Things are looking up!
Yesterday was a pub meet - other IEP participants gathered at Tevern hotel for beer and pub food, and to compete in the pub quiz. My team, the bunnies, lost (8th out of 10 teams, and there were 2 9th place ties!). But it was fun to talk with them about their first experiences here (how they got started up, jobs, and the like). Most of my team had been here for aleast a month, and were working temp jobs, tho 2 girls were picking grapes at a vineyard on an island near Auckland. After it was over, I felt lonely, again. Just a huge contrast to my situation in Melbourne. I think it was compounded with the uncertainty of the next day (or week, or month). I had no plan, just goal.
Well, today, I turned that goal into bus tickets! I booked two Stray tickets, one to the north and Cape Reinga, and the other a slow meandering down toward Wellington. I looked my money woes in the eye and burned right through them. Sure, I’ll budget, but no freaking out.
And I also opened another bank account today (now I have bank accounts in 3 different countries, uf). The people were very friendly, and they even gave me tea while I waited. First time ever for that in a bank. It is good.