Australia- A Review

So, all up I ended up spending 8 Months in Australia and had a KILLER time. I wouldn't have traded that time for anything. Made some great friends, went to some amazing places, and had heaps of memorable moments. However, I ended up moving into Brisbane and living and working there so I had a different expereince than most backpackers. I also got plugged into a church, worked in construction, and stayed up with international friends... so I think my view of Australia is pretty broad and accurate. That being said, I have MANY positive and negative things to say, and in no way do I mean any offence to anybody.

One more time: I loved Australia, and the people are great!

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• People: 5 Stars

The people of Australia were very friendly to me. I have never had a hard time making new friends and Australia wasn't an exception. Many of the friendships I made will last me a lifetime. On many an occation I was also invited to eat dinner at different peoples houses: People from my church, from work, and other locals I met along the way. Australians were very open and wanting to share their culture with me.

• Nature: 5 Stars

Australia is amazing. All you have to do is get outside of a city just a little bit and you're in bush land. I was very spoiled as far as nature goes in Australia. I saved up and went Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, I got to go to the Glass House Mountains (with church folks), Beach Drives (with my housemate Aaron!), and many other awesome sites. Every day you get to see parrots flying around like you would see bluejays in the states and it's no big deal to them! I'm like "Good gravy there's the most beautiful parrot I've ever seen RIGHT there!" and people are like "Just a parrot dude"

• Transportation: 4 Stars

I liked the public transportation system a lot while I was in Brisbane. Some people gave it a hard time but it was always good to me! It's very handy for a backpacker because I never HAD to have a car. True, I would borrow one off of people when I wanted one but Brisbane can be lived in without having a car. 

• Prices: 2 Stars

So far the only country I know of that is more expensive than Australia is New Zealand. Beer and Tobacco have crazy sin taxes on them. Bottles of alcohol are easily twice as expensive over there, and their locally not imported stuff is also crazy expinsive. The cheapest of cheap rent would be $100US per WEEK no matter where you go. The minimum wage is much higher there ($18AU - Almost the same as $18 US) so it balances out some, but no doubt about it, Australia is an expensive place for a backpacker to live!

• The Gun Laws: 0 Stars

Wanta own a gun in Australia. Prepare yourself for an amount of paperwork, screenings, and restrictions that is unheard of in the USA. I won't get into all the details, but I was SHOCKED when I heard about all the gun laws here. It's an ingrained part of their culture now. It works for them, but it wouldn't work for us. It is one of the biggest reasons I couldn't move to Australia long term.

• The Racism: Negative 5 Stars

I am from Forrest County, Mississippi. Named after Civil War General Nathan Bedford Forrest who, (after the county was named,) went on to found the Ku Klux Klan. I have met my far share of racist.

Mississippi has NOTHING on Australia in terms of racists. People I would call my friends, coworkers, buddies (not the church going crowd, but that's a minority in Australia)... I have heard MULTIPLE people on completely different occasions saying to a group of people "We just need to go kill all those F***ing Ab'os (Aboriginals)! All they do is drink booze, steal stuff, and live in freaking stick huts" - A level of extreme hate that I had NO IDEA existed in Australia. And then people wouldn't argue with them... Not all Australians are racist by any stretch... but man oh man do they have a lot of them. It doesn't come up every day... but when it does... true colors show.

• The Culture: 4 Stars

Besides the racism and gun laws, Australian culture is pretty similar to many parts of the States. There were a couple of difference that I really appreciated though. Australia is very focused on small business. Just about every neighborhood has its own butcher, baker, mom-and-pop food shops... it's a really nice feeling. The little shops are king. Coffee, Sushi, Pie(meat pies)... it was a strange thing, but it was awesome.

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Australia is also a big country for giving each other a hard time (this might be skewed from my construction jobs) but it's funny. You call your friends "*&^%s" (words that I will not even hint at in my blog or dare to say to people in the states) but you call your enemies "Buddy". Also most people cuss all of the time, it's just what they do. Australia made me a much "Better Cusser" if that can be said.....

All in all, there are several pro's and con's for Australia.  I really enjoyed my time there and would love to go back one day and visit friends and places. I would say it would be a good spot to live for some people, but me personally, I don't think I could.

Finally Back On The Road!!

I've done it! I have finally left Brisbane, Australia. I am very sad leave Brisbane. It had become home for me. But, the life of a traveller means getting comfortable in a place, making great friends, getting itchy feet, and moving on.

I find myself happily eating green curry while drinking a beer in a hole in the wall restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. Now that I've hit the road again, I can feel the stress leaving me. My last couple of months in Brisbane had become stressful for some reason. Being in new places, going for spontaneous adventures (aka getting lost), meeting new people, and having the complete freedom to do whatever the heck you want to do..... this is my comfort zone and I didn't realize how much I missed it.

Yesterday was an incredible "adventure"/lost day. I spent 8 hours just wondering around temples, eating street food, meeting friendly people, and getting my future told! (January 7th is supposed to be extremely lucky for me! ESPECIALLY if I paid the guy 5000Baht [150 $US]).......(I didn't pay)....

One thing I REALLY like about Bangkok is the back alley scene. Tourist stay away for the most part, it's not "in your face" with trying to get you to buy things and it's easy to move around. The back alley restaurants are the best. Yesterday I got lost... utterly and completely lost (with no awesome landmarks this isn't a hard thing to have happen) I found myself taking a "shortcut" because I thought I knew where I was. I followed a dingy windy alley that was without a doubt the most sketch thing I have done to date. Passing by chicken coops, seeing people kill said chickens, everything being dirty and dark, water running down the middle of the alley, buildings in all sorts of different stages of dilapidation... and that's when I saw it.

A low roof building with a McDonnalds umbrella above it's one outside table. A couple of people scattered about sitting on wood boxes eating noodles. The woman in the "kitchen" -- A half indoor and half outdoor assembly of mismatched work stations, one big wok, and raw meet chillin under ice a foot away from the cooked meat -- she looked like she was about 100 years old. But she moved with the quickness and precision of a woman no older than 90....

I saw a sign that clearly stated something in Thai that I dont understand with a "-30b". So all I knew was whatever she was selling was 30 Baht or $1 US. I was hungry, so I figure why not!? I handed her 30 Baht, she pointed at the beef or the chicken...  the chicken had LESS flies on it so I went with that. Five minutes later the woman came back with a bowl of something that involved noodles, chicken, vegetables, and a broth that killed. The bowl was about the size of my face, I barely finished it all. But it was AMAZING. Without a doubt the BEST meal I've ever paid $1 US Dollar for.

What am I trying to say? Yes, there is an inherent plethora of dangers that might befall you when you decide to travel by back alleys that look as sketch as some of the ones I'm going down. But, sometimes they pay off. I have no idea how I got there, no idea what the place is called or if it even has a name, but that place will be lodged in my memory for the rest of my life as the best food I ever got for $1 Dollar.

So, I landed in Bangkok two nights ago. With the help and great direction of my Canadian CoachSurfing host, David: I managed to find his place, plan my next day, and have a place to stay for two nights! Yesterday, in addition to adventures, I went around to about 25 different Travel Agency type places and finally found the cheapest one. In about two hours I should be getting in a taxi, to then get on a bus, to then get on a speed boat, to the get to an island call Koh Tao(one of Thailands most legit scuba diving locations) for a 3 day stay to do 4 dives and hang out in tropical paradise.... I'm a little stoked.

I have a couple of other blog post to write, namely a "Australia- A Review" and a "People are Awesome" (thank you to several people) but this will most likely be it for today! I'm going be headed back to the states for Christmas and I'm stoked about that. If you wanta see me or hang or anything let me know asap!

Emails while on the road are always GREAT!
SteveGoesAbroad@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!
Steve

8 Ways to Make Sure Your Time Abroad Is AWESOME

Hello Friends and First Time Readers!

Let me start out my saying I wouldn't call myself an "expert traveller." I am however an experienced backpacker who has gleaned knowledge off of heaps of expert travellers and backpackers. And I want to make sure YOU have a great time when you decide to travel. Here are what I feel are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

1. Set a Goal

Seems silly right? To set out a goal. But if you think about it, setting a goal will drastically change the planning of your trip. You can do ANYTHING, but deciding before you leave is important If you want to travel, you need to decide what you want to get out of your trip. Do you want to meet locals? Understand new cultures? See ancient buildings? See every tourist site? Do extreme sports? Fine dine in world class restaurants? Learn new languages from scratch? Live off the sea in Malaysia? Go for a walk about in Australia? See every Lord of the Rings site in New Zealand? 

My main goal for my trip is simple: By the time I leave any country, I want to understand the culture completely of that place- specifically how it is different than that in the southern United States.

You can do whatever you want, but setting out a goal before you leave will make your trip planning much easier. You can always change it by country, city, or even by day. But having a goal will give you a place to start in your research!

2. Do Your Research

Ask anybody who knows me well. I started planning my trip way in advance. The idea had been in my head ever since I got accepted into the University of Alabama. The ideas kept growing and growing until I really started planning two years before I left. I knew I wanted to spend approximately two years abroad and go to 23 different countries, and my research started quick. I can tell you the entry requirements for any of those countries as an American, my easiest visa options, and my pack up plan should any of those countries not give me a visa.

What you need to know:

Where do you want to go?
What are the entry requirements for that country? Click To See
How long do you want to stay there (or in each of those places)?
What do you HAVE to see while there?

3. Pick the Right Gear

This kind of falls under research but is so important I felt like separating it. The right gear is crazy important. I am an extremely impulsive person... and I took a month and a half to pick my boots because of the advice I received from well travelled people. It is not crazy at all to be able to tell people how much EVERY item in my pack weighs, it's almost required.

What you need to know:

How much hiking do you want to do?
How much camping do you want to do?
How much weight can you comfortably hike with over long distances? (Some people say go with 1/6 your body weight, some say 1/4... go with whatever is right for you- Trial and error here)

As far as where to order your travel gear from, I would always suggest Rei.com I have been a member for a bit now and exclusively order my gear from there. Top quality, great value for the quality that you get also. I cannot brag enough about REI. Become a member today, it's worth it, I promise. Through the advice I got from people there I was able to plan so much better. The customer service is GREAT and I cant imagine my trip without them!!

4. Have an idea of where you're going to sleep

Seems simple I know, but this has a lot to do with your overall trip. Are you going to "go local" and stay with locals by living on their farms, or do you want to hang out in all the fancy hostels. There are many different options that each have their own merits. My two favourite options are:

• Couchsurfing.org - A way to stay with locals who live all over the globe for free. It's safe, free, and incredibly rewarding
• Helpx.net - A way to connect with places (farms, orchards, bars, resorts...)  that need temporary (usually a week or more) help in exchange for a place to stay and food.

However, there are countless other resources to choose from you just need to get out there and look for them. So the answer to "where are you going to stay?" is completely a personal choice (that is often influenced by money). My 3 months in New Zealand, thanks to these two websites and a whole lot of luck, I only spent money for 4 or 5 nights of accommodation. However I was also no stranger to pitching my tent off the road or sleeping in a bus stop.

Are you okay with sleeping on the streets?
Do you want money to decide where you will be staying?
How long can you go without a shower?
How much of a trusting person are you?

Where ever you end up staying: Look After Your Host/s Thank you cards, make them a meal, buy them a bottle of decent wine, anything at all. Let them know you appreciate them. Usually I make my host meal, and if I have the time I try to fry them southern fried chicken. Cooking your host a dish from your local area is always a nice touch.

5. Get your money sorted

Completely personal choice. I will never forget the woman I met about 3 months ago. I met her at a couchsurfing meeting in Brisbane. Somewhere in her mid-to-late 30's. I asked her, how long she had been travelling. She said since 1991! 22 YEARS. I said "!WOW!" bought her a drink and we talked about travelling all for a couple of hours straight. I wanted to mainly know how the heck she was affording it. She told me she hadn't had a sizeable amount of money since 1994. I coughed and laughed at the same time.

Her Method for getting by:

1. Go to Country X or City X.
2. Find a place she likes
3. Find a job, any job
4. Save money
5. Stay until she wants to leave or has enough money to leave
6. Back to step 1

So, if you never want to work abroad and want to stay in hostels all the time, you have some saving to do. If you are willing to work and live a little rough, you could probably hit the road as soon as you grab all your gear.

Currency is also something to keep an eye on. Now a days it's a lot easier than it used to be. Everywhere takes Visa/Mastercard and even awful airports have ATMs. Also be sure to tell your bank about where and when you are travelling so they can take off any safety features that might be a pain. You can pre-order currency if you'd like, but most places have currency exchange by/at the airports. Do NOT listen to ANYBODY saying "This is the only place you can exchange currency before you arrive at ______" Sounds simple but in the heat of the moment you might be temped to exchange with them.

Are you okay with not having any money? Cause that's gonna happen....
Are you a hard worker? The most important thing in my opinion....

6. Figure out your Transportation

Landing in a city in a new country is a great feeling. But how the heck are you going to get from there to anywhere else? I've been using CouchSurfing to help get my feet under me in new counties and it's worked very well. But then comes the question, how will you see the country you just landed in?

In just about every country you go to there will be a bus service to sign up with if you'd like to take the bus. There are always backpackers wanting to sell their cars or vans. Trains are always good. Heaps of places rent out vans to be used to drive around. And there's my personal favourite hitch-hiking. Each one has it's pros and cons, you just need to figure out what is right for you.

How do you see yourself when you picture yourself on the road? In a train? In a camper van with all your gear behind you? Hitch hiking? 

7. How to Handle Souvenirs 

Heads up. At some point in your planning or before you leave, you will be asked by friends or family to bring them back something from somewhere..... Be CAREFUL SAYING YES!! One or two people getting a few small things is cool. But, you don't want to have promised 20 people that you will bring them back something awesome.... something that turns out to be breakable and heavy... you don't want that. Getting people things is nice, but not when it costs you heaps of cash, time, and effort.

Also if you're on the streets, haggle. Haggle like it's your job. Something costs you 20 bucks? PSSSSHHHH right. That cost them maybe 4 bucks, maybe that much. If you don't knock a minimum 1/4th off the price you're not doing it right. 

If you must get something, you might as well try to get it cheap.

Do you have to get things from each place you go to?
Are pictures enough for you?
How much money will you spend on souvenirs?

8. HAVE FUN

Planning a trip and actually going on a trip can be stressful. It is very important to have fun. If you ever feel stressed about any aspect of your trip take a breath and realize what you're planning or realize where you are.

I remember my worst 48 hours in New Zealand. It was raining, I was hitch hiking in it, sleeping in bus stops and soaked to the bone with cold rain and wind. Then I realized.... Dude... I'M IN NEW ZEALAND!! AWESOME. You gotta roll with the punches, sometimes things won't go just how you planned them... sometimes you'll get in a bad situation. Stay as optimistic as you can. Nobody wants to hang with the crying foreigner.

Do you really want to stress on your trip?
Is it worth it?
Why not be optimistic? 

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I hope this has been helpful just a little bit!

If you have any other questions please email me. I've been having complete strangers email me with questions and I am MORE THAN happy to try and answer all of them. You can travel too, I promise. 

Family and friends I miss you so much! See you soon!!

Take Care,

Carpe Diem,

Steve

The Great Barrier Reef

Howdy!!

I've been out of the US for 9 months now... a freakishly long time... and in Australia for 6 months. As a way to celebrate being out of the US for 9 months I decided it was time knocked something big off of my bucket list: Dive The Great Barrier Reef!! 

Not having a car made this a little tricky, so I decided to go with my tried and true method of transportation: Hitchhiking. Once again I found myself dependent on the niceness of strangers, and once again, I wasn't disappointed. I decided my first destination would be Bundaberg [About 3 hours N of Brisbane driving and on the way to the Great Barrier Reef] Hitching I got there in just under 5 hours. My last lift took me to outskirts of Bundaberg where I was greeted at a truck stop by Trevor! 

Trevor (or as most people call him "reb") is an old friend of mine who I have been delaying seeing for a good long while because he lived so far north of me. I was ecstatic to finally hang out and catch up and reminisce about to good ole days. Trev let me stay at his place a couple of days until I got my dive booked! To burn some time off we ended up going to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery and having a good ole time of it. Great tour actually, I was surprised at the quality. 

Included in my dive trip was a bus trip from Bundaberg to The Township of 1770. A great thing because of how small 1770 is. 1770 is where my dive boat actually left from. I ended up choosing to go to Lady Musgrove Island; a coral island formed about 1.5 hours from the coast. The best part about the boat ride over.... was.... I was surrounded, yet again, my Asian tourists. Nothing against Asian tourists at all... except when they're on a boat.. and I'm surrounded by them... and A SOLID 90 PERCENT OF THEM GET SEA SICK..... so that was..... just... great. 

But on to the best part of the story!

The boat got there and we went onto a smaller boat and we did our dives. Straight away we say two humpback whales!! A mother leading her calf around. Off in the distance, they didn't want much to do with us. Throughout the rest of the dives we saw HEAPS of sea turtles, a shark, incredibly quick dolphin who were gone before we really realized what was going on. And more colorful fish and coral than I even knew were possible. Literally I did not know that some of the colors I saw even existed in nature. Crazy neons, electric blues, and yellows so in your face you almost needed sunglasses. I will remember that day for the rest of my life. I ended up getting 3 dives in and loving every second of it. 

While there in 1770 I ended up staying at a hostel called "The Cool Bananas." The Cool Bananas was a really unique hostel. It felt like a big living community. Every day people from the 4 local hostels in the area would go down to the beach and play beach volleyball together. I don't know exactly what it was about the Cool Banana but it was incredibly unique. If you every find yourself in 1770, go to The Cool Banana, you won't regret it. 

After my last night there I hitched back to Brisbane. A frustrating hitch because I kept getting dropped in bad spots, but it all worked out in the end. I am headed back to the states for Christmas in a mere 2 months. I have grown very attached to Australia and will be sad to leave. But there is much more of the world to see!

Until next time!

Steve

SMASH Camp!

Well guys, life is picking up big time!

Work picked up big time during the last couple of weeks. Between my two jobs I'm workin an average of 55 hours a week these days. But that's not the only thing that's awesome (yes I'm loving working crazy amounts, it's kinda fantastic). But it can't all be work! When I arrived in Brisbane one of my first goals was to get plugged into a Church.

[Heads up my non-Christian readers this ones a bit Jesus heavy]

Thanks to Emily Aitkin I ended up getting plugged into Keperra Baptists. Thanks to Keperra Baptists I ended up getting asked if I wanted to be a leader at a camp called SMASH Camp.  SMASH Camp is a camp where heaps of churches in the Brisbane area send their 8-12th grade kids for a week of learning, celebrating, and growing with Jesus. The week started out slightly oddly because I didn't know many people there, Keperra only sent 5 leaders to SMASH (including me) and there was somewhere around 50 of us leaders. Tack on the fact that I'm that random American who rocked up combined with the fact that we only did like 3 meetings before the actual camp..... and I felt like a bit of an outsider. Don't get me wrong the people were inviting as all get out and I ended up making friends with like almost every leader but I was worried at first.

I was co-leader of a small group of five grade 10 guys. My other co-leader was Daniel Kavanagh and he was a huge blessing in small group meetings. Me and him tag teamed it up well and ended up getting one recommitment to Christ in our small group- possibly a second in the future. I feel incredibly blessed to have been there for that. By the end of camp our small group was a well knit band of bros who would sit at meals together, share openly, and joke around pretty good.

That week was honestly one of the most fun and rewarding weeks of my life. I had done work with youth through the YMCA, Camp Wesley Pines, and other church stuff back home... so I thought I knew roughly what I was signing up for.... but I had no idea how amazing it was going to be, I'm still blown away by it.

SMASH Camp was off the wall fun 24/7. The leadership team jelled together incredibly quickly and it just WORKED. Everybody had their strengths that came it at just the right time. The funny people, positive people, patient people, less talkative people, wise people, everybody's strengths came out and it just worked so well. I'm so thankful that I was able to go on SMASH because I made some seriously amazing friends that I know I'll hang with the rest of my time in Brisbane.

SMASH Camp also had a huge impact on me. Couldn't smoke on camp, so I gave up and haven't smoked since then. Couldn't cuss on camp (we made the campers do pushups if they did), so I'm backing way down on that. Reading the Bible, praying, and worshiping daily was amazing. The average daily schedule was wake up, breakfast, quiet time, beach, morning tea, small groups, lunch, activity (anything from Cable skiing to lazer tag, campers got to choose), dinner, worship, night activity, supper, then bed. It was awesome. If I could I would love to do that camp for an entire summer like a Camp Wesley Pines. [Cultural Difference] The concept of a camp running all summer, rotating kids around on a weekly basis is very strange to Australians. When asked if I'd done youth work before I described CWP and people were in awe that camps ran for an entire summer.

SMASH Camp had some awesome activities and very fun memories. From going down a pretty good sized water slide, to cable skiing. Convincing kids at camp that my long lost brother was another leader and that I came to Australia to get to know him (another leader could easily have passed as my brother, red beard and everything). Teaching and Playing Ultimate Frisbee on outdoor sport day. Having seriously amazing talks with campers about Christianity and life. High fiving EVERYBODY because "purple" was not allowed (boys are blue, girls are red/pink; and thus cant mix to make purple). Hearing amazing testimonies. Lazer zone politics and alliances. Stacking cups, bowls, knives and such as high as you can so your table can go get food before other tables. Having kids open up to you and share their problems. It was so legit.

Well that was SMASH Camp! I'm in a Public Library right now and will soon get kicked off the computer. Tomorrow I'm going to Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef- I'm sure I'll do a blogpost just for that.

You guys take care,
Sorry for being so slack!

Happy Trails,
Steve

8 Months and A Video!!

Hey Yall!!

I've been abroad for 8 months now. I keep learning things about myself often and I'm getting more and more comfortable in Brisbane! I know it's been a good long while since I've posted a blog so here goes! I made a little video with some recent pictures and a couple of videos that I've taken over the last 8 months!

I've got a ton of different things to talk about and hopefully I'll find the willpower to write about them soon. Until then I hope you all take care!

Steve!

6 Months Abroad: Update, Reflection, and the Future

Wow. 6 Months. 6 Months and nothing has gone horribly wrong. 6 months of making new friends. 6 months of memories that could easily keep me talking for a lifetime.

So, Update! I'm still in Brisbane! I love this city way to much! It's been the first city that I have "lived in" besides Tuscaloosa(where I went to Uni/College) and Hattiesburg(hometown). This city has been very nice to me and will always have a place in my heart. I have also started thinking of myself as a local. One of the main forces behind me feeling like a local is I recently got the opportunity, no... the privilege, of greeting Madeline Schweers here in Brisbane. Maddie is younger sister to my good friend Elizabeth Schweers and her first semester at UA was my last. Maddie's studying abroad at QUT now and last week I got to welcome her into what is now, my city! (To read more on her travels and first week in Brisbane check out her Wordpress Click Here)

Maddie coming to Brisbane also held special meaning for me. Her arrival marked the first time I had seen anyone from back home, and it has been amazing. Hearing an accent is nice, political agreement is good..... but saying "Hello" instead of "Goodbye" was awesome. I've said it before and it is still true now. One of the hardest things about being a traveler is having to say "Bye" to people. You meet people all the time who are usually: Around your age, have similar interest, are looking to make friends cause the road is lonely, and on a budget-- this is like the perfect formula for making good friends fast... but due to both of you being travelers it happens so fast that you have to part ways. So being able to say "Hello! Person I already know and will know after I get back to the states!" was an amazing feeling. And also she brought me some sweet tea packets and that has straight up restored my faith in humanity.

So, I've met a couple other Americans here. And we got to throw a 4th of July party that ended up being full of mostly French people... nothing against French people... and hey they did help us right at the end of the revolution... it was just odd throwing a 4th of July hootnanny fully of mostly French and German people with the odd Russian thrown in here and there.

Lets get some Reflection going shall we? What have I learned about anything. I have learned that it doesn't take much to keep me entertained. I have learned that Australia is a HECK of a lot more expensive than I thought it would be. I have gotten to see the generosity of people on level that I did not know existed(Shout out to Emily Aitken and Brody Higgs). I have realized that I have a lot left to learn and I'm not as all knowing as I thought I was(I'm also the most humble person I know). I now know that the road, for now, is without a doubt the place for me to be. 6 months out and I know this is where I am supposed to be in my life right now. No idea where my life will head after I move to the states again, but for now, this is where I'm supposed to be.

And finally, what does the near future hold for Steve Crosby? My plan is to stay here in Australia(working for a bit, then travelling for another bit) until the early/mid part of October. Then somehow (possibly not by plane, still working it out) get myself up to the Philippines, followed by, Malaysia and Singapore, then Thailand in December. Then fly home around December 20-23 to have Christmas in the states, and to see all my friends and family.

What am I most looking forward to? Hitting the road :) I love it here! But MAN OH MAN Ive got some itchy feet right now. Luckily for a small change of scenery/cheaper rent I am moving in a couple of days so maybe that will trick me into getting rid of these itchy feet.

Keep the emails up!
I'm about to move(this will be my last address here in Australia) So if you want to ship me anything PLEASE PLEASE email me soon to get my address and ship it asap! Once I leave this country I'll be moving to fast for you to ship anything and I don't have plans to come back for a good long while!

---->>>   SteveGoesAbroad@gmail.com   <<<----

Y'all Take Care
Happy Trails
Steve

5 Months Down! 19 Left!

Well y'all, I've been abroad for 5 months now! Acquired a few new skills, met heaps of legit people, learned a lot about myself, and seen generosity on a scale I didn't know existed.

I long ago passed the mark for "most days away from home", that record keeps getting set each day. And I now  find myself in a weird in-between place. You can ask a backpacker, "hey how long have you been away from home?"

And there are only two responses that really matter: 1- A REALLY LONG TIME like two years/ever since I left college in 1983 or 2- A REALLY SHORT TIME like 8 days/my plane landed 30 minutes ago. And here I find myself at 5 months. Neither a huge amount of time, or a small one. When people ask me how long I've been abroad... The conversation shifts away from that topic because it goes nowhere. 

Enough about that: Australia job wise was mot exactly the land of golden honey that i was lead to believe it was, yet I'm happily employed for NFI(Northern Furniture Installations) and I'm doing heaps of different things. What NFI does- furniture installation for huge office buildings. Big work surfaces. Not as easy as it sounds, the desk tops easily weigh 80lbs and we install heaps (like 75 or more) at a time. Once Paul reads this I'm sure he'll correct my numbers but we're gonna roll with that for now. And with each of those there are cable trays to screw on, electrical wire to attach, and all manner of schananigans to attach the legs(which can be in multiple pieces)... All of which has to be hand carried after being loaded and unloade into a truck. So I'm working out daily, which is a good thing! And I even get paid for it!!

I cannot stress enough how amazing all of my friends here in Brisbane are. If it wasn't for these people I would most likely have moved to a different part of Australia by now. This list includes but is not limited to: Paul, Claire, Andrea, Noa, Em, Brody, Kane, and Katey. The road is not being a lonely place right now, and for that I am hugely faithful.

I am sad to report that I still haven't been camping or backpacking in this country yet. I am still really keen to go but can't seem to line it up right.

Before I leave! I'd like to share something! On the BlogSpot tools for me as the author of this blog I get to see what search words people may have used to get to my blog!! So if someone googles "Steve Crosby New Zealand" my blog would come up and I would know what words they searched to lead them to my site! Recently very many interesting thing have been searched: "hitchhiker Steve" "hitchhiker from New Plymouth" "Abel Tasman Steve". So .... if you met me on the road please email me! I would love to say hi! SteveGoesAbroad@gmail.com 

If anyone has any questions please shoot me an email! It always brightens my day when I read an email from back home! 

Until next time!

Happy Trails!

Steve

Getting Plugged In

Well I've done it. I've moved in here in Brisbane.

I think Brisbane is going to keep me very happy for the few months I'll be spending here. I have been in Brisbane a full 3 weeks and I've managed to make some great friends, learn the city pretty good, find a very nice church, line up a temp job, and am in the interview process for my more long term job.

So! Friends in Brisbane! On the Tuesday after my first Sunday here in Brisbane I went to a CouchSurfing Social Event. Depending on the size of the city and the amount of people in any CS community sometimes the CS ambassador to that area host social events, usually at a bar type place. Brisbane does fortnightly meetings on Tuesdays. At this event I ended up meeting 4 awesome people: Paul(AU), Claire(UK), Noa(BE), and Andrea(IE). They invited me to go climbing with them the following day and I've been hanging with them ever since (Noa left to go work on a farm but was replaced by a girl named Katey(yeah you wanted to know that right?)). We go climbing an average of 3 times a week! And I can't really explain how happy that makes me. We climb together, hang out together, and have all become surprisingly good friends over a short amount of time.

The City! Brisbane is an amazing city. It's 2 million people and change, and pretty spread out. I love the public transport system here, some people hate it, but I try to look on the sunny side (At least I don't have to walk) It's taken me a while to learn the city and I know there is still tons I don't know. But, I can get from my place to anywhere people want to meet and back (with the help of the internet every now and then) via the bus system. Most importantly I can get where I need to rock climb all the time, a place stereotypically named "Kangaroo Point". The city has tons to offer to make sure I never get bored. Usually I don't like big cities(Some could argue that this still isn't), but this is defiantly the largest city that I have still liked.

Church! Keperra Baptist- Thanks to Em Aitkin (Russia mission trip friend mentioned in last post) I have gotten plugged in and am loving it here. It's not the biggest church but it has a good heart and is full of genuine people. I've only gone to a hand full of services and event type things, but I'm being welcomed and am sure that soon I'll be a regular. Thanks to Em being awesome- She has already talked with the appropriate people and wants me to help with a youth camp in September. So that combined with my continued appearance at other church functions will hopefully get me felling nice and at home ASAP :)

Temp Job- So Paul, the guy I met at that CS social event, gave me a job! He owns NFI (a furniture instillation company) and is currently letting me do warehouse work- organizing bays, cleaning the warehouse, unloading and loading shipments, inventory.... that kind of stuff. He is currently in the process of selling his business and I am currently looking into a job closer to my house, so this is definitely a temp job. But it's a nice temp job that I am familiar with thanks to my previous warehouse experience.

More Permanent job! Bunnings (Pretty much the Australian version of a Lowes) There is a Bunnings a block from where I live, and Robyn (the lady I am renting a room from) suggested that I apply there. Apparently they liked my application and gave me a phone interview! I ROCKED the phone interview, made a joke, rocked the "foreign" accent and now I have a group interview on Tuesday. And I know once I get face-to-face I've got the job! Unfortunately, yes, I did have to trim the beard. I know I know, it was a sad day. But I would not have gotten the job with the crazy beard I had. So I trimmed up some and am looking forward to working at Bunnings!

I love feeling plugged in here in Brisbane. It makes me happy that I have a community of good friends who are active and nice people. I am very excited to be part of a rockin church. Australia is treating me very well so far. I have yet to go camping (Something I hope to fix within the next two weeks). Several of my friends are currently traveling abroad including my good friend Connor Lawson who named his blog Connor Goes Abroad - No idea where he got the name but I am really looking forward to reading it!

I hope this blog post finds you all well and I look forward to hearing from you!

Take Care
Happy Trails
Steve

PS- New Twitter: @SteveGoesAbroad and New ICQ # 670274477

That Time I Got Extremely Excited About Moving to Brisbane!

Well Hello There!!

It's an exciting time in Steve Crosby's life. I have been in Australia almost 3 weeks. And I've been busy. So, even though amazing adventures haven't been had, as far as climbing on mountains or swimming below a waterfall goes... I am ecstatic about life...

Upon arriving in Australia, Chris from CouchSurfing picked me up from the airport and made my time in Sydney as good as it could have been! Chris is one heck of a CS host. He understands the plight of backpackers and does everything he can to show you a good time, let you relax, and keep Sydney light on your wallet. After staying with Chris for a few days, I received a warming invitation from Sarah Mirela (a friend I met in Russia back in 2006). Sarah extended the spare room in Phillips house in Gold Coast (a city about an hour from Brisbane). Phil is Sarah's boyfriend who she now lives with. My time with Sarah and Phil has been amazing. In keeping with the legit hosts I've managed to find, Sarah and Phil are some of the nicest and most inviting people around. I've been on complete vacation since I arrived in Australia and I'm having a blast. Fireworks shows, fun days out, hanging out with their friends, and just relaxing in an amazing house.

But it can't all be fun. So, while relaxing in paradise. I managed to secure a place to live in Brisbane through an old friend, Andrew Fainges. I ran into Andrew at a get together on Anzac Day(April 25, My Birthday) that was being hosted by a dear friend Emily Aitken. To be clear, I know Sarah, Andrew, and Em all from a Russia mission trip in 2006. And I'm glad that I already have friends in Brisbane. I have obtained my RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), something important so I can now be a bartender in Queenstown (the state that Brisbane is in). I have also started looking into churches in Brisbane that I can get plugged into, many look like great churches with young adult programs. The CouchSurfing community in Brisbane is very active so I look forward to going to community nights and meeting other locals and travelers. Also, I've been looking into ceramic studios that I can work at. I've gotten a few promising emails back from studio owners. Most who feel, at a minimum, I can put in enough work for free studio space and materials. So I'm getting back into ceramics, a hobby that I have missed dearly. And who knows, maybe some more money on the side from selling my work if that option presents itself.

While I love traveling, it isn't free. So I got my Work/Holiday Visa and am stoked about putting some money back in my pocket so I can travel again another day (soon). From what I hear, jobs in Brisbane are not hard to get and all pay very well. (Minimum wage is $16 dollars an hour)(Hopefully I won't be getting minimum but even if I do I'll still be able to save up good money)

Why Am I So Excited? Because, while I LOVE traveling, I also really love making friends and being part of a community. Something that I have been missing ever since leaving the University of Alabama. So, in the interest of making my 5 months in Brisbane as fun as possible, I'm preparing to get plugged into the CouchSurfing community, church groups, a ceramic shop, and work (wherever I end up working, hopefully a bar).

Traveling is fun. But it's not all happy-go-lucky and off-into-the-sunset times. Sometimes you need to plan out what you're going to be doing to make sure you have a hoot. I planned out New Zealand really well and had one HECK of a time. And now I've got a plan for Australia, so I'm confident I'll have a blast here too!

Thanks for all the birthday emails guys! My trip around the world would be nowhere near as rewarding without all of your constant correspondence, encouragement, and prayers. Special thanks to Zach Helton, Kathy Steele, and Dad and Mom for sending me care packages! I haven't received them yet, due to being on the other side of the globe but I can't wait for them to get here!

I would also like to give a special shout out to anybody who is considering traveling themselves. I have received a couple of emails recently from different people who have been reading the blog. I want each of you to know: Traveling can be a unparalleled experience in terms of rewards, friends, and inner insight.

I move into my new place on Sunday! Wish me luck, keep the emails coming, keep the questions coming, and care packages are always amazing(my new address will be given to anyone who requests it!)

New Zealand- A Review

If you are friends with me on Facebook you already know that I am in Australia! And now that I am here I find myself thinking fondly about my time in New Zealand. So I thought I would do a review- one tailored specifically to backpackers, young people, or anyone traveling on a budget.

0-5 stars?

The People: 5 stars

Across the board the people were ridiculously nice, and super accommodating. Most people are really good to talk to in any setting- from day to day interactions to in depth discussions. Imagine meeting somebody you want to hang out with every time you say hello to somebody. Look back at my hitch hiking post for some more on that!

The Places: 5 Stars

I cannot stress how beautiful NZ is- words, pictures, movies- none of them do it justice. There are so many places to find amazing views. Scenery that has no equal. It doesn't matter where you go, sure, some places are different than others- but few places are really better than others in NZ- just a different kind of awesome. Forest, rivers, mountains, beaches, cliffs, lakes, snow, sand, sea- NZ has legit places to offer in all categories.

Travelers Accommodation: 4 Stars

Backpackers/Hostels in any city you go to are not hard to find. Average price is not to bad- usually between 20-26$ NZ per night for a 8 person dorm room. Prices jack up close to airports or in tourist areas as can be expected. I didn't stay at a huge amount of hostels in NZ but the ones I did were mostly nice, clean, secure for belongings, and fun places. The camp grounds are usually clean, cheap, and have a great community feel.

Transportation: 3 Stars

A vast majority of the traveling I did was either by hitchhiking or hiking. And it was super easy. And while most of you reading this will never hitchhike anywhere, maybe not even in NZ, the other modes of transportation in NZ are great. The bus system can get you anywhere as can the trains. The only reason for the less than awesome 3 stars is the price. Most bus routes and train tickets are a bit more expensive than I'd like. Cars are also easy to purchase and worth it if you're wanting to see a bunch of different areas in NZ or are gonna be spending a long time in NZ.

Prices: 2 stars

New Zealand is unquestionably expensive. Fresh food from Pack N Save is the best way to get food. Beer? 16 bucks for a drinkable 6 pack. Tobacco? 15 bucks for a pack of cheap cigarets. Petrol aka Gasoline? $2.30 per liter! (4 liters in a gallon FYI) Everything is pretty pricey in general. Going to NZ? Buy everything you can in the states. Especially outdoor equipment of any kind. Camping, hiking, anything at all- USA quality and prices are better. I would suggest REI.com. While hostels aren't to pricey, and cheap food can be found... It all adds up

Fun Level: 5 stars

If you're willing to look hard enough, go off the beaten track, or try new things out- New Zealand could be a great place for you. Tons of fun things an opportunities to really experience joy.

Giving NZ an average of 4 stars!

I loved NZ thoroughly just really was surprised by the prices. Now I'm in Australia- Staying with a CouchSurf host, Chris, in Sydney. Soon I'll be getting up to Brisbane and celebrating my birthday! All I really want for my birthday is emails from friends!

Y'all Take Care,
Steve

New Experiences in New Places

Internet far from a sizeable town can be very hard to find- but I managed to find some!

So, what's been goin on? I've done loads of camping, hiking, climbing, and all other sorts of outdoor fun! Ive been staying busy, losing weight, an relaxing heavily. Now I'm at a host in Decanter Bay- outside of Little Akaloa. Haven't hear of it? Surprising because it is a very large town. They almost have 50 people now. It's an amazing location. Far from tourist. Beautiful bay-

Sorry for my email list people you get to read this next bit again!--

Decanter bay. A long bay with steep hills on either side. It only has a beach at low tide, at high tide the waves crash on the rocks that roll around slowly turning into sand themselves. At the mouth of the bay there is a row of rocks that dog legs left from the right. The rocks are tall spires showing the only evidence that the ridge used to extend into the sea. They have iconic sharp shapes that any local could recognize instantly. Looking from the beach to sea they do not block the view, instead the compliment it. It takes about 30 minutes in a sea kayak to get to them from the beach. Once on the rocks themselves they change nature entirely. On a heavy swell day it is one of the more terrifying experiences I have endured. Big waves crashing on the rocks from the sea side, each time one hits you realize that the rocks are not solid. Instead they are covered in tubes that have slowly eroded for who knows how long. Each time a big wave comes, parts of the wave of rushed through the tubes and dozens of blow holes erupt with spray. It's awesome. Literally. It fills me with awe.

The host here- Brad and Marie- emailed me to request that I come work for em- it came at just the right time. Right as I was starting to look at my bank account. Yes- I am over budget- NZ can be expensive- luckily I have my Australia Working Holiday Visa now so I'm not really worried! I allowed myself to splurge one to many times. Back to being strict once I get to Australia!

For my last days in New Zealand I've decided a nice place with good work on the beach would be nice! Been doing a lot of digging holes, transplanting plants, harvesting just about everything, and eating tons of animals. Lot of chainsaw work to come- I'm very excited about all of that!

However, sadly and happily at the same time, in one week I will be moving to Australia. I will miss this country for sure. But I am very excited to move to my second country. While my world wide trip is 3 months down, it doesn't really feel like I'm really "under way" so to say. I feel like moving from one foreign country to another will really make me feel more like my trip is going along. It's kinda snuck up on me. I remembered to revise my visa and make CouchSurfing plans and email people and everything but next week I'm flying.... That just hit home again.... 7 nights from tonight Ill be falling asleep in Australia. Stoked.

I have been receiving a lot of emails that always keep me very happy. I even received 4 books from my cousin JJ for my kindle app! Shout out! I know my trip abroad could not have been as successful or fun without all of you. Thanks so much!

Before I leave NZ I will try to do one more post and make it a good read! What do you want to hear about NZ guys? Ask and you shall receive!

Take Care!
Steve

The Abel Tasman

Howdy Y'all,

A couple people after seeing a few pictures wanted to know more about my time on the Abel Tasman. So what I'm gonna do is take the passages from my journal and put Em here and see if it makes for a good read- right before I left for the Abel Tasman I was hosted by a super nice guy named Dave- he used to work for DOC(the department of conservation- the people in charge of many outdoors things including the Abel Tasman) and can do the Abel Tasman in his sleep most likely-

------------------------------------------

3-11-13 20:43 Abel Tasman Night 1 (54) Bark Bay (M)

1 of 3 things is true. 1: Dave underestimated the weight of my pack. 2: Dave over estimated my ability as a hiker. Or 3- Dave is a dirty liar. The "5 hour" hike from Marahau(Mar-aw-hoe) took 9. But it was totally worth it. Bark Bay is legit. I met two really fun people here. Chris (American) and Anna (Norwegian) are two really nice people and Anna, after seeing my hammock, asked politely to sit in it, and then to sleep in it. So we have all become friends quickly. I knew Chris was my kinda backpacker when he pulled out a bottle of wine from his pack and offered me some! Dinner was AMAZING.( Uncle bens rice w/ canned chicken.) Especially after a long day. Little proud of myself- parts of me wanted to stop at the last camp ground. My pack might be heavy- but my nights are nice :) Gonna go read Matt Lamberts email now! Sore, tired, headache- but full and with good people.... Happy

3-12-13 20:51 Abel Tasman Night 2 (55) Awaroa (T)

Great morning, said bye to Chris and Anna, got a pretty late start. The suck started way to early today. A steep long climb 1/2 hour away from Bark Bay. Stopped on a bench and who do I see but Alex! A friendly Belgium guy, my age, good ish English. We met yesterday at lunch at Anchorage Bay, and today we had lunch together at Onetahuti(on-ah-tah-hoot-ee). Nice guy going the same direction- not same pace but I catch him at each stop. Today after a really rough start I learned I need to be more positive- usually never a problem for me. Man it was a slow day though. I got a lot o encouragement on the trail today. Never like people saying "you got this bro", but instead I was encouraged by seeing others going opposite me- for some reason it helps. Especially tonight when a group of 20 kids and 4 teachers rolled ino the hut. The adults with them are very nice and hey- if kids can get from Mutton Cove to here in a day- surely I can do the reverse! Early morning start tomorrow- if we don't hit the tidal crossing at 7 we will be stuck here for 12 hours!! Read Kate and Gingers email tonight. Such a long day- great way to end it though- nice people at the campsite- emails from home- warm soup simmering now. Gonna sleep hard tonight.

3-13-13 17:52 Abel Tasman Afternoon 3 (56) Mutton Cove!!! (W)

Today could literally be the best day of my life. I'm at Mutton Cove!!! This'll be my last night on the Abel Tasman- 50 kilometers and change so far- a couple hours hike tomorrow and I'm all done. Not only that- but while in Totaranui(random village along the track) I got a shower! Put on clean clothes! And very randomly got wifi from the DOC office. Found out my work visa for Australia was approved! Aaaand that Stephen Merritt dedicated a song to me at Search called "Dude I totally miss you"- seriously made me smile so much. Mac and cheese and chicken soup- mixed together- was awesome for lunch. Me and the Canadian guy who's name I never understood are being bros right now. Sharing food and being proud in our accomplishment. Awaroa to Mutton Cove- a good day. Beautiful cove- writing on the beach- full stomach. Dog tired. And happy.

---------------------------------------------

After I woke up it was a small hike to the finish. A hitch later and I'm in collingwood- the most north you can go on South Island pretty much. Stayed in a cheap- but very nice...ish camp ground.

That's pretty much the main story of the Abel Tasman. Lot of fun and would suggest it to anybody. Lot of great views- pictures do none of it justice. I just loaded up with more food and fuel- about to hit up another trek and start it all over again. I love this life. It's hard at times no doubt. Sometimes I get pretty rough at myself for being not as positive as I should- kinda vicious cycle really. I find that the grind hits my spirit before it hits my back- if I stay positive I know I can do more.

I find myself often thinking of Sir Ernest Shackletons personal motto:

"By endurance we conquer."

Y'all take care, I've got another track to do!
Steve

That Time I Got Kicked Off a Farm

It's been a whole since my last post and for that I apologize. Thing were pretty hectic for a minute there but luckily things are under control now!

How the hectic started: so there I was. New Plymouth, New Zealand. Hanging out with my good buddy Jack Henderson who I met in the states last year via CouchSurfing. Long story short- we had a great weekend together and then I went on to my next farm location.

So this farm was being run by the most conservative family I have ever met. Backstory- I am from Mississippi- been Christian for a long time- conservative family- homeschooled till I was 13- went to University in Alabama- have spent a huge majority of my life in the "Bible Belt". These people were way more conservative than I am used to. Part of the reason I asked to stay with them was because in their farm profile it said "Christian Family" and I thought it would be nice to be surrounded by Christians. Because recently my places have not been so I thought it would be refreshing. They were very nice people and the kids were lovely!! Such nice kids! At least the 7 that I got to meet. Oh yeah- they have 11 children... So- I did loads of chainsaw work for them. Like- a ton of chainsaw work. 3 solid days worth. Nothing but. Good work too. So I'm pretty sure I messed up and essentially got myself kicked out when........

We were playing risk. Gathered around the board game. When the son(Johnny)(the rest of the kids were girls) asked me who the tattoo on my left deltoid is for. I told him it was for Tino(if you don't know the story of Tino I will fill you in later if you'd like)- a buddy of mine who is no longer with us. He said "I'm sorry" and then we kept playing the game. As soon as Johnny asked about my tattoo I saw the look on the other kids faces. The "sweet Johnny broke the ice on asking Steve about his tattoos" look. And the questions starting poring in. "Why'd you get that tattoo?"..."do other people like it?"... "Aren't you afraid of what it'll look like when you're older".... For a few minutes. I responded patiently knowing that they were young kids. (I think Johnny was the youngest at the table at about 12-13.) And right when, for the first time, I was getting tired of defending my tattoos it happened. The question I've heard before and always responded the same way: "the Bible says Christians shouldn't have tattoos" and I replied "Yeah but 4 verses later it says we should stone homosexuals"....

.....

So. Johnny says "oh" and we get back to risk. Two minutes pass. Two. Very uncomfortable. Long. Minutes.

Johnny, "What's a homosexual?"
.......
Me,"a gay person..."
Johnny, "what's gay?"
Me panicking. Realizing I have said WAAAAAY to much, "I'm not sure I should be the one to talk to you about that...."

I waited till the dad got home- told him straight away that his son will most likely be asking him about homosexuality... Just a heads up.

So, that was on Wednesday night. Friday morning I was supposed to go up Mount Taranaki and come back Saturday afternoon and spend a few more days there. Thursday night at dinner the dad pretty much says "Hey Steve, you're going up the mount tomorrow right?" "Right" "how's about you just don't come back."

So I got asked to leave 3 days earlier than I had planned and they didn't share their Internet so it was pretty rough finding a place to stay for a little bit.

That story ended up being way longer than I planned. After that Me and Klara(who I will describe in detail on my next post) stayed with Jack again before starting to head south!

So later I'll post about my most recent adventure on the Abel Tasman Track. I hope none of you respect me less after that story!

Your Questions So Far

First off I would like to thank each of you for your emails, for reading the blog, and for keeping in touch! Keep the emails coming or send your first- it's great hearing from y'all. I've been getting a lot of questions and I wanted to take a second and answer a couple frequently asked ones. You can all thank my good friend Briana for the inspiration behind this post.

1. What exactly am I doing on a day to day basis??

Not an easy question to answer. My pattern so far is to spend about a week at a farm then move on to a more southern city. So- what am I doing on these farms? Well that depends on the location. I've worked at a lovely outdoor setting in a valley, a olive tree orchard, a winery, a lodge, and a dry stock farm. So as you can imagine my answer changes each time I move locations. Mostly given my size and capabilities I've been moving a lot of heavy things, doing a good amount of chainsaw work, splitting wood, and other burly tasks.

2. What is my favorite moment so far?

There is one moment that I knew months before I left- that would be a moment I would remember forever: Stepping out of the airport doors in Auckland. Yes- I know it sounds lame- but I had been looking forward to that moment for months. To have my backpack there and not lost. To get my visa and not be denied. To have all my gear let in. And to be here. The start of a life changing trip. Best single moment so far.

3. What would I have liked to know before I arrived in New Zealand?

I will be the tallest guy around. I'm used to being big in the states. But here it is totally different. EVERYBODY is smaller than me. Twice a week without fail I hit my head on something most people around me just walk under. So tall/burly am I in comparison, random people ask to take their picture with me.

4. What, if anything, gets on my nerves about being in New Zealand?

It's kind of frustrating being the only person on my side of certain debates. Back home I can usually turn to someone close to me and get some back up if I need it. Here I have to be my own back up in cultural, political, religious, or any other type of discussion. I'm glad that I have the knowledge to back up my arguments. But when everybody around you has the opposite- sometimes it's frustrating.

5. What do I miss most about the states?

I could easily say "Well friends and family obviously"- and while yes I really really miss my friends and family that is not the answer you want to read about. The thing I miss second most- is American accents. I had no idea I would miss that. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed listening to the first American I talked to here in NZ. (The woofer from my first farm Jennie) The people here are great to talk to- but every time I talk to a American it's just the best sound ever. I had no idea I would miss it.

6. What have I learned about myself?

I've been abroad for a month and a half-ish. I've learned one surprising thing about myself: I love being alone. All over my time at college(university for my non American readers) I was social everywhere and loved it. Meeting people, making friends, having get-togethers, going on trips. I've always loved it. But while here I have realized how much I enjoy me time. Waking up on a cold ridge all by myself overlooking a sunrise. Walking down a lonely highway with the wind to keep my company. Sitting on a rock overlooking the ocean at sunset. I had no idea I would like being alone as much as I do. (Don't get me wrong friends and family yes I want to hang out with you dearly.)

So here is the plan. You email me- or write a comment, with a question. If it's a good one- ill include it at the end of my next post with the answer. I'd love to make that a recurring thing!

Take care!
Steve

Hitch Hiking in New Zealand

I completely believe hitchhiking is looked down upon in the states because of the media. Yes, I know I am a big burly guy. For me physical safety is rarely an issue. I would never want any of you to do anything you are not comfortable with. And for my female readers a strong guy with you will never hurt- that being said:

If you ever find yourself in New Zealand needing to get from point A to point B, without a car, guy or gal, rain or shine- hitchhike.

Many people who come here are impressed by how cheap some bus companies are. Some people say that it's to dangerous to hitch. Some people think its far more reliable and timely to take a bus. A lot of cities have trains, and taxis aren't all that expensive.

Let me tell you why I hitchhike:

People. Experiences.

Lets say you hop on a bus. Put in your head phones or read your book. Wait. Get to your hotel. Check in. Go up. Go to bed. Congrats you met the check in person and made eye contact awkwardly on a bus with some rando for a split second.

My first week or so in New Zealand, I will admit, I got a couple busses. I now COMPLETELY regret that. Why? Because these people put southern hospitality to shame. (And ill never get that money back) Lets say driving straight through a route would take 3 hours. Hitch hiking it takes 5-6. Why? I only wait like 20-30 minutes TOPS at any stop. So why does it take longer to hitch?

The first man to ever pick me up hitching it was named Patric. He drove me 30 minutes to the small town of Whangamata. I was about to hop out the car- when he asked me if I knew what grass bowling was. I did not. He is a greens keeper. And took me to his bowling club- taught me the game- and let me play for a few minutes. He then gave me a ride around the town showing me all the sights before dropping me off on the far side of town. This sort of thing keeps happening!!

An elderly couple showed me a giant open air gold mine in Waihi. You're not thinking giant enough- I promise.

I have made plans with relatives of people giving me rides to stay with who live on South Island.

A group of three girls bought me dinner and joked along with me for ages!

And then there was Wayne. Wayne took me my final 1 1/2 hour stretch to New Plymouth. I will never forget the first two questions he asked me: "do you smoke?" (Rolls me a cigarette) and "do you drink?" (Hands me a chilled can of rum and coke). And then we hit the road. Once we got close to New Plymouth, I was asking him to drop me at a camp site. Wayne asks if I'd like to stay at his place. I say- really?!? He says sure! (No, before that point I had no real idea where I would be staying that night) So Wayne takes me to his place. A clean house in a convenient location in New Plymouth. Tv. Radio. Hot shower. Spare bed. Food. And then Wayne leaves. Oh yeah, he had told me before that he would be staying at his woman's place about 20 minutes away. I had a house to myself. Wayne- picked up a hitchhiker. Judged his character within an hour and a half of talking and joking around a good deal. And then gave him his house. Would you do the same? Would I? Depends on the hitchhiker I guess.

I know one thing for sure, just about anything in this world can be dangerous if done improperly. I've stuck to major roads, in the day time.

I cannot speak in any way to the whole world, but i can for NZ. If you ever find yourself here, don't spend a dime on transport. Walk or hitch. Maybe from the airport to your first stop get a bus. Then get your head about you. Maybe make a little sign that says "I'd give you a ride" or "not as scary as I look." Stretch out your thumb. And go for it.

Differences and Similarities

To start this post my original thought was to do a "pro/con New Zealand list", then I realized I would rather point out the differences than write down negatives about this amazing country.

Differences:

They don't have Ketchup(American). They have tomato sauce. No, it is not the same, and as a matter of fact anyone who tells you they are the same- has either never had both, or is a dirty liar.

Driving on the left side of the road. Luckily I haven't had to do much driving- some driving, but mostly in rural areas. Apparently my drivers license is valid here! Who'd have thought.

Vowels. Ooooh the vowels are different. It is one of the main features to a New Zealand accent. Soft "I" as in six is a hard "e". Soft "e" sounds like soft "I". Mind you I'm a Mississippian who has been known to skew vowels, but it is making it hard to understand some people. Not all, not even most, but some people.

Illegal to hit your kids. Kid acting up? Thinking about spanking him? Could cost you jail time if little Timmy has evidence to take to the police.

Guns. So many places to go with this. When I tell people I own gun, they look at me with bewilderment. "You can just go buy a semi-automatic rifle....." "That's insane" "why would you ever want one" "are all Americans like you?" It's as if many of these people expect that I've shot people in cold blood. Totally opposite from the typical South US view.

Internet. People's payment plan and data might change but most of them are similar from what I've seen. You "top up" each month and purchase your amount of usage. However many gigs that might be. If you run low you "top up" again and can use more Internet. From what I've seen people don't have infinite Internet. And I've been at some pretty "flash" houses.

Lingo. Lord-a-mighty there's a ton of it. Flash means cool. You have to end every sentence with "hey" or "aay" to make sure the person heard you. A torch is a flashlight. Togs are trunks aka swimsuit. Jandals are sandals (most of their sandals come from Japan... Japan + sandals = jandals). Rubbish can either mean trash the item(s) or it can be a stand alone adjective. To many to think of now. This might be a running theme.

Air conditioning. Nobody has it. Like nobody. Really flash houses just have an abundance of windows. The breeze can get so legit that you usually don't want one. However I've also noticed that it'll be like 75 and a breeze and people will want to put on a jumper(sweater) and complain about how cold it is.

Washer and dryer? More like washer and clothes line. Sure hostels have dryers but the people who live here don't. I've done a good amount of laundry while here, and so far only two of my host have had dryers, and they don't use them. (I should mention that my cross section of NZ so far has been thorough.) It's not at all like people of lesser means don't have dryers and people with greater income use them everyday. Even those families I've stayed with who were better off don't use them. A total waist to them a drier seems. The sun and breeze are right there... Why not use them.

Recycling. Now don't get all upset. Yes a lot of Americans recycle, I know, I know, I know. Good for you and I'm proud of you. But here.... EVERYBODY, EVERYTHING, ALWAYS- seriously. It's logical, useful, healthy for the environment... And people actually do it...

I'm sure I'm missing scores of differences but these are the big ones that have stood out to me over the last month. None really negative, just different.

I hope you enjoyed the read. Keep the emails coming I love to hear from home and stay in touch if possible. Got questions? Suggestions for my next writing subject? Email me!

Stevegoesabroad@gmail.com

Take care y'all!
Steve

The Accents Are Different, But the Laughs Feel the Same

I arrived at Purangi Winery almost a week ago, at first I was overwhelmed with options, people, personalities, the building, and the benefits of working here.

But now I've grown very comfortable here. Until now I had only worked at a place either by myself or with one other person. There are a total of 8 internationals working at the winery right now!!! And everybody is interesting in their own unique way. On the whole we all have a blast! After work for the day is done, the jokes and games start.

We have a lot of benefits from working here. Weekly poker nights(I had a great time and only spent $20NZ some people spent over 100). Trips to the beach. HackySack. Ping Pong. Watching Flight of the Conchords. Eating great food. Wood fired pizza is a staple of my diet right now. All the food we can eat. And oh yeah- as many adult beverages as we can reasonably tolerate. I've also learned a lot here including how to play backgammon and a huge amount of NZ slang.

I definitely have grown accustom to being here. The living arrangements are a bit dodgy(during my first shower here I was joined by a chicken), but it makes up for it with the laughs you share with the other internationals and Danny. Danny is the son of Bob. Bob owns the place while Danny runs it. Me and Danny get along great. Our comedic styles work well together when we can understand each other.

Apparently I have a crazy accent. I had no idea till I got here. It throws a lot of people off. Talking with the Germans can be a trick sometimes, but we get through it.

It's a cool little community here that they have built and I can understand why some people stay here for several months in a row. For me it's the open road though- I hitchhike Monday to Tauranga(a place I can now pronounce without people correcting me)

A Note On Culture in NZ

I've been asking different people while I've been in NZ and as far as I can tell. New Zealand has a pretty sweet culture.

Andrew (one of the parents that hosted me in Bombay, NZ) and I had a nifty conversation about culture. He tells me that at one point recently in his life 1 in 5 Kiwi households (New Zealanders) owned a boat. Not way surprising because New Zealand is separated into two main islands (cleverly named North Island and South Island). But he says that between time on the water and sports- that's pretty much NZ culture.

People work during the week and then use the weekends to do something outdoors. Most trucks have a hitch. Most SUVs have a spot for a surfboard or paddle board to go on top. And just about everybody has a tan.

So far in New Zealand I have eaten a majority of my meals outside on a patio or porch. And almost everything has been healthy(at least compared to the food I'm used to in the south). Working just about everyday + time in the sun + healthy food = -12 lbs since I left the states. I'm not even trying to lose weight!! But a complete change of lifestyle seems to be doing me some good! From what I've seen healthy people are the norm in NZ. And slowly but surely my tan is building up!

Summing up NZ culture in a sentence, "laid back and relaxed", Jackie. "The western version of island life", Rebecca. "Lazy.... but somebody's gotta do it", Andrew.

Bombay, New Zealand

My time spent with my host family here in Bombay has been pretty awesome. (Jackie and Andrew the parents, Amy and Jessica the twin girls- not identical the other one, and Rebekah the niece on a working Holliday from holland) Originally I was under the impression that this was an olive tree orchard. Turns out some time ago they got rid of many of their trees.

They still have olive trees here but I didn't get to pick olives or press them or anything! However- wow I still had a blast. They gave me my own room, bathroom, balcony, and living room. They only asked me to work 3 days. 6 hour days but it wasn't to bad. Pruning hedges, pruning olive trees, topping a few olive trees(chainsaw work up in an olive tree is a hoot), cutting down one small tree, weeding, moving heaps of old decking, getting rid of thistle. Nothing way to hard and it ended up being totally worth it!

Like I said, they only asked me to do 3 days work(Tuesday-Thursday), because on Friday we went by boat to their beach house! ON AN ISLAND!! Soooo many fun things! My first day on the island Jackie told me about some of the scuba gear they had, then mentioned that there were scallops in the bay that the house overlooked. 30 minutes later I was collecting scallops!! Then after we cleaned them- I kinda bailed because hey... I collected em :) the rest of the weekend was full of music on the beach, hammock chillin in my eno(who has now been named smokey), another dive for scallops, buscuiting(inner tube being dragged by a boat- aka tubing) , kayaking, snorkeling with the kids and heaps of fun!

The family and their friends who joined us stayed in the main house and I got my own "Batch". I freaking LOVED the batch! My own place on the second floor of split level kind of thing that I had all to myself. It was sweet in a rustic ocean kinda way. Great view every morning!

Being a lifeguard came in handy, on the island another mom and her two kids joined us for the weekend. And they were all able to take it a little easier knowing a LG was snorkeling with their kids.

Next stop is Coromandel, NZ. Bus takes me there tomorrow and Ill be at a winery! So excited but also sad to leave it here. It's kinda awesome. I know this feeling will keep being repeated as I go about my travels.

A Little Over A Week In Country and NZ is AMAZING

Wow this place is breathtaking! My trip to Clevedon(where my first farm is) from Auckland(where I stayed a few days after landing) wasn't bad at all. One funny thing did happen though.

While waiting for my host in Clevedon to pick me up from Papakura(where the bus took me from Auckland) I was sitting outside a closed shop. My pack was at my side and I was just sitting. Most people passing by paid me little notice. A few people actually crossed to the other side of the street, i noticed cause i was doing was people watching while waiting. A few people stopped and said hey and asked where I was trying to go.. Then a woman offered to buy me lunch- I was full so said no thank you... She said "good for you, son." I thought that was odd- just the way she said it. Then another man stopped by me and started digging out change from his pocket... It was at this point I realized ... wow I look like a homeless person... Then I thought... Wait... I pretty much am homeless hahaha. I refused the change and tried to start sitting differently. Thinking that would somehow help.

My time at Crabtree Farm has been pretty freaking sweet. My hosts name is Marcia. She is a 50 something British woman with an accent that I thought only existed in movies. It's the old British, very proper, "darling won't you come in for tea", kind of accent. She only ask me to work 3 hours a day. It's super easy work. Planting a few trees and prune some in the vineyard. The only hard work so far has been taking care of all the Gross(soft o, not sure of the real spelling). It's a horrible bush. It's nothing but spikes and if it sticks you it's like getting bit by an ant, it's got this venom in it. Sucks hard core. But then again how much can you complain when you get called in from work for lunch that consist of very upscale food. Think stinky cheese and wine every day.

For the first 6 days I was here there was also a woofer(different work live program that only does organic farms) named Jenn. Very nice American girl from Oregon. Jenn was a good worker and very nice. We could also joke back and forth very quickly. And soon her, Marcia, and myself were all rolling on the floor laughing at each others "naughty"(in Marcia's words) jokes.

Since she was here before me she got dibs on the guest room and I have to sleep in the garden. Oh no! It's actually really awesome- cool in the evening. Its about 30 yards from the house. Separate so it's nice. Grassy area surrounded by flowers and tropical trees. Great place to hang my hammock.

As far as adventures go there have been a few pretty fun moments. As soon as I saw that Marcia had a 4-wheeler, I knew much fun would be had, eventually had to teach Jenn how to drive it. I've been across pretty much all 100 acres of the farm now. Really cool woods and ridges. The farm is located in a valley between two steep hills. They are very tall for hills but also very beautiful. From ontop of the ridge overlooking the house it looks something like the shire. Soft rolling hills with golden grass. A creek rolling through on one side with willow trees along the bank. A now well pruned vineyard(thanks in most to Jenn), its about the size of a football field. Multiple duck ponds. Crabapple trees. And loads of trees I've never seen before.

I went to the one pub tonight and met an American named Nick. He had some legit philosophies on how the American lifestyle has made traveling not attractive to Americans. Long story short we take to much pride in 'Mercia. And think that all other countries are inferior, so why travel? We are the best. It kinda forces people into this mindset of "high school, college, marriage, good money, kids....." And if you break that you're nuts!! I think there was something to that.

Well yall, I'm not sure where exactly I'm going to take this blog. I could just ramble on and on like this entry(thank you so much for reading by the way, I know this one was to long), or if I meet enough cool people with interesting points of view I could take this blog on the social commentary path. Or just talk about only the fun things.


What do y'all want to hear? Write a comment, Facebook me, or email me.

That time I randomly stumbled across a Scottish Cultural Festival

Well it's pretty much exactly like the title suggests. I was walking around Auckland NZ, and i realized I was close to a museum- from what I had heard it was worth a look. As I was trekking to it I started hearing bagpipes. Seeing as how I love bagpipes I followed the noise until I was at a Scottish Cultural Festival. Unfortunately they were out of the free whiskey and haggis but it was still fun talking with people!

Auckland!

From the second I could see the country side from the plane I knew I would love this place.

I haven't really left the city yet, that should happen Sunday morning on my way to my first farm in Clevedon, a city not to far from Auckland assuming I can get this bus/train situation figured out. It shouldn't be to hard because I have a lot of help from my hosts here in Auckland(Sarah and James).

It's kinda funny but the first food I had in New Zealand was Pizza Hut! And it's SOOOOOOO much better than American Pizza Hut, I'm really glad Sarah suggested it. The other food Ive had so far has been pretty regular stuff, I have yet to identify what "New Zealand Food" is.

 It's the perfect weather here. Sunny, breezy, cool... perfect. The apartment I'm staying in right now is close to the harbor so it's cool and just awesome in general. I really like Auckland but really want to get to the country side soon. The city is great but I think I'll like the country even more! Tomorrow I'm hoping to go to a place called One Tree Hill. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Tree_Hill,_New_Zealand A 360 degree view of awesome country side!

I have yet to get my iTouch hooked up to wifi but when that happens a few pictures should pop onto my facebook/instagram.

Everybody I've met has been pretty cool. On the flights over I ran into many different people who all had cool trips to talk about. On the last flight a couple, The Wyatts (http://wyattsinwellington.wordpress.com/) were a couple who were doing a pretty sizeable hike down to Wellington. So pretty much going from the North part of North Island all the way to the South. Scott had me worried for a little bit when he talked about it possibly being hard to get my visa in New Zealand but it all worked out!

I will forever remember the feeling I had when I saw my pack at the baggage claim in the Airport. She was beautiful! Not a scratch on her and everything was there! She's the pack I'll be taking around the world with me and it killed me to be apart from her not knowing how she was. Yes, this sounds a little crazy but that pack is all I have now O.o As I grabbed her off the conveyor belt I remember looking and two strangers standing side by side watching me. One of them obviously a backpacker and he smiled. The other a guy in a suit, he looked at me strangely. The backpacker understood my joy I think :)

I know this post has been a little all over the place, it was written pretty quickly because time on the public library computers is limited. Sorry for the spelling mistakes that I'm sure are in here!

So, I'm in Auckland, I'm safe, Everything is going great! Farms and Backpacking start Sunday! Christchurch by April 15 or I get deported!

Take care and thanks for reading,
Steve