New Zealand

Vancouver-iversary

Or rather, my Vancouver Anniversary, three months!

Really doesn’t feel like I have been here three months. But then again I have accomplished a fair bit. I got a job, moved once (soon to be twice) and have found some pretty awesome people to surround myself with.

I’ve also travelled around a few places. Which is good as that’s the main reason I moved over here, other than to experience living in a new country that wasn’t Australia or NZ. Which, let’s be honest, are very similar. Funnily enough though, Canada is also very similar.

I’ve been to Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary, Kelowna (x2), Penticton, Portland and Seattle. Two states in Canada and three in USA. So many more to see though!

Whistler is up next weekend. Can’t wait for the first ever Whistler Beer Festival!

Following that I have a trip to Vegas on 17 October. Got tickets to NBA – Yeewwww! Then I want to get to Vancouver Island, Mexico (one of those cheap all inclusive resort deals, hello cocktails on the beach, dancing and hot men), Quebec, Toronto, Montreal, New York (again, yes I love that place), Miami & a cruise (yep, again, can’t beat it) and maybe New Orleans. Prob some other random places thrown in that friends are going to and I get FOMO over. I have huge FOMO. Fear of missing out.

Anyway before I blab on and on about travelling more, back to my Vancouver-iversary. I should really celebrate. But I’m trying to have a quiet weekend. Yup me. Quiet. I know what you’re thinking, and I’m not about to go making any bets that I won’t end up going out. Let’s put it that way.

9 more months left on my visa for Canada, interested to see what’s in store!

celebrate.

Four more sleeps

The countdown is on. In four more sleeps I will be leaving New Zealand and embarking on my adventure to Hawaii and Vancouver.

I am really sad to be leaving New Zealand. I have been having such a fantastic time and it saddens me to leave my family knowing I may not see them again for up to a year. That will be the longest time I have spent apart from them. Thank goodness for skype, viber and iPhone’s!!

So while I am sad I am also incredibly excited. I have always wanted to visit Hawaii. It seems like a magical place. Touristy, but magical. I will be travelling alone but I don’t mind. 8 days in paradise, I’m sure I can make some friends.

THEN the big adventure begins. My visa has come through and I am moving to Vancouver for a year. Having never been to Vancouver, or Canada, I am super excited to get there and have a look around my home for the next year. I have rented a place in Coal Harbour for the first 3 weeks and I will take things from there.

Working in Digital Marketing, I really, REALLY want to maintain my skills and stay in my field. It changes so fast. Fingers crossed I can find a role in an industry I am passionate about while staying in digital. Wish me luck!!

And now to attempt to sleep, while my mind is racing of my new adventures.

Sweet Dreams!

Oyster Surprise

I love oysters. So imagine my happiness at arriving in New Zealand for Bluff Oyster Season!

At $25 a dozen – give or take, they are a treat. But ya delicious treat at that! Just a tiny squeeze of lemon and they’re ready to consume.

Seeing my love of them, I thought I would kindly share my dozen with my friend, Kim. I’m nice like that.

Kim had never tried oysters before so I was especially excited for her to try them. I know some people don’t appreciate them so I quizzed her to ensure she liked fresh, raw shellfish. She did so I inquired as to whether she liked jelly and if she didn’t mind an ‘explosion’ in her mouth. Similar to when you bite into a soft centered lolly. All basis covered so we were good to go.

Mum decided to take pics of Kim so we had her first oyster experience on record. Thank god we did otherwise I wouldn’t have the picture below in my possession!

She placed the oyster in her mouth and all but turned green. Her eyes watered, she turned pale and made interesting hand movements. Dad hilariously told her she would be insulting us if she spat it out so she held it in much to our amusement.

Couldn’t stop laughing.

Anyway, the good news is that I don’t have to share my delicious oysters with anyone!

All for me!

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Visa so hard

Getting my visa is proving painful… or rather perhaps I should just learn to read instructions properly.

It’s not that it is hard… Just frustrating.

So today, I ran around getting a ‘digital’ photograph of myself to the required specifications for my Visa. Nobody did actual digital ones so I headed to Aus Post & just got passport pics done then scanned them.

I thought that was the last part I had to complete for my Visa and I was well under way to getting it back in good time before I left for Hawaii. Was pretty amped to be honest and relieved to have it gone.

You see for a NZ police check you just have to sign a release form. What I didn’t realise however was that as I had lived in Australia over 6 months I had to get an Australian one also. And theirs takes up to 15 working days. 3 weeks! That’s three weeks too long. (Insert smart quip about Aussie’s not being as efficient as Kiwi’s here.)

Now I will potentially be in Hawaii, about to leave for Vancouver, before I even get my Visa… cutting it fine alright! That’s if the police check takes the 3 weeks and the visa takes 8 weeks… any longer on either side and there is the possibility I could be stuck in Hawaii…

Could be worse!!

Stuck here.. Damn.
Brisbane-based lifestyle and travel blog image featuring mountain and sea scenery

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