Touchdown!

First days in Auckland have been awesome! New friends, and new adventures.  Photos coming soon!

19 Days to go on Kickstarter.com!

I'm looking for awesome bloggers with large followings who will be down to support my Kickstarter.com project with a blog post, tweet, donation, etc. In return, I have been offering to do articles or interviews for their blog, put their blogs in the credits, etc. If you know any influential bloggers, or influential people in general, please ask them to shout out the project with a tweet! Also, if you follow any blogs, forums or other social media source which you think would attract more awesome philanthropic folks, let me know!




http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/696313240/leave-of-absence-three-months-through-new-zealand

KICKSTARTER PAGE JUST WEN LIVE

The day has finally arrived!  The kickstarter page has just gone live!  Please donate if ya can, and tell your well endowed friends about it (wink wink)

Kickstarter Advert Click Here!!

Kickstarter.com Project Saved and Submitted!

Just sent in the final kickstarter.com advert for documentary fundraising!  Should go live within the next day or two.  I'll post a link once we go live

Check out what Kickstarter is HERE

A gallivanting gourmand: lightweight lunchables

What are good food items to bring backpacking?  Here's what I thought of so far:

powdered milk
instant oatmeal
instant rice
raisins
gorp
sugar
cinnamon
powdered eggs
dry pasta

tomato paste
crystal light
instant coffee
lipton cold brew
dried parsley flakes
dried potato mix
butter buds
bacon bits
dried basil
dried oregano
dried onions
tuna
oil
garlic powder
canned parmesan
salami
jerky
instant miso soup, onion soup
bullion
nuts
chicken foil packs
instant oatmeal
dried strawberries
bisquick
margarine packets
dried bananas
brown sugar
dried cherries
peanut butter
rolled oats
dried ginger powder
smoked salmon packs
dried fish
hot chocolate powder
apple cider powder
kool aid powder
gatorade powder
shelf stable cream cheese
instant chocolate pudding
dried fruits

Thinking about buying a Google Nexus 7 for the trip... Thoughts?

"Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit."

-Ansel Adams

Hunua Falls, New Zealand

THE PLAN- Soon to be on Kickstarter.com! link coming soon

These days more kids than ever are applying to and attending four year universities. Simultaneously, the job market is at a contemporary low point; especially for the 18-25 year old range. The current unemployment rate for young folk is at 16.5% -- double the national 8.2% rate.  But that’s only considering people still on the job hunt. Fewer than half of young Americans hold any kind of job at all. Even accounting for those who delayed the daunting task of job searching during the recession via four to eight years of higher education doesn’t make up the disparity. 

As it so happens, I currently attend the University of California Los Angeles; pursuing degrees in economic geography and environmental science. I love being a student here. Every day I walk through a beautiful brick campus; on my way to classes taught by world renowned researchers at the cutting edge of their fields. Not to mention, I am less than twenty minutes from Hollywood. Living life like this is amazing. However, the reality of graduating, and entering a harshly competitive job market hangs over many upper classmen. The most valuable extra-curricular activity students such as myself can engage in is an internship which leads into a secure job upon graduation. Unfortunately, those internships are few and far between. In my opinion, undertaking an adventurous overseas trip that combines wilderness and urban experiences is another way to distinguish yourself as highly capable to future employers.  While UCLA encourages studying abroad, these programs did not offer the level of emersion as well as the combination of urban/wilderness environments I was looking to experience. 

Finally, an idea emerged.  Most universities (UCLA included) allow students to take a one quarter or semester leave of absence without having to petition for readmission. I could, in theory, save up enough to get myself anywhere in the world; and ideally find work once I get there. I called my friend Joe. After researching, and planning for a few weeks, we figured out that we just might be able to get to New Zealand; traversing both islands across three months this fall. At first, our folks were against the idea. To them, this plan didn't seem to be advancing our lives academically or professionally. 

Back to the beginning- the job market sucks.  Thousand of young adults graduate from universities each year, with strong academic records and internship experiences (which internships may not have lead to a job offer).  If I were an employer, and had a stack of 10 resumes from recent graduates with equal qualifications, how would I decide which person to hire?  Well, first off, if a friend recommended one of the applicants; she would probably get the job. Notwithstanding nepotism or cronyism, I would look to what the applicants had done outside of the undergrad norm. Maybe some had participated in clubs, or student leadership groups- but how many had the tenacity to strike out on their own for an adventure on the other side of the world? Not many, I can assure you. 

After some deliberation, we got the blessing of our parents to go ahead and pull the trigger on our New Zealand trip. I guess sometimes dreams do become realities- we just bought our plane tickets. Since then, it has been hard to concentrate on summer classes, as almost all of my focus is on our upcoming sojourn through the Kiwi nation. 

 The other week I had a realization- I want to make a documentary of our trip. These three months will be the experience of a lifetime, and with the help of a few friends currently in the UCLA film school with editing and post-production work; this documentary can be a reality too. With just a little more funding for camera equipment, microphones, memory cards, batteries, and other costs incurred by making this trip a documentary project; we can produce a high quality documentary film which chronicles the travels, troubles, trials, tests, growth, enlightenment and breathtaking beauty of a transcontinental voyage across Zealandia (New Zealand continent). Not only do we hope our documentary will turn out to be an artful, exciting exploit of three months in NZ; but also a guide/resource of sorts for other college students and their parents considering whether to add a quarter, semester or year abroad as part of planning their precious undergraduate years. 

Sincerely, Rob 

Thanks for your support. Email me with questions, comments and suggestions! 

NewZealandOrBust2012@gmail.com

Joe

Rob

“We hear nothing so clearly as what comes out of silence. ” 

― David James Duncan

Mount Taranaki, NZ

Reflections on life: Desiderata

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.


-Desiderata 

Hello World!

The first post! Well, so far not much to report, planning and preparation going well- currently making lists of things to purchase prior to D-day.  Trying to prioritize is hard, but essential, as all of our worldly belongings will be on our backs.  Savings is going well, but I am about to launch a Kickstarter.com project, so please make this a reality! Link to come soon