The Separation

Today, Joe and I separate.  I arrive at the University of Auckland for my UC EAP orientation, get directions to my room from a very attractive American girl, and get settled on top of the world.

Joe, on the other hand, is busy planning the rest of his life. He’s spent the past few days on websites looking for potential hostels he can work at for the next month, hoping to find free housing.  He’s got no leads as of yet, and will stick around in Auckland for a while until he decides what to do.

My room is a nice single here, with concrete walls (good for nighttime sound insulation) and a nice view. It’s a bit small, like the prison cell Joe will end up in if he doesn’t get his life together and is forced into the drug cartel. He wanted to stay for a few nights in the room next door, which is under construction. I was opposed to the idea.

Alas, while I explored my new home for the next few days, Joe set to giving me all of the things he won’t be needing any more, as he will need a lighter load while traveling alone without a rental car.

Between comments like...

“Do I really need three pairs of underwear? Nah two’s fine”

and

“Is it cool if I just crash whenever you guys have free food at orientation?”

...Joe packed away his life, off on a journey that will lead him on an almost certain tomultous journey. Alas, if Fate, in all of her mystery, acts kindly upon Joe, he will emerge from this wrecked nation a new and better man. However, if she looketh unkindly upon his wretched soul... we can only pray that he survive to tell the tales of his travels to Hades and back...