avelog

Stewart Island is a small island south of New Zealand’s South Island, and considered the country’s third and oft forgotten island. It has a small tourist-oriented town and a lot of wilderness/wildlife. The plan was to head over on the passenger ferry this morning, since departure times are posted as 9:30am, 11:30am, and 3:30pm, but for no apparent reason, they decided to sail at 9:30am and 5:00pm today, so we’ve been stranded in Invercargill for a few hours with no plans.

I’ve had a couple of disappointments the past few days. After applying to UBC and having lenghty discussions and visits with one of the profs there, I was of the understanding that I was going to start a program there in the fall with funding through a research project involving the study of invasive species brought in by shipping on the west coast. I had a week of deliberations after leaving Canada and decided to accept the position offered within the timeframe given, only to receive a reply two days after my email stating that the prof had gone behind my back and found a different Master’s candidate to fill the spot, leaving me with no opportunity at UBC for the fall and no plans. I was quite frustrated with this and felt betrayed, but I recovered after a few beers and some sleep. I still had hope in my NSERC application, and with that funding would likely be able to pursue something interesting along a different avenue.

Well, during our current limbo awaiting ferry departure, I’ve received news that NSERC sent me a rejection letter sometime last week, stating that this year’s competition was particularly severe. That leaves heading to South America and getting lost in the jungle for a few months my only option left. Hopefully I’ll still have a chunk of money left after this New Zealand/Australia trip. I guess I’ll have to do some thinking in the next few months and decide where I’m headed; some serious world-wandering, accompanied by the necessary job-seeking in foreign countries, or a re-grouping and a concerted effort to find something interesting to do in grad school (I only applied to one school this year because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do).

No photos today (it’s now been a while) since the computers at this internet cafe in Invercargill are fairly difficult to use. We spent three or so days along the Catlins Coast and stayed the last night at a little campground that only had a tiny kitchen and pay-stove. This wouldn’t normally be a problem, except that we still hadn’t found a fuel canister for the stove and had no other way to cook. Problem solved: the girl at the office gave us the end-of-day meat pies and sausage rolls that were sitting in the oven since they were closing up. Not the most elegant, healthy, or invigorating meal, but free and filling!!

On Stewart Island, the plan is to do a morning of sea kayaking followed by a three day hike on the Rakiura Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. We’ll take the ferry back on April 3rd and make a dash for Queenstown to return the rental car. Then our other tramps and we’re off with our cheap-cheap-cheaper rental car after Easter.

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