Back in the Land of Oz

My student visa was approved last week, allowing me to re-enter Australia.  In my one week in New Zealand I was able to re-connect with a few friends in Auckland, and watch the All Blacks game last Saturday night. I had the chance to return to Zippity Zoo and work for a week and I jumped at it.  Beverley the owner and host was super friendly as usual and the animals were great to play with.  The changes Beverley has made to her Creeky Bottom Farm astounded me, It was more than two years since I had visited her. I was notified by email that my visa was approved last Friday,paving way for my flight back to Sydney on Sunday.  I had just enough time to fit in lunch with an old workmate in Wellington just before my flight departed.  I did not plan any of this trip because I was informed by my Immigration agency only four days before my visa expired that I needed to leave Australia to apply for my next visa.  They had made a mistake and must have thought I was Canadian because as an American, the visa rules are much stricter in Australia than commonwealth countries.

When I arrive to our apartment, I was surprised to be whisked out the door by Emily to be escorted to a flying lesson. The flying lessons were a valentine's gift, but we had to reschedule them three times because of my visa conflicts. The lesson was two hours away in Goulburn, which was a great chance to see some of the scenery around the area that we rarely see. The lesson was simple but very informative.  I had the chance to take the controls of a Gazelle CA-25 and take my crack at a few turns. It's intimidating knowing my hand movements could have put the small plane into a tailspin.  It was a great gift and I thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Emily's flight had a inauspicious beginning when her instructor aborted her takeoff because a vacuum hose popped off of the carburetor of her plane. I was a bit jealous though because she had the chance to fly a much nicer and larger plane.  The drove home was depressing as the sun set on my unplanned holiday knowing tomorrow I start working again.

Playing the Visa Wait Game

Waiting for my evening flight to NZ I am reflecting on the past year that's been in the great nation of Australia.  I arrived in Melbourne last June, freezing cold and poor. I am leaving from balmy Sydney with the security of my amazing apartment.  I am hoping to return to Australia very soon, I have applied to be a student here, but I need to leave the country to apply for my student visa, its a quirk of the system. New Zealand I will return to now after a one year absence.  I could have my visa approved anywhere from 24 hours from my departure to 2 weeks from now, I really have no idea. My school term commences July 1st. I am returning to Zippity Zoo to help out on the farm for several days while I wait. I'm looking foreword to having a break from working in Sydney, but I'm eager to return to my life here.  I spent last past of the past week in Tasmania with my Mom who I have not seen for almost two years. It was great to catch up and see great heritage sights such as Port Arthur.  Like my Mom's abbreviated holiday, I never feel like there is enough time in a lifetime to see everything.  I have only scratched the surface of what there is to see in Australia, and I hope to do more exploring when I return.