Friday, May 25, 2007

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to Casey's Spot! I started this blog so while I'm 6,000 miles away, I can stay in touch with family and friends.

My trip is OFFICIAL! I will be aboard United Flight#839 on July 9th, 2007. I purchased my airfare today for a steal of $660 bucks! I couldn't believe it. AAA helped, too. I decided a one-way ticket was my best option, encase I wanted to come home/stay longer/emergencies/wanting to head to Australia or Fiji.

So, you are probably asking, "How is Miss OC Bubble child making a trip of a lifetime to New Zealand?" Well, my boss at El Modena recently move to New Zealand in January to be closer to family. He ended up receiving a job as the Wellington Aquatics Developmental Officer and within a week he was sending me emails asking me to jump the Pacific and come over. Being a recent college grad (WEE!), I thought to myself "Hey, why not? I don't want a *real* job anyways" and the trip was on!

It looks like I will be living in Kilbirine, a county of Wellington (Wellington is at the southern tip of the North Island). My job is pretty much what I have been doing for almost 10 years. I will be teaching swimming lessons and incorporating water polo into these lessons. The set up is exactly the way Australian Swim School was, so the format should be pretty familiar. I do have to be re-trained to understand their teaching style, which I'll be doing till the 16th of July, when classes start.

I have to admit...I'm really nervous. I've always wanted to travel (Semester at Sea, Study Abroad) but I never had the opportunity. I've never left the county and outside of a few 3-day trips with friends, have never been away from my parentals (I didn't even have a passport until a few weeks ago). I'm excited, too. To meet new people, be in a whole new place, and to even be working again.

I'm sure you have a ton of questions so I have included some links to some very informational websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=L9AckrrC7Wo (great YouTube video that tours Wellington)

Please continue to check back on a regular bases, especially while I'm in New Zealand. I will post as many pictures as I can of my place of work, my flat, the city, and new friends. You can also drop me an email at cbfinnegan@hotmail.com and prayers are always accepted. :)

LOVE YOU ALL!