Day 10 -- June 17

Today was our final day of the trip. We woke up at 3:30 (*groan*) and left the hotel at 4:00, saying goodbye to Mrs. Titus and hugging her. We reached the airport and began the ordeal of checking our baggage and getting ready to depart. Although I don't really like airports, because the whole process takes a very long time, I wanted to stay because I couldn't believe it: The trip was over. We were going home. We finally boarded the plane and started our return journey back to Chicago. The flights weren't too bad, except I didn't sleep much. From Sydney to LAX we flew through a storm and there was terrible turbulence. I enjoy plane rides, but after being on one for 15 hours, I'm glad I don't have to do that again for a while. The whole International Date Line confused me. We got home approximately ten hours after we left Cairns, even though the total number of hours spent coming home was about 23. It makes me feel like I was in a TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space -- it's a time machine from Doctor Who). Although I do miss New Zealand and Australia, it is nice to be back home. The whole trip was absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Day 9 -- June 16

 

Chippy and I in Kuranda

Summary:

Largest tree in Rain forest

Life-size cassowary model

Today was our last day in Australia. We went up to a rain forest on a mountain in an old Western styled train. It was such a pleasant and bright day. When we got up to the top of the hill/mountain there was a tiny little town named Kuranda that had lots of cute restaurants and cafes, places to shops, and a street market. Our group was determined to go see the koalas in the zoo in town, so we ate quickly and headed over there. Luckily for us, the lady selling tickets was kind enough to let us all through as children (half price), and we walked through! Each person in our group got to hold a koala named Chippy and take a picture with her. In each person's picture, we all have genuine smiles on our faces, because we're all sort of in love with this koala in our arms, and trying not to hug her too hard. She was adorable. Afterwards, we went to a pen where we got to feed wallabies and pet them. I also saw kangaroos and a wallaby, but they were asleep. I even saw baby joeys in the kangaroos' pouches! When we met back up with the group, everyone else was really jealous that we got to hold a koala. To get to our next destination, we took a gondola up the mountain. The scenery was gorgeous. Then we took a 20 minute tour through the rain forest and learned some history of the plants. Then we went to an Aboriginal show before learning how to throw boomerangs, spears, and watch two shows; one about the creation story, and one explaining and demonstrating the didgeridoo. When we got back to the hotel we were able to go out again for dinner and dessert, but came back early to get packing. 


Top ten of the trip:

One of many signs on the ground in Kuranda

1. The Great Barrier Reef -- It was absolutely amazing. The animals and plants are so diverse, I saw different corals and fish everywhere I turned. I loved snorkeling among the fish and coral, and there were huge clams dotting the ocean floor that shut their jaws as I swam past. It was breathtaking.
2. Kuranda -- The quaint little town was adorable! Everywhere we turned, there were cute little sculptures that either progressed from a lump of clay to a colorful frog on a lily pad or were all associated with each other, like mouths, noses, eyes, and ears all being scattered along the same stretch of sidewalk.
3. Rain forest -- The rain forest was enormous and spectacular. I loved the trees and the plants and all the colorful birds. Being in a gondola above it helped me see just how vast it was, but I'd have loved to hike around in the rain forest.
4. Kuranda Koala Experience -- I know I already mentioned Kuranda, but here I got to hold a koala and hand-feed wallabies! It deserved its own slot. I felt so happy and excited when I was here. It was wonderful.
5. Rotorua -- Although it smelled like eggs, I adored this town. The scenery was picturesque, and I loved the historical quality to everything. Also, I really enjoyed seeing the hot springs and vents in the ground and steam rising everywhere I went. It was beautiful.
6. Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao -- Whaka Thermal Village was gorgeous. I loved seeing a  traditional Maori village, and the fact that their lives were centered around the geothermal activity in the area made it even more fascinating. I loved the decorations on the building, and how each picture symbolized a different part of their history. The hot springs felt amazing, and the mud made my face feel smooth and clean (ironically). Even the smell was clean.
7. The Sydney Bridge -- Luckily, I'm not afraid of heights, or I would have missed out on this incredible experience. Even though it was about a three and a half hour climb (our guide made sure we were getting our money's worth), it felt like almost no time at all. Seeing all of Sydney stretched out underneath us was amazing. 
8. Rangitoto College -- I fell in love with this school and everyone in it! The food was good, the music better, the welcome dance great, the Haka intimidating, and the war dance downright terrifying. I met so many people that I hope to remain friends with for a long time to come. It was amazing, and I wish we could have stayed. Three hours weren't enough.
9. Jade/Opal Workshop and/or Museum -- I really enjoyed seeing the stones' histories and how they're mined. The jewelry was stunning, and everything was beautiful. I didn't really consider jade as a hard stone, but in actuality, it's nearly as hard as diamonds. I learned so many interesting facts about these precious stones.
10. The Agrodome -- I liked the sheep and the dogs and the geese and the petting zoo. It was cute, and the dogs did neat tricks, but the show made me sad. The sheep all had wounds on their heads from butting heads with each other all the time (stress in an enclosed environment) and the youngest/smallest dog was clearly abused, because every time the host turned in her direction, she'd flinch and run to the other side of the stage. Also, one of the dogs attacked another, and the victim's eyelid was bleeding when I went to go and pet him after the show. He was really sweet though, and every time I tried to stop petting  him and walk away, he'd put his paw on my arm as if pleading with me not to leave. It was very sweet.

Koala!

Me hand-feeding a wallaby

Day 8 -- June 15

Summary:

Sea Turtle!

Sadly, we didn't see any sharks...

Today we went to the Great Barrier Reef. I'd been looking forward to it this whole year! It was really sunny this morning, but a little cold and windy. We got on to the boat and it took us about two hours to actually get to where we were would be swimming in the reef. By the time we got our snorkeling gear on the wind had died down and it was much warmer. I expecting the water to be a little chilly, but it was actually super warm, like bath water. Honestly, the water was warmer than the air. The only problem was, the water tasted AWFUL. It was as if someone had literally just dumped 23,000 pounds of salt into the water before we got there. After about five minutes, my throat was burning. I had to keep coming back above water to spit the water out of my mouth, or I'd gag on it. But the reef was gorgeous! I saw so many beautiful fish, and the coral was absolutely stunning! Then, I went on a glass-bottomed boat to see the reef without getting wet, and we saw a sea turtle! When we got back to Cairns we were given the chance to go hang around town again for dinner. We went to a burger restaurant and went to the park afterwards!

The Great Barrier Reef:

The reef and fish

Reef at low tide

This morning, I woke up with anticipation filling my body. Today was the day we'd been looking forward to for the whole trip, and, at least in my case, for the whole year. We were finally going to the Great Barrier Reef! I was very excited, and I was really looking forward to the day. We got on our bus and drove out to the boat we were going to take to the reef. At this point, I think I actually started to believe that this was really happening, and not just some wonderful dream. We were going to snorkel in one of the seven wonders of the world!It took about two hours, but we pulled up next to a platform, and there it was: The wonderful GBR. It was absolutely amazing! I loved everything about it; the coral, the fish, the water, the sand. I fell in love the moment I stepped on the boat in the morning. The view of the ocean and city were beautiful, and the sun was up and shining. We had a nice, bouncy boat ride to the reef (I love waves!) and awesome lifeguards! I was so excited when we got to the reef, and the weather was lovely! The water was a lot warmer than I thought it would be. And it was so clear that I could see the colorful fish before even going it. When I put my head in the water it was like entering a different world. One of the best feelings ever, I think, is being able to "breathe" under water. Being able to stay down there forever. It's breathtaking. And seeing the amazing coral and fish was wonderful. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I was given a chance to do. The reef itself was so nice and there were places I saw over where the coral was literally only three inches below me. And I got to touch and feed the fish! The water was just absolutely gorgeous and crystal clear. There were a lot of nice people on the boat too! I was about to jump back in the water after lunch when a scuba diver popped up next to me and asked me to hold a couple of sea cucumbers for her while she went and got more. It was so cool! The sea cucumbers were dark green, soft, and squishy, and when I lifted them out of the water, a stream of water jetted out of their sides. Next, I went on a tour in a glass bottom boat to experience the reef without getting wet. We learned about the reef and sea life, and we even saw a wild sea turtle! I really enjoyed learning so much about the reef, plus it's beautiful to look at! At points while I was swimming I would take off my life jacket to swim to the bottom of the reef for a better look at everything. The coral was so close at times that I got cut a few times. But it didn't hurt that badly. At one point, I turned around, and (because of the low tide) the water level had dropped and I was completely surrounded by coral that was almost touching the surface! I suffered a few bumps and bruises, but luckily, I made it out safely. All in all, it was an amazing, beautiful, once in a life time experience.  

Day 7 -- June 14

Summary: 


Another travel day! The flight was short and sweet, only about 4 hours long. I loved Cairns the instant we arrived. It was warm, sunny, small, and peaceful. We walked along the boardwalk, and went to go swim in the salty pools, since there was no natural beach. We got really yummy ice cream! For the evening, a small group and I got to walk around the small town of Cairns to find a place to eat, and go around stores to shop and explore the town. Today was just a very laid-back, easy-going day filled with fun in the sun! There wasn't too much that was an important event, but it was a very nice day overall.

Day 6 -- June 13

Summary:

Today was our free day in Sydney. We were planning to go whale watching, but that canceled at the last second (they probably should have told us before we took Dramamine. Talk about being sleepy all day!). I was really disappointed, but still looking forward to the Bridge Climb.We went into town for lunch, where there was a small market going on. Then we went to take the Bridge Walk tour. This tour was absolutely amazing! It was so much fun, and you learn a lot from your guide while standing hundreds of feet from the highway below! The distance is only about a 30 minute walk, but with the stopping for picture taking and the dragging of our safety equipment, it took nearly three hours! It was also cold and windy. At times, I felt like, if I didn't have my harness, the wind would push me right over the handrails and off the edge! It was still enjoyable though! Then, during the evening we went to the Sydney light show, where they displayed moving lights across the buildings of the city. It was so beautiful. Then, we walked through the city looking for a restaurant to eat at for dinner, and we encountered a LOT of strip clubs... and it wasn't even King's Cross!


Could you travel independently? Why or why not?


I think it's possible for anyone to travel independently. The problem with that is, for some people, making decisions in a foreign environment is outside their comfort zone. As for myself, personally I have no idea whether or not I'd be able to travel independently. If I were given the opportunity to travel by myself, I believe I'd take it, because I usually have good judgement when it comes to planning out the day and making quick decisions. Also, I wouldn't have to wait for anyone when getting ready in the morning. However, I think I'd be absolutely terrified to travel by myself. If I got lost or got into trouble, there'd be no one to miss me or notice I was gone. Furthermore, during the quiet moments, I think I'd be very lonely. I could make friends with other people, but I'd have to leave them behind every time I moved on, and vice versa. Also, I just don't believe it's as interesting traveling alone as when I'm with friends. Groups always become closer when we travel together, and we create so many memories that we'll always cherish and laugh about together for years to come. I suppose that if I were to travel independently, though, I'd relish it, because I enjoy spending time alone with myself. But I would start feeling very lonely after a short span of time. I'm a people person, and I love company. I could consider that to be one of my "comfort zones", and travel independently on purpose in order to stretch outside my comfort zone. I know I'd be completely terrified to do it, but if given the opportunity to travel independently, I know I'd take it. After all, it's just another adventure.

Day 5 -- June 12

At the beach

Summary:

At the cove

Sydney Opera House

This morning we went to a cute little cove with a great view of the Opera House and Bridge. We took pictures there, then went to a rocky trail where we could see the opening of the harbor. We took a relaxing ride around the city for a couple hours seeing main sites and visiting places with a great view of the city. Alec, our tour guide, told us interesting facts and stories about the history of the places we were driving by. We stopped at a small, beautiful beach that was almost completely empty except for a few joggers and a surfer. We wrote in the sand and took pictures by the water before stopping at a cute little cafe across the street for hot chocolate and a muffin. It started raining by the time we got back to the bus. Then we took a lovely little boat tour around the Sydney Harbor and arrived at the Sydney Wildlife Center. I loved going in and seeing all the native animals! Then we had a nice meal at the center before going back to our hotel.


Top three best/worst things about traveling you've learned up to this point in the trip?

Koala at Sydney Wildlife Center

Tree at Sydney Harbor

One of the worst things I've learned is that turbulence can ruin the whole trip. It makes your mood go from good to terrible, and you're cranky and irritable because you feel like crap. Another thing that can make you adverse to traveling is the effects of Dramamine on you. When I took it right before going whale watching (which, of course, was cancelled right after I swallowed the pills) I immediately felt super drowsy and sleepy. I fell asleep at least twice at the mall we went to instead of whale watching (I probably would have fallen asleep with or without the pills -- everything was closed!), and I kept swaying. I felt the ground rocking under my feet as if I actually were on a boat (which is slightly ironic, because Dramamine is supposed to counter the effects of seasickness, not create them). I felt dizzy and exhausted, and I was miserable. Then, after lunch, I felt all wired up and alert. I felt strangely paranoid, and I had a very short temper. The ground was moving even more, and I felt like I was going to burst into tears any second. Probably the third worst part of traveling in my perspective is the prices. Everything is really expensive, and Australia seems a lot more jacked up than New Zealand. When a group of my friends and I went to an Italian restaurant for lunch, the bill was almost $150! My friend is out of money because he keeps buying overpriced merchandise. It's been really frustrating and stressful. On the other hand, one of the best things I've learned is that it's best to be prepared for anything. The weather in New Zealand and Australia has been very unpredictable lately, and we've had to cancel and/or reschedule a lot of our plans (i.e. surfing, whale watching, etc.). Also, it's fun to travel in a group. More people means more ideas about where to go and what to see. However, it's best not to have too large of a group, or things can get out of hand. Lastly, the very best thing about traveling that I've learned is that it's okay to mess up. It's okay to get lost, to have to reschedule, to miss your bus, to have to go to plan B, because what you do when it's unplanned is who you really are when you travel.

Day 4 -- June 11

Summary:

My lunch!

Today was a travel day. We left Auckland at the crack of dawn and caught our flight to Sydney. I had mixed feelings, because I knew I'd miss New Zealand a lot, but I was also really looking forward to Sydney and Cairns. I was especially excited for Cairns because it has two World Heritage areas nearby (Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland). When we got to Sydney, we basically bummed around town and saw the sights. We got some nice views of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Bridge, and the Rocks. It was cold and rainy almost all day, but it was nice to have a free day to walk around the city. We even got to go up into the top of Sydney Tower and see the city from there! Then we went to a huge underground mall for lunch, and I had a bagel sandwich. It was really good! Afterwards, we went to an enormous farmers' market and shopped around (I bought an owl necklace). It was really raining by the time we decided to leave. The teachers said we could pick between riding the subway home or walking. Most people chose walking because they said it was only about an eight minute walk back to the hotel. However, we took a wrong turn and ended up trekking around Sydney for an hour! By the time we got back, I was tired and soaked through! Even though the weather was not the best, it was still a really fun day.

Compare and contrast Sydney to another city you've been in.

The Sydney Tower

Sydney and Chicago are alike in many ways. Both are large, sprawling urban areas, and both are home to around five million people. Although Sydney smells like cigarette smoke, it seems to be a much friendlier place than Chicago. Many people there seem really friendly, and the market especially was almost like a giant family. Now, I'm not saying that everyone in Chicago is a complete jerk, or that everyone in Sydney is your best friend, but Sydney just seems like more of a party town. Also, I see it as smaller than Chicago, even though I think it covers a larger square area, because Chicago is famous for its hundreds of gigantic skyscrapers, and Sydney has less. Both cities hold a lot of stock in historical architecture, although a lot of the houses in Sydney are being torn down and rebuilt in more modern, contemporary styles. Furthermore, Chicago is a giant patchwork of apparently mismatching styles (modern, Victorian, contemporary, etc.) that all mesh together into one fluent, coherent city. On the other hand, Sydney appears to be in the middle of transitioning from one stage (red brick homes) to the next (glassy modern structures). It is very interesting. Sadly, there are a lot of homeless people in both cities. The homeless people in Sydney seem to be more comfortable with their situation and just act so chill, like, "'Sup, bro? I ain't got a home, but it's all good. No worries, mate!" They both have dark and scary alleyways, and thug-like men who appear to have some evil intent as they walk toward you as you go back to the hotel late at night. However, both cities have zoos and parks, and while Sydney has its harbor, Chicago has Lake Michigan. Both have multiple beaches, and while Chicago only has one pier while Sydney has several, both are extremely successful in the tourism industry. Both cities have quirky-named streets and restaurants, and a red light district (awkward!). All in all, Sydney and Chicago are as alike and as different as two snowflakes from the same cloud.

Mailbox in Sydney Tower

Fountain in Central Park (in Sydney)

Day 3 -- June 10

 

Summary (also Journal "Reflect on today's events"):

Kasia and I at the Redwood forest

Caleb and me in the rain

Today, when we woke up, the teachers said we'd be hiking through the Redwood forest in Rotorua. They told us that wearing our raincoats would be really smart, because it was pouring outside! We thought it would only be a light shower that would stop soon after we got to the forest, but it's still raining outside my window, at 9:00 pm. However, it's just misting now. We went to the bus stop and had to split up into two groups because we were too many people to all fit on the same bus. Personally, I love hiking, and I love forests, and I love rain, but after a while of walking around in what felt like the world's biggest shower, my skin started feeling clammy (damp and cold), and rainwater was seeping through my jacket. That made me extremely upset, because I liked my rain jacket, and it wasn't impervious to water. However, I still really enjoyed the hike, and soon made my way to the front of the group. As we trekked along, we got carried away and started walking faster and faster. Sadly (for us explorers in the group), the people in the back were the types to walk s l o w l y through the scenery, taking pictures of plants and trees and flowers and ferns... You get the picture. I was really sad when we had to turn back around and retrace our steps back to the entrance, because the teachers were wary and anxious that we might get lost (which, personally, would have been an exciting adventure!). Nevertheless, I still enjoyed our hike a lot. As we made our way back to the bus stop, we met up with the other group and started singing (belting) Disney songs to cheer ourselves up. By the time we got to the entrance, we were all in high spirits. We waited around for the bus, and had to be split up again. Walking back to the hotel from the bus stop in town, I noticed how soaked my clothes were and conceded somewhat belligerently that I'd have to change into a completely different outfit. The rest of the day was a traveling day. Remember the four or so hours it took to travel from Auckland to Rotorua, with nothing to pass the time except actually talking to the other students (*shudder*) and commenting on the beauty of the landscape fir about the tenth time in a row? Well, no, we were heading all the way back again. But luckily, we had more to talk about than the picturesque landscape now. When we got to Auckland (it was about five o'clock in the evening), we dropped off our bags at the hotel and drove to Rangitoto College (in NZ, middle school through high school are college, and college is university), where our pen pals threw a party for us. Not really knowing what to expect, I thought it would be all stiff and formal. Thankfully, it was nothing of the sort, and I enjoyed myself a lot. At the beginning, a Maori group of kids who were all around our age performed a welcome song, and we had to reply with our own song. Since Americans don't really have traditional native songs that we all know, we sang "The Star-Spangled Banner". We were about to stand up together and sing, when one of the teachers told me to start it! Terrified and embarrassed, I stood up and tried my best. Then, when we sat back down, the hostess mentioned that we had two birthdays in the room, one Kiwi, one American. To my horror and chagrin, she asked for "the American with the lovely voice who started their traditional song" to lead us all in a cheery rendition of "Happy Birthday"! I tried to hide, but everyone shoved me back up again and forced me to start it. Thankfully, it was nowhere near as bad as I thought I'd sound. I didn't think I'd have a Kiwi friend, because I never got an e-mail from one, but I actually got one! Her name was Mia, and she was super nice. She told me that she'd e-mailed me, but I never replied (because I never actually got the message), so she didn't know what to expect when she came tonight (she brought a package of Pineapple Lumps just in case -- this was good for me, because I really like those now!). The group of aforementioned Maori kids performed the Haka and other war dances for us. Also, they actually taught us the Haka (!!) and had us perform it all together with them. I thought the idea of the tribes scaring each other with the Haka was just silly, but in actuality, it's quite terrifying -- and that's just when seven kids do it. Now imagine four hundred grown men screaming and chanting and slapping themselves with bulged eyes and protruding tongues, and already you're quaking without even having seen it.

Mia my Kiwi pen pal!

             

Maori kids singing welcome song

Day 2 -- June 9

Summary:


Today, we woke up in Rotorua to an absolutely stunning sunrise! We all took amazing photos (even those of us who weren't exactly photography connoisseurs), and it just looked spectacular. Then, we all clambered aboard a "Duck" (an old amphibious vehicle -- they could drive on land and in water --  that was used in WW2) and went on a Duck Tour. We drove around Rotorua and into at least two lakes. It was really cool, but also frightening at the same time. I kept expecting for us to sink! Also, it drove very slowly through the water and up hills. But, it was unlike anything I'd seen in the States. (They do have Duck Tours -- or something similar -- at Wisconsin Dells.) Next, we went to a geothermal Maori village named "Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao", but the locals just call it Whaka Village. It was really interesting to see typical Maori culture, and to see how much around the geothermal vents, etc. the villagers' lives circulated. They use the vents to cook their food, heat their baths, and for medicinal purposes. My roomate bought some of the mud meant for facemasks, and we used it tonight. Already, my face feels so much smoother! It also feels cleaner, ironically... We went to a sheep-shearing show at the Agrodome, which made me sad, but it was interesting otherwise. Later, we went zorbing, which was amazing, even though I fell down the whole time!! (Personally, I still like luging better...) To finish the day, we went to a traditional hangi dinner and dessert, where we also learned the Haka and watched Maori warriors perform traditional ceremonies. It was all very fascinating.

Any cultural experiences from today? Compare and contrast the cultures of the Maori and the Native Americans and their respective countries.


This morning, we went to a geothermal village named Whaka Thermal Village in Rotorua. A geothermal village has a lot of hot springs and geysers, so there's a lot of hot steam rising from the ground all the time. Also, it makes the air smell like rotten eggs, because of all the sulfur in the surrounding area. Even before we set foot near Whaka Village, when we first arrived in Rotorua, I could smell the sulfur in the air. Luckily, it didn't smell as strongly to me as it did to other people (I thought it just smelled like scrambled eggs with too much salt). I really enjoyed our tour of Whaka, because it was really wicked to see a native village that incorporated both its ancestral heritage and the geographical features of the land into the daily lives of the Maoris in the village. Also, I felt it was mint that the people used the steam vents to cook their food. After we left Whaka, we went to a Hangi, which is a Maori traditional dinner and concert. I really enjoyed it, because we got to see Maori dances and songs that sounded and looked amazing. Stephen was elected as our Big Chief, which was pretty hilarious, because he was very awkward about all the formalities and gestures being exchanged (probably because he felt uncomfortable -- I know I would, too!). But in actuality, he was fine and it all went without a hitch. Near the beginning, he needed to pick up a sprig of leaves from one of the warriors, and (as they later told us) if he didn't pick up the sprig that was considered to be an act of war upon the host tribe by the visiting tribe. Thankfully, he accepted the leaves! The concert was really cool, because it showed how much the Kiwis (New Zealand people) appreciate and form their culture around the history of the Maori. The native significance really struck me, because here in America, especially up until around the mid-early 1900s, we Americans have persecuted and shunned the Native Americans and ignored their cultural contribution to our country. Sadly, although we now openly embrace the Native Americans, there aren't many pure tribes anymore, and their traditions still haven't been reintroduced to our culture. This contrasts severely with the Maori, because they have been welcomed into New Zealand culture and their customs have become a large part of daily life in their country.