Heather: First experience in New Zealand

I’ve been in New Zealand for only two days, but I already know that I will love it here. The plane ride from Los Angeles was not as bad as expected. Flying solo is definitely different than flying with others, but I made it to NZ in one piece. It took about 13 hours, and I slept for about 2 of them. Thankfully, upon arrival in Auckland, it was a beautiful sunny day, which helped me forget my exhaustion and jet lag and get excited about exploring the country.

After everyone had arrived from the group flight, we took a bus from the airport to Mount Eden. Once an active volcano, it is now dormant and a great spot to climb in order to get an amazing view of Auckland. It was also used as housing for different Maori tribes long ago. We stayed in a hotel in Auckland, as we couldn’t move into the student apartments for a few days. Going on walks through Auckland was wonderful. I was unsure about staying in a large city, but it is a very “natural” city, with lots of trees and plants. The buildings also have a European influence in their design, so it is a unique city. It is very hot in Auckland, as it is their summer right now. The harbor has beautiful, light blue waters. It also looks very clean and pure, as most of the city was. In the evening, I was able to explore a bit of the wharf with some friends. 

The next day, our group moved from Auckland to Rotorua, a small city near volcanic hot springs. That means the town smells like sulfur, which takes some getting used to. Upon arrival in Rotorua, we were placed in a hostel-like place called KiwiPaka. Here, we were able to learn the Haka that the All Blacks rugby team of New Zealand performs before each game. It is a type of war dance, as it is meant to evoke fear in the enemies and showcase strength. The chants are in Maori, which we had to learn, as well as the actions that go with it. Our instructor explained the story behind the Haka, basically describing the story of a chief and his wife guarding the life of another chief by hiding him in a hole in the ground. By standing over the hole, the wife was protecting the chief, as Maori believe that going underneath a woman’s legs is a path to the underworld. The Haka is a very spiritual and respected thing in New Zealand, which made it even more special and fun to perform, especially wearing traditional Haka costumes.

In the evening, we went to the gorgeous Blue Lake. It is surrounded by giant hills covered in all sorts of different trees. We swam, ate dinner, and ended our trip with a game of rugby, then returning to the hostel for a swim in the thermal pool before bed. So far, I’m finding the beauty of New Zealand every time I look around. Hopefully this continues throughout my time here.

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