Status Update: New Zealand
The Facts:1: Friends are shitty, don’t rely on them.
2: Flight Centre may or may not be god, depending on what they tell me tomorrow.
The situation:
My friend Jill was supposed to meet me in Hong Kong for three days at the beginning of my trip. I had a free stop-over, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. Jill said she couldn’t go when I was originally scheduled to leave (Jan 6, arriving in HK on Jan 8), so I moved my flight up three days in order to accommodate her teaching schedule.
Well, now she can’t go at all. Flights are screwy, and it’s not entirely her fault as I booked my ticket before she had time to look into all the options of getting there and back in the allotted time. Still, quite the shitty situation.
So, when she finally emailed me to say she just didn’t think it would work out, my original thought was "okay, I’ll go by myself." Travelling solo as a woman in a foreign city usually means that one’s vacation needs to be a little more structured (scheduled tours instead of impromptu side-trips, paying extra for a room with a view instead of partying downtown... things like that), but it’s still definitely doable.
So I did my research, found a couple day tour outfits that pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and figured that as long as I didn’t do anything stupid I’d be OK.
Then I told mom and dad my plan.
Well, they flipped. They flipped to an extent rarely seen by my parents, which is oddly comforting but mostly incredibly annoying. They aren’t "comfortable" with me travelling to a strange city on my own. They "worry" about my safety with no one around to "look out for me." Oh yea, they pulled out the parent-words by the bucket-load.
What to do?
Well, behind Door #1 we have: A BEAUTIFUL THREE DAY TOUR OF HONG KONG!! Your package comes complete with tours of Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, and the Man Mo Temple. But as a special surprise, we’re throwing in FREE HEART ATTACKS FOR BOTH YOUR PARENTS!!
Uh, Bob, what’s behind door #2?
Well, behind door #2 we have: A THIRTY HOUR FLIGHT TO AUCKLAND!! That’s right folks, get your butt-pads ready because chances are you won’t be able to feel your cheeks by the time you land. As an extra bonus we’re throwing in long lay-overs in airport terminals in gorgeous places YOU CAN’T VISIT!! And your parents can rest easy knowing that instead of wandering around on the ground, you’re shooting through the air in a metal bullet going over 1000km/hour!!!
Well Bobbo, that’s a toughy...
The Decision:
I phoned Flight Centre and asked them how much it would put me out to change my flight and not do the stop-over. If it costs me less than the amount I budgeted for Hong Kong, then I’ll do it. If it’s way more, than I go on my own. If the rents don’t like it, they can foot the bill.
The Good News:
1: I got my visa approved by the embassy, so I’m now officially licensed to work in New Zealand.
2: Regardless of all of this, in approximately a month and a half, I will head out on a journey to the other side of the world for at least the next six months.
The Conclusion:
Shut up Megan. Quit yer damn complaining.
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