Packing and planning

I So 90% of my time is now packing and planning. Cecil still working full time so the job of moving the house is primarily mine. Don't get me wrong, it's good that he's still working after all I'm not. It just makes more sense to do it that way. The kitchen is entirely packed right now, which is very odd. I have a few old pots and pans I've left out in order to make meals. I also took all the art off the walls. To me, that's how you know things are getting real. It's so sad looking. All our " personal touches " are gone. 

We also had an incredibly fun Halloween party this weekend. We had a low attendance based on the RSVPs we got but the people that should've made it a blast!!! It's very bittersweet knowing we are leaving. People are constantly asking how were feeling about the move. Because of my blog most people know what's going on but apparently I'm not being clear about my emotional state. We are excited, terrified, ready to go, and scared to leave all the same time. Mostly were sad to leave behind friends that we finally made moving to Columbus. After all we haven't been here that long. however, when opportunity knocks we like to answer the door.  However now that we only have less than two weeks, I realize how little time I have left for anything but packing. This week I get to socialize a little bit but next week is all business.

I've also been researching some things we want to do when were in New Zealand. I mean I'm packing most of the day but no one can pack all day every day. So I've been making some interesting lists. One of the most notable is actually in Australia, which we definitely plan to visit. Do you know you can swim with crocodiles there? Check this link out because it's sweet and called the cage of death. http://www.crocosauruscove.com/cage-of-death/

Did you know that New Zealand has one of trip advisors visor's top rated worldwide destinations, it's called Milford sound and it's gorgeous it's worth the Google to look at the images. There's also apparently a sky reserve for star watching. Apparently it's also a top destination for whale and dolphin watching. I suppose being an island has advantages for that. Apparently, there's also a place that you can see a glacier cutting through a rain forest. Although I need to look into that one more. I didn't think that there were any reinforces on New Zealand but I could be wrong on that one that one requires further investigation. If any of you reading my blog know something that Cecil and I should do feel free to comment and let us knkw! I know that you guys are reading don't be free to leave a message :-)

Packing & Renting

Every time we move, which seems to be more than the average person, I think we need to become closer to minimalists. Cecil and I packed up the office and it took like a dozen boxes but 6 hours. Most of that time was spent sorting and deciding what paperwork to keep. I also took a trunkful of stuff to goodwill. I think goodwill likes it when we move lol.  We also booked a storage locker at a local place that is indoors but not climate controlled. We plan on taking extremely valuable stuff to family so climate controlled isn't necessary (and it's also hella expensive). We have it starting November 1… goodie?

In addition to the packing starting, we have decided to rent a house in New Zealand when we go. Originally, the plan was to stay in the hospital and then find a place to live. However, we found a fully furnished home that is in our budget, the pictures look nice, there's no lawn maintenance, and there's a full-size kitchen. Now it does make me nervous to rent a place for year that we've never seen. Some of the furnishings look a little dated but it's fully furnished so who cares? In addition we know there's three bedrooms and two bathrooms so that's better than I expected. It's a little bit further away from Cecil's job than we wanted to be but I think we can still make it work. The views are amazing too. There's a Riverview out one of the windows that looks tantalizing. I can't wait to have tea and watch. Annoyingly, Cecil has the photos so I don't have any to post right now. It will give y'all something to look at when we get there :-). Wish us luck with packing

Clarifying what will happen

Ok, this week Cecil and I have been on a week long trip of crazy. Stopped in Five states in seven days and drive through a couple more. Visiting some family and great friends before we leave for a fee hundred days. Mostly each day sounded like: get up, drive for around 4-5 hours, see people and have dinner, sleep then do it all again in a different, far away place. The photo is actually one I took of cec and I getting a cheesesteak in philly- because why not?! Anyway, Tomorrow is our last stop before back to cbus. Anyway, on these trips a few common questions are being asked so let's clear this up, shall we?

1. What happens when you get there exactly?

Well first we will have a couple day layover in Auckland, where Cecil has some administrative paperwork he has to  complete. We also are going to do the tourist thing for a couple of days before we fly to our final destination. Auckland is on the north side of the main island. Wanganui is like 5 hours via car so they are flying us in. 

2. Where is Wanganui? How big is it?

It's on the south of the north island. It's almong a river and known as the river city. According to Wikipedia, there are 43,000 ish people living there. Oddly it also can be spelled Whanganui and both are still correct. I point this out as not a typo, although I'm sure to make plenty! 😜

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whanganui

3. Where will you be staying?

Right now this is a little unsure. We think we will move into a hospital apartment for 4 weeks while we look for a place to stay. They will sponsor those 4 weeks and then after that we pay for it. Alternatively,

We could try to find a place to just move into to avoid moving twice. We are leaning at #1. As finding apartments online has been difficult. I'll post more on this one that is solidified.

4. What about a car?

Well we also get 4 weeks of a car like the apartment then after that we have to lease or buy a car or cars. We need at least one maybe 2. Depends on how far it is from the hospital. We are hoping for just one. You all know we don't want to spend more than needed! Lol. This is really dependent on what happens with where we live.

5. We know what Cecil is doing, what will you do?

Right now nothing, sadly. I'm not on a work visa (and yes my visa is still in limbo so ill literally be going as a visitor still). I'm planning on trying to volunteer or maybe do some under the table kinda things like babysitting, tutoring or pet sitting. 

Anyway, it's getting near midnight and we have five hours or more of driving tomorrow so it's time to nod off. Night all!

Booked!

Finally! Tonight we physically have tickets!  November 17th we leave cbus to Houston to LA to Auckland! It's going to be a hell of a trip. Originally we were planning on a short stop in LA as a break but the baggage fees were going to kill us so straight to Auckland were Cecil has a meeting he has to be at. So we  will spend a few days there before heading to our tiny town. The baggage fees are still killing us but it's cheaper to pay for baggage than to pay fees, I know we checked. This whole baggage thing is the next curb to step over/hill to climb. For example the luggage I bought to take with us was 5cm to large so we had to take them back. Ps. Tj Maxx is awesome for cheapish luggage. I'm planning on going back tomorrow to find something that will work but need my tape measure. Anyway, I'm just happy we have tickets. I'll post about luggage and other things next week in more detail. For now celebrate!!!!

Almost there!

Soo close! 

We get to book tickets tomorrow! 

Finally! 

34 days left and man is time flying!!! 

Can't believe we have such little time left in the states! 

-cecil

Forward movement

Ok, so we have some news, and it's better than last week. With some major pushing from us as well as our NZ contacts, the medical review board has decided to give me back my passport and let me enter the country as a visitor while they review my Medicals. Cecil's visa has been approved and that is the more important of the two as he's the one with the job. What does this mean? It means we are buying plane tickets ASAP, like tomorrow when cec gets home. It also means that I have to have a ticket to leave three months after we get into the country (the plan is to change that once my visa is approved). Sooo everyone working together seems to be moving things forward. Not perfectly, but then when does anything governmental ever work easily??

Well crap

So not good news today. We found out that Cecil's medicals were approved. However mine, have been sent to a special review board. Because of the earlier incompetence we are already over a month behind, and this process can take 8 weeks. Those of you counting, Cecil and I were planning on leaving about seven weeks from now. Those of you good at math, can see this is a problem. I am…….Upset to say the least. The real kick in the junk is that we can't do anything about it. We were told that basically who is reviewing it doesn't care about timelines and they will get to it when they do. Cecil and I spent the evening doing the only thing we could think of, which was emailing at senators representatives and the White House. No, that third one really happened. It's not like there's an easy place to go for help for this. I am really afraid that everything is going to fall apart. Pray for us, we need it