She's at it again...

Yes, the rumors are true--- I am going on another trip!

It will actually be my shortest trip yet, and this time it includes NEW ZEALAND!

For those that haven't kept up since my last blog update in 2013, lots of life changes have been happening. I am in grad school at UNC-CH for social work, and I am really enjoying it and learning so much. I've been volunteering at Homestart (the women's shelter) in Chapel Hill as a housing advocate/case manager, which has been immensely rewarding while opening my mind to all the issues surrounding homelessness in our area. I put in notice this week at the job I've had since my last trip (I tend to bookend my jobs with trips to the other side of the world 😃), so I will be looking for a new part time job when I return. Starting in the fall, I will have a placement two days a week at the Women's Center of Wake County as my first field education experience. I'm in the middle of a major life pivot that will hopefully lead to something resembling a career, which has been my ultimate goal since high school graduation. But first!...

I decided to take this trip because it might be the last time in my life it will be possible. Sure, I can go on small vacations (a week or two, in accordance to the standard vacation time allowed by capitalism in the United States), but this might be the last time I can cast off work responsibilities and fly to the other side of the world for over a month. I've worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices to do this, but I also realize how lucky I am to be in the position to do this as well. I am documenting this trip, as I have the other two, with a blog that I will try to update as regularly as possible.

So here is the general plan:
I will be flying down to Dallas on June 8th to visit Elizabeth deep in the heart of Texas for a few days. Then on the 13th, I fly from Dallas to Sydney, and by the wonders of travel and the international dateline, I land in Sydney on the 15th. I plan to catch up with all my Adelaide friends and have some fun with them over the next couple of weeks. Hannah, one of my Aussie friends, is going to travel with me in New Zealand, so it will be nice to take a travel buddy!

Here is the NZ itinerary:

(June 30) Fly Adelaide to Christchurch

(July 1) Waipara Wine Tour

(July 2) Akaroa Day Tour (Banks Peninsula)

(July 3) Mount Cook Tour from Christchurch

(July 4) Full-Day Kaikoura Tour from Christchurch

(July 5) Fly to Queenstown

(July 6) Milford Sound Cruise from Queenstown

(July 7) "Free Day"- maybe Stewart Island? We might try to see Aurora Australis (Southern lights)

(July 8) Fly to Rotorua

(July 9): Taupo Day Trip

(July 10): Tamaki Maori Village Tour with dinner

(July 11) "Free Day"- maybe Tauranga Day Trip

(July 12) Glow Worm Caves, Transport Rotorua to Auckland

(July 13-15) 3 Day Tour of Bay of Islands

(July 16) Piha and Waitakere

(July 17) Hobbiton

(July 18) "Free Day"- maybe explore Auckland

(July 19) Fly to Sydney

(July 20) Maybe Coogee or Manly? Staying in The Rocks, gorgeous view of the Opera House

(July 21) Fly home

I am so excited! So looking forward to seeing all my Aussie friends, seeing some of the places I miss, eating and drinking some of the Aussie foods I've been craving! And exploring a new and gorgeous country!

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