About In Wellington

I like this city :)

Location:Normandale Rd,Lower Hutt,New Zealand

Late start!

OK! Sorry for the delay! I've been outside of civilization for the past two weeks with minimal internet access (and what access I had was SLOW!)
....honestly I don't know where to start.  We've been in the Coromandel area doing all sorts of work, mostly to do with protecting kiwi.  Lots of climbing around in dense, wet forests for hours! It's been fantastic and beautiful.  Right now we are halfway back to Wellington, stopping in Rotorua at a hostel for the night.  I'll have more time to write when we get back to the house tomorrow but i wanted to at least get some photos uploaded now! I'm having to use facebook cause it's faster but I'll make it public so those of you who arn't on there can see them (ALIA!).
Since I don't know where to begin with writing I'll just leave you with the photos for now.

hopefully this works...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=44854195&id=23905505#!/album.php?aid=2451310&id=23905505
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=44854195&id=23905505#!/album.php?aid=2453875&id=23905505

LAX SUX

$13

Hendrick's gin tho...
And much needed

Location:W Manchester Ave,Los Angeles,United States

Today!

Alright, it's finally time! No turning back.

I think everything is in order.  Bags are packed.  Documents printed.  Goodbyes all said.  Clothes all clean.  Why do I feeling like I'm preparing for death? Sorry to be morbid, but hey it is Friday the 13th.

Today I begin my time travel to Sunday morning in New Zealand! Goodbye Saturday!

Friday 12:40 pm Austin to LA
      9:30 pm LA to Auckland
Sunday 5:25 am Auckland to Wellington
      8:00 am Arrive in Wellington New Zealand!

Love yall! See you soon!

...4

For those of you who are still wondering what exactly I'm doing in New Zealand here's some info:

Program Overview

As a volunteer you will be working on a diverse range of conservation projects - this may involve working with project partners or on our own research projects. The volunteer team is based near to Wellington and our program area is largely in the Greater Wellington region. However, several of our projects also provide the opportunities to work in other regions of New Zealand.
The volunteer work is typically a combination of direct habitat management and restoration (e.g. predator removal, tree planting and invasive weed removal) and ecological research/monitoring (e.g. marine mammal surveys, bird surveys and stream ecology projects). Some of the work we undertake is seasonal and weather dependant.
Examples of projects we are currently involved with include:

• Replanting native forests (on the mainland and also on off-shore islands)-winter only
• Monitoring native birds to examine the efficacy of predator control
• Stream quality monitoring as part of a regional stream health project
• Restoring degraded dune ecosystems
• Removing pest plants from several native ecosystems (e.g. dunes, forests, off- shore islands)
• Predator control within native forests in Wellington and the Coromandel
• Trail construction and park maintenance within wildlife reserves

Today I found out that we will be leaving for the Coromandel project on my third day there.  Coromandel is on the completely opposite side of the island, north of Wellington (I've added it to the map).  This will involve an 8 hour drive through the country side with several stops along the way.  At first I was annoyed to hear this since I would be landing in the north part of the island near Coromandel when I first arrive and then taking another plane to Wellington...only to return by car a couple days later! Seems like such a waste.  But the program director reassured me that it was a beautiful drive and that I would enjoy it.  I sure hope it's a lot more interesting than an 8 hour drive across Texas!

5 more days...

Currently Reading:

The Artist's Way - A spiritual path to higher creativity
A thoughtful going-away gift from a coworker.  Cause I need to nurture my inner artist child.

The Way We Eat
Borrowed from my ethically conscious boyfriend.  Cause we can always use a refresher.

Currently Packed:

1.  50 L backpacking pack
2.  18 L day pack with 2 L water bag thingy aka "hydration system"
3.  30 degree sleeping bag
4.  Water-proof pants
5.  Rain coat
6.  Water-proof hiking boots
7.  Wool long-johns
8.  3 pair wool hiking socks
9.  Fleece windbreaker
10.  3 long sleeve undershirts
11.  7 pairs underwear
12.  2 pair jeans
13.  Gloves
14.  Tacky neon fanny-pack
15.  Hoody
16.  Head lamp
17.  Plug converter/adapter
18.  Camera
19.  Iphone
20.  Old family bandanna

Just Purchased: 

For those of you that know me personally (and perhaps this is even too personal) I love crazy new hygiene inventions - especially ones that make life easier for women, cause there's a ton of stupid crap we have to put up with.  I'm super excited about having these on the 13 hour plane ride, gross foreign bathrooms, and out in the wilderness! 

The "Urinelle" - Urinating Cone for Women

There were a lot of different choices out there, but come on, how could I not go with that name? Plus they are biodegradable! Which doesn't beat some of the silicone/reusable ones they have out there, but who really wants to carry some pee soaked piece of rubber around with them for later cleaning?

Today's Disappointment:

I just got a list of my fellow volunteers.
   - 6 people (other than me)
   - 3 girls
   - 3 guys
   ALL BUT ONE OF THEM ARE FROM THE USA!

laaaaame

Oh well.  Still excited.  REALLY!

Introduction

This year I've quit my perfectly good job in order to fly to New Zealand to do volunteer conservation work, THEN move to San Francisco.

Why would I do that?

Because I can.

Or at least I think I can...either way I'm in the middle of it! About to fly to New Zealand in a few days.

Here's some inspiration that got me thinking...

This has come up on my ipod shuffle about 20 times in the past year and I've always had to listen to the whole first act before switching it. She starts to sound crazy....but not that crazy?
THIS AMERICAN LIFE: Quitting

And this guy's story and advice is pretty amazing. Good job Jobs!