The Immigration Process and Other Things...

It is August...and our Visa's are due to expire in October. In order to extend our Visa we must convince the NZ Immigration officials that we are not felons from the USA, that we are upstanding citizens, that Rob & I have a genuine and loving relationship, and a heap of other documents that attest who we are , and our intentions for beng here, in NZ. It is quite an exasperating experience. And today...I have achieved completing all of the documents. YAHOOO!!! And...by all of the documents,I mean more paperwork than I can imagine. It almost makes us want to just apply for an extension to our Visas...but then it will have to be done again, and quite frankly, we are so over this kind of processing for the 2nd time. It is like having someone attached to you at all times making sure you live properly, and you would make a good Kiwi...er... citizen. I actually take this process very seriously, and I find it very difficult to go through. Like being under a hypersensitive microscope.

You should have been at my medical interview...when the doctor asked me if I exercised...I asked her.."what time of day are we talking?" I do not have a car...I walk everywhere I need to be, unless it involves a ferry or a bus. I swim, cycle, walk and go to the gym on a regular basis. Rob & I tramp almost every weekend to destinations that are very physically challenging. Most of the time I can not believe that I am crossing rushing rivers without being drawn downstream, and tramping on with wet boots...not complaining. You just do it...you know...just do it??...the Nike jingle. I think all the Kiwi's have the 'Just Do It' attitude as they are constantly out in the bucketing rain getting in their compulsory 10K's. Even the grandmas are out there!! No whimping out in the rain! The point is...although I may not be a skinny minny...I am very fit and able to conquer physical challenges. It just ires me to the core when I am under the microscope!!
Oh dear...you could really get me going here...

Last week I was scheduled to go out to Tiritiri Matangi Island to do my volunteer guiding that I do every week. Well...Thursday night there was this crazy, intense storm, and I thought for sure they would call off the trip out to the Island. However, when I called the hotline to see if we were going or not...we were scheduled to go. So, off to Auckland City on the Ferry I went. By the time I reached Auckland City, the rain was so heavy that I was seriously questioning why we would be going out on the sea to Tiri. There were only a handful of passengers that had signed up for a guided walk, and 5 guides. Thank goodness that I had packed all of my 'what if' kind of clothing and accessories. It was a full on hosing as we reached the Island, and with trepidition, we left the warmth and dryness of the ferry. We were assigned our groups and off we went. It so happens that there was a bird afficionado in my group, and she was very anxious to see a rare and endangered bird ... the Kokako. There must have been a God out there as we took off from the wharf...because in 2 minutes, there they were...2 Kokako munching on seeds from a Kowhai tree. I could not have planned this tour any better as we managed to see almost every rare and endangered bird on the Island. Only the nocturnal birds were not viewed. Needless to say, she was quite pleased with the tour that I provided. Thankfully, all of the others in the group were estatic to see all of the birds we saw as well. They have always touted that the best time to really see all the birds is in the Winter. However, we did arrive at the visitor's center completly saturated. I was secretly wishing that there was a hot shower and clean, dry clothes...but that would have meant that I was a complainer...and here in Kiwiville...you nevah compain! Just so you know that I am being toughened up here!

So...if you didn't get the fact that the seasons are all jumbled up here...I really mean in my head...we are in the heart of Winter. It is so strange to be having Winter in June, July & August while you all are basking in the summer sun...and some of you are broiling in high temperatures. I am not sure when it will be normal for me to celebrate Christmas in the Summer...or have my June birthday in the Winter. Aaakkk! Too hard for me to compute.

On a brighter note...Rob & I continue to explore the Auckland area, and have recently discovered a goldmine of tramping trails in the Waitakere Ranges. We had a very brisk, and spectacular tramp out at Fairy Falls a few weeks ago. Then we went back to a favorite spot on the East Coast for a cliff walk along the Hauraki Gulf, and last weekend we discovered a new area across the Waitemata Harbour in Glendowie, at a reserve close to some friend's house. So...within one hour of our home, we are able to access so many amazing places. This is truly a place of wonder.

Even though we are cold and shivvering wet...I hope you are all warm and enjoying your Summer.

xoxox, ~~Skye

PS Thank you so much to Mandi...your card brought tears to my eyes...you are right...although we are separated by a huge ocean...we are very close in heart. Thank you, my friend, for putting that in words. :)