International Galavants Series, 2007: New Zealand

Yay, I fly out to NZ in about 9 hours (Oh god, so much to do!). Nowhere near as terrified as I was when I went to Indonesia. I think this is because:

a) It's not my first overseas trip; I know what customs is like, I know what airoplanes are like, I know I probably won't die from airplane food (probably), I know I'll survive making it to my hostel even though I arrive at midnight. It's nice to know such things.

b) I am going somewhere they speak English; as long as you count saying 'five, sux, sivin' as English. I've worked out that to do the accent you need to smile and not move your lips too much. At least then I sound like Cal Wilson, a Kiwi comedian. So it's a start. With Indonesia, while I speak basic Indonesian (and far better at the end of my trip than I did at the start), it was only basic. Besides, everyone spoke Minang, the local dialect. And while Singapore's official language is English, at street level, plenty of people don't speak English at all, or only at an absolute bare minimum.

c) I have an end date; two weeks, then I am home. There's not twelve long months stretching out before me. I will probably wish it was longer. *sigh* I already wish it was longer. My credit card already wishes it were shorter.

d) I'm not going alone; God this makes a difference (although, really, I probably could have done NZ quite easily on my own). It just means the flight will be less boring, that I'll have someone to actually show cool things I see, that there'll be someone to mind my bag!!! Yeah, travel buddy good.

e) It's New Zealand. I may as well be going to Adelaide (although the conversion rate to SA is not as good). It'll be reasonably familiar, so no need to freak out. Except orcs.

Might get a chance to post while I'm away, but otherwise ~ See you in two weeks!