Wow... 1 sleep after my last post, and I feel completely liberated, already planning my trip. I'm planning 3 1/2 months... mid April - early August. I think I should stay at work for an extremely busy weekend we'll have at the beginning of April, and this will also give me a chance to do a few of the stunning tramps here in Wanaka that I keep wanting to do put keep putting off!
But that's not the truly exciting part. I just phoned my immigration case officer, and she gave me some wonderful news... she's passed my file onto the verification officer, with the recommendation that I be granted full residency!!! WAHOOOOOOOO!!! The other officer has to agree with her assessment (if they don't then some more work may need to be done), but she said she'd let me know in a few days!!!!! I'm SO happy! I can now plan my travels without worrying about any negative impact that my going away might have on my application!
I'm still going to 'free myself' of my big possessions, and go back to how I was pre-Wanaka. I meant what I wrote last night about them creating limitations to travel - I'll keep my car and ski stuff though.
So at the moment, the plan is this:
Leave Wanaka in a month (eeeek!)
Head to Bangkok, and travel around Thailand / Laos / Vietnam for at least 1 1/2 months
Maybe stop in Sri Lanka for a couple of weeks
Head to England for a few weeks to see my family and meet my nephew :o)
Go to the east Coast US of A with Mum to meet some of my family out there
LA to see some friends
Back to NZ for the ski season.
Post ski-season, who knows? Maybe live in Wellington for a bit? Or stay in Wanaka for another summer. But I won't have the limitations of having to stay in my current job. Don't get me wrong - I love the Creek, so I'll probably want to stay, but I won't HAVE to stay (my residency application was based on my having that particular job). I'll be totally free to chop and change if I wish. No limitations.
I love this total change in feelings... last night I felt completely suffocated by my situation. Now I just feel liberated and excited for what's to come. The world is my oyster, and I'm not going to forget that again. Thank you universe!!!
Hope you got my facebook message earlier... Then I read this posting after send that.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely budget more than 1.5 months for Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. You'll need at least a month for Thailand, a month for Laos and a couple of weeks for Cambodia (depending on how you get on with it).