Journey to a New Land

Welcome! 

Over the next several months, I will be writing, what I hope to be daily, about my adventures in New Zealand!! Yes, New Zealand! I am 1 of 26 lucky students who have been selected to participate in the University of New Hampshire's EcoQuest program. From August 27th to December 5th, students will experience a rigorous academic pursuit and hands-on learning from the mountains to the sea throughout north and south islands. 

Yes! This does sound fun. Yet one thing I mindlessly forgot was that I needed to get out to New Zealand. For someone who doesn't like planes all too much, this was a 6.5 hour (Boston to L.A.) + 13 hour (L.A. to Auckland) "pursuit". Well worth it though. Ok. I guess I can manage that. 

Then I got THE LIST. The list that told the students what to bring. Let me tell you, the list was LONG. Not only was it long, it was expected to fit in a single checked bag under 50lbs and a carry on. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. 

So here I am, 3 days before my departure date and not a single item is packed. Don't get me wrong, I made sure I took all three months of summer to accumulate (whether it was purchased or in the attic) everything I needed for this trip. But getting it into a 70L checked backpack was another story. Endless hours of organizing and reorganizing and reorganizing again. Finally, it all fit! I mean, if you touched me with a single finger I would fall right over, but it fit!! 

Going over my boarding pass the night before, I remembered how early my flight was; my domestic flight from Logan to Los Angeles began at 6:30am. Getting up at 3am, my family (mom, dad and youngest sister) greeted me downstairs with coffee and happy but tired faces! I couldn't believe it. All three made the treck to Logan at 4am with me. 

Leaving them was the hardest thing I've ever done. I knew it would be hardest to leave my dad. My dad has been my rock ever since I can remember. As I grabbed my gear out of the back of my moms Subaru, I said my goodbyes fast enough that not one tear had the chance to fall. This felt like an accomplishment. 

20 hours later, we made it! I was finally in the place that I have been bragging about for so many months. It didn't look too much different than home. Then again I was still in the airport for Pete's sake.

Outside of the international terminal, the students were greeted by three of the EcoQuest mentors: Rebecca, Marie and Jono. All three were thrilled that we had finally made it. I think we students were just as happy to get off that plane.   

Driving to the EcoQuest campus took about an hour and a half. All 26 students fit in 3 large white vans. Culture shock #1: Kiwis drive on the opposite side of the road than us Americans. The round a bouts were the worst. Marie, who was driving the van I was in, could not stop laughing at how reckless we all were in the back seats about being on the other side of the road. 

The view from the van was pretty spectacular. Though the land was still covered in morning fog, the grass was green, the cows were lively, and the rolling hills were extraordinary. 

Getting to campus, we were greeted by more EcoQuest mentors, all ecstatic that we had arrived. A hot meal was on the table as we walked into our classroom/dinning hall. There was a buffet of eggs, toast, oatmeal, fresh fruits, potatoes fritters, potato tots, bacon, sausage, and of course, kiwi fruit. Breakfast was delicious!

After breakfast, students were assigned to their cabins. Each free-standing cabin would house 2 students for the duration of the semester. Students were given some time to unpack and get accustomed to the campus. 

Before dinner, I, along with my roommate Mary, walked down to the beach at the backside of campus. The sun was low in the sky and the distant mountains were tall and pointy. It was gorgeous. We walked and talked up and down the beach for about an hour. At the end of the hour, we were carrying countless sand dollars and shells of all sizes. Before heading back into campus, I turned to the beach and reality started to settle in. I was no longer home. I was where the hills roll and the mountains grew to limitless extents. I was where the birds and trees were so different than what I was used too. I was where people drove on the other side of the road. I was somewhere I have never been before. I was in New Zealand.