Final Day and Top Ten

Sadly, all good things have to come to an end. The same was true for our trip to Australia and New Zealand. After an amazing time in Rotorua, Auckland, Sydney, and Cairns, our trip had run its course. Our final day was spent in the Kuranda rain forest. We took a train up the mountain to the village where we were able to explore for a great deal of time. The village was quaint and interesting and we spent much of the morning there. We then proceeded to the cable cars that took us down the mountain back to Cairns over the rainforest. We paused to learn a little about the actual rainforest then went to an Aboriginal village to learn about the history of the native people of Australia. Here, we got to watch traditional dances and songs as well as learn to throw boomerangs and spears. We finished the day in Cairns like we had every day, going out to eat in the city and relaxing by the pool at the hotel. We wanted to get the most out of our last day, so we pulled three rooms together and pulled an all-nighter in which seven of us got sick. Though it made the next day miserable, I regret nothing and would have done everything the same again. The trip provided me with many life lessons and taught me much about the culture of these two countries. There are ten things that made my trip more enjoyable and interesting than a "normal" trip.

1. The People in General: This applies to everyone the trip; the people who were on the trip with me made everything so great. The natives of the country were always cordial. The students we visited taught us so much and accepted us. The people of the countries of Australia and New Zealand really made the trip worth it.

2. Sydney: This city was definitely one of the highlights. It was rich in culture and had so much to do. The Opera House and Bridge were so interesting and rich in culture and the city in general made that portion of the trip amazing.

3. Food: On the trip, I tried so many different and unique types of food from the cultures of Australia and New Zealand. I ate kangaroo, crocodile, and other animals and sampled things that even though I regretted at the time, I would do it all the same if the opportunity presented itself. 

4. Aborigines: The Australian natives have such a rich culture that it was amazing to see how they managed to live. Their ways of life are clearly vital to Australian culture as a whole. The day we spent learning about their history and practicing some of their ways was an experience that was fun and interesting at the same time.

5. Wildlife: After visiting wildlife preserves and seeing creatures in the wild, it is clear to me how important the wildlife is to Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand had the most beautiful scenery I've seen and Australia's creatures are unique and were clearly an importan aspect of the country's history.

6. Great Barrier Reef: The Reef was one of the best experiences I've had in my life. To be able to see something as magnificent and awe-inspiring as the Reef is something I was definitely lucky to have had the chance to be a part of. It was so vibrant and full of life and it was depressing to know that in the near future it will all be gone. It clearly is a Wonder of the World and gives such a good feeling to the waters surrounding the country.

7. Travelling: Travelling by plane, bus, boat, and foot over the course of the trip was honestly a really good experience. It gave me good binding experiences with everyone and is something I honestly think will help me on future travels. I made connections with many of the people on the trip while we were doing some form of travelling. The skills I picked up while moving from place to place are vital skills that I will take with me everywhere.

8. Rotorua/Maori people: The trip in New Zealand to this historic town and visiting the native people was again just an amazing experience. The town was so easily navigable and close-knit and the Maori in Whaka and the people in Rotorua were friendly during our visit. Seeing how everyone lived on the earth in Whaka was an eye-opening experience.

9. Lugeing/Ogo/Snorkel: These things all deserve a spot on my top ten because they show that while on this trip I began to come out of my comfort zone. I never would've done this type of "crazy" thing prior to coming on the trip but while in Australia and New Zealand I have willingly done those activities. Everything I did I had a blast doing and will definitely become more adventurous when I return to America.

10. Cairns: This city again was so cool in that it was big yet small at the same time. Walking around the city with so much freedom was heaps of fun. The city's beaches and the Great Barrier Reef added to the cultural influence of the small city.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and I had greatly anticipated getting a chance to experience what it was like to swim in it. My first impressions were of awe and wonder. I had only seen pictures of the reef but my expectations for the GBR were incredibly high. The boat ride out to the reef seemed to only hype up the expectations. The ride took us a great deal of time but the surrounding islands and the vastness of the ocean were amazing. As we arrived at the reef, the immensity and overal beauty were shocking and just incredible to lay my eyes on. The coral was huge and visible in every direction. Fish and other creatures were abundant and you could tell that the entire area was alive. I initially thought just diving into the reef was sketchy and the water was again surprisingly cold. However, I got into the water without hesitation. The initial concept of being able to breath underwater did not occur to me at first and made it difficult. yet I quickly adapted and began to take in the spectacular coral and fish of the reef. The first trip in was again slightly sketchy as I got cuts and bruises from the coral that was all the way up to our bodies. But I continued to explore and view the amazing aspects of the Great Barrier Reef. The coral was so many different colors and had various shapes that made it even more spectacular to view. The fish were just like the coral, different shapes, sizes, and colors. Everything about the reef was unique in one way or another. We continued to explore and saw things that I know I will never have the ability to view again. Every aspect of the reef was made even better in the fact that I was with my good friends the entire time. We got in and out of the reef many times and even over course of just a few hours, each trip in was unique. Being surrounded by seemingly fearless fish coupled with the rarity and beauty of everything made the experience that much better. It was without a doubt an experience I'll never forget.

The trip to view the amazing Great Barrier Reef began with an hour and a half boat ride from Cairns to the reef which was in the middle of the ocean. We first made a stop at an island resort, where we were able to see (from the ship) the beauty that these barely inhabited islands had. We continued our boat ride until we arrived at the pontoon that was stationed in the reef. The beauty of everything was amazing and it was unbelievable. We spent the entire day on the reef, swimming and exploring its natural beauty. Finally, we returned to Cairns after an "eventful" boat ride and were given free roam of the city for the evening again.

Arrival in Cairns

After our three-day adventure in Sydney that involved rain, rain, and even more rain, travelling to Cairns where it was sunny and hot was a pleasant surprise. We arrived in Cairns after another fun-filled three hour plane ride. After arriving at the airport and boarding yet another bus, we travelled into town to our final hotel. The group briefly changed and then we headed to the local pools that were located about ten minutes from our hotel. We tried to swim in the pools, but only a couple of us were able to brave the surprisingly cold waters to actually enjoy swimming. When the cold became unbearable, we grouped together and just stayed in the area around the pools playing soccer and rugby. Finally, it became time to go out and eat. Our groups were all given free range of the city to find a place to eat. Our group found a steakhouse where we hung out and watched Arnaud complete an interesting food challenge. To cap off the day, we went to the hotel and hung out by the pool. Day one in Cairns was the most relaxing day we'd had thus far on the trip and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Blue Moutains and Am I a Good Traveller?

I feel as if this trip to Australia and New Zealand has helped me to develop into an all-around better, more efficient, and more independent traveler. Throughout our entire vacation, I have succeeded in travelling quickly and efficiently from place to place. Whether it be planes, buses, or walking, I have developed into a traveller who feels ready and able to travel more independently. I have become closer to most of the other people on this trip in order to make for a more pleasant experience for everyone. While travelling, I have had no major issues and have proven I am able to travel on a more individual/small-group basis. My ability to become more social with my fellow group members shows that I am willing to do things to make travelling easier.

Throughout the trips to both New Zealand and Australia, I have continuously demonstrated my ability to travel in a small group and act more as a leader. In my smaller group, I've shown that I'm able to travel more independently without supervision. This ability shows that I would use my good travelling skills in order to travel more as an independent person. Though the chaperones, guides, and drivers are all very helpful and make everything go smoothly, I feel confident that I could manage many of the tasks alone or in a much smaller group. I have already done many things on this trip independently and feel sure that I could take that to the next level. I hope that everything I acquired on this trip I am able to take back with me on future travels.

Today was another eventful day from start to finish. We woke up early to catch a bus that would take us to the magnificent scenery that the Blue Mountains held in store for our small group of nine. On the way to the Blue Mountains, we made a stop at Olympic Park, where we briefly got to see where Sydney held the Olympics 11 years ago. We then continued our bus ride to the Blue Mountains, and got off at our first stop led by our tour guide Diego. The long hike down the first mountain was definitely worth the energy, as we saw some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen in my entire life. Around every turn, we saw a new waterfall or breathtaking view over the edge of a cliff. The hike down was wet as it rained the ENTIRE time, and by the end of the day I was soaked. But the trip down was a fun one, accompanied by laughs and sarcastic complaints. After stopping at a small cafe for lunch, we travelled to the second mountain that we were to hike. Just like the first one, we were greeted by amazing views everywhere we went. The only difference was that this time we did not have to endure the strenuous hike back up the mountain as we took the world's steepest train back to the top. We then re-boarded the bus and travelled to our final destination of the day, a cliff side where we got a magnificent view of the forest and river below us. To cap off the day, we had the luxury of seeing a wild kangaroo before going back to Sydney to have dinner with the rest of our group.

Top Three and Summary of Sydney

As our trip reaches its half-way point, I have many different feelings regarding my overall experience. The trip has introduced me to so many new things I never would have thought I would have had the opportunity to experience. I had already stepped out of my normal comfort zone after the first couple days in New Zealand. By lugeing and Ogoing, things I probably wouldn't have done in Merica, I can say that I am starting to increase th range of things I am willing to do. This is one of the the top three things I am proud of myself for doing on this trip.

Another things I can say I am proud of is the fact that I've been more open to communicating with different people. I have been more willing to talk to the locals of the area in addition to being more social with the other people from our district who I did not know prior to this trip. I have built upon friendships that had previously existed and developed completely new ones with some people that I had never talked to in America. My communication and social skills have drastically increased on this trip.

Finally, I am proud of my overall ability to deal with change, take necessary leadership, and adapt to travelling. I have consistently been in the front of our groups and try to hlep us get from one place to another. I have adapted to the new country very well and have grown accustomed to the food, ways of life, cities, and everything else. I am proud of the way I have been dealing with some of the grueling travel schedules we've had. I am proud of everything I have done since coming on this trip and hope to continue my changes in America.

Today in Sydney, we got a more indepth look at the city and the harbor as a whole. We started out the day with a bus tour that took us to the outskirts of the city where we got spectacular views of the skyline and bridge and Opera House. After exploring cliffs and viewing the vast ocean, we made our way to the Opera House where we got a closer view of its beauty. Following lunch by the Opera House, we made our way to ferries and got to experience Sydney from the water. We were given a new perspective of the entire city. When the cruise concluded, we made our way to a Wildlife Preserve where we were fortunate enough to see some of the animals that are unique to Australia. Following another long day, we had a pleasant walk back to our hotel.

Day Four: Sydney as a City, Summary

Traveling to Sydney has shown me many amazing views of this city and allowed me to realize how Sydney is different and also similar to other big cities throughout the world. Sydney was different from cities such as Chicago in many ways. The streets in Sydney have many more small streets that go different ways off of the bigger roads. In cities such as Chicago, the streets are more organized and straight all throughout the city. In addition, Sydney has a smaller population with much fewer tall skyscrapers. Sydney is generally quieter and even though it is still a city, it is not as big as other cities throughout the world. Sydney's unique food, culture, and other customs make it an enjoyable city that is rich and diverse. The friendly approach people had made my trip to the city a very memorable one.

Sydney also shared some similarities between it and cities that are bigger throughout the world. Sydney sits on a magnificent harbor with its historic Opera House and Harbor Bridge. The same is true about cities such as Chicago, which sit on other great bodies of water such as Lake Michigan. In addition, Sydney and other cities share the diversity in types of people that call it home. Many cities are residences to a great number of differing cultures. The methods taken in cities to experience the many things are also similar between these cities. Today I saw that people walk a great deal to enjoy the city of Sydney in rain or shine, just as people in American cities brave the weather to enjoy everything that each respective city has to offer.

Today we spent another couple of hours flying from New Zealand to Sydney, Australia. After arriving in the city, we took a walking tour to view some of the downtown area and eventually moved on to view part of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. We spent the first day in Sydney walking through a park and visiting the Sydney Tower, the second tallest building in the southern hemisphere. After exploring the surrounding mall and enjoying the view from the top of the tower, we walked a little more around Sydney including our first view of the Bridge and Opera House as well as exploring the Rocks, the first settled area of Sydney.

Day Three: June 10th. Redwoods and Rangitoto

In the morning we endured an early and very wet trip to the redwood forest. I was able to demonstrate (to some degree) a deal of leadership as I was in the front of the group for much of the hike. Though it poured on us the entire time, the experience of hiking was all-around amazing. We got to travel through a forest as a group and see the true rainy season of New Zealand. And even though many people seemed miserable the entire time, I enjoyed it and allowed myself to endure the entire extent of the pouring rain.

After another bus ride and a stop at the town of Riverhaven, we arrived in Auckland where we had the pleasure of visiting students at Rangitoto College. We got to see what their school looked like and a broad view of their daily school days. They taught us the Haka (again) and we were ale to show off what we had learned in regards to this dance of the Maori. We had the pleasure of getting to try various New Zealand foods that they brought for us to sample. We were able to communicate with the students of Rangitoto and learn more about their culture. We got to exchange items that repsetned our respective cultures and learn more about one another. Though our time together was brief, I feel like we all were able to learn a great deal about each other. It was an experience I'll definitely remember.

Day Two: A Reflection on Rotorua

This morning, we had a great day experiencing the natural beauty of the area surrounding Rotorua. The duck tour in the morning to various lakes in the area showed us how differently New Zealand views its natural habitat as opposed to America. New Zealand view nature as a much more sacred aspect of life, as it creates national parks rather than preserve only small parts that are left of it. New Zealand has stories behind its many lakes that relate back to its early ancestors' cultures. The Maori people treated their surroundings as sacred areas. We saw through the cold, wet, and wind the differences in New Zealand between all their natural lakes. The surrounding areas were beautiful and unique and demonstrated the connection New Zealand has to its natural beauty.

In the afternoon we got to see how the Maori people were able to utilize nature in order to survive. The thermal village of Whaka gave us all an in depth look at the lifestyle of some of the Maori people. The fact that the town still is functioning with little interference from the government shows the respect this country has for their natives. This is different from tyhe way the America government had treated our natives, as we displaced them from their land whereas New Zealanders let things be. I learned about the Maori lifestyle and how they were able to live off the land, in addition to the way the Maori were able to use the hot springs in order to adapt an amazing ability to survive. We also saw the modern dependency on sheep at the Agrodome and the strenuous task that is involved in shearing sheep. To cap off the day, we got to enjoy the thrill of Ogo-ing down a mountain.

Day One: First Impressions, Culture Shock, Hopes, and Summary

After arriving in New Zealand, I have many first impressions of the country. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever seen. The natural scenery is rich and green and diverse everywhere you go. The people in this country have all seemed to be nice to this point in our vacation. People are cordial as they ask us where we are from and seem interested in everything we are doing. Our rourguide and the groups we have been in have all treated us with respect, which only furthers my first impression that New Zealand will be a very pleasant experience.

New Zealand has proven after only one day that it is very different culturally from the United States. There is definitely a very noticeable culture shock that exists between New Zealand and America. The accent and written language (even though it is still English) is different from America. Many words are spelled differently even though it is the same word. Certain brands that are the same are given different names (Axe in USA is Lynx in NZ). The accent and slang in New Zealand are also very different. Sland words and certain expressions are tossed around a lot in New Zealand that don't exist in America. Finally, the driving methods in Australia were a huge culture shock. Cars steer on the right side and drive on the left side of the road. This makes it automatically more difficult to cross streets and be aware of traffic. It would be very difficult for me to adapt to the types of driving that differ in New Zealand.     

In the coming days, I hope our trip will continue to be as organized, smooth, and fun as it was on our first day. It has been very enjoyable so far and I can only hope the coming days are just as good. Everything went smoothly and there were no major issues which made the trip thus far more enjoyable for everyone. I hope to continuelearning about the culture of New Zealand and gain a new perspective for different groups of people.

On our first day, we endured the seemingly endless plane rides from Chicago to Los Angeles to Auckland. If that wasn't enough travelling, we immediately boarded a bus and went two hours to the small town of Mata Mata, a major filming site for the Lord of the Rings. We stayed here for a couple hours and explored the city then boarded the bus and travelled to Rotorua. This is the town we were to call home for a few days, a town that wreaked of sulfur from the thermal springs. The journey to the town showed us some of New Zealand's amazing scenery. After a brief tour of the city and some time spent lugeing down a mountain, we returned to the hotel after a busy day.

Food and Cuisine

The United States and Australia each have very different cultures that are completely unique to each respective country. The two countries are known for very different things, but they also share some striking similiarities from the standpoint of what has influenced each of their cultures.

  Australian culture has had many influences since its initial use as a penal colony by the British. The same can be said for America; its culture has been greatly influenced because of the fact that it was also a British colony for some time. The British brought food, animals, and their ideals to Australia when they used the colony for their criminals. One type of food that Britain had a great deal of influence over was their "fish and chips." This recipe was then brought to Australia and has since been a dish served in Australia. An obvious example of British influence is Australia's flag. The national flag of Australia resembles that of Great Britain. Another obvious example is that the English language is spoken in Australia. These examples of cultural influence are also present in America. Fish and chips, or french fries in America, is also an incredibly popular dish in America, which demonstrates the cultural influence that Great Britain has had on America's food. In addition, America also speaks English, which is due to the fact that England had a great deal of influence over America while the United States were under control of the British.

Modern Australia has also been greatly influenced by its historical roots. The Aborigines had a profound impact on modern Australia. The food, culture, and everyday ways of life have all been impacted by the ancient people of Australia. However, Australia is also different from America in that it was much more influenced by Britain than America was. Americans felt a separation from the British, whereas many Australians felt that their identity was more British than anything else. Australia was greatly influenced by the Aborigines and to a great degree by the British.

America had a much wider range of influences on its cultural identity than Australia had. Certain aspects of American culture, such as types of food and sports, came to be because of influences by the Native Americans. But America, being the "melting pot" of the world, gained its cultural identity from the peoples of Europe, Asia, and Africa. America's culture is so incredibly diverse, that no single influence can be called "the" cultural influence of America. Its diverse food, leisure, music, and every aspect of its culture has been differently affected by each country's population that has residents in America. The food of America is from so many various countries, (some of its most popular foods come from Italy, Mexico, and China), that it clearly has its cultural roots in the world as a whole.

On the trip to Australia and New Zealand, I am incredibly excited to try as many new types of food and different activities that I possibly can. I hope to try unique foods that originate in Australia and can only be found in those countries. I hope to be given the opportunity to sample types of cuisine that are impossible to eat in America. I am open to trying new things and hope to break away from traditional American food while I am in Australia. I hope to be able to indulge in the different types of cuisine that Australia has to offer.