Who is SIM and Why Should I Care?

Day two in Dunedin included meeting my co-advisors, Caroline and Andrew, and the rest of our research team (they will be FANTASTIC to work with!; Caroline brought the most delicious chocolate glazed almond tart to share, too), window shopping for a bike ($1200 for a reasonable bike? Eh, I think I'd rather have Jon ship mine to me, thankyouverymuch), and shopping for a new phone (Sprint wants to charge me $2.30 per minute for a phone call and $0.50 per text sent on top of monthly charges).

For me (and other technologically challenged Americans), shopping for electronic devices is about as fun as going on a five hour car ride, hungover, with kids in the back seat saying, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"  I just want to point to something that I want, purchase it, and have it work; no questions asked.  I'm finding it's just not that easy.

In my Welcome Packet from the International Student Office, I received a credit card-sized piece of plastic with two funky rectangle-ish shapes punched into it.  Apparently, I was supposed to act excited and appreciative when I received it, not dumbfounded.

Turns out, each funky rectangle-ish thing is a SIM card.  According to www.wisegeek.com it is a Subscriber Identity Module that functions as a memory chip for cell phones.  You know how you can take your favorite CD of, say, Kenny G's greatest hits (if you're into him, I'm not) and it will play the same songs in any CD player?  Well, take your SIM card and pop it into different cell phones and it works with your saved phone number, saved contact list, etc.  Cool, huh?

So, tonight I'm going to see if the SIM card works in my cell phone that I brought from Sprint in the States to see if it will work (more than likely not - US cell phone companies are mean like that and sell phones that are "locked") then tomorrow I'm going to go back to Vodafone to purchase a phone (they range from $60-600) and pop the SIM card in it.

My roommate says SIM cards at the store cost about an additional $30 and now that I'm starting to understand the whole acquiring-a-cell-phone-and-getting-it-to-work-process, I'm starting to feel like the excited, appreciative person that I should have been when they gave the SIM card to me.

I feel like this is probably a rather boring post to most people.  For those who plan to travel internationally for some time, this will have been helpful information.  For everyone else, I better leave you with something more...interesting.

Here it goes...

Last night, my wonderful (read: doesn't weird me out like some other people I've bumped into around here) roommate, Kate, and I went to check out a nearby grocery store.  This was no ordinary trip.  No, sir.  To get there, we had to walk through a botanic garden with a huge rose garden in bloom - oodles and oodles of yellow, pink, red roses eeeeverywhere.  How. Cool. Is that?!

A-mazing!!!!!

I am officially in Dunedin! (And, still trying to figure out if the proper pronunciation is Dun-EE-din... I referred to it as DUNE-i-din before I left, but that was just plain ol' wrong.)

I was pretty sure I wasn't even going to bother unpacking my bags after I arrived; turning right around to go back to New York seemed perfectly reasonable. That is, until we started to land and I finally caught a glimpse of Dunedin for the first time.

This place is a masterpiece.  I really can't put into words how beautiful the mountains are - tall and soft looking, yet covered with scratchy patches of evergreens, hugged by the ocean on one side.  I've been trying to figure out what this place smells like, too.  The humidity is crazy.  I think I'm just adjusting to so much moisture in the air, but I can't help but wonder... is this what the air smells like when it's... clean?  Is there that much of a lack of smog and other pollutants that is smells differently?

And guess what else?  The people here are as kind and generous as I've heard.  The tales of random acts of kindness committed by kiwis are not just a legend after all. 

You see, I passed by dozens of opportunities to exchange my U.S. Benjamins for some cold hard kiwi cash.  But, each time I passed the foreign currency exchange kiosks I reasoned that I would stop at one later.  In Auckland, I found my departing gate to Dunedin and figured there was enough time to go back to the exchange that I passed before we started boarding.  A 'no re-entry' sign to that part of the airport put the kibosh on my plan, however.  So, when I arrived in Dunedin I asked the older gentleman at the information desk where to change over my money because I needed to pay for the taxi to take me to campus.  He explained that they didn't have any currency exchange kiosks, BUT he was planning on going on "holiday" to the U.S. and would be happy to go to an ATM to take out enough New Zealand dollars to match the exchange rate for the American dollars I would give him. Sweeeeeeeeeet!

Now, I'm settled into my room, I set up a bank account and I started getting the ball rolling on some paperwork I need to get a student ID (read: a means of getting a user name and password so that I can have internet in my room).  After dinner I will be off to La La Land to make up for the serious lack of sleep I've experienced lately.  More to come!

Here are some pictures... don't know what they are, but I'll hope you admire them nonetheless...

Money Can't Buy You Love, Happiness, or Extra Luggage Privileges on a "Weight Critical" Flight

Slept. Like. Crap.  Last night.

After packing and unpacking and repacking half a dozen times, I finally said, "That's it! No more shenanigans, it's time for bed."

Unfortunately, I was so concerned about what I was putting in suitcases I forgot about important stuff.  Like a clean pair of underoos to wear on my trip to get to New Zealand.  So, at 7:54am this morning (note, I had planned on leaving the house at 8am), Jon and I waited for a hand-washed pair to finish drying in the dryer.

Betcha didn't expect to read about underoos today, did you?

After we got to the airport in Binghamton, it was time for the moment of truth.  How much was I going to pay to get all of my luggage to New Zealand?  I had heard that it'd cost about $250 to get my bike over, so I was prepared for the worst since I also had a hunch that both suitcases were over the 50 pound limit.

Jon noticed the "Weight Critical Flight" alert first.  I ignored it, thinking surely I could pay enough money to get all my belongings on the flight.

I was wrong.

The woman at the check out said that no way was I going to be able to bring that bike.  And the suitcases that were each 3-5 pounds overweight?  I'd have to figure out a way to get them under 50 pounds.

So, that's how my trip started out.  There also was a healthy dose of tears (which my mom refers to as "blubbering") and a lot of good, strong hugs.

Now, I'm in San Francisco waiting for my flight to the other hemisphere.  Wow.  There was a time or two when I was flying from Binghamton to Washington D.C. today that I seriously considered taking the next flight home.  This is absurd.  What am I doing?!  It's an awful long time until I see my family again...

I chalked it up to nerves and refocused myself on my stupid new travel pillow.  My friend Beth has flown to Brazil a lot and swears by hers.  Supposedly, wrapping an overstuffed foam horseshoe around my neck is supposed to help me sleep like a baby.  Well, I was sleeping like a baby - just like the wailing, crying, screeching thing that was about five rows behind me.

So, I decided to forget about sleep.  Who needs it anyway?  For your viewing pleasure, I present... a few photos I took just before landing in San Fran.

Last time I'll see snow for a while.

From snowy mountains to flat green land in 5 minutes flat.

Why on earth were there huuuuuge puddles of funny colored water??

That's it for my update!  The next time you hear from me I'll be in New Zealand.

I'd like to give a special shout out to my coworkers at Broome County Office for Aging... you made Friday a wicked awesome day.  I'll miss you sooo much.  To the pharmacy friends, triathlon friends, and high school friends who came to see me on Friday-thank you!  It was great to see so many friends before I left.  I wish I had more one-on-one time to spend with you all that night.  To my family... I know this time will be a rough and tough transition, but I will work my tail off to make you all proud and make this decision sooo worth it.  Last, but not least, Jon... thank you for your support.  Before you know it, I will find you a job in New Zealand and we can be together! Since we'd probably have to leave Halligan at home, I was thinking we could adopt a pink sheep?? =) xoxo

Mindful Eating

I have a hunch that most readers will be interested in reading about life in New Zealand.  For those of you who are interested in the research side of things...

Recently, The New York Times posted an article titled Mindful Eating As Food For Thought.  I thought I'd share the article since it was passed on to me by a friend who found it interesting.  I definitely agree that once in a while we should take a moment to enjoy our meal. What do you think?

Got baggage?

I'm packed!  Well, about 90% of my packing is done.  What a daunting task!

I started with my shoes... I lined up 15 pairs of shoes and selected eight to begin with.  Crud, they took up 3/4 of my suitcase!  I knew at that moment that I was not going to be that "half fashionista half graduate student sitting in a coffee shop typing out her dissertation" that I thought I was going to be.

Some interesting items to note... I took the black suitcase on the left side on my first trip to Australia and New Zealand over 12 years ago.  The purple backpack is my dad's.  He passed away in 2007 and so it's a nice memento.  I actually brought it with me when I studied abroad in England in 2002 and lived out of it for two weeks on a trip all over Europe.  The bike is my gift from Jon when he finished PA school as a "thank you" for supporting him through the program.  I also rode 112 miles on it during Ironman Lake Placid 2010.

I have some room to spare in the purple backpack (my carry on), so over the next week I'll add things as space allows.  Unfortunately, I thought United allowed passengers to check three pieces of luggage and it turns out they only allow two pieces of checked luggage.  Looks like I'm going to have to ship my bike instead of bring it with me. *dislike!*

Comments... confidence boosting or busting?

Ever since I began spreading the word that I am moving to New Zealand, I noticed there are two kinds of responses.  Both reactions involve the other person clutching their chest, eyes wide open, and mouth agape.  Once the person recovers from shock, they will either say, "But, what is your husband going to do?!" or "Ohmygod, that's awwwwwesome!!"

In my opinion, I would rather hear the positive response.  I know it's unusual for a married woman to pack her bags, quit her job, and tell her husband and furbaby that she'll be back in three years.  But, I've done this before...

After high school, I moved to Salem, Massachusetts for my undergraduate degree.  Salem State College is 5 1/2 hours from my hometown and was about that far away from Jon (who was going to college in New York).  I arrived on campus and I didn't know a soul.  In my sophomore year, I studied abroad at Oxford Brookes University for three months.  Again, I didn't know a soul.  But, everything worked out fine.  And guess what?  I didn't have Facebook or a blog or Skype.  I communicated with my family and friends through weekly emails and a weekly phone call to Mom.  Sounds a little archaic, huh?

Yes, it's a 30-hour commitment to get from point A to point B, but between Facebook, my blog, and Skype, I can reach out and get in touch with anyone I want at a moments notice to share the good, the bad, and the ugly of this adventure! How cool is that?!  

Honestly, I don't disappear once I board my flight and I'm not "stuck" in New Zealand. What's missing is the physical presence of others.  I imagine that, once again, that will be the hardest part about being being so far away from family and friends.  How do I avoid getting consumed by feelings of doom and gloom?  I plan for the BIG things I have in store for anyone who comes and visits me, of course.  

So, I encourage readers to consider a visit!  I booked my flight through www.hotwire.com and it was much less expensive to fly to New Zealand in February-April than it was in November-January.  There is plenty to do on the south island and I'll start posting links to whet your appetite after I arrive.

On the surface, I may appear calm, cool, and collected when I talk about my plans, but I am a worry wart in disguise.  I do worry about how to hold a marriage together, how to pay bills, and how to be a student again.  What keeps me from a full on freak out is the fact that three years is nothing in comparison to the 40+ years I'll have left to work until I retire.  That PhD will open so many doors for me and make those 40+ years better.

How to move around the world...

Some people have asked me if I'm ready to go.  Well, that's a loaded question...

To get to this point, I needed a "team" of professors at the University of Otago who agreed to see me through my dissertation.  We worked together to develop my research proposal.  After the proposal was approved by a committee, I then had to be accepted by the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine and accepted by the University of Otago.

It's all fine and dandy to get accepted into school (this was my first acceptance after 20-something applications, so you'd think I'd be psyched), but I needed $$.  I turned to the U.S. Department of Education, batted my eyelashes, signed on a couple  electronic dotted lines and voila! I had access to student loans.

That's not all that's involved in moving to New Zealand to pursue a PhD. No way, Jose.  Before I could submit my application for a student visa, I had to have a medical exam.  Apparently, they don't care much for folks who bring TB and syphilis into the country.  After having a little bit of blood drawn, nearly fainting twice in the lab hallway, and sipping down two juice boxes, I proved that I am squeaky clean.

It didn't take long for my visa to arrive (maybe 2-3 weeks?) after I "lodged" it and then I found accommodations on campus.  I'll live in the postgraduate dorms for a year and then move off campus  after that.

That's the big stuff.

I'm currently in the process of figuring out what the heck to pack.  My road bike is a must.  I can use it to explore New Zealand on rides and I can race (Hellloooo Ironman New Zealand 2014!).  Besides that, I need to start figuring out what clothes to bring.  It worries me just a smidge that everyone suggests (okay, they strongly suggest) that I bring warm clothes.  Other musts will be the laptop and camera.  Everything else is just nice to have.  I think.  A lot of websites offer advice to study abroad students who will be back home in three months, not three years.

I'm also starting to say my goodbyes.  A few weeks ago, I wrapped up my last shift as a pharmacy technician at Binghamton General Hospital.  This past weekend, I trekked six hours to visit college friends in Massachusetts.  Tonight, I enjoyed a heated game of trivia as my farewell party with my awesome coworkers from the Broome County Office for Aging.  Tomorrow, I will teach my last private swim lesson.  I'm working at my full-time job until the 17th, so my evenings will be busy visiting local family and friends.

I'll continue looking for loose ends that I should tie up, like my cell phone plan, alerting my credit card company that I'm going overseas and anything else that I notice.  In reality, I only need to worry about things that I absolutely cannot get over there before my next trip home.  There are very few things that I can't live without in New Zealand (road bike) which makes packing way easier.