The Past is History and the Future is a Mystery

Adios mi amiga.

As our time as travel companions wound down Adriana and I became aware that we had to start planning for the future again.  She had been accepted into a veterinary graduate degree program with  St. George's University in Grenada.  Congratulations are in order for her because getting into vet school is no small accomplishment and she certainly deserves it.  She is hoping to go on to become a marine vet working with the unusual and often more challenging types of animals such as dolphins, turtles and even whales.  Now thats a serious ambition.  Best of luck Adriana!

Fun in the moment (Adriana Weil)

As for me the future remains a bit more uncertain.  I have been applying for all sorts of research jobs in the states as their field season will just now be starting up.  I have even been offered a few positions but none of them felt right to me and at first I couldn't figure out why.  Why, when I was offered a bird survey position in Oregon, did I feel as though I would have to force myself to accept it when that is exactly the type of position I had been searching for?

Now I know that this is because I am not ready to leave New Zealand.  As much as I do want that job and crave to continue this just blossoming career of mine which is becoming more and more of an ideal life for me I want to explore New Zealand more and to see where this path takes me. This country has swept me off my feet and I find myself enthralled with each new sight... absorbing every experience... living in a way that excites me constantly but still manages to hold me firmly rooted in reality.

As I was saying, I turned down the position reluctantly but confident in my decision.  When in my life will I be in such a place with the opportunity to take full advantage of what is around me without suffering the regret and repercussions of broken commitments?  Now is the time for me to follow my heart on a whim and to see where it takes me.  I have nothing to hold me back at this moment.  The world feels open to me and I am finding that as long as I remain positive and keep hold of what is truly important to me then things seem to fall into place one after another.

This reminds me of home (Adriana Weil)

Passion is worth living for and worth following into the unknown.  My passion for biology will never lapse and that I know. My passion to travel freely and to experience all that I can may only be plausible during the earlier part of my life so I plan to take full advantage while I can.

The people at Antill Estate Winery found a temporary job for me working on vineyards and are allowing me to stay at their place for free in exchange for a bit of work here and there when I have time.  I couldn't ask a for a better way to get situated in a new place.  After my time here I will either head up north to Takaka and the Bay Subtropical farm again or else move on elsewhere to find another job.  There is always work in the orchards, ski mountains and construction but ideally I will be applying for environmental jobs through the Department of Conservation or the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

At the moment my focus is squarely upon working out the visa and making a bit of money to support myself. After that is secured New Zealand will once again be an open book for me and I plan to read every page.

After catching a ride in this truck we watched them load some sheep

Andre the truck driver.

Eclairs.  This was a good day.

Delicious and easy to make.

Post-earthquake Christchurch set up a storage container shopping area.  A creative solution for shop owners in hard times.

Thanks for the experience as a painter dad. (Adriana Weil)

Painting the Cottage at Antill Estate

What was once downtown Christchurch

(Adriana Weil)

Adriana and I playing the happily married couple on her last night in New Zealand.  We were hoping to get a free dessert, but no luck.