Well, here I am. ...again.

Plans continue to be funny things. Initially, when I came here, the plan was to hang out for awhile, apply for grad school in the UK for acting, then move there in August. (I was fully aware that this was a long shot.)

Obviously, that didn't happen. I was kind of relieved when it turned out that way, as by that time I was fairly head over heels in love with Wellington - it's beautiful, with a thriving performing arts scene, incredible bar and restaurant culture, an awesome Historic European Martial Arts School, and some truly fabulous people. This blog became sorely neglected as I settled in to something that very much felt like a real life. The plan then became that I wanted to stay in Wellington on a permanent basis.

Sadly, that didn't happen, either. There were a few times over the past year when it looked like my temp assignments were going to turn into permanent job offers, which would have then given me the ability to apply for a visa that would have lead to residency. None of them worked out, in the end, so here I am, embarking on another adventure.

I am always somewhat loathe to announce plans, because things very rarely go to. However, I do have a fairly good idea of what the next three months will look like, barring anything drastic.

First up, two week road trip around the north island. (I am currently writing this in a lovely hotel in Napier, so, check.) Then, across the strait to the south island, where I will spend close to a week exploring places that have yet to be determined (see, plan has already changed). I will eventually end up in Dunedin for the majority of my remaining time in New Zealand, except for a quick jaunt across the ditch to visit Melbourne in December.

I return to the States at the end of January. Further adventures will be confirmed from there - part of the reason I'm visiting Melbourne is to scout it for a possible location for my next working holiday visa. The goal is still, ultimately, to return to New Zealand on a permanent basis, but further vague plans may mean that this won't happen for two years, as I'm keen to do some more traveling first.

Another goal is to start weekly updates on the blog on Friday of whatever time zone I happen to be in. (Which will possibly be hampered by the less than stellar WiFi in this otherwise fabulous hotel, but I'll do what I can on my phone.) This means that updates will be quite behind me for awhile, as I still haven't posted pictures and write-ups for the trip to Sydney in, y'know, April, or New Zealand adventures since. I also intend to write a bit more than I have been, which I have been avoiding due to feeling a bit pretentious. But hey, I have a travel blog, so that ship has already sailed.