An itinerary flew into my inbox this after, delivering the message that this was actually happening. I have had confirmation that I would be going on this adventure for a couple of months now, but always with the caveat that there might be some logistical or bureaucratic bump in the road that could derail the whole thing. Now it seems really real.

I first applied for the position back in February, which is pretty robust process through the VSA portal, touching on professional experience, motivation and cultural awareness. This was followed by a trip to Wellington in March for a day of interviews to assess general fit, emotional stability and technical ability. To my surprise I was the only applicant interviewing for this position, and it all seemed to go really well. Following this I was offered a provisional position, pending on a raft of paperwork and check-ups to complete.

Thankfully my medical, dental and various other profiles were up to scratch, and I ultimately ended up getting my visa approved and acceptance from the Department of Water Resources in Vanuatu. Then came the contract and now the fights. A bit of a process indeed! But actually, it has all been pretty smooth sailing to be honest. I was pretty daunted at time, but just kept chipping away, and the staff at VSA were extremely supportive.

So now it is actually happening, two more weeks of work, two weeks to get ready, then I’ll be off. Excitement building and now a month seems like an age, but no doubt it will fly by. Must make the most of it.