Me and Chris

22 months ago I decided to leave home in Northern Ireland and go travelling to New Zealand.  I’ve never really known what it is I wanted to do with my life career wise, all I know is I’ve always had a desire to travel and see what else is out there.  I’m not one of the many Irish who leave home, looking to move to the other side of the world and expecting the grass to be greener.  For me it’s all about seeing different places, experiencing different cultures, and at this point, I still expect I’ll be home some day.

Since arriving in New Zealand I’ve done so much.  I’ve waitressed in a busy Auckland restaurant, tried my hand at orchard work, and spent two ski seasons as a snow bum.  When I wasn’t working my boyfriend, Chris, and I were travelling around the country freedom camping in our car.  It was our goal when we arrived to see as much of New Zealand as possible and in a bit of depth.  I didn’t want to be one of these people who work in Auckland for ten months and then book onto a tour bus and rush around the country in six weeks.  And I’m pretty sure we’ve achieved this, maybe even overdone it a little!

My only regret the whole time I’ve been here is that, other than the odd Facebook status here and there, I haven’t written down any of my experiences.  When you’re travelling the weeks very quickly run into one another and before you know it, half a year’s gone by and, other than hundreds of unorganised photos, you don’t have much to remember it by.  So I thought I’d give blogging a go, to share my experiences and remind myself of what I’ve done.

Vicki Larkin