Hello Everyone
The BLOG is back. One quick posting here just to test the site, really. The archives still have to be rebuilt but that is something that can wait. Tom has been working long, hard hours to rebuild and make a few changes to my blog website. It is time to give him a break from it. So the archives can be done slowly at his leisure.
I cannot emphasize enough my gratitude to Tom and my brother Ron for all the effort they both put into this rebuild. I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience in waiting for the site to be ready. I did get everyone's messages of concern when the site was not available and answered many of them individually. If I missed you, I apologize but it has been a very hectic couple of weeks for me.
Tommorrow at noon I will be checking out of my room at Stonehurst Guesthouse and heading to the airport to catch my 3:05 flight that starts my journey to Aukland, New Zealand. I arrive there on Wednesday at 13:45. So with the 11 hour time difference the actual travel time is 35 1/2 hours with a flight change in Johannesburg (2 hour stop) and another in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (3 hour stop). The rest of the time is spent in the airplanes. I will be a zombie by the time I get to Aukland. I will find a private room with ensuite for my first night to ensure I get a good night's sleep. Then on Thursday I will look for cheaper long-term accommodation for a month.
Then the job hunting begins. My first choice, as always, is a stewardess or deckhand job on a large sailing or motor yacht. I refuse to look at the other alternatives until I have exhausted the sailing possiblities. I have not totally ignored the fact that New Zealand is in active search to bring the IT geniouses of the world into the country. There are also several postings with a variety of agencies for Electro-Mechanical Designers, other technical disciplines and construction technology, draughting and design. Along with several other technology fields there are several other job postings for which I am qualified. So I am fairly confident of my chances at finding work. Then there will be the getting of the work visa/permit to go with the job.
Once I have work, and depending on what and where that work is, I will look into the accommodation requirements. Of course if the job is aboard a yacht I will be living aboard. Another reason that the yacht job is preferred... it comes with a place to live. I will start by going around to all the yacht crew agencies with my resume and letters of reference.
IF I HAVE SPENT TIME ON YOUR BOAT IN A CREW CAPACITY AT ANY TIME, PLEASE WRITE A FAVOURABLE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR ME AND EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. The agencies like lots of letters of recommendation.
I will write more details about my time here in South Africa once I am in New Zealand. I am getting tires now and want to get back to my room for an early night. I also have lots of sorting packing to do. And the one thing I don't like about Cafe Erte is that they permit smoking in here so I am always being assaulted by cigarette smoke when I am in here.
Said my good byes to Johan today. He has been sucha good temporary buddy while I've been here. I hope we get to see each other again in the future. Thank you Wendy for putting me in touch with such a kind and gentle soul. In fact, thanks to Wendy my time here has been so much more pleasant.
I'm off now. The guy beside me is one of those who don't actually smoke. He just holds the cigarette away from his face... into mine... and lets it smolder. Yuck!
Posted by gailene at February 8, 2004 08:11 PM