...And So It Begins

Well the time is finally here. After a year of planning, countless hours of paperwork, 3 quarters of graduate classes and saying too many goodbyes I'm finally going to New Zealand. Even as I sit here in Sea-Tac it's hard to believe that in 27 hours I will be in NZ. Looking forward to 70 degree weather and spending time with some of the friendliest people in the world.

The whole trip is 3 months or 89 days. Anything past 90 days requires a visa so I stretched this trip out as long as a could. So far I don't know much about what exactly I will be doing in NZ. I know I'm in a suburb of Wellington (the kiwi capital) and I will be teaching high-school level students. I don't know what subject as of yet... my guess is History or Geography or what specific age. I'm living with a family in which the wife is a Math teacher at the school I'll be teaching at.

This is going to be the furthest and the most time I've spent from the great state of Washington. Gonna miss family and friends dearly. I was able to spend quality time with family during the Snow-Pocalypse of 2012 as I was snowed at my parents for 4 days. And was also able to make it up to Bellingham one last night to hang out with my best friends and meet some new ones. Thanks to the girls of 1121 for the hospitality!

Now that I'm sitting in the airport bar drinking my favorite Pyramid Hef beer and thinking about this trip I just want to make sure that I will take advantage of the 89 days I have in New Zealand. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity and such great support from family and friends. Thanks ya'll!!

Keep checking back in with this blog to keep up with all the latest Schmidt gossip! Experiences and photos will be provided and hopefully some great stories which I'm always good for. I'll post my address once I learn it later and hit me up on Skype!! erikbschmidt