Monday, September 3, 2012
Domestic life never suited you like a suit case..
Dead sea- The Lumineers
Bonjour,
A little different than G'day but I'll take it.
The last time I posted in my travel blog I was leaving Auckland, NZ for Boston and I did not know where either I, my blog or my travels would end up. But now I am in Geneva, Switzerland. To state what most of my family and friends already know I am abroad once again with a BU program- this time exploring a different continent and a different field of study (yay Public Health).
I wish I kept up with my blog to smooth the transition for the latest adventure I am on. I realize that this post is quite choppy and frankly poorly written. In fact I'm not quite sure why/what I am writing. I figured that the only way I could restart my blog was to just dive right into it. I truly only wanted to record my thoughts on starting anew my senior year and my state of being (or lack of) on my first day.
Hopefully by my next post I will have some sort of routine or at least a sense of it.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The road back home is shorter than you know
Heaven- Moonpools and Caterpillars
When my last day in Auckland came I couldn't bare it at first. After saying a long goodbye to Tom(the first person I met on the way to Sydney, fitting right?) I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. Here I was, for the first time, truly alone in a foreign city. No one to chat with, no one to walk around with, no one to just shoot the breeze with. My first instinct was "please let me just got home" and "is there anyway I can change my flight." After these thoughts had passed, I grabbed my backpack and my camera and just wandered around. I ventured off to Albert Park, Auckland Uni, the harbor, and several souvenir shops. For the first time in three months I understood what it felt like to be a backpacker. To live with no structure or routine. While it was freeing, it felt like a waiting game. I was simply counting the hours until I could leave my hostel, board my flight, and return home.
Finally leaving the Southern Hemisphere and ending my study abroad experience means coming to terms to several undeniable facts. It means accepting that I won't see everything I want too right now. I didn't get to Tasmania. I didn't get to see the South Island of NZ. I didn't go to Fiji or Bali or Hawaii. But that doesn't mean I won't in the future. I know someday I'll return, hopefully with my loved ones, but until then I'm going to appreciate home, family and Boston- my main goal for leaving in the first place.
Meanwhile, I'm not sure what this means for my blog? Since its mainly a travel blog I don't think I'll keep up with my normal college/BU/Rugby activities. For now my travels are over but I don't like to view it that way. I want to think that my travels are paused. I have been told repeatedly that I've caught the "travel bug." My eyes are open to various destinations that I'm dying to go to and hearing from my friends in Europe are making my eyes wander overseas. But until then Boston suits me just fine. Grazie e Arriverdela.
When my last day in Auckland came I couldn't bare it at first. After saying a long goodbye to Tom(the first person I met on the way to Sydney, fitting right?) I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. Here I was, for the first time, truly alone in a foreign city. No one to chat with, no one to walk around with, no one to just shoot the breeze with. My first instinct was "please let me just got home" and "is there anyway I can change my flight." After these thoughts had passed, I grabbed my backpack and my camera and just wandered around. I ventured off to Albert Park, Auckland Uni, the harbor, and several souvenir shops. For the first time in three months I understood what it felt like to be a backpacker. To live with no structure or routine. While it was freeing, it felt like a waiting game. I was simply counting the hours until I could leave my hostel, board my flight, and return home.
Finally leaving the Southern Hemisphere and ending my study abroad experience means coming to terms to several undeniable facts. It means accepting that I won't see everything I want too right now. I didn't get to Tasmania. I didn't get to see the South Island of NZ. I didn't go to Fiji or Bali or Hawaii. But that doesn't mean I won't in the future. I know someday I'll return, hopefully with my loved ones, but until then I'm going to appreciate home, family and Boston- my main goal for leaving in the first place.
Meanwhile, I'm not sure what this means for my blog? Since its mainly a travel blog I don't think I'll keep up with my normal college/BU/Rugby activities. For now my travels are over but I don't like to view it that way. I want to think that my travels are paused. I have been told repeatedly that I've caught the "travel bug." My eyes are open to various destinations that I'm dying to go to and hearing from my friends in Europe are making my eyes wander overseas. But until then Boston suits me just fine. Grazie e Arriverdela.
We were born before the wind, also younger than the sun....
"When that fog horn blows I know I'll be coming home, when that fog horn whistle blows I will hear it, I don't have to fear it"
Into the mystic- Van Morrison
After four hours of driving from our latest location, we finally arrived in Wellington- the capital of New Zealand. Instead of being thrust into a group activity or event, our travel group had the day to ourselves where we could all -more-or-less do our own thing. So for the day I did a little city-excursion where I visited the Harbor, the Te Papa museum and a couple of good eats.
Into the mystic- Van Morrison
After four hours of driving from our latest location, we finally arrived in Wellington- the capital of New Zealand. Instead of being thrust into a group activity or event, our travel group had the day to ourselves where we could all -more-or-less do our own thing. So for the day I did a little city-excursion where I visited the Harbor, the Te Papa museum and a couple of good eats.
My Body tells me no, but I won't quit cause I want more
My Body- Young the Giant
When I first heard that we were going to go hiking my initial reaction was "pshhh Okay, No Big Deal." Yeah, I couldn't have been more wrong in my life. The Tangarario Alpine Crossing should have hinted at me that we were crossing at Alpine conditions. At first it was merely raining, not enough to deter our motives for making the 20k trek. However, after the first 5k we the incline increased dramatically and as we made our way to the summit of the volcano it began to hail, thunder and lightning, and blow gusts of wind over 30km/hour. I wish that my photos could convey the difficulty of the hike. As we approached the half-way point we could no longer enjoy our time, our only motive was to get off the mountain. With clothes soaked through and heels rubbed raw, we treked downwards, crossing volcanic rock, hot springs, and frozen waterfalls. Strangely enough as we reached the end, the weather brightened up and it appeared that we were in a rain forest.
Also fun fact, this is where they filmed Mount Doom scenes from Lord of the Rings, sweet as right.
When I first heard that we were going to go hiking my initial reaction was "pshhh Okay, No Big Deal." Yeah, I couldn't have been more wrong in my life. The Tangarario Alpine Crossing should have hinted at me that we were crossing at Alpine conditions. At first it was merely raining, not enough to deter our motives for making the 20k trek. However, after the first 5k we the incline increased dramatically and as we made our way to the summit of the volcano it began to hail, thunder and lightning, and blow gusts of wind over 30km/hour. I wish that my photos could convey the difficulty of the hike. As we approached the half-way point we could no longer enjoy our time, our only motive was to get off the mountain. With clothes soaked through and heels rubbed raw, we treked downwards, crossing volcanic rock, hot springs, and frozen waterfalls. Strangely enough as we reached the end, the weather brightened up and it appeared that we were in a rain forest.
Also fun fact, this is where they filmed Mount Doom scenes from Lord of the Rings, sweet as right.
You'll never scream so loud as I want to scream with you,
Hurricane- Something Corporate
During our stay a few of us decided to go white water rafting in the Kai Tuna River in Rotarura. Not only was this an adrenaline rush (we went down a 7m waterfall and was fully submerged in the river) but it also offered us a glimpse of how the Maouri respected the power of nature as our guide told tales of Maouri warriors and their battles.
Later on in the night we stayed at a recreated Maouri Village, in which we were submerged in Maouri language and traditions.
During our stay a few of us decided to go white water rafting in the Kai Tuna River in Rotarura. Not only was this an adrenaline rush (we went down a 7m waterfall and was fully submerged in the river) but it also offered us a glimpse of how the Maouri respected the power of nature as our guide told tales of Maouri warriors and their battles.
Later on in the night we stayed at a recreated Maouri Village, in which we were submerged in Maouri language and traditions.
I've never been so lost, I've never felt so much at home please write my folks and throw away my keys
I woke up in a car- Something Corporate
Kia Ora Everyone!
Quite the difference from G'day, but I'll take it. The first portion of my 6 day New Zealand North Island Tour started at Cathedral Cove, where Tom (my traveling partner-in-crime for the next week), myself, and twenty-two others got to experience for the first time the unique landscape of the North Island. At the end of our first day we drove to the beach at nightfall and dig our own hot pools.
Kia Ora Everyone!
Quite the difference from G'day, but I'll take it. The first portion of my 6 day New Zealand North Island Tour started at Cathedral Cove, where Tom (my traveling partner-in-crime for the next week), myself, and twenty-two others got to experience for the first time the unique landscape of the North Island. At the end of our first day we drove to the beach at nightfall and dig our own hot pools.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
My heart going Boom Boom Boom, Hey I said, You can keep my things they've come to take me home
Solisbury Hill- Peter Gabriel
So here comes another series of blogposts/updates that have technically already occurred, but due to my current living/traveling situations will be posted late or our of order. Whoops, here we go.
The last post I tip-toed and beated around the bush on leaving Sydney. I couldn't handle leaving the niche I created for myself there. I was torn between a home away from home, a new adventure in New Zealand, and everything that awaited for me at home. It was difficult saying my goodbyes, knowing that things weren't going to be the same no matter how hard I tried and no matter who I kept in touch with in Boston.
So here I am now. In McDonald's. Trying to get Free WiFI. Trying my best to upload photos and blog about my week in Auckland. Well with less than 24 hours left in Auckland and over a day in traveling time, I'm ready to get this show on the road.
So here comes another series of blogposts/updates that have technically already occurred, but due to my current living/traveling situations will be posted late or our of order. Whoops, here we go.
The last post I tip-toed and beated around the bush on leaving Sydney. I couldn't handle leaving the niche I created for myself there. I was torn between a home away from home, a new adventure in New Zealand, and everything that awaited for me at home. It was difficult saying my goodbyes, knowing that things weren't going to be the same no matter how hard I tried and no matter who I kept in touch with in Boston.
So here I am now. In McDonald's. Trying to get Free WiFI. Trying my best to upload photos and blog about my week in Auckland. Well with less than 24 hours left in Auckland and over a day in traveling time, I'm ready to get this show on the road.
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