How it all Began

Hello everyone,

My name is Kelcee Moore and it has always been my dream to travel the world. One day while browsing the internet, searching for different countries to go teach English, and opportunity to become an Au Pair in New Zealand popped up. Naturally I thought this would be absolutely AWESOME!!!! So I quickly put in an application not thinking they would actually respond. To my surprise and delight they called me less than a week later and said they really liked my resume and would like to have me fill out some more paperwork so they could put me through an interview process and make this happen. The next couple weeks went by in a blur as I passed each step of the interview process and then eventually started speaking with different prospective host families. Within a month I was having weekly conversations with my host family. When things started to look like they were getting serious my parents drove all the way across the country to Virginia Beach, VA where I was currently living so they could help me load up all my belongings and take them back to AZ where they would be stored safely since I would be gone for 12 months while in New Zealand (NZ).

 (this is a photo of the sunrise on the Sandbridge beach in Virginia.)

bottom corner: (we loaded up the suburban and filled my car to the brim, hooked it up and made our way back to the west)

Our trip back was an adventure in and of itself but we all had a great time! Finally we arrived in AZ on August 14, 2013 and by August 29th I had an official offer and was booking my flight to NZ. I will be leaving September 25 to go to Los Angeles so that I can fly to NZ. Everything is becoming real now and I just get more and more excited every time I learn something new about my trip or about the country itself. During my stay I will be working as an Au Pair which is a fancy word for nanny. I will be taking care of two boys ages 3 and 6 which I'm sure will keep me very busy and ensure we have tons of fun!

In order to get to New Zealand I have to pay a pretty hefty sum of money upfront and then I will be provided room and board as well as a weekly salary during the 12 months. To earn this money I have been using my skills as a cosmetologist to do hair for weddings, haircuts, and color services. Other than that I have been working at the Navajo County Attorney's Office as their temporary secretary and also selling various goods that I am getting rid of. Last of all I have started a little bit of a baking business with help from my dad and mom. We have been selling cinnamon rolls, fresh breads/rolls, and cookies. Ironically, my dad and I spent all day on Monday aka "Labor Day" baking cinnamon rolls and fresh baked white bread rolls. We ended up making over 100 cinnamon rolls and over 50 bread rolls all for orders we received the precious week. After a long day of cooking we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. Since we have delivered that first order numerous orders have followed which I am extremely grateful for!

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to my dad and mom for supporting me in my adventures no matter where they take me; and thank you to all those who have helped me earn the money to go, thus helping me accomplish my dreams. Someday I would like to be able to help other people help themselves accomplish their dreams as well. I'm a firm believer in the saying, "if there is a will, there is a way". We each have things we want to accomplish or experience in our lives and sometimes we just need a little guidance or encouragement to make those dreams a reality. I hope that someday I can be that hope or guidance that gives someone the courage to not just go through life expecting great things to happen to them but goes out and makes whatever they want to happen come true in their own lives!

Each week I will be writing an article about something new in New Zealand. Whether the topic is new foods I tasted, a sweet hike I went on or just a fun story about me and the kids, I promise to share my adventures with you each week. Check back and hopefully you can enjoy my time in New Zealand as well!

Thank you for reading,

Kelcee Moore

(photo of the AZ sunset)