Just wanted to post a quick update to All Concerned Parties that I'm healthy and happy and eating copious amounts of kiwi fruit.
Like an old folk tale, it seems like every day I meet at least one expatriate, and sometimes several, who one day found themselves mysteriously drawn to Taranaki and have never been able to leave.
Here is why:
"There's something about that mountain..."
they say, and there is a pause as the speaker loses themselves in a wistful reverie. Everyone nearby shakes their head in solemn agreement, and there is a moment of silence.
Indeed, everything is wonderful when I stop to think about it for a moment. Every day I wake up to find Synchronicity on my doorstep offering the next adventure (I think I almost mean literally at my doorstep - I mean, I live in a Yoga Centre and I don't get out much - so the adventure does usually have to walk through the front door). I guess when your life reminds you of an enchanting old folk tale, that's probably a good sign.
Needless to say, New Zealand has been kind to me so far.
I am still in New Plymouth living and teaching and attempting to spend more time on my head at the Sivananda Yoga Centre.
This is my second day of primaquine consumption, and I've got twelve more days of my apparently 'highly controversial' antimalarial cocktail and then I am officially free!
The tentative intention is to go up to Auckland in a week or so to get new headshots done and check in with some people, and then come back here to New Plymouth to do some kind of a detox and celebrate my new drug-free state.
After which I will begin the process of moving up to Auckland For Real.
Dates are, perhaps obviously, still flexible for the time being. Things might have to stop being so awesome here before I can leave.
There's something about that mountain, I tell you...
Posts
.JPG)
.JPG)
7 comments:
Wishing you a healthy, happy summer, (I mean winter, in New Zealand). Keep blogging!
Hello Amanda! I have been reading your blogs for the last 6 months or so and have enjoyed them. I am actually supposed to be going to Vanuatu in September to be an Agricultural volunteer. I have many questions about your stay in Vanuatu and what to pack for my trip. Please respond if I can pick your brain about what you have learned their so far. Thanks so much!
Hello Rviera! Welcome to Peace Corps Vanuatu, the coolest and craziest surrogate family you will ever have. You are free to pick my brain at anytime. It's true what they say - after you COS (close-of-service) you are just DYING for any opportunity to talk about where you've been and what you've been through.
As a cautionary note (if you have been following this blog you probably don't need it), please be aware that I am a huge drama queen and so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
It's really not as bad as all that.
Hello Amanda!Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I do have some questions and here they are...
What are some necessities that you can't live without that you would recommend I pack?
Have you met any Ag volunteers and what should I expect and prepare for as an Ag volunteer?
How easy is it to travel around the Islands?
How has your experience been and how dificult was it to adjust?
How was training and what should I expect?
If you can give me any advice on your overall experiences it would be greatly appreciated.
Bye for now!
Thanks so much,
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Bring:
-a good headlamp
-batteries (they suck there)
-good pens (they suck there)
-a pocket knife, (nothing fancy, keep it simple & cheap since people will start asking it the second they see it)
Other than that, you don't need anything. For real.
Have I MET Ag volunteers? Why, some of my best friends are Ag volunteers! There is no real difference between being a 'This Kind' of volunteer or 'That Kind' of volunteer - you just end up working on whatever is going on at your site so...it depends. Ag volunteers do Hygiene workshops and Health volunteers work on budgets and Teacher Trainers make gardens...etc, etc...
Travelling between islands is 'easy', if you're not on a deadline but relatively expensive depending on where you are located and if you are willing to spend days on a ship rather than fly. From Vila (capital), it's about $300 roundtrip airfare up north to Santo and the same for down south to Tanna, to give you sort of an idea.
And it's only like $550 roundtrip from Vila-Auckland or Vila-Sydney.
Why don't you find me on Skype (amandaprasow) or post your e-mail address and I can answer some of your other questions better...
Amanda,
Please email me at vieiraryan@hotmail.com for easier communication.
Post a Comment