Saturday, May 31, 2008

San Diego, 31 May 2008

Technically it's the first of June, just after midnight. Yes, I'm still awake. I did manage to sleep late into the morning this morning so feel pretty good. My room mate, a woman named Janet arrived this morning. We had a great breakfast in the dining room, registered for the course which begins tomorrow and I went off to the mall.

Ahhh, the mall. I truly know I'm in the States now. All of my favourite stores. Big stores with lots of stuff. The variety, the selection, the price! Dollar for dollar everything is so much cheaper than it is in New Zealand. I'm enjoying the high exchange rate.

I didn't do a lot of browsing though. I was on a mission. New laptop (Macbook Pro after almost an hour deliberating between that and the Macbook Air). I chose power and really, really clear, crisp graphics over weight. I may come to regret my decision over the next two months of travelling. I also bought software including Adobe Photoshop (at the request of the burgeoning photographer) and a new case for my iPod so I can wear it on my hip when I work out. Now I'm set...or will be once I get the hot pink neoprene case in which to cocoon my new baby. Had to order that online (which, of course I did from my new iPod). :)

I also bought a new chain for the beautiful pendant that my office gave me (cats eye shell...another piece of New Zealand) so I can wear that along with the extraordinary piece of greenstone that my HD committee gave me before I left.

Finally I carried it all home in my new suitcase. It's smaller than my old one. Again, I hope I don't regret that decision during the next two months. At least it will force me to pack light(ish).

Before I left the mall though I treated myself to one of the true luxuries of being Stateside...Ben and Jerry's ice cream. A double scoop of Cherry Garcia and a new flavour I hadn't yet encountered. Cinnamon Bun (think Cinnabon in a cup). Not sure if I spelled that correctly, BTW.

I had a quick dinner at a fondue restaurant I'd never heard of before called The Melting Pot. Great salad with chicken and veggies simmered in a broth fondue. Yummy.

At 6 I had a massage to help me relax so I could sleep tonight...as you can tell that worked well.

Seriously, though my lack of sleep tonight is stage two of being in the States. Mild annoyance being stage one (still going through that a bit today hearing people crack their gum and being exposed to uncountable numbers of mis-behaving (screaming) children. I've said it once I'll say it a thousand times...children in NZ are MUCH better behaved than they are in the States (adults too really).

Stage two is appreciating the good things (Ben and Jerry's and shopping in nice malls with nice stores with lots of shiny things in them). Stage two also has a lot to do with the fact that I'm just now realising, really that I'm on vacation for the next two months. Although I have things to do (places to go, people to see) I don't really have any responsibility. How cool is that?

I lay in bed and this kind of euphoria came over me. I think it also has to do with the very unique place I am in my life. A break between two lives really and I get to reinvent myself. Again!

San Diego, May 31, 2008

Barely.

Well, the insomnia continues. I fell dead asleep at 8:30 after gorging myself on Mexican food but woke up at 11:30 wide awake. Thought I'd take the opportunity to write this. I don't know how much time I'll have during the first Tony Robbins course I'll have, or even if I'll have anything memorable or interesting to write.

My first few hours in the States were predictable. I was struck with the low grade irritation I always get when I first arrive. Americans are loud. They just are. I know I am one, but put us in a group and, my God, it's deafening sometimes. We can also be brash and completely unaware of ourselves. It puts my nerves on end when I first get here. That, and the technology and amount of information that bombards you from every source possible. Cell phones, PDA's, lap tops...they're everywhere and everyone has one. Myself included by the way. You'll have to pry my new iPod touch out of my cold dead hands. :) But it's overwhelming to see everyone connected all the time. Then there is the constant stream of cable TV shouting new headlines and sports at you constantly. Does my head in.

But that doesn't even compare to the annoyance that I feel from hearing the PA at the airport blather on about "security condition orange", whatever that is, or the flight attendant on the Southwest flight from San Francisco to San Diego advising us not to stand in line at the bathroom door and not to pass anyone in the aisle for heaven's sake!!!! People have asked me why I'm not moving back to the States? This paragraph sums it up. Why would I want to live in a place where security levels are a way of life and you can't stand in line when you have to pee? Why does anyone want to live in a society like that? Hopefully the next election will see us "throw the bums out" and we can all stand up and say enough! But I think that's being optimistic. Scare mongering is big business and I'm afraid the Dems will want to cash in just as much as the Republicans have. Okay, enough of my rant on George Bush. I really will be up all night.

Dinner was not memorable, unfortunately. I asked for a recommendation on Mexican (Sorry Don I lost that email with yours) and was told to go to Jose's Courtroom. It was a very loud Cantina with 2 screens showing 2 different ESPN channels. I was watching a baseball game and could not for the life of me figure out who was playing...until I realised it was a college game. You know you're in the US when... The Piston's were also playing the Celtics in an NBA playoff game but I couldn't see that TV as well. Two margaritas, possibly the worst queso I've ever had and some totally average fajitas...it was a disappointment to say the least. But, there's always tomorrow night.

Okay, so I feel like I have to put something positive in about being back "home". And the positives really have to be the level of service that you get here. While New Zealand is certainly not as bad as Australia and, God knows, the UK it just doesn't compare to the US. I've decided I don't mind tipping. I like be served professionally, quickly, efficiently and in a friendly manner and I'm happy to pay for it.

My room mate arrives tomorrow and the course starts Sunday. Hopefully I'll have a chance to relax and, dare I say it? Sleep!!!! Not to mention buying a cell phone, lap top and, oh yeah...a new suitcase.

Leaving Auckland, May 30,2008

What a day it's been! I thought my last day in Auckland would be relaxing, but no. In my usual style I ended up running around trying to pack too much into the day. The movers were late, coming at almost 9AM to get my last 5 boxes (everything else had been packed up and removed the week before). I was supposed to be out the door by 10:00. I made it by 10:15, not bad. Then off to the chiro for one last adjustment (I told him it had to be good enough to last for 2 1/2 months). Then to meet Brad for lunch and finally for a mani /pedi. I made it to the office a little after 3PM to send a couple of last minute emails and then at 4:00 I left for the airport.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? I left for the airport. It was actually much harder than that. After 6 years of blood, sweat and more than a few tears I left the Auckland office. I wouldn't be coming in on Monday (well, Tuesday since it's long weekend in Auckland). I've never worked so hard (or so long) in one place. I've never accomplished as much as I have there. In the end I had to run out the door, not being able to look anyone in the eye, much less leave them with hugs barely making it before I dissolved in tears. I cried half way to the airport and a bit on the plane. I'm crying a bit now writing this. But all in all I know it's the right choice and I leave feeling so pleased with Megs taking over and the people in the office now. No one's irreplaceable and life will go on. Now I'm going on to my next big adventure.

I knew a trip like this would not be without hitches and my first one came before I even left work. My suitcase broke. I couldn't put the handle down so I had deal with that, which turned out to be not much of a hassle...I just had to check it into over sized bags. Funnily enough, when it came out on the other end, in San Francisco it came out in the regular baggage. My much smaller yoga mat came out in over sized bags. Go figure.

Now, for any of you who have ever read "The Secret" I'm here to tell you it works. Ronil at work suggested I upgrade to business class so I could sleep. Not a bad idea, so I did the day before I left. At least I thought I did. I was put on upgrade standby. I kept thinking about it and imagining myself reclining in the new seats that Air New Zealand has that actually fold down completely horizontally into a bed. When I got to the airport I bypassed the huddling masses in line and went straight to premium check in. Turns out they didn't have my upgrade in the computer. I won't bore you all with the gory details but there was something messed up in my records. I spent the next hour and 1/2 trying to sort it out with Air New Zealand and House of Travel (it became my mission in the end) and they finally got it sorted. So, I go to the gate with my upgrade request and my knowledge that there were still 2 seats available in Business Class - only to find out that there were 23 people on the wait list. I, apparently was number 14.

To add insult to injury, for some reason my seat was changed to one further back. I hate riding in the back of the plane so the woman at the gate called to find out why. Never did find out the reason but she managed to put me back in my original seat in cattle class firmly telling me there would be no upgrade today. As I was walking away from the counter however the phone rang and I heard her say, really? She called my back to the counter to hand my my boarding pass for seat 1J - in Business Class. I could have kissed her!

This upgrade stuff is quite extraordinary. The seats are incredible. I felt like Mork from Mork and Mindy in my own little egg. You get a footrest (that doubles as a guest seat so you can entertain), a big seat that can be in any position during take off and landing, and the aforementioned bed. Pretty cool. Not to mention the service. Bubbly before take off and a 4 course dinner. The food wasn't much better than back in cattle class but there certainly was a lot of it.

The bed didn't help me to sleep though. I've had insomnia for the last 2 weeks and it was not going to be abated that night. Shame though, I never have trouble sleeping on planes and when I get an actual bed I lie tossing and turning.

Watched 3 movies though. "Charlie Wilson's War" (Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and the ever brilliant Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Written by Aaron Sorkin, another perennial fav. Awesome. I also watched Bonneville with Jessica Lange and Cathy Bates. Not too bad. During breakfast I watched a doco on Annie Liebowitz. Really cool, especially for the burgeoning photographer I fancy myself to be.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Around the World in 60 Days

Okay, so I'm not really going around the world in 60 days. What I am doing on the 30th of May is leaving for a 2 month long "sabbatical" where I spend almost a month in the States (2 Tony Robbins courses and visiting friends / family), almost a week at a resort in Phuket, Thailand, (a destination that's been on my list for almost 20 years), a month in India studying Ashtanga Yoga with 92 year old Pattabhi Jois, founder of that tradition, and 3 days in Hong Kong (because I can).

I leave Hong Kong on 3rd of August and arrive in Sydney on the 4th. My plane leaves Sydney for Auckland later that day, but I won't be on it. After 6 years of living in New Zealand I've decided to move to Sydney and Robert Half has graciously agreed to employ me over there. More about Sydney later.

What I intend to do in this blog is to chronicle my trip. No doubt it will be fun, challenging and life changing (both inside and out). So, come with me on my adventure of a lifetime (so far).