The big O.E.

Dreamin' of the Big O.E?: Gina did. For years and years. Her family home was consistently full of international backpackers and students which maybe accounts for her wanderlust or maybe it's just in the blood. Whatever … she's not only dreamt it … she's lived it. But it wasn't easy getting there - working three jobs at the same time takes real determination, oh, and giving up the love of ya life isn't much fun either …
First real trip?: I went to Japan in 7th Form - it was one of those sister school exchanges and I spent a year in Koshimizu in Northern Japan. You can see Russia on a clear day.
It was an incredible experience but had it's tough moments. There were times when I felt really isolated - I was a total novelty with everyone at first and they all wanted to know me but that soon wore off and then I found myself pretty much alone. School just seemed to get harder and harder but somehow I managed to get a Level 3 for the main Japanese exam.
Any other disadvantages?: Well, I didn't like rice and the alternative diet wasn't that great so I ended up putting on 10 kilos! The only other thing I struggled with was the politeness thing - people smiling and nodding when they don't really mean it but it's such a strong part of the culture. Plus, my host families wanted to make every single decision for me - what friends I could have, whether I was allowed into town and who with - all those sorts of things, which is really hard to accept after the freedom we get in N.Z.
Highlights?: My host families. I chose to have five different ones and they were all lovely people but way different. I ended up living in a temple and also a barn … with a doctor, a teacher and a furniture maker! I also travelled a fair bit which was fantastic - I went on schools trips and my host families took me into Tokyo several times.
How did you handle it when you got homesick?: Well, there were always emails and phone calls and I guess the bottom line was that I was determined to stick it out for the year and that's all there was to it.
And after Japan?: I was even more determined to travel. I came back to Christchurch and spent two years working and saving. At one stage I had three jobs on the go - in a backpackers, an office and a Japanese restaurant and I set myself the goal of saving at least $100 p.w. I fell in love for the first time too but wasn't prepared to let that stop me either - I was going, no matter what.
So, you finally had the money saved and …: Can I just say something first? Take the least amount of money with you because it takes ages to save up here in NZ and then when you leave you just spend whatever you've got! If you can get into the UK without having to have the $5,000 or whatever, then DO IT. Because no matter how much or how little you have, it all goes.
I stopped off in L.A. for a few weeks on the way over to stay with some friends but it was difficult to travel because it was shortly after 9/11 and security was so tight … plus, I was absolutely terrified of even getting on a bus by myself!!! I could have done so much more but I was really naïve back then - I'd do it a whole lot differently now for sure!
And in England …: I was lucky because I had a brother living down in Brighton so I went and stayed with him and avoided the whole London scene for a while. But I had friends who headed straight for the backpackers to live and it's a great way to meet people. When I did get to London, I hated it at first and it took me about six months to settle in. A lot of people struggle when they first arrive and you tend to get sick a lot as well - different countries, different bugs I guess - but you just have to stick it out and get familiar with your surroundings and the strangeness of everything - it's so difficult just doing anything in England! It takes a lot of effort to physically get around - even going to the Post Office takes up a lot of energy with so many people everywhere and nothing seems to be straightforward like it is in NZ. Plus, a lot of customer service staff over there aren't really very helpful or forthcoming and they don't volunteer much information so you need to know you stuff!
Did you travel through Europe?: Yep. I met this wonderful guy and we both spent six months working really hard and saving like crazy so that we could travel around on his bike for 3 months. I registered with an agency and took any job I could get. The hardest thing was being unqualified as it meant working on the minimum wage, washing dishes, whatever but then I scored a job with the BBC in their canteen and ended up establishing various cafeterias throughout the whole of the Beeb!!
The trip through Europe was a dream come true though. We travelled through Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Morocco, Yugoslavia, Bosnia,Croatia, Italy, France … and Spain! We had sooooo many adventures …
What got you through the bad times?: Friends. You simply have to have friends. You need that support when times get tough … like when I was really sick and then there were four deaths that I was indirectly linked to back here in New Zealand and I desperately felt I needed to get home but I just couldn't. There was no way.
Are you going to go back?: Yes. I want to see more of Africa. Our dream is to drive down through Europe in a 4-wheel drive and into Africa but spending longer doing it this time.
So, what now?: Study! I'm just finishing up my first year of teacher's training.
Did you always want to be a teacher?: Nope - I didn't have any idea of what I wanted to do when I left school. I just knew I wanted to travel but I think by doing that it helped me make up my mind as to what I wanted to do career-wise.
Any other advice about what to do while overseas?: Make the most of every opportunity. Do stuff for yourself and not just because the group you're in is doing it. It's dead easy to get hooked into the big social thing but you really end up losing yourself. Then again, when you're overseas you simply leave all the bad stuff behind when you leave and start afresh. Really though what you need to do is live in the moment and go for everything.
What about NZ?: This is such an amazing place and perhaps it's not until you've been away from it that you can really appreciate what it is we've got here. It's just so simple to live in N.Z. and is a great place to settle … but not to save!!!!

December 2004

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The big O.E.

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