6 months in NZ (nearly)

Seeing that almost six months have elapsed since I've moved country, I thought it would be a fitting time to update this blog. Once every six months seems like a schedule I could keep. So how to summarize six months of my life? I'm not quite sure, but I think I'll bullet point the highlights for you.
In the last six months I've....

• moved to New Zealand; that was pretty cool
• bought two little budgies, smudgie and pudgie and they're awesome
• been holding down a steady job as a crepe maker at the farmers market
• finished the first semester of my masters degree
• got started on my fieldwork
• sort of learned what I'm supposed to do in the lab
• helped build a rabbit fence dangling off a cliff
• killed african boxthorn
• learned about kea
• tried to learn about NZ birds
• tutored geography
• eaten chocolate

Those are the highlights I can think of now. I was keep to update photos but I've forgotten and am leaving town for a week to go bushwalking (!!!!) so I'll have to keep you all in suspense until then.

Probably the one that requires a bit of explination would be the bit about my masters degree. So I'm still in the first year, where I have to take classes. But I'm halfway though, so I'm on the midsemester break right now. Classes start up again on the 11th, and I probably won't have nearly as much time to puruse the internet. Theoretically then, I have all next year to do field work and work on my thesis. Naturally, I've already started both my field and lab work so I can slack off next year.

My project involves walking along the beach and picking up kelp of a specific species. I have 18 sites along the EC of NZ, and potentially will add more. I bring the kelp back here, dry it out and then do some fancy genetic hocus pocus in the lab. Once I've gotten the genetic stuff to work, I can tell where said beach-washed kelp originated (ie. the sub-anatarctic, Northern NZ, Southern NZ etc). This tells us stuff about dispersal potential and inter-connectiveness of the populations. Neat huh?

I've gone out once and found some kelp, now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. My lab results have been really mixed, but I'm excited because I just got a batch that worked awesomely this morning!! Usually about 50-60% of the samples will amplify, and out of those, some might be the wrong species. So it's a bit hit or miss to say the least.

Anyways, I should go do lab stuff again, then go home and pack for my bushwalk tomorrow! Photos will come soon!

A quick and simple guide to moving countries.

Thinking about moving country? Is it to simply uproot yourself and start fresh in a new location? Did you get deported out of your home country? Are you looking for a way to challenge yourself and stand on your own two feet? Do you love paperwork more than life itself?

Follow this easy guide to decide if moving country is right for you!

Which one accurately describes your daily sentiments?

a.) What a nice place! I’m so glad I live in this fantastic country! Woe is everyone who ever had to live anywhere else! (1 point)

b.) Another country could be cool, but it’s so scary and hard! I’ll just stay here thanks; sure, it gets on my nerves sometimes, but the positives outweigh the negatives for me (5 points)

c.) Get me out. Now. (10 points)

Your view on paperwork: it’s….

a.) Boring and I wish I never had to do it again (1 point)

b.) Not awful; I get tired of writing my name and address 700 times but I like ticking boxes (5 points)

c.) I’m a fan; I like seeing how my signature changes from form to form; ticking boxes is awesome and I never tire of writing my address (10 points)

What are your thoughts on making all your personal, financial and medical information available to strangers?

a.) No way! Those are private documents and you have no business with them! (1 point)

b.) Um…. I guess you can see them; you’d best have a good reason though! (5 points)

c.) What else do you need? Deceased pet names? A full inventory of my underwear collection? Would you like my footprints as well? (10 points)

How attached are you to your current belongings? (Furniture, home, pets etc)

a.) My things define me! That’s a vintage 1973 Louis Prada designer coat hanger! And don’t even get me started on my lightswitch covers….. (1 point)

b.) They’re just things; I mean I like them, but other places have things too, right? Wait, I would need to buy things AGAIN?! That changes things…(5 points)

c.) I don’t own anything I don’t think…. (10 points)

My life is…

a.) …chockfull of stress and anxiety; xanax…. need xanax…. (1 point)

b.) …up and down in terms of stress levels; average I guess (5 points)

c.) …more stress please!! (10 points)

Your results:

0-15 points: Probably best to stay home; moving country isn’t for you.

16-35 points: You could move country, but maybe try moving state first, as practice

36-50 points: If you’re willing and able, you could be a candidate for a potential an inter-country move. Whether or not another country wants you is another matter of course…