Limbo

So far, I plan to meet up with a kiwi friend before heading to a Catholic young adult retreat called Hearts Aflame for 10 days. For over a year, I've been pining to go and for several months I've saved up $2,500 to fund my trip (that's how much I've budgeted, at least). Now, it's 3 months prior to the start of the retreat and I'm getting a bit more restless with calling travel agents and praying I get a fare that is merciful on my small wallet. I'm also a bit nervous, but that's to be expected. I might feel a bit less bothered if I could fully purchase and confirm some good flights, though.

Another reason why I'm slightly stressing over the trip is not because of mere nervous travel anticipation but because I also want to visit the University of Waikato in hopes to possibly study there if it be God's will. I would be discerning spending over US$26,000 a year as a tight-budget foreign student and putting my trust in God's providence and the local people other than my family. My mother also wants to visit the country and the uni as a concerned, prudent parent (and probably in part to discern my suggestion of having the rest of the family migrate to NZ). The cost of her visiting as well is going to stretch our family's already thin wallet and it's all because I want to go to school overseas. So it's really guilt that's adding the stress. I had only budgeted a trip for myself.

So far, I have the following to consider for the trip:

• Airfare, roundtrip (as of today, approx. $1,450)
  
• Travel Insurance
• Australia transit visa, roundtrip
• Hotel stay
• Airport fees
• Miscellaneous fees

• Hearts Aflame registration fee
• Miscellaneous budget-tourist expenses
• Emergency money

And if my mother came along in January:

• Her airfare, roundtrip (approx. $1,250)
  
• Travel Insurance
• Transit Visa
• Hotel stay during overnight stopover(s)
• Hotel stay in NZ
• Car rental and insurance
• Gas, food expenses
• Miscellaneous expenses
• Emergency money

Both of our expenses total out to safely, but nearly bordering, US$3,000 each. Just for a short stay. I'm praying God will let me visit New Zealand on a reasonable expense somehow. But after discussing the costs of Mom's travels, we're considering that it might be better financially to visit the uni with her in February, when the fares are seemingly more feasible.

At the moment, the planning stage is in limbo and all I can do is pray that the fluctuating airfares will be in my favour by the time I'm ready to confirm and pay for them. In the meantime, a few phone calls to the aforementioned kiwi are in order, and then things will be able to progress.