If you told me in November of 2009 when I moved to New Zealand that I would still be here 18 months later, I’d tell you that you were mad.
It’s certainly not how I envisioned things going; yet, as I’ve learned in the last year – things don’t always go as planned.
A mate who now lives in Spain told me recently that four years ago we graduated from the University of Iowa; it’s shocking when days turn into weeks, which turn into months, which bloody hell – turn into years.
I certainly never would have expected life to take me to small villages in Ireland, one of Europe’s most inspiring cities – Edinburgh, the markets of Turkey, the fjords of Norway, the canals of Venice, or the mountains of New Zealand.
I consider myself beyond lucky when I think of the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, and the places I’ve seen.
Luck perhaps isn’t the correct word to use. As anyone branching off into the life of long term travel knows, it certainly has its ups and downs. Be that living in hostels, dealing with budget issues, overcoming travel planning woes or the unknowns that come from leading a life of uncertainty, long term travel is by no means easy.
Overcoming these obstacles is part of the journey and ultimately adds to what becomes a life changing experience.
So 18 months later, I’m still in New Zealand. There have been no shortage of obstacles to overcome in Aotearoa, don’t get me wrong – and ironically perhaps, these obstacles have added to my love of NZ. Overcoming the challenges life tosses at you inevitably shape you into the person you ultimately become.
Like many of my previous experiences traveling abroad, I originally arrived in New Zealand on a working holiday. Working holidays are a fantastic way to properly assimilate into the society of a country you’ve traveled to. You can absorb the culture and take it in as if the country were your home. You get to know its people, see it from their eyes as opposed to the eyes of a tourist.
You begin to get the place. Understand what makes it tick.
New Zealand is a country with no shortage of space. It’s a land of sweeping vistas, towering mountains and thick and uninhabited bush. It’s a country with 4 million people, 40 million sheep, and 100,000 square miles of land. New Zealanders love their sport – while there is no question of their love for ‘the rugby,’ they also have a special appreciation for the beautiful country they inhabit and make plenty of efforts to get out and explore it.
Lately, I’ve been right with them.
Whether it’s on a multi-day hike, a cross country mountain bike ride or a trail run in the mountains after work, I’m doing as much as possible to get out and properly experience the stunning scenery I’m so lucky to live near.
As I mentioned in my last update, I’ve returned to New Zealand to run NZbyBike.com. I spend my days promoting mountain biking in New Zealand – it’s an epic place to ride, and inevitably, I’ve fallen in love with the sport myself. It’s a bloody great job, yet it’s by no means easy running a web start-up and has been taking up a significant amount of my time.
I’ve developed even more of an appreciation for bloggers like Steph from 20 Something Travel who balanced full-time work along with developing and running a superb travel blog.
What are your tips for balancing an active life, with a full-time job along with maintaining a travel blog?
Leave your advice in the comments section below and I’ll put together a post featuring some top tips later next month.
In an effort to keep budget travel and backpacking focused posts coming your way more frequently, I’ve taken on a fellow American expat and travel blogger as a contributing writer for Backpackingmatt.com. Expect to see more content from Australia-based Lauren Fritsky of TheLifeThatBroke.com over the coming months with a focus on budget travel and backpacking in Australia.
Thanks for following along – for daily glimpses into my life living in New Zealand, be sure to follow me on Twitter.
Happy Travels,
(Backpacking)Matt
‘Life’s a Journey‘
Please leave your tips for balancing work, travel, and an active life along with running a blog in the comments section below. Alternatively, email them to me at matt (at) backpackingmatt (dot) com and I’ll feature the best in a post next month.
Backpacking Matt 
I am longing for the day when I wind up in a place I can’t walk away from. New Zealand looks incredible, I don’t blame you for staying!
@Elle Thanks for the comment – it’s fantastic here. I fall more and more in love with NZ each day. An interesting situation to be in though as there are so many places I still want to explore.
Great post with great pictures. I look forward to being apart of the site.
That’s the million dollar question isn’t it. It’s something I struggle with especially as I don’t want the blog to take over my life. Ultimately you have to set limits so that you work for effectively.
Mate when you work out how to balance a blog and living abroad let me know will you. When I was at home working my normal job and starting out it was easy I had hours to play and nothing to distract me.
Now that I am living abroad and working, I don’t want to be sitting inside all day when I have an amazing city at my door step that I long to explore.
Would love to move to New Zealand on a permanent basis like you.
How did you find getting a work visa? We’ve used the working holiday visa but to get a permanent work visa meant getting a job offer – not easy when you’re half way around the world.
Cheers
Paul // MyPostcardFrom
*I* can’t believe you’ve been in new zealand for 18 months! I remember when you were just getting set to leave! I’m so happy you’ve found so many great reasons to stay.
Lauren is a fantastic writer so I’m excited to see where this partnership goes.
And thanks for the shout out but I still have a LOT to learn about time management. In a sick way blogging was almost easier when i was working full time…
I was going to say that you wouldn’t have told me that I was “mad” 18 months ago, but you may have actually picked that up from the Scots or the Irish when you were around their parts 🙂
Hard to believe it’s been 18 months in NZ. I arrived in NZ myself in Nov 2009, albeit for only 3 months-ish.
As for the balance, I’ve get around it mostly by not working full time (more like barely), occasionally updating my blog, and living life. 1 out of 3 I guess 😛
Living the dream, Matt! Always love your posts. Learning to listen to certain signs and be willing to veer off what you thought was your path is the best part of the journey!
I think it is hard to work full time, travel and keep your blog running. You must pick two from this list 🙂
Gosh, where do I begin? Have to take a risk and go with your gut…somethings, the best things in life have been the “roll of the dice.” Love your blog, and your tee shirt (picture coming soon. I PROMISE).
NZ is a great country to live in, I spend almost a year there in 2007. Still hope to return sooner then later 🙂 Balancing work and travel basicly comes down to just setting limits, and stick to them. I know it sounds easier then it is (i’m writing this at 1AM, so I guess i’m a bad example now :P) But normally, I have some sort of schedule of small things I want to get done during the day. That won’t happen if I spend 90% of the day on just 1 item.
You’re very lucky to be living in NZ, and even luckier to have reason to explore it, often, by bike. It sounds like you’re living a dream-life, and I’m sure you’ll get the hang of managing multiple things at a time, in no time 😀
I’m still managing a start-up travel blog, and University :s
Probably not what you want to hear, but the older you get, the quicker the years go by… its crazy. Keep letting the wind take you where it blows!
Dan
@Dan Not what I wanted to hear, but I’d certainly believe it.
@Seattle Thanks for the feedback, and yes it’s a bloody dream-like place to be living. Good luck balancing running your (well designed!) blog whilst studying for your degree.
@Charu Thanks, hope you’re digging the t-shirt!
@Vi If only it was easy as picking two from that list!
@Paul It was easy-as to get the first 12 month working holiday visa; after that, depending on where you’re from, it’s a bit of challenge to get an extension – either way you’ll need a sponsor.
I have plenty of mates that have gotten sponsored for something as simple as working in hospo though.
@Steph Thanks for chiming in. You were one of the first blogs I began following prior to launching Backpackingmatt.com. Some day, we’ll get to meet up. Ideally in New Zealand. 🙂 Yes, I’m very excited to have @Lauren contributing posts!
Wow, Matt, you are living my dream life! I am hoping to get my blog really rolling, but until then I am only a part timer. I love reading all your posts about New Zealand, I’m working on setting up some dates for my own trip there.
New Zealand is a place you fall in love with. Not many people know it, so that is how we keep the population small, and it’s good as that is part of its beauty.
From day one it was obvious you have fallen in love with New Zealand and I’m happy things have worked out.
Good luck!
Mate I will tell you when I figure out because that is what I will be doing when I move to Australia in 10 days and start blogging about life down under!
This post has been a real insight though and reminded to keep going if it does get tough at times!
Thanks
Great to hear you’re moving back to NZ and working on something awesome. I’m sure we’ll end up back there eventually. After viewing the new site you’re working on hubby is now complaining of MTB withdrawl! Perhaps we’ll have to move to Rotorua next time.
@Geri It’s a pretty epic place to be based! Rotorua has some epic riding – maybe only second behind Nelson and Golden Bay!