My STEP project was an education abroad trip to Australia and New Zealand. On this trip, we all took part in numerous outdoor adventure activities such as sea kayaking, hiking, biking, snorkeling, and more. We also focused on developing our leadership knowledge and styles.
I have never been anywhere comparable to these Australia and New Zealand before. Many would think that they would be relatively similar to America because we share the same language and are all developed countries. However, I have never been so inspired by other cultures before. My goal on this trip was to completely submerse myself in their ways of life and to learn from the people that live there. My appreciation for this world has grown exponentially. I always enjoyed being outdoors, but now I am much more committed to escaping to nature. I observed many people in New Zealand who were parked on the side of the road with a cup of coffee, just watching the sunrise. Rarely would one see that in America. People in New Zealand seem to live their lives more slowly. They take the time to unwind and appreciate what is around them. I feel transformed in that I see the importance in stepping away from the hustle and bustle. One moment that really had an impact on me occurred while we were looking up at the stunning night sky, amongst the giant white mountains. My friend Alli was sitting next to me and said, “this trip has made me feel so small in the best way.” That statement made me realize that all of the things we worry about are so insignificant compared to this great big world around us.
Our group of twenty-four came into this trip as strangers, and we came out as family. After spending 21 days together in extremely close quarters, we saw everyone at their worst and at their best. We watched each other grow. We experienced unbelievable moments together that words cannot do justice. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much as I did during those three weeks. Our group leader, Spenser, was one person who really left an impact on me. We had very little opportunities to connect to WiFi during the trip. One would imagine that all of us college students were a little apprehensive having little to no connection to the outside world, which we usually have at our fingertips. Spenser urged everyone not to connect to the WiFi at all, even when we had it available to us. Most of us thought he was crazy. However, I saw the incredible effect the lack of technology had on our experience. I firmly believe that our group was able to bond so very quickly because we were not preoccupied with our phones our computers. Instead of sitting on our phones at night, we played all sorts of card games. During dinner time, nobody was distracted with social media or texting. We all had genuine, uninterrupted conversations. I am very appreciative of this aspect of our trip.
Our itinerary was jam packed with adventure activities, many of which were not designed for the faint-hearted. We took numerous hikes in challenging terrains, went mountain biking, and many of us opted to partake in other perilous activities on our free days. In Cairns, I chose to go whitewater rafting in the Tully River. The Tully is deemed the best place in the world to go rafting because it is made up of about 47 rapids, most of which are categorized as class 4 (meaning that they are quite brutal.) I was honestly a bit nervous going into the day, but I have heard from several people that whitewater rafting is an absolute blast. I would consider myself to be a brave person, but I have skipped out on doing certain things in my life for fear of getting hurt or injured. However, I promised myself going into this trip that I would not let fear inhibit my experience. I was not going to skip out on the greatest rafting opportunity because I was too afraid. I am so thankful I pushed myself to go because it ended up being my favorite day on the whole trip. It was absolutely exhilarating. It made me realize that there will always be a risk factor in adventure activities, but the outcome is so much greater than any fear I might have.
Our tour guides played such a large part in our three weeks abroad. Of course, we would have been totally clueless without them as far as planning our itinerary. But even more so, they provided us with new outlooks on life. Anthony was our guide in Australia. He had this quiet, gentle presence about him and never once did he let his emotions get the best of him. He frequently talked about his wife and it was very clear that he adored her. They own their own travel company, and spend their time flying around the world guiding groups together. There was one quote Anthony said that turned out to be the motto of our trip: by no means are we wealthy, but we live rich lives. Our whole group was inspired by this statement of his. He was by no means a wealthy man, but it was so evident that he lived a very full and happy life. He may not have had many luxurious possessions, but he had lived through so many amazing experiences that most people do not choose to partake in. I am now more inspired to buy experiences, as opposed to material things. Our tour guides in New Zealand were Tim and Marios. They were both very jovial and playful. While everyone loved their fun-loving company, we also saw the great wisdom they held. Marios told us about his home, which was essentially just a sturdy teepee. It was amazing to hear about such a humble lifestyle, and one that he was so very content with. Marios and I also had a great conversation one evening about social media. We discussed how instead of just enjoying an experience, today’s society has become so focused on making sure that everyone else sees that they are having a seemingly great time. This really inspired me to live in the moment and refrain from technology and social media.
These three weeks were the best three weeks of my life. I have had the privilege to experience more amazing things in that period of time than many people have in their entire lifetime. The culture of New Zealand had a particularly strong impact on me. The people there were so incredibly conscious of the environment. They were willing to forgo paper towels and use the hand dryer for the sake of creating less waste. The homes there were very modest. Never did you see a sprawling house with tons of excess space. Their dedication to our world inspired me. I now see how important it is to take care of our planet that provides us with so much. Not only that, but the simplicity of their lives was also amazing to see. It is truly possible to have a full and happy life without extravagant and superficial possessions.
Sounds like this was an extremely eye opening experience. Thank you so much for sharing! Challenge yourself to “disconnect” every now and again….it can be quite refreshing!