The Journey Begins...

Concerning Eddie and Devon

Devon and I have yet to leave for New Zealand but our journey actually began about a year ago. It was November 10th, a wednesday, when I got a phone call from my Uncle Joe. He was offering me two tickets to a Kings game and all I had to do was find someone to go with and pay for the gas. I quickly obliged and began considering who I was going to ask. Of course I though this would be an excellent opportunity to ask Devon out. It was exciting enough to be considered a date if it went well and low key enough to pass it off as a fun hang out if things weren't clicking. I think its safe to say that things did go well and we have a pretty cool story for our first date. However, the best part of that night was not the game itself but in fact the conversation that came about during the hours spent in the car. It still debated who asked who first. In my version, Devon asked me what I planned on doing after college? My answer went something like this, "I don't know...but I would love to travel and possibly go to somewhere like New Zealand." Devon's response, "NO WAY! I was just talking to my best friend Lindsey about a work exchange program in NZ!" Thus the first conversation and idea of us* going to New Zealand was born. As our relationship developed so did the idea of traveling to New Zealand. As each month passed we began taking our nervous-excited-firstdate-dream-idea more and more seriously.

Fast forward to today, Devon and I have our roundtrip tickets, visas, and passports ready to go for our trip. The road hasn't always been easy. Both Devon and I had to think long and hard on whether this was really something that we could conceivably accomplish financially. This trip was going to take a large investment of time and money. Devon had to get 3 part time jobs working at Trader Joe's, Marriot Hotel, and counseling several clients on their personal nutrition. I fell into a full time job at Kohl's and through a lot of hard work and saving we have managed to save enough to make our trip a reality. The decision to embark on this trip had more than just financial ramifications. We had to take into consideration the effect it would have on our future. All in all it was a a big decision that undoubtedly would determine the course for at least the next year and possibly the rest of our lives. Overall we have been incredibly blessed by God who has given us so much to be thankful for. Thank you to all of the family and friends who have supported and encouraged us and our trip, we appreciate it deeply. Thank you to all the acquaintances and random connections who have helped and inspired us. Both Devon and I are very excited to experience this great adventure and through this blog share it with all of you.

Here's the trip broken down by the numbers.

1-8-11: Devon and I leave the north state for L.A. to visit her family before we leave.

1-14-11: Our flight leaves at 10:30p.m. from LAX

1-16-11: We arrive in Auckland, N.Z. at 12:50p.m.

6-5-11: We leave N.Z.

20:1 - The ratio of sheep to people in N.Z.

-Eddie