Yesterday I suddenly realized that it’s only a bit more than two weeks until I’m leaving. Gave me quite a fright, that, because I don’t feel anything close to ready — there’s the paper, and the fact that I’ll work almost every evening/afternoon and that there’s still quite a bit left to be done.

So yesterday, instead of writing, I read some of my texts about the Maori, went to the bank to order my foreign currency, emailed Denise, called my insurance company about travel insurance, and started to seriously think about what will happen once I’ve landed in Auckland. And today I’ve made an appointment at my hair dresser’s, booked a hostel in Auckland, inquired about bus connections and fares, and looked up some of the websites recommended in my Lonely Planet (links here, on the right). I’ve decided to stay in Auckland for two nights, because it’s a six-hour bus ride to New Plymouth, so I’d have to stay one night anyway. That way I can at least spend one day there and have a quick look around.

I’m trying very hard not to think of the 15 pages I still have to write and the fact that the teacher in question won’t just accept anything, because she knows exactly what she wants. All this stuff in my schedule is stressing me quite a bit — I’m one of those persons who need empty spaces in their planners, even if the things filling them are exciting and interesting. I need time for myself, else I get all tense and stressed out…

Will take my Salome stuff to work this afternoon and hopefully be able to write a bit there, so I don’t feel so bad about it anymore.