So yep, it is official! The visa has been approved (and corrected and recorrected after getting my birthdate and then my actual name- and sex- incorrectly twice) and the round trip ticket has been bought. I am flying out of RDU on April 18th and will be coming back November 12th. Two weeks later, I will fly out again to either Australia or New Zealand, and spend the rest of my visa back down under. The two week home trip is to give myself a break and see one of my best friends' wedding. And I am sure my Grandmother will be more on board with a 7 month then a 5 month trip instead of a year away!
My plan is to work for 6 months at the beginning, hopefully part time work, taking short trips on weekends to nearby locations. I have some contacts from my first trip that I will approach for rooms rental, so hopefully I will not have to spend all of my time in hostels. After 6 months of working, I will travel for a little bit before I come home. I don't really have a plan this time, at least not the way I had a plan last time. I think what I do will be dependent on how much money I have and my sleeping arrangements. I am not used to not having a plan, but I am trying to find it exhilirating rather than terrifying. I'm forcing myself to grow in a new way, which is always terrifying anyway. But this is something I have wanted for a long time, basically 2 weeks after my landing back in America in December 2010. And I know it will all end up ok, no worries.
