FOMO - fear of missing out

I always find this time of year intoxicating. My friends and I are each on the precipice of a new adventure, which always provides excitement. This time last year I found myself, in equal parts, terrified and eagerly awaiting a flight to Japan. I ended up spending four and a half months in a place that I came to be very comfortable and at home in. I love Japan dearly and it holds a very special place in my heart.

Which is why, this year, I have a bad case of FOMO. In three weeks I am flying to Canada but in the meantime I am watching my friends, via Facebook, arrive in Japan which makes me pretty envious.

I want to be going back!

I want to be surrounded by signs I can’t read. I want to watch huge soft snowflakes blanket everything in sight. I want to go to our morning meetings where I can’t understand anything. I want to have gossips in the onsen. I want to eat ramen for lunch at our staff canteen. I want that feeling of absolute contentment when I walk into work, a place I am so happy to be. I want that feeling of home.

The unknown is scary.

I am so excited to go to Canada and I know it’s going to be fantastic when I get there but for the next three weeks I’m going to be fiercely jealous of anyone going to Japan. I’m sure that this time next year, whatever I’m doing, I’ll get to be jealous of people going to Canada too but for now, because it’s unknown, I’d rather be heading to my Asian home.

Shoulder Season

I have recently realised that it takes me almost exactly two weeks to get bored.

This has happened twice in recent times; first, when my contract finished at The Remarkables (as a ski instructor) and second, when I got home after said contract finished.

I finished working on the mountain in the middle of September and by the end of September I was going absolutely bananas. I remember one day where I was looking at The Remarkables range and felt this welling of panic inside me. I had to get the fuck out of Queenstown. Most of my friends were still in town and I could still go skiing but because most people were working every day I was kinda hanging out by myself a lot (I've figured out that's not a great thing for me). And so, after two weeks of no routine and no commitments, I went home.

Being at home was pretty great. For two weeks. I got to pat my dog, go to the beach and swim, and fill in my time as I like. Then I got bored. This time I couldn't just pack up and leave either as I have next to no money (no change there) and a flight to Canada in two months.

So, what do you do for two months between seasons? It's not enough time for anyone to want to employ you. All your friends are still away at uni. And because it's October, there's no surf in powder puff bay.

I face this problem every four months and never really know what to do with my limbo lifestyle, I've come up with some ideas below.

1. Spend as little time as you can at the place you should be.
    I spent a northern hemi winter employed in Japan at a resort there. (It was fucking phenomenal). After my contract finished I spent six weeks travelling around Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Sydney and so when I arrived back in New Zealand (cut short by money - again - and the delightful policy of overseas travelling with a student loan*) I only had a month before heading down to Queenstown. This method has flaws; you end up spending all of your money (and borrowing off your parents), getting into sticky situations in third world countries and having no money. Did I mention that you come back very poor?

2. Do something productive.
    Also known as, things I never, ever get around to or can be bothered to do. i.e. get fit, clean out my room, teach myself carpentry, renew my first aid certificate, apply for a copy of my birth certificate, do something useful with my life etc etc.

3. Hang out with friends.
    Unless you've alienated yourself from most of your friends from high-school and the other four are all at university getting degrees and shit.

4. Watch Beyonce videos on YouTube
     But only the first five seconds of an ad and 12 seconds of video because we live in the middle of nowhere and our internet sucks.

5. Get a tan.
    Although, y'know, sun cancer.

6. Watch paint dry.
    But, actually, I'm getting paid to paint our house.

7. Spend hours on hold on the phone to government departments
    *See below.


* The New Zealand Government dictates that people with student loans are only allowed to be out of the country for six months before they are charged interest. But then charge you interest anyway when you have left the country for five and a half months and strategically planned to be back to avoid unnecessary charges (because I have no money).


Happy shoulder season!

Maple syrup flavoured bacon can't come soon enough...