Auckland Adventures

Three days to go and it's suddenly starting to get very hectic.

Last week I was up in Auckland, mainly to sort out the visa situation (rant on that in a moment), but also for a pre-departure meeting, and to generally catch up with a few people up that way.

I've never really spent much time in Auckland, I think. although I can now figure my way about fairly well, I think. After wanderings in search of cake, and various other foodstuffs (on my last day I was shown the most incredible cake shop), I think I've at least got the city centre mostly figured out. I even managed to figure out public transport on numerous occasions! Although I also forgot to allow for the fact that it was likely to be more than 20 minutes late in the mornings, and so was a tad late for my visa interview.

Not that it seemed to matter in the slightest, as it then proceeded to be even more pointless than I had anticipated. After I had made it there, and left my bag and phone with security, I then had to see a lady, who took my fingerprints with a fancy scanner thing, and took my forms off me. After that, I was directed to take a seat and wait for them to call my name for the interview. I had the absolute delight of waiting for an hour or so (fortunately I had listened to the advice I was given, and had brought a book with me) before being summoned up to the desk for my supposed interview.

This interview, that was so very important that it absolutely had to be in Auckland, and nowhere else, for fear the world might implode, took all of about thirty seconds, and it was quite clear the guy was simply asking polite questions (all two of them) to pass the time while he processed my form.

Other than the infuriating purpose of my trip (and the running around involved to pay their exorbitant fees), I had a very good time up North, and it was very nice to see friends and family before I head off to far away.

In the week since getting back I've spent a fair bit of time in a kind of dead zone, which I seem to have snapped out of a little today, due to one thing or another. Apparently my emotions are a little crazy. It's quite a strange feeling, being almost gone, but not really doing anything towards actually leaving. Although that was largely my own procrastination, and came to a grinding halt today when I finally came to terms with just how much I still need to do.

Today I started the process of moving all my stuff back home, and getting it all sorted so that it can be boxed up and out of the way while I'm overseas. There's still an awful lot of work to do there, and I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to get through it all, but I have to, so it will get done. I guess it's just the quality of work at stake.

I also got my international driving permit today, which is somewhat exciting, as it means I'll be able to drive on the wrong side of the road without breaking the law. Or something.