travelers passing through and get along with a few of them enough to tag along. If I can't find work, I could be there for three days. It's all up in the air, but at least I have a starting point now.

Now to try and sleep. In the last week, travel nerves have again bestow their blessing upon me, I haven't been sleeping past 5am. I feel a constant need to be productive and plan, plan, plan.. even though there is only so much I can plan for such a trip. It is again as if I am leaving from home, in England. Not knowing what is ahead of me, who I will meet, what I will see or where I'll go. That's the fun of it, but of course it scares me to death at the same time.




Just an update, so you know what I'm up to. Stay sweet!
xo