December 3rd, 2008 | categorizilation: all categories,Arrival Home,New Zealand,Post-2008
It has been one week since I arrived at my parent’s home in Christchurch. A week since my journey came to a screeching halt.
It feels like a month.
When I boil it all down, the thing that is keeping my mind and fingers busy over the last week is figuring out how to start getting some pennies coming in. I have finished this journey with a modest amount of credit card debt; NZ$1,000. My outstanding student loan of NZ$10,000 is something I’m not even thinking about at this stage. I have zero savings left. Absolutely nothing.
So, on the go this week has been polishing and honing a sleek inspirational presentation about my journey that I hope to market to groups and corporate interests. I really have no idea about the demand for speakers in New Zealand, and how I would go about contacting potential audiences I also have no idea. Perhaps I need a speaking agent? Or perhaps I would have more luck in North America where the demand for that kind of thing is through the roof? I dunno…
I have also arranged to start some casual part time work at a local backpacker hostel where I worked about 6 years ago. About 15 hours a week to tide me over until Christmas.
All of this I see as a temporary measure while I also put together a synopsis and first few chapters of the book, tentatively titled “Boarderline”. All going well, I hope to have a publisher on board by February, and a completed manuscript ready for editing by May. This would realistically mean that the book would not be on shelves until the end of 2009.
I have been thinking hard about what the plot to my story for the last few years would be. When I look back over my journey, it’s almost a lack of plot that is what makes it so much fun (and at times excrutiating). Numerous unimaginable plot twists and changes of plans is what I know kept me interested in what I was doing. I never set out from the beginning to accomplish what I ended up accomplishing.
It has not been all work and no fun however, and I have enjoyed catching up with friends here and there.
Christmas in the Park with Andrew and Jenna, sushi and drinks with Kevin and co.
Rob when you say about presentations do you mean like a talk about your journey? If so there is a fair amount of interest in that sort of thing here in the UK. Places like the Royal Geographical Socienty have talks on travel and adventures, check out rgs.org
Good luck with the coming months!
Rob, as a random internet surfer, loved your adventures man, impressive, especially finishing off in style down the Wanganui, that was genius.
Best of luck with making it pay a bit.
Hi Rob,
just found your website again – was wondering what had happened to you. I'm one of the 100 french cyclists you saw in China. Read that you made it safe home. My sincere congratulations.
Come back to you soon via normal e-mail, will first read your archives.
Really great thing you did.
Best greetings from Geneva, Switzerland.
Peter
Call me when you're ready to translate the book into Japanese *wink*
Wow! It's Andyroo! Awesome. Blows my mind to see you with Christchurch folk.
Will read the rest of the updates but great to see you're back now. I have one day left at language school & then will head to the capital and then back to Kenya (yay).
gLee
