My Pacific Experience

[kiwisandkoalas]

Fiji Part 2

On the first Saturday of our stay in Fiji, my friends and I caught the bus to go into Suva to check out the markets for some souvenirs and gifts for our families. My friends had already gone and walked around a little bit the day before while I was doing the ATV tour, so they knew exactly how to get around. The bus ride was very uncomfortable, because it was pouring rain outside and water kept seeping onto the seats. I was squeezed next to a very large man who took up about 75% of both of our seats, but I perched on the edge and made it work. But I definitely was relieved when we finally got to town.

I have never been to a third world country before, and I was really excited about seeing how different the city was from the cities I’m used to seeing at home. There were no skyscrapers, no glamorous buildings. It honestly looked more similar to my hometown, which isn’t even a city. There was a lot of graffiti, and although there wasn’t as much trash littering the ground as I anticipated, it still felt pretty dirty. There were also so many people sitting on the sidewalks trying to sell their goods. We walked past the outdoor market stalls without stopping, trying to get to the craft market and on the bus back to Pacific Harbor as soon as possible so we could get out of the rain. Luckily, the handicraft market was inside a small, roofed, concrete complex. There were about 12 stalls, each one of them selling slightly unique goods but also a lot of the same items. How cheap the prices were astounded me. I got so many presents for family and friends! I got my mother a beautiful hand-carved turtle, my boyfriend a wooden pick for his hair, and anklets for my friends from home. It was a very successful shopping trip. 

Pooja and I decided afterward to go to the indoor shopping mall to grab a snack before catching the bus back. We, of course, went to Chatime, our favorite bubble tea place that has followed us from Dunedin to Sydney and now here. It was nice to see a familiar place after 4 weeks, and I’d been going through bubble tea withdrawals since Sydney so of course we had to get some! I got a banana flavor I’d never tried before which was really good, and Pooja got the classic Milk Tea. On our way back to the bus, I made a quick stop at one of the outdoor market stands we saw earlier in the day and bought a huge slice of cake with custard on top of it for only $1 Fijian! It was so cheap and so delicious!

Flashing forward past all the endless days of studying, we come to our last Saturday in Fiji. It was a free day for me because I was done with my finals. I decided to utilize this time, while all my friends were presenting for philosophy, to relax a little bit for our last day in paradise. Laying on the hammock looking up at the palm trees and reading was such a relaxing feeling. I could turn my head and see the island in the distance, and feel the sun sneaking through the shadows of the leaves to try and touch me. Unfortunately, I was only able to lie in this position for about 20 minutes before it started raining. Fiji has the absolute craziest and most unpredictable weather!

After reading, I returned back to my villa and began getting ready for island night. The island nights were one of my favorite parts about staying at the Uprising. I love the live music; especially how many chill throwbacks were played. I love dancing with my friends, and the drinks are so delicious because they’re basically juice! The performances are also amazing. This week was a group of male dancers preforming, and I really loved how they mirrored each other in their dance moves. The moves themselves were so fun to watch, and the energy from our program also made it amazing. During the fire twirling part, the lead dancer came up to me and put his leaf crown on my head! It was so cool! I will never get over how they can climb on top of and support one another while twirling fire, or how they can touch it with their bare hands! After the performance, we were sure to get a group picture and then headed over to check out the bonfire. It was really hot from even far distances, but we stood around it talking for a bit. We eventually went back to the bar and heard the band sing their “goodbye” song, which got all of us feeling sentimental. We decided that was a signal to head back to bed, so we went back to the room and fell asleep early to prepare for our travels the next day.

Overall, my experience in Fiji had its highs and lows, but regardless of how fun it was I was just so excited to be able to return home. I can’t wait to see my family! I’ll miss my friends so much, and I’m a little sad I don’t live in Georgia like the other 95% of the people on this program so I can’t see any of them over the summer. Fall can’t come faster!

[kiwisandkoalas]

Fiji Part 1

Fiji was very relaxing, but also mainly focused on being so close to going home. The foremost prospect of Fiji that excited me was the relaxation aspect. Lounging by the pool with a coconut in hand, soaking up some Vitamin D by the beach, and reading as many books for pleasure as possible. However, this reality abruptly came back to reality when I realized that arriving in Fiji also meant we were only 2 weeks away from finals.

Before I had to truly start studying, I was able to get a lot of fun activities in. The first few days in Fiji I was able to lounge by the pool and drink fresh coconut water, which was absolutely delicious! The resort had a pile of coconuts sitting by the water that they had shaken out of the tree for us, and you could just walk up and grab one and ask them to cut it open for you! The coolest part was that they were soft coconuts, so we got to eat the meat on the inside with a spoon. Another great perk was most of my friends don’t like coconut, so when they got one to take pictures with I was able to finish them all myself! I also finished my book that I bought at the airport in transit to Fiji, called A Spark of Light by one of my cousin’s all-time favorite authors Jodie Picoult. I had never read any of her books before, but I physically couldn’t stop reading this one. If you’re looking for a good realistic fiction with a strong social agenda then this is a good pick!

My first weekend in Fiji I did quite a few activities, the first one being a waterfall ATV tour that started right outside our resort. One of our friends Lauren did the whole booking for us, which I loved because it meant I didn’t have to figure out any of the details. The tour would be with a slightly different group than I normally hang out with, but I figured I would have fun regardless. When we arrived to start the tour, the tour guides explained that they only had 5 ATVs for 16 of us, so 6 of us would have to ride in the pick-up truck on the way to and from the waterfall. I was so mad that they hadn’t told us this information beforehand and couldn’t believe I was paying so much money to ride in a pickup truck rather than driving the ATV. I was already preparing my bad review on Trip Advisor when Nicki and I boarded into our ATV for the ride up. Even though I was intent on hating the experience, I could not deny how much fun it was. Nicki drove the first half of the way up, and we did pretty well. She very calmly eased her way through the mud patches and bumpy potholes. Halfway up, I switched to be the driver. I didn’t have any practice by the resort beforehand like Nicki had, so I was immediately thrown into trying to figure out the lack of power-steering as we’re speeding down a huge hill. I’ll admit I was a bit more reckless than Nicki was, powering full speed through mud patches and getting us soaked! At one point, I couldn’t turn the wheel fast enough to follow the trail, and we ended up going off into the bushes a little bit! Nicki and I were dying laughing, and luckily I was able to reverse and get right back on the track. However, the second time I spun out I wasn’t so lucky. I really lost control of the direction of the wheel on the way down an even bigger hill and spun out so our entire vehicle was horizontal in the road, stopping the other 2 pairs behind us. I tried to reverse and get our front wheels out of the slight ditch they were in off the path, but to no avail. Our guides had to jump out of the truck and push me out of the ditch! Luckily, Nicki caught the whole experience on video here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXd5h3Ps36o 

The waterfalls themselves were so beautiful. I’ve never been to a waterfall with an actual deep pool at the bottom of it, and it was so cool to be able to actually go swimming at the base of a waterfall. There was a rock we could jump off of into the pool, and I jumped at least 4 times. At some point, everyone else got out of the water for snacks, but I stayed there for a minute just soaking up the views. I floated perfectly on my back and stared up at the blue sky and palm trees, with the water catching the sunlight as it bounced off the rocks. It was so meditative and peaceful, and I must have floated there for around 20 minutes before I realized everyone had gotten out. There was a second waterfall right next to the first, and although this one didn’t have as deep of a pool, it was perfectly positioned to sit directly underneath and let the water crash over us. I thought it would be super relaxing, but it was actually really painful! The water was coming down in full force! Our pictures didn’t exactly turn out as planned, as you can see…

We got to swim around the falls for about 2 hours before having to head back. On the way back to the resort, Nicki and I lost the rock-paper-scissors determination of who got to drive a second time, so we hopped in the back of the pickup truck. We got to sit in the back of the truck and it was actually a really fun trip down. We had a great view of all the ATV drivers behind us, and we were all singing and screaming and having a great time. It started to rain, but that didn’t bother us. It was such a fun bonding experience. It really taught me that although things may look bad, everything always works out in the end, which is a lesson I’ve been continuously learning throughout the course of the program.

Stay tuned for part 2!

[kiwisandkoalas]

Earth’s Future

2060

A new decade

I remember in school learning about the smog-filled super cities

Only now to find the super suburbs just as bad

There are 2 trees outside that I treasure

Because there are only 2 species left, and I have the privilege of seeing both

The grass is sparse beneath them

As I learn against one

Inhaling

Exhaling

Trying to soak up as much oxygen as they will allow me

The children I once dreamed of having are now a distant memory

Now that there is barely enough food for the survivors, how could there be any to spare for the ones not as strong?

Everyone is now a farmer

The government cannot grow enough food for everyone, so we eat all we can grow ourselves to satisfy

Corn

Wheat

That’s all.

I should be grateful that I’m still alive, but I cannot help but think back to a time that once was

When apples grew from trees

When wild blueberries could be found in the brush

Now all that can be found out there are trees of coke cans and towers of trash

I remember when we still had hope of minimizing global warming

2030 they said

And 2030 they passed by

People did not want to change their way of life

But now we are all forced to live like this

Amongst trash

Amongst pollution

Amongst those in office who still deny these changes

 The Lorax is my favorite movie

They still had a seed

They still had hope

But now I cannot find even snail shells on the ground to barter with

For they went extinct long ago

I wish humans had gone extinct long ago

Then at least the animals would have had hope

I never got to see a real whale

Illegal whaling has now killed them all off

I dream about them sometimes

How free they must have been

How wide their world extended

Now my world extends only so far as the shop on the corner, as usage of cars has been put on hold until they can figure out a new fuel that makes emissions .2% better for the air

Ha.

 I wish I could have done more

The reason I chose my career was to stop things like this from happening

But one person next to giant generators seems very small

One voice amongst the whirr of machinery seems very quiet

Even one country means nothing against the other 194

So here we are

And here we will be

For the next 10 years of my life before my lungs give out

At least I have my memories of life before

And the beauty of the Earth to take me away

With her soft forgiving hands

[kiwisandkoalas]

Reflection on Sevusevu

We walked up to the village and were instructed to remove our shoes as a sign of respect before entering. We sat in rows, and the men near the kava bowl greeted us. I didn’t see this happen, but a representative from our group presented kava as a gift for allowing us to be welcomed into the village. One man at a time went around speaking in Fijian, welcoming us into the village. There was one woman and a bunch of children sitting about 10 feet behind the men, and they didn’t say anything throughout the whole ceremony (although a few of the children managed to run away a little bit when they got bored). It was a little hard for me to see because I was in the second row, but I craned my neck to try to get a good look at what was going on.

The mood of the whole ceremony was very respectful, and I was very proud of our group for not talking out of turn and listening intently. It wasn’t at all awkward or uncomfortable, and I found myself very interested the whole time. Instead of grinding up the kava and filtering it through cheesecloth into the bowl like Dr. Garton described, they actually had packets of dried kava they explained they had previously ground up and dried over a long process.

An important part of the kava ceremony is everyone must remain seated, which I didn’t learn until my own research after the welcome ceremony. It is apparently also a rule that men drink first and then the women, although we did not practice this rule when they brought the kava around for people to try.

I myself did not try the kava, because I really did not want to get sick while in Fiji. What I did partake in however was the snacks they prepared for us. My favorite was the taro leaf ball: it was perfectly spiced and absolutely delicious (I went back to get more so many times!) They had a lot of fried dough desserts, and a lemon tea that was very interesting because it was clear. I had never seen clear tea that was so flavorful before. Later that night at the resort I was able to try kava, and partake in the ceremony where you clap, say “Bula!”, and then drink. It left a really numb taste in my mouth but wasn’t too bad. I definitely will try it again before we leave.

My favorite part about the whole experience was watching the boys come out and dance. The performance was very different from the ones we have seen in New Zealand from the Maori people. You could clearly tell they were acting out a battle, and they had wooden sword props and everything. I was really surprised at their dynamic facial expressions and how loud they were. They seemed very powerful for children at such a young age (some up there were as young as 6 years old, as I found out later talking to one of the village women).

 The most vivid memory I have where I was seeking acceptance into a new community was my freshman year of high school when I joined our school’s swim team. This was such a memorable event in my life because I was really bad at swimming, and under the convincing of my mom I showed up to a practice a week into the season. What I didn’t know about this particular practice was it was an event the girls swim team does every season: a biathlon. I honestly almost drowned that day. I had never swam or run so much in my life, and I was completely unprepared for it. But regardless, the team members welcomed me with open arms and congratulated me on my accomplishments at the end of the day. The experience was so positive that I stayed with the sport for all 4 years of high school, and it helped me grow into the positive and accepting person I am today. After the experience being accepted into the Fijian village, I can see the parallels but also the differences between these two experiences. Both were very welcoming, accepting, and friendly environments where I immediately felt at home. No one was rejected from the swim team, and no one from our group was rejected from the village either, even though there were people who were not able to adhere to the modest dress code completely. The Fijian village experience was slightly more formal than me showing up to a swim practice, but nonetheless, both communities accepted me with open arms and for that I am forever grateful.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Letter Home

Mom,

Thank you so so much for allowing me to go on this program! Not only have you let me study abroad once, but twice! I remember when we were picking schools and we both fell in love with Georgia Tech and their study abroad program. You let me go all the way to Georgia so I could be able to see the world, and I am grateful every day. I know you never got to travel, and I’m so glad both of our first experiences in Europe were together when you dropped me off before classes started last semester. Someday when I save up enough money I’ll take you and Dad to New Zealand so you can fall in love with it just like I did!

You have been so incredibly supportive and really allowed me to enjoy my time abroad without stressing about a perfect GPA. It has really allowed me to soak up the culture and the relaxed vibes of the pacific without holding in any built-up stresses about classes. You know just how to motivate me but also let me live my life and realize that not everything is about school. You’re the best mother I could ever ask for.

I’ve had so many favorite parts of this Pacific experience, but one of my favorites was the hike through Lake Miriam in Milford Sound. The hike itself was exhausting and I almost didn’t think I would make it, but when I did it was the most beautiful views ever. I jumped into the crystal clear water and cooled off, and looked up at the amazing views of the mountains. The air there was so fresh to breathe. I was able to enjoy my lunch sitting and just basking in the view. I literally teared up at how beautiful it was. Having these views on my first travel weekend in New Zealand really made me realize I’d come to the right place and the right program for me.

Another one of my favorite memories has been being able to hold a koala. It was the softest thing I’ve ever felt in my entire life, and my entire face lit up as soon as it grabbed onto me. It made me feel like this beautiful small thing was dependent on me in some way, and it was amazing. I was a little scared about the claws being too sharp, but they didn’t feel that way at all (or at least I was too excited to notice)! I started petting it’s back as I held it, and I kept thinking there was no way that this was a real living thing. I wish you got to experience it too! You would have loved it.

Having Pooja here with me has been so amazing, and we have so many stories to tell you when you finally meet her! I’m sorry I left you home alone with all my siblings (trust me, I know how stressful it can get!) Give the dogs and cats my love for me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Amanda

[kiwisandkoalas]

Heron Island

I was so scared when arriving on Heron Island because of how many birds there were. I had absolutely no prior preparation for how many birds would be there, and I was terrified when I saw them all. I am so scared of birds and would have loved a little prior warning so I didn’t freak out as much when I saw them, but luckily I made it through alive. I had to have a personal escort every time I walked to the beach, I had never gripped Pooja as tightly as I did these past few days! There was this one time we walked through a path through the trees, and it was the worst idea ever. Birds covered every square inch of the trees and were making horrible screaming sounds. Dead birds littered the ground, and I almost threw up just looking at them. I basically sprinted back to the research station- it was so scary! But by the end of the week I got more and more used to the birds and was even able to walk to the beach by myself without getting too freaked. I was very proud of myself!

             The food on Heron Island was definitely the best food we’ve had on this trip. As a vegetarian, some of the options on our group dinners were kind of lacking, but these meals I looked forward to everyday. The tofu was actually marinated, the curries were actually spicy, and the variety of cuisines that were prepared was amazing. Even if it was the same ingredients, the different preparations made it so delicious. It made me really look forward to next semester when I’ll have a kitchen and be able to prepare my own meals. I hope to take some inspiration from some of the stuff the chef made!

Snorkeling on Heron Island was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had in my life. After going out every day over the course of the week, I started to notice which fish were more commonly seen together and which coral was seen together too. There were certain fish that stayed near the shore, and others you saw deeper out towards the drop-off. I saw biodiversity like I’ve never seen before. I didn’t know clams could come in that many different colors! I saw bright blue, teal, purple, and green. Being able to see an actual sea turtle in real life was amazing as well. They were just as calm as I expected them to be. The first time I saw one, it was eating the coral and made such a funny sound underwater! I learned that when they swim they only use their front flippers, and not their back ones, which was interesting. I thought I’d be scared to be in the water with sharks, but it was actually super cool to be able to see them up close.

             I also had the opportunity to go scuba diving while on island. I hadn’t been in over 6 years, so I was a little nervous at first, but after taking the refresher course I felt so much better about getting out in the water. I went on 2 dives. One of them I saw an eel, but other than that nothing big. The second dive I saw so much! The coral was straight out of Finding Nemo. I saw 5 sharks, a turtle, a ray, and even an octopus! It was the coolest thing ever. We just sat in the water and let the current push us through different patches of coral and I got to soak up all the sights doing minimal work kicking around. I am so happy I had the experience to practice my scuba skills again and get to utilize my certification in such a beautiful place!

             The last night on the island we were desperate to see baby sea turtles. I saw 2 the first night we arrived but had not been able to see any since. I really wanted to have the experience of seeing a lot run down to the water at once. Pooja hadn’t seen any, so the last few nights we had waited by the hatchery before and after dinner hoping to see some. We hadn’t seen any thus far, so it was all down to the last night. We waited around for 10 minutes, and I was starting to get a little worried. But suddenly someone shouted that they were coming down the hill. It was pretty dark out so we couldn’t see them in detail, but we were able to see the shape of 7 of them coming over the sand right towards us. We moved out of the way, and then followed them at a distance all the way to the water. All of them were able to make it in! I’m not sure if sharks got them after that (because the survival rate of sea turtles is so low), but in my mind, all of them made it. 😊

[kiwisandkoalas]

Catchup on Australia Activites

I honestly did not think I would love Sydney as much as I did. After traveling through Europe last semester, I thought that all cities had their basic similarities and the only real difference was the food. But boy was I wrong.

In history class, we’ve talked about the concept of “global cities”, and the idea that all globalized cities are basically the same, rather than being like their country of origin. What we said in class did make sense to an extent, but I do not agree at all after being in Sydney. The vibe of it was so relaxed, the fashion was beautiful, and there was always something to do. We got to go to the botanical gardens, walk across the Harbor Bridge, take ferries to the beach, get bubble tea every other day, and so, so much more. I was heartbroken to leave!

My favorite activity in Sydney was definitely getting to see the cabaret at the Opera House. Basically the entire program booked tickets for the same night, so we all got to go together and it was so fun. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what we got. It was so raunchy, but so so fun. We got to let loose and laugh along, and just be totally engrossed and entertained with the performance for the night. There was so much talent on that stage, and I couldn’t stop smiling when we left. I wished the acts would go on forever!

When we got to Magnetic Island, I was still so excited, even though I was disappointed about leaving Sydney. The vibe of the hostel was super nice, and I loved the beanbags near reception and the pool area with the hammocks. Living in those tiny bungalows with 8 people was certainly a challenge, but we survived. There was absolutely no space, especially because all of us had 3 months worth of stuff spread out on the floor with nowhere to store it, but luckily we didn’t spend much time in the rooms.

I really liked where we took classes in Magnetic Island. I took them both on the outdoor deck and the schoolhouse, and the vibe was super relaxing. I really saw how lucky we were to be on this program when I saw where we were taking classes. Although there was no AC and no wifi, we literally got to take classes in a treehouse while my friends back at Tech are just in regular buildings like the CULC all the time. It was one of the coolest parts about Magnetic Island.

I used the time on this island mostly to catch-up on work and read my book (Wild by Cheryl Strayed) by the pool, but my favorite part was being able to hold a koala! It was the fluffiest thing ever, and when they handed it to me I could not stop smiling. I didn’t want to stop holding it! It was funny because I’m usually not a fan of holding babies, but this was an entirely different experience. For the rest of the trip (even as I’m writing about it now), I smile every time I think about it! I also got to hold a python and see a wombat out of its cave, which was super cool cause they are very hard to see when trying to peer into their dark caves so I finally got to see what they looked like.

I also went on both of the program walks we did. My favorite was the Balding Bay hike. The walk itself was really fun, and we got to scramble over some rocks to get there. I felt like I was actually an Australian after that. The stinger suits were the best part, and we got some super cool SpiderMan-esque pictures that look awesome. It was really nice to float in the water with the suits on, as they were slightly different from wetsuits I am used to wearing in the water.

The forts walk was also super fun. I learned so much about the wildlife in Australia and how the aboriginal people survived on the land. There were soft leaves they used for toilet paper or tissue, spiky leaves they used for sandpaper, and bark they used to make canoes. One of my favorite facts was that the green ants tasted sour when you ate them. I didn’t try, but I had friends who did and really liked them! I just really did not feel like eating an insect, especially since being abroad I’ve been mostly vegetarian.

Overall Australia has treated me very well, and I can’t wait for what Fiji has in store!

[kiwisandkoalas]

My Journey In Song

Mood: upbeat, acoustic

I want to leave my song purposefully vague so it can be applied to a lot of people’s individual stories. This song is about how I love travelling everywhere, but also miss the people at home and wish they could experience all these amazing things with me too. When I say “we”, I am talking about me and all my friends here on this program and my last semester abroad. When I say “you”, I am addressing my boyfriend and family back home.

 I open my eyes

I don’t see you for long

I blink once more

And your shape is gone

Why do I miss you when I am in paradise?

 I think of a time

When all this is done

I hate to be home

But I love everyone

I think of our futures

The places that we will go

 Chorus:

We live in the sand with the breeze in our face

We get by just roaming from place to place

The sun is still rising even when you’re far

I look at the sky and see you in the stars

 I just don’t know

Where exactly I belong

I know it’s with you

But also so far

Are we finding home or are we just wandering on?

 Chorus:

We live in the sand with the breeze in our face

We get by just roaming from place to place

The sun is still rising even when you’re far

I look at the sky and see you in the stars

 The waves lap up

And swallow me whole

I let them wash by

And smile as they roll

I still must go

Even if I leave you behind

 Chorus:

We live in the sand with the breeze in our face

We get by just roaming from place to place

The sun is still rising even when you’re far

I look at the sky and see you in the stars

[kiwisandkoalas]

Stream of Consciousness

I am sitting on a train on the way to the Blue Mountains. The biology class got to have their own trip, and I really wanted to go as well because I miss New Zealand. The mountains here certainly can’t compare to the ones we’ve seen in the past 6 weeks, but they’re mountains nonetheless.

It feels weird to not have a specific destination in mind other than the blue mountains. We found a few sights we want to see but absolutely no idea which are feasible to get to through public transport. All we have concretely planned is the stop we’re getting off at: and I am both scared and love this lack of control. Before getting on this train, for some reason I was very stressed: remembering back how stressed the trains in Europe last semester made me. I don’t know why I was so stressed about it because I was always heading somewhere new and exciting that I loved, but I would find myself constantly checking the train times and if we were going to make the next transfer. I wanted to maximize my time in every city, so missing a train seemed like a complete waste of time for me and I didn’t want to do that. But here I should not be stressed. I did want to see the blue mountains, but not so much so that I would be disappointed if I missed one of the things on my list. It’s just a fun day activity that we’re taking as the day comes.

I look out the train window and don’t notice anything much. There are no rolling hills or large forests so far, but just old department store buildings and cement walls. I can’t wait until we get to areas more outside of the city where I can finally see the wilderness.

I’m a little scared about walking through the forests in Australia because of all the poisonous things (and my mom is pretty scared too)! I wore close-toed shoes specifically to protect myself from any bugs that might have tried to bite my toes if I wore sandals. I’ve already seen a few large bugs in the botanical gardens in Sydney, and I do not want to encounter any more. I’ve ever heard of a few people on the program who got leeches stuck to their legs after a hike through Royal National Park, and that’s freaking me out right now. I’m also very scared of birds, and I’m really hoping to not see any large ones or ones with sharp beaks.

We went to the zoo the other day, and there was this one section of the zoo where we could enter a gated area and walk around amongst the emus and kangaroos. I really wanted to see a kangaroo so I decided to enter against my better judgement, although I clutched my friend Pooja the entire time. We walked around for a little bit, keeping our distance from the large birds which I liked. But just when I was distracted taking a picture of a kangaroo, and emu walked on the footpath about 2 feet from me and I flipped out. I jumped behind Pooja and started shaking, using her as a shield until the bird walked a bit further away. I immediately ran out of the complex and waiting for my friends outside. That was the closest I’ve ever been to such a large bird, and I have no desire to ever do it again. Although I know the blue mountains won’t have birds this big, I don’t want to have an encounter with one of any size regardless.

There are a lot of people talking on the train, and a large group of guys that are definitely the loudest. One just made a loud bb gun noise for absolutely no reason, and I’m very confused at the topic of their conversation. It’s slightly distracting, but I’m used to having to work under noisy conditions with all of my siblings at home. Half of my friends are asleep, and the other half are listening to music. The air is slightly humid, and I’m having a little trouble breathing, but that could also be because I’ve had a slight sore throat for the past few days. The fabric on the wall next to the seats is slightly itchy, but I’m trying not to have my elbow touch it. The seats are fairly comfortable, but the windows are very small and there is not a lot of leg room. We shifted the seats to open up and face each other, which I thought was super cool. We couldn’t do that in Europe, and there were plenty of times I wished we could.

All in all, I’m very excited to finally get to the blue mountains and experience the wild in Australia, because it will be very different from New Zealand. Wish me luck!

[kiwisandkoalas]

Learning about the Aboriginal People

I did not know anything about the history or culture of the aboriginal people of Australia until arriving here 2 weeks ago. Wanting to know more, I recently visited the Rocks Discovery Museum with some friends to try and learn about what exactly happened to the aboriginal people and what their culture was like before the colonizers arrived. When we first walked into the museum, I was astonished at the plaque that was immediately visible, which said something along the lines of “All of the analysis of these artifacts were based on what resources we have from the journal entries of British colonizers. We have no written record from the aboriginal people of Sydney themselves.” Historians did not even start collecting artifacts until almost the 20th century, so even more pieces of the story had faded. I could not believe that their history was almost completely erased when the colonizers arrived, and how little historians actually know about these people. Because of the mass murders and diseases brought by colonizers, a whole way of life was erased from human history. It disgusts me that people in those times just assumed the power of making their history the only one of importance. This is such a stark difference from the celebration of the history of the Maori in New Zealand. 

One of the most interesting cultural things I learned from the museum was the differences between each clan's way of life. In addition to different clans, there were smaller social units called “bands”, which were essentially families but across different clans. Aboriginals who lived more toward the sea had more tools related to fishing and collecting food and resources from the sea, and used  canoes made from stringy-bark to get around. They had to get this material through barter from the clans inland, because these specific trees grew near rivers. Those inland had more resources for hunting animals on land, such as sharp spears and axes. Each tribe also had distinct hairstyles, dances, and body decorations. There were over 250 languages spoken. Some rituals included the removal of teeth as an initiation for men, and body decorations involving incisions on one’s skin called ‘gongara’. These two violent rituals were fascinating to me, as I had never heard of anything like it before.

I also visited an aboriginal art gallery, where pictures were unfortunately not allowed. It had pieces of artwork from a variety of aboriginal artists, with beautiful oil paintings as well as decorated boomerangs and sculptures. I am so upset at the destroyed history of these people, and the fact that this aboriginal art is not all over Australia but rather is reduced to galleries that are few and far between. Aboriginal people expressed themselves a lot through art, and I wish I could have been fortunate enough to experience even more.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Day in the Catlins

For my last weekend in New Zealand, I decided to take a day trip down to the Catlins with a few friends. I wanted to leave the country remembering the natural beauty of New Zealand, and this was certainly the place to do it. Such a large expanse of nature without much civilization is exactly what I needed for an escape from the stress of finals.

We first drove to Cathedral Caves and timed the low tide perfectly to have a full hour there to explore. We walked through Maori land, which was a lush tropical forest with tons of ferns and palms. It was very interesting to learn that tourists can still enter Maori-owned land, as I had never thought about how the government owned all the other national parks I’ve gone to. I was happy to pay the $5 fee for their permission to see the caves, although I wondered how the money was given back to the Maori people and who was in charge of collecting it. As we were walking, the dirt beneath our feet suddenly turned into sand. I took off my shoes, and the sand was the softest I’ve ever felt in my life. Just the sight of the water itself was breath-taking, with the ocean stretching out for miles across my peripheral vision. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling! The ocean has always been such an important part of my life coming from New England, and I walked for a while along the beach, dipping my feet in the beautiful clear water. I separated myself from my friends for a while and used this period as a time to self-reflect about how truly lucky I was to be able to come to such a beautiful place. Something about dipping my feet into the water felt like I was letting the nature surrounding wash over me.

We then came across the caves themselves. They were so much taller than I was expecting. Walking in the caves was very cool. It was super dark and very hard to see around me, and I almost ran into a few rocks a few times. The way the light came into the caves was very mysterious, and a little ominous, but beautiful in its own right. 

Next, we drove down to the southern-most point in New Zealand: Slope Point. We walked out to the cliffs through beautiful green meadows. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I feel like this must be what it looks like. I’ve never thought about going to Antarctica before, but being so close to it really drew me towards it. It would be so amazing to be able to see before global warming melts the majority of the ice. But for now, this view of the cliffs and the water would satisfy my desire to see nature in its raw form. We peered down over the cliffs and got to see a seal lounging on the rocks! It slid into the water and started jumping away along the crashing waves, and I felt so lucky to get to witness such a beautiful animal in the wild. 

After that, we drove to McLean Falls. The walk began through another lush rainforest area, similar to the walk leading to Cathedral Caves. We stopped briefly at the shoot of the waterfall and ran into the cutest puppy that we got to pet. He wagged his tail in the mud and it splattered all over us, but it was totally worth it to get to pet him. It made me miss my dog at home so much. She would have loved to go on a hike like this. We continued on the walk and started to hear the sound of an even large volume of water hitting against the rocks. The waterfall came into our vision, and my breath was taken away. There was a smaller waterfall in front where I got to feel the temperature of the water (which was much colder than the ocean), and then after climbing up a few rocks, we reached the base of the main tall waterfall. The last time I’ve been to a waterfall was in New Hampshire with my whole family. I felt a pang of homesicknesses, but also a sense that my whole experience came full circle. My love of nature was born in New Hampshire, and seeing the parallels between there where I grew up and here in the most beautiful country in the world was so enlightening. Maybe my home wasn’t so boring after all. I should appreciate the old sights as well as the new, and I vowed next time I went back home to pay more attention to the beauty surrounding me instead of always trying to travel away.

One thing I especially loved about the Catlins was how short the hikes were and how beautiful the scenery was, without having to expend a huge amount of energy. The landscapes weren’t my favorite in New Zealand, (because I love mountains more than anything else in the world), but it was refreshing to see a new side of south island that I hadn’t gotten to see before.

I’ve wanted to see New Zealand since I was 7 years old, and I’m very sad to leave: but so, so excited to get to see new parts of the Pacific for the first time! I’m looking forward to experiencing new culture and food, but now I know I definitely have to return again in my lifetime.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Waitangi day

Waitangi Day is a celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi that occurred on February 6th, 1840. This treaty was signed by chiefs, who functioned as representatives of the Maori people, and representatives of the British. More recent legislation has gone back on the original word of the British people, where they promised to leave designated land for the Maori. Many people protest this holiday because the Maori have been asking for a holiday specifically for them, but instead the government decided to just celebrate Waitangi Day as a day for all the unified people of New Zealand. But Maori do not want a joined holiday, they want to celebrate their culture separately: unchanged by the arrival of the Europeans. My initial thoughts about this holiday were that this day was basically like the 4th of July for New Zealand. However, after reading more about the holiday, it is clear that there are some similarities but also a lot of differences between the two holidays. Although both sort of represent the founding of the countries, the 4th of July represents independence while Waitangi Day is the opposite. The Maori people lost their independence from outsiders when they signed this treaty to share the land with the Europeans. 

I have been able to experience Maori culture firsthand when I went to North Island last weekend and visited Rotorua. I was able to visit Whakarewarewa, which was a living Maori village where Maori families still live to this day. We took a tour around their village and got to see a cultural performance, including a Haka. The energy was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I talked to the guide briefly about how a plot of land right next to Whakarewarewa was now government-owned, and the experience of the geothermal pools there was not as authentic because it was very tourist-centered. He explained that the government is still trying to buy their land too to make one giant park, but the villagers keep refusing. This fact made me upset. Haven’t the colonizers taken enough? But looking on the positive side, I was so happy that there are still small places like these that are able to thrive (although I wish they were able to live in peace and not have to give tours of their village in order to economically support themselves). 

I think that Waitangi Day is a good holiday because it is an important part of New Zealand’s history and it is fun to celebrate the founding of the country, but people also need to be conscious of the effect this treaty has had on the Maori people. We need to celebrate and respect their culture separately from New Zealand’s European influences as a whole, to respect their individuality and importance as the foundation of New Zealand as we know it today.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Visit to the Dunedin Botanical Gardens

Helianthus ‘Loddon Gold’ 

This plant immediately caught my eye because yellow is my favorite color. It grows in full sun and gets to be quite tall, at 1 to 1.5 meters. It blooms from summer to late fall.

Dahlia Taratahi Ruby

This plant caught my eye because of the stark contrast between the bright red petals and the black leaves. Their country of origin is actually New Zealand, which I found quite fascinating. It takes them about a week to germinate, and they grow around 1 meter in height as well.

Campanula persicifolia ‘Alba’

This plant caught my eye because they reminded me of daises, which I used to weave into flower crowns when I was in elementary school. These flowers also grow in full sun and often have curved stems to allow the petals themselves to soak up as much light as possible. They are easy to care for and grow quite rapidly.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Group Field Trip to the Southern Alps

Before this trip began, I was very strong-willed in what activities I wanted to do. I did not like traveling in large groups because it was harder to ensure I did everything I wanted to do. I am a very organized person and find myself naturally guiding the group’s planning sessions and finding both activities and places to stay. This was seen especially last semester while studying abroad in Europe, and I thought nothing could shake this aspect of myself. I see this as both a strength and a weakness. Leadership is a great strength that I can use in all aspects of my life, but not trusting other people enough to plan things for me without double checking them can be a bit of a hassle and cause tensions within a group.

The hike through Aoraki Mount Cook both enforced and broke down this specific personality trait. I am a firm believer in never hiking alone, but this hike with 35 other students really showed me why I don’t like hiking in groups of more than 5. Having to stop every 10 minutes to wait for everyone was quite mentally exhausting, and the fact I couldn’t set my own pace with my group of friends was frustrating. I’m very used to being in charge, and this lack of control about where I was going and at what speed was a little unnerving. But the worst part where I missed my leadership role the most was when it started to pour. Everyone in the group was cold, wet, and miserable: and had I been in charge I definitely would have chosen to go back. Being caught in the rain made me upset, but I also found I couldn’t blame myself like I usually do when things go wrong because none of this was in my control. This was a nice change of pace for once, as I always overthink everything that goes wrong on trips and find some way to pin it all as my fault.

However, when we got to the end, the professor’s encouragement about the view was true. I had never seen glaciers before, so getting to see these sticking up out of the water was an amazing sight. Although we didn’t get to see Mount Cook because of the clouds, I was still glad we made it to the end (and also relieved that the hike was over!) 

Through this journey, I learned to appreciate and respect when others plan trips, and even saw the positive sides of them (including not having to worry about planning). In the future, I plan to loosen the reigns a little bit and trust others when it comes to planning, but I still want to double check everything just to make sure no detail is overlooked and that my personal goals are taken into account (and that we don’t get caught in the rain again!)

[kiwisandkoalas]

Lake Tekapo in Detail

My subject of choice is the beautiful blue Lake Tekapo, as seen from Pines Beach. I’ve only seen waters this color once before in my life: in Interlaken, Switzerland. These waters were also a pale, bright turquoise because of the glacial silt from the Alps surrounding the waters. Interlaken is my absolute favorite place in the world, although now because of this region I think New Zealand is a strong contender! 

The sun reflects off the water and the wind creates these slight lapping waves and weather that would be perfect for sailing. I sit on the warm rocks with my friend Pooja as we stare out to the water and the mountains in the distance. We take our shoes off and put our toes in the water, which is ice cold but after 10 seconds or so my feet get used to it. After the 1.5 mile walk along the lake to get there, our toes totally needed the refreshing temperature. I wiggle my toes in the water and watch the ripples radiate outward. I don’t notice any fish or moss in the water (which makes sense because I can’t imagine what could live in water that cold), but the large amount and variety of rocks present were beautiful. I love collecting rocks, and I have a collection back home of a few rocks from all over the world. My favorite ones thus far have been from Cinque Terre, Italy, and Etretat, France. But here, I found a few really beautiful ones next to where I was sitting, such as ones that were long and skinny and some others with different ridges as well. They all felt so smooth in my hand and dried within 45 seconds after holding them out of the water because the sun was beating down so hard. The weather was wonderful except for the intensity of the sun (I applied sunscreen at least 7 times)! I even saw a ladybug on one of the rocks, opening up its wings to dry them in the sun. I took this sight as a token of good luck for the rest of the weekend.

The whole environment is so soothing. Being able to just sit by the water with just the noise of the waves and the birds is the most beautiful thing ever. I truly needed this relaxation this weekend. Sometimes it’s best to just sit back and let silence take over you: silence in the mind and no tension in the body. After last weekend running around trying to get as many hikes in Milford Sound done as possible, I feel like I really deserved these few hours today at the water. I think the reason this place resounds with me so much is that I grew up living on a lake in the summers in New Hampshire. I am so connected with these bodies of water, and this lake in particular with its crystal clear waters brings back strong memories of home.

I lean back on the warm rock I was sitting on, and let the breeze rustle my hair. I think about how great it would be to have a small sunfish boat here to sail up and down the lake. My dog would absolutely love to be on that boat, and swim in the water too. She loves lakes just as much as I do: I wish there was an easier way to transport bigger dogs on a plane than just sticking them in the bed of the plane with all the luggage. I can’t imagine doing that to my dog, but I would so love for her to see this.

The mountains rise up off of the lake. Mountains are one of my favorite things in the world, and I could stare at the jagged rocks forever, spotting every crevice or snowcap or plant growing off the side. Something about the mountains made me feel like I was on the set of the movie- and all this around me cannot be real but has to be a green screen. Lying back on the rocks with my toes still wiggling in the water painted the perfect viewpoint of the top of Mount John, with a tiny glittering spot barely visible at the top (representing the observatory).

The sounds of the surrounding birds are beautiful, but the seagulls here get a little too close for my personal comfort (I do have a bad history and fear of birds). They tilted their heads at us, curious, and kept hopping closer and closer. Thank god I had Pooja to protect me. 

I wish I could go swim in the lake, but not only did I forget to pack my bathing suit but also my water shoes. We tried to wade into the water in our shorts, but it was so hard to keep balance over the slippery rocks. It was easier to jump from larger rock to larger rock, but as the water reached my shins the rocks were about the size of my palm and were very easy to slide over and jam my toes on. We quickly decided to leave the water and dry out again on the larger rocks before putting our shoes back on and beginning our trek back home for dinner. Lake Tekapo has brought me such serenity and peace on this day, and I look forward to seeing and relaxing among the mountains in the rest of New Zealand.

[kiwisandkoalas]

Welcome to New Zealand

Traveling all the way across the globe felt like the longest experience of my life. I flew a direct flight from New York to LA, and then from there joined up with the group flight to go to Auckland and then finally Dunedin. In total, my travel time ended up amounting to 36 hours, which is the longest time I’ve ever been on planes and in the airport before. The flights in themselves weren’t horrible, and I was able to sleep a lot on the way, but after all the waiting for my connections and not being able to lay horizontally: I have never been more tired. There was also a lot of turbulence on the flight from LA to Auckland, which was a little scary but luckily everything turned out fine.

First arriving in New Zealand I was so excited to finally be off the plane. I had gotten some currency from AAA in America before coming overseas, and I was so excited to use it! I got some Thai noodles from the domestic terminal and paid in cash (I think the $5 bill is my favorite, I love the cute Kiwi bird on the back!) The view from the terminal looked right out on the water, and I was just dying to get out of the airport and sit in the sun and enjoy the outdoors!

When we finally got to Dunedin, my first impressions were how much it looked like Lisbon, Portugal: with all the houses stacked up on the hills overlooking the coast. It was stunning! I also loved getting to see the farmland near the airport (cows are one of my favorite animals). When we finally got to our rooms, I looked out the window and was floored by how incredible the view was. I haven’t closed my curtains since!! I love being able to open the window and climb out on the little balcony to hear all the birds and feel the breeze coming from the mountains in the distance. It's all very poetic! Maybe sometime I could try and do yoga out on that balcony in the morning.

My first few days in Dunedin I was almost equally as tired as I was on our 36-hour journey. I’m not sure if I was just getting over traveling for so long or if the time difference was throwing me off, but I found myself with pounding headaches throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to get out an explore the city. After the orientation activities on Sunday, my friend Pooja and I wanted to walk into town to look around and go shopping for a few items we needed to settle into our new homes for the next 6 weeks. We explored the mall and were able to get all the items on our list. We also walked by a lot of ethnic food places, which we vowed to come back and gorge ourselves on another day. We stopped in a few corner stores, where we got some chips, a few candy bars, and Tim-Tams. We took them back to our rooms and ate them all. Tim Tams were nothing like what I was expecting, but still so delicious! I can’t wait to go back and get more (especially the caramel ones!) I love all kinds of sweets, and want to try all the candy bars I won’t have access to in the US before I head home!

One thing I was not expecting was how much I would be sneezing when I arrived! I have never had severe allergies, but something about the pollen or the humidity here has been triggering lots of sneezes! Other than this small issue, the weather here is absolutely perfect. I love the lush vegetation and how green everything is, considering I left a dark and grey winter back home. It’s just the perfect level of heat: where I can wear shorts and a T-shirt but not be sweating as soon as I step outside. I’m terrified about getting sunburnt, but I’ve been applying sunscreen even on my short walks to class and back, so hopefully I’ll be okay (although I know for me getting sunburnt at least once is unavoidable).

On Monday was our first day of classes. After running a few more errands and getting some work done in the morning, I attended my first classes. After dinner, a large group of us went to get ice cream at Rob Roy Dairy, which we heard was the best ice cream in the area. And it was! I got chamomile honey flavor, which was so different from anything I had ever heard before. I just had to try it. Pooja and I were finally able to walk all the way to the Octagon, which is a large intersection in the center of town with lots of bars and restaurants. We also walked by the train station, which turns out used to be the busiest in New Zealand!

I really want to go back when I spend my weekend in Dunedin to go on one of the scenic train rides they have! The flowers outside the station were also beautiful, and the combination of all the varieties smelled amazing.

It was surprisingly a lot harder to call home then it was for me to do while I was in France. I stay up much later than my parents do, so by the time they were going to bed I was still out and about in the city or in classes. I was so used to calling them before I went to bed that it was tough to coordinate times we could talk to each other: especially when I had to remember we were a whole day ahead, not just 6 hours behind (so what was my Saturday was their Friday, and they were actually still at work.)

This weekend I’m part of a large group who is renting a car to drive to the Te Anau glowworm caves and Milford Sound, which I’m super excited about! These were two places I had on my bucket list before coming overseas, and I’m excited to get to know new people on this trip and be able to see in-person the places I’ve been looking up online for months.

Until next time,

Amanda

[kiwisandkoalas]

Where I Come From

My name is Amanda Schwartz. I’m a sophomore chemical engineering major, and my dream job is to work with overseeing food production and making the facilities more sustainable. I grew up in a small town in Connecticut. My home is a pretty full house, where I am the oldest of 4 siblings with 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a few goldfish. My hobbies include walking my aforementioned dogs, trying as many bakeries in the area as possible, and drinking lots of tea. 

I’ve spent a lot of time traveling all over New England, but not much elsewhere outside the United States: much less other countries. It was a big step for me to go to school all the way in Georgia, and the positive rewards that it left to me made me realize I just had to explore the world even more. That leads me to the longest trip I’ve ever taken in my life, which was last semester when I had the opportunity to study in Metz, France on a GT satellite campus. 

My experience was so sensational, and I got to visit over 12 countries in Europe, but I was still anxious to see the one place in the world I have been dreaming about since I was little: New Zealand. The beautiful mountains, the clear lakes, the lush vegetation: they’ve been floating around in my dreams since I was 12 years old and saw the first Lord of the Rings movie. Not only is it a beautiful country, but their efforts with hydroelectric power and sustainability are something directly in line with my academic interests. When I discovered the Pacific Program at Georgia Tech: where I would get to see not only New Zealand but Australia and Fiji as well, I knew I had to go.

My academic expectations for this program are that I will be able to see a lot of physical chemistry and biology taking place in the real, natural world. I know it will be a little challenging to take classes in just 6 weeks, but I am willing to tackle the challenge due to the rewards.

My personal expectations for the program involve a lot of connecting with nature and other students on the program. I want to see and try new things that I would never be able to at home. Glowworm caves, incredible views, Hobbit holes... the variety of things I get to see is truly life changing. And I can’t wait to see them all!

My biggest fear for my study abroad experience is how homesick I will be. Even though I’ve left home before, every time I leave it doesn’t get easier. I am very close with my siblings, and not being there to see my sister’s dance recitals or my brothers’ swim meets is really hard. I also miss my pets a lot: having such easy access to animals to pet is something I will never take for granted again.

I am very excited to be keeping a journal over the course of this program. I wanted to keep a journal or blog while I was abroad in France, but never remembered to keep up with it. Having this class to encourage me to write will help me be able to remember all the amazing experiences I’ve had years down the road.

Until next time,

Amanda