Moving

Hello, as of now I'm writing my entries at lostinmyneighborhood.tumblr.com.  It's way nicer looking.  Day 2 is posted.

Day 1

Today during my brief introduction to Auckland, I learned some interesting things:

1.) New Zealanders are probably incapable of feeling the cold.

I was pretty intrigued by this one because I know that Auckland rarely dips below freezing, so in my folly I thought I would be more acclimated to cold weather.  Yeah.  It's less than sixty degrees outside, yet people for the most part are walking outside in shorts, wife beaters, and flip flops.  My uncle says this is typical dress code unless it snows.  Which is never.

2.) Soy milk? Wha?

After stopping by a grocery store with the intention of buying rice milk, I learned that this is not (yet, I hope,) a mainstream thing in New Zealand. And neither is soy milk.  Or almond milk.  Or hemp milk.  I  managed to find a wimpy litre of soy milk.  Joy.  That will last me like, an hour.

3.) Imported goods prices are ridiculous.

My uncle took me to the American shop just for kicks and giggles today.  I was like oh! hey! it's pretzel m&m's!  I love those things!  Oh, wow! It's...it's...wait...$32.23?!?!

4.) I am in the shire.  Pictures will follow.  Probably tomorrow

5.) There is a strange plastic bags paradox.

This confuses me a lot.  Apparently plastic bags are utilized heavily everywhere in the city, which I suppose is the norm.  However, the whole reusable bag concept hasn't reached here, so I would assume that the quantity per person for plastic bags would be higher.  With this in mind, the streets should be covered with escaped plastic bags, rolling in the wind.  Like plastic bags do.  But I haven't seen a single one yet.  Hell, I haven't even seen a single piece of litter on the streets.  Will investigate this further.

It's not like the trash actually goes in the trash.  That would be ridiculous.  Exhibit A: Philly.

Well, I am pushing to stay up these last four hours in order to acclimatize to the time change.  I want to die.

Cheers!

The Trip Here X(

Ok, I suggest you don't read all of this.  It's not that exciting, it's mainly me decompressing from the stress of a really long flight.  Includes some  a lot of ranting, general rambling, and criticism of American airlines

On Friday, I flew to LAX.  Since I had a voucher for a single ride ticket, I flew first class.  Yay.  Can't help but find it very intriguing how the crew actually seems to care about your overall well-being.  During the flight, the steward stopped by to make sure I was comfortable, asking if I was hungry or thirsty or mentally distraught every five minutes, like clockwork.  I appreciate good customer service, but I'm pretty certain that the reason it took me the entire flight (6 blasted hours) to read 20 pages of my book was because of the paranoia this steward instilled within me with his mothering. Eventually I couldn't listen my cd player because I was afraid he would sneak up on me.  

The customer service in America overall is distinctly different from New Zealand's.  By airlines alone, anyone can see this.  Sure, the service in first class was great, but so is all premium service.  However, U.S. Airways service outside of triple the price of economy tickets is mediocre at best.  It's not necessarily that the stewards are rude or inaccessible, but they certainly don't go out of their way to help people.  

Even at the counter, when I made a request to have my luggage automatically transferred to Auckland instead of having to pick them up in LAX and then check them in again, (I booked my tickets badly) the lady at the front desk rolled her eyes at her coworker and said to him, "Don't even bother, I know it can't be done."  

Luckily, the coworker ignored her and arranged my luggage to arrive in Auckland directly.  Jerk.

Air New Zealand, on the other hand, is arranged perfectly.  There is something really special about how they present themselves to the consumer.  A genuine looking smile and a cute little quip to a nervous traveler can make a huge difference, and that's only once significant difference I observed.

Upon boarding the aircraft, the safety demonstration was given in video format, with the old guy from Modern Family guest starring.  It made watching the video fun, and virtually painless.  And my god, that personal entertainment system.  

I know it's pretty much standard procedure to have individual televisions on international flights now (GOD DAMMIT WHY CAN'T US AIR EVEN HAVE ONE DAMN MOVIE ON A SIX HOUR FLIGHT?!) but that airline really takes advantage of the interface.  They have included a steward instant messaging system, so that you can request food and drink without even speaking to a person.  It's like WAWA for the sky.  

The entertainment was awesome.  I found lots of New Zealand/Australian bands through the music provided.  Sometime while I was eating dinner, I passed out from exhaustion over my food.  So much that I didn't even notice them take my tray away. I woke up by breakfast, then slept some more.  Ugh, and there were so many movies in my playlist :(

So the date has nearly arrived!  My bags are packed, my passport and visas are all in order, and I can't seem to get rid of that gnawing excitement in the pit of my stomach.  Plane departs from Philadelphia at 2 P.M. For L.A.  It will be a bittersweet departure for sure; I've forged some wonderful friendships during my summer and Philly.  However, I'm looking forward to my future journeys in Auckland.  But there's no way I'm sleeping tonight.

Sometimes you can't help but feel betrayed.  Your very own feet trip your body.  Your stomach decides to insufficiently process lactose.  Your city switches the street signs on you, and there is no hope in finding your way back without asking the shady looking man? on the street corner.  

Funny how inanimate objects can be so malicious.  In one day.

When I started putting this blog together last summer, I only began writing posts to just give some background and context to my future endeavors.  As far as I was concerned, my journey would only start once I truly left my neighborhood.  As the date crawls closer to my departure date, I realize that nothing could be more fantastically false, unless I had actually left a few months ago when I initially planned my trip to New Zealand.

Three months ago, I was more than ready to book it to New Zealand, or any country for that matter, free of any connections or obligations.  Three months ago, I wasn't ready to travel anywhere at all because I wasn't living at all; I was just waiting and watching time pass me by until October 12, 2012 arrived.

Until  I started working at my summer job, my day consisted of three things: I woke up, I ate, and I ran.

Then I started working somewhere, where I found someone who genuinely cared about his work a lot, who was so dedicated to helping others that if he organized an event, dozens of people always attended because of what he did for them.  People were constantly supporting him because his desire to help them and others was just that infectiously wonderful.

I can't say I an extremely altruistic person because I'm not even close.  But something about this attitude set my life in motion and influenced my perspective, even if only a little bit.

Suddenly, I wasn't waiting for that deadline as if it were going to be the arrival of the Messiah or something and I just ripped the countdown to my flight out of my notebook.  My mind was no longer waiting at a airport on some metaphysical plane, and I actually started accomplishing things.

I call it my Year of Summer.  It's a wonderful alternative to a public university education that has allowed me to enjoy my life.

This September, I have forged relationships that I never thought I was capable of having.  I have learned so much about myself, and I have found assurance that I will make friends and find things I love, wherever I go. I'm no longer chomping at the bit, eager to make the great escape.  Instead, there will be a bittersweet departure from the City of Brotherly Love and a more prepared Becca trekking to a new continent.

Register to Vote Drive

The other day I worked at a voter registration drive with Chinese senior citizens.  It's amazing how a group event such as this (along with some delicious Chinese food) can encourage people to register!  With the Pennsylvania Voter Photo ID law that has made it more difficult and inconvenient for certain demographics, like senior citizens, to vote, it is more important than even to make sure you can vote this November!