Six sleeps to go

I'm trying really hard not to get too excited about our departure because it seems to make time stand still (even though it's only six more sleeps, 5 days, 9 hours and... I'm not soooo much of a freak to work out minutes and seconds, nor is my fuzzy brain able to cope with that sort of mathematical equation right now!)

There are loads of things I'll miss about New Zealand but the main one is the comfort of my friends and family. I think this is the thing I will struggle with most.

My only survival strategy at this point is to block it out completely, which seems to work a treat (most of the time). I've been trying super hard not to think about leaving my darling kitties, but as time creeps by, it's becoming quite difficult.

My other plan is to keep busy which shouldn't be a problem, seen as though there still seems to be two hundred and seventy three things left to do on our list and three new things appearing for every one we cross off!

Wish me luck!

6:00am 2nd August...

Satay sticks here I come!

A Minor Glitch

It's been an eventful couple of weeks.

I survived the final assembly on the last day of school where teachers, children and parents bid me farewell. It was actually really lovely, and no where near the terrifying ordeal I had built it up to be in my mind. Silly old me.

I managed to pack up my things and farewell my first and only classroom :( bit sad closing the door on that chapter,but very excited to be opening another!

We've had a small issue to sort out for Bighead's business, which has set our trip back a few weeks. It was actually a blessing in disguise, as we both feel a bit more relaxed now that we have extra time to get things set up properly before we head off.

I still have heaps more stuff to sell, a baby shower to organise, Bighead's new employee to train, and a jumble sale to sort out. Lucky I'm unemployed!

Stay tuned for new departure date...

It's the final count down!

Just one more week of school before Bighead and I can whole-heartily tackle our increasingly large list of things to do before we fly.

I'm such a big bundle of mixed emotions right now, it's a bizarre feeling.

I have begun packing up my classroom :(

The children have been giving me goodbye letters and cards for about two weeks now and although I'm sure they will miss me, I'm think that I'll miss them more.

As I say goodbye to friends and colleagues at school this week, I'll be trying hard to remember this:

"Don't cry because it's over, smile that it happened"

Dreaming of Satay...

Satay
Originally uploaded by Gone Beach

I can almost taste it (don't ya love the multi-tasking!)

Locked and Loaded

The tickets are booked.

July 19th, 5 weeks and 6 days to go.

5 weeks and 6 days of wearing my winter woolies, spending time with my friends and family, cuddling my cats, walking on footpaths, crossing the road safely, buying things with set price tags, doing the dishes, watching western tv, eating feijoas, devouring delicious dairy products and generally existing within my comfort zone.

5 weeks and 6 days until I'll be surrounded by honking horns, eating balinese food, swimming, diving and snorkeling in crystal clear luke warm waters, riding scooters, living out of a backpack, gorging myself on satay, wearing my jandles everyday and generally existing outside of my comfort zone.

I can't wait!

Getting the hang of it

Well, as you may have noticed I have now included a 'subscribe to my blog' section. I know... you're thinking, "wow, she's getting pretty clever!" It seems simple but it did take me a while and I'm still not completely sure how it all works, but hey! it looks good! 

I can't believe how old and tech savvy-less (if that's even a term??) I feel sometimes. I'm only 30 and technology is already passing me by... 

How can my generation of teachers teach with it, if we don't know how to use it? or even more cause for concern, how can generations of teachers before me teach with it, if they don't even know it exists?

Can we keep up?

And so it begins...

...although our tickets are not completely confirmed (eek), we are well under way with all other preparations. I spent the weekend posting loads of stuff on trade me for sale and created a list of smaller things to put in the staff room. How did we end up with so much stuff? What is it that makes us consume, consume, consume? It's really quite disgusting.

I'm sure I have something you must need...

I'm so excited I even pulled the packs out of the cupboard! and we're off to get jabs on Friday.

Rough itinerary to date: Bali (2 months), Cambodia (a few weeks), Thailand (who knows?)

Here we go!

Wow! It's done! I've handed in my resignation. As of the end of the term, I will no longer be teaching in New Zealand (not for a while anyway!). This milestone comes with mixed emotions.

All of a sudden, reality has set in.

We're off. We're really off! So much to organise, what with boxes to pack, things to sell, visa's to apply for, shots to get, flights to book and much more!

I'm all over it, bring it on!

South East Asia here we come!