NZ-Bound Once Again

Just 1 day 12 hours and 15 minutes to go until I am on my way back to Auckland!

We had a lovely departure picnic yesterday where I got to say goodbye to lots of family and friends, featuring many vegan dishes.  For those of you who did not know, Mom, Dad and I have been eating vegan since March and loving it, so planning on keeping it up in New Zealand!  

Since being home for about 8 1/2 months, I have:

• Taken Anatomy and Physiology I & II w/Lab online
• Taken Abnormal Psych online
• Worked as a substitute paraprofessional at Wildwood elementary school (from October to when Jacques arrived in December)
• Worked as a wrapper on the weekends at Yankee Candle from October-Dec
• Started working as a PCA and spending some awesome days with Damien Oct-April
• Traveled down the east coast and back up via Nashville with Jacques, showing him as much of the USA as possible in his 2 month visit.  
• Played indoor soccer and won the championship :)
• Became a dog-sitter

The next part of the plan...I am on the wait-list at Springfield College of the entry-level Master's of Occupational Therapy.  Chances are, I will end up studying to become and Occupational Therapist in NZ.  The next possible start-date for the program is in February.  Other options...nanny for awhile, hope to get a job in the Rehab and Occupational Studies department at AUT as a research assistant, APPLY for my work visa.  Fortunately, in NZ, because Jacques and I have been together over a year, and I will be living with him upon arrival, we qualify so that I can apply for a 2 year work permit as his partner, having the visa granted within 25 days.  However, there were a lot of things I needed to take care of before hand!  I had to get a chest x-ray, physical and blood work to prove I'm healthy, fill out an extensive application form, get police clearance, prove Jacques and I are not related, and also provide extensive proof of our relationship.  So that has been a project all in itself!  But it is just about complete! The only thing left to do is apply once I arrive....and cross our fingers that it's granted!

So let the next journey begin!! Although everyone at home will be greatly missed, I am excited to see what else New Zealand has to offer.  Since I had such an enjoyable first experience, I can't wait to see what the next one brings!

Rest assured that you can keep up with my on-goings as I live with the Kiwis once again.