Skydiving in Auckland

Skydiving was on my bucket list for the longest time, and where else better to do it than in New Zealand, right? I did mine with Skydive Auckland late last year (2013). I originally planned to do it in Lake Wanaka near Queenstown, but it got cancelled twice due to strong winds. So that's my first tip. Skydiving is a weather dependent activity. You have to reserve at least two days for it. If it gets called off on the first day, at least there's another opportunity for it the second day.

Skydive Auckland offers three heights. 9,000 feet that gives you 25 seconds of free fall; 13,000 feet which gives you 45 seconds of free fall; and 16,500 feet which gives you 70 seconds of free fall. I chose to jump at 13,000 feet. The standard price is NZ$325, but I got mine at a discounted rate of NZ$255 on BookMe so I suggest you regularly check their page for deals in case you're interested on jumping with SkyDive Auckland.

Exclusions

Unfortunately, skydiving is not for everyone. It is not recommended for those with any of the following:

a. Pregnant

b. Scuba dove the last 24 hours

c. Nasal or sinus congestion

d. Have a cold or flu

e. Have problems equalizing pressure in ears

f.  Severe motion sickness, asthma or allergies

g. Heart conditions or epilepsy

h. Shoulder, knee, back or neck injuries

Step by step

So what happens when you choose to tandem skydive? Well, here's my experience.

1. First, you are led to the briefing room where they will play an instructional video. The presentation will, among other things, teach you how to position your body when you jump from the plane.

2. Next, they will measure your weight.

3. Afterwards, you put on a jumpsuit.

4. And then, your instructor will assist you in gearing up. He'll help you put on the harness and give you your hat and goggles.

Here hugging my daughter.

5. You're allowed to bring guests for as long as there's space in the van. At this point of the activity it would be nice to get a hug from your loved one.

6. Next, you board the plane, and it takes off.

I try to put on a brave face, but I am nervous as hell.

That, my friends, is the face of fear.

7. There are no toilets in the small plane. So if you have to pee, then you better hold it in. The plane will take around 20 minutes to climb to the right altitude. This is the most nerve-wracking part of the activity. The wait and anticipation just kills you. You'd like to back out but it's too late because the instructor has attached his harness to yours. There is no backing out.

8. When you reach the correct altitude, they open the door and out you go. Everything happens so fast, the next thing you know you're accelerating 0 to 200 kph in 8 seconds, which feels like going down a roller coaster, and then you free fall. 

9. In free fall, you don't feel like falling anymore. It's what you feel when you put your hand out of the car while it's moving, only instead of just the hand, it's your whole body. You feel the wind blowing all over you and it's like you're floating.

10. At this point, you won't feel scared at all. The trees and rivers look so tiny. Skydive Auckland explains that above 5,000 feet, people have no perception of height. So just enjoy the fall.

11. When you reach 5,000 feet, the instructor pulls his cord and opens the parachute. There is a slight jerk, but nothing to be worried about. If weather permits, the instructor will let you steer the parachute for some time. The glide down to the drop zone will take around 5 minutes. Enjoy the view.

12. Before hitting the ground, the instructor will tell you to lift you legs up, you do as he says, and you land softly on your bum. Congratulations! You just completed your first tandem skydive!

So, there. I hope I inspired you. If you're in New Zealand and skydiving is in your bucket list, I highly recommend doing it here. You can skydive in Auckland like I did. But I suggest either Lake Taupo or Lake Wanaka for the better views.

And remember these tips!

   Tip 1: Prepare for at least 2 days for this activity, as it is weather dependent.

   Tip 2: Check out for deals with BookMe.

   Tip 3: When making a booking, ask if there's space for your guest in the van.

Part-Time Work as a Teaching Assistant

Finally, on the last semester of my two-year masters, I got a job as a teaching assistant in the university. As I've written before, international postgraduate students on valid student visas can work in New Zealand. But whether there's work for you, now that's the question. Those with health, science, engineering and tourism backgrounds will find it fairly easy to find work here (a co-scholar who was a nurse immediately got hired at a hospital, while another Filipino scholar with experience in the hotel industry found a job at a service apartment). As you know, I come from the legal sector in the Philippines, and I found it extremely difficult to look for a job in my industry. For one thing, the law I know is different from the law they practice here. And for another, even if I did know their law, there's just not enough legal jobs for lawyers, at least here in Auckland. Siguro mas may chance pa sa Wellington, where the national government is based, but I digress.

I got this job because I received an e-mail blast a few months ago from the department coordinator announcing openings for graduate teaching assistants. And having been a college instructor back home, I felt this was right up my alley. So I filled up the application form, attached my supporting documents, and submitted them to the department. You get hired either as a tutor or a marker. A tutor teaches part of the course, while a marker checks coursework and other assessments. I signed up and got hired as a marker, which is supposed to be easier of the two. Pero hindi rin kasi mahirap mag-check ng essay. Hahaha.

But I'm not complaining. The extra income is good as it can supplement my stipend, and I  get to save some money for home. It's also a nice diversion to do something other than your studies and/or research--a job breaks the monotony of academic life. 

I only wish I knew about the GTA programme earlier in my studies. I could have been a tutor or a marker last year pa. So my advice, if you're like me who can't find a job related to your line of work in the Philippines, you might want to consider being a GTA. When you get here in New Zealand, look for and approach your department coordinator. Ask if there's an opening for tutor or markers. The chances are you're too late for that semester (as they hire prior to the start of the sem), but you can ask to be put on the mailing list. That way, the moment they open applications for the next semester, you'll be the first to know.

So, good luck! Hope this post helped!