Student Bloggers

 Hitting a Wall:

A fitting J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings quote to title this post. Emotions have been present lately, and I have been trying to feel them more. My closest Kiwi friend helps me through this process. Just like before, this is not homesickness. It is more like hitting a wall due to the adrenaline of being abroad running out. Jane from Arcadia describes this as a realistic step in living abroad which I agree with, but it feels better not to run into a wall. I am partially surprised by this because I have exceeded my own expectations for how many local friends I have made, so the wall does not come from lack of socializing. I think a key to this is occupying my time since time moves faster when I am busy. There is not a ton of time left, just a month, so I hope it will go away soon.

No Commitments:

Another reason for this is that no matter how much I do, I am eventually left wanting more. Even though I have traveled many weekends here, I feel a growing sense of urgency to do more, not really a satisfaction that what I have done is enough. To be fair, I think about traveling all the time so naturally, I do not take most of the trips I consider. But I think about the future a lot as opposed to the present. For example, I am really excited for my gap year after I finish uni and I even think about that here. The biggest draw to that is that nothing will be restricted by time, which is what may be contributing to the “wall.” Queenstown, say, would not just be a weekend trip, it would be as long as I feel like. I crave a simple life which is a major reason why I am drawn to taking the year off; no commitments such as school or work, no pressure to do one thing or another, just going at my own pace. I can get a work visa and work at a hostel or something like that if I need more money. For a bit, my life will not be run by societal institutions... just me. And I think that is one of the best things anyone can ask for, to solely and completely run their own life. 

Fear of Life’s Well-Worn Path:

Speaking of running your own life, I will admit one of my biggest fears right now: winding up on the common societal path of finishing uni, going straight to and devoting my life to work, getting married, having kids, retiring, moving somewhere warm, and living out the rest of my days there. I would hate doing what everybody else does because “that is what people are supposed to do.” Fortunately, I have supportive family members; I have encountered people who seem to get caught in this trap though and I believe some (not all) are not thinking for themselves although they do not seem to realize it. If that path is really the one you want to take, then good on you. But do not be afraid to diverge. My dream path is to graduate uni and get my pilot licenses, then take a year off to travel and work odd jobs, followed by beginning work which also happens to be my passion: aviation and flying. Eventually, I will settle down a little bit and get my very own cat to brighten my life and hopefully find someone to be with, but I do not want kids for the reason that regardless of what most people do, it would make me miserable and unhappy. Life is about following the path that will make you happy, and it is important to get off the most common path if you are dissatisfied with it. 

NZ Against The World:

Now that I have visited New Zealand’s five most well-known cities, I have been considering how they compare to others around the world. Auckland and Wellington remind me of the West Coast and Pacific Northwest cities in the U.S., especially San Francisco and somewhat Seattle. Auckland’s Sky Tower resembles the Space Needle, and the location on a large, protected bay is reminiscent of NorCal. Wellington has a famous cable car, overlooking the quaint city. Both are hilly and have amazing cuisine.

Christchurch and Dunedin have English and Scottish influence and may be mistaken for a village in the United Kingdom. New Zealand has heavy influence from the U.K. in spite of the countries’ far distance from one another. Christchurch is ever-changing as it is rebuilt after the earthquake, and may lean away from this resemblance as it becomes one of the most advanced cities in the modern world.

Queenstown reminds me of a Colorado mountain town such as Vail or Aspen. Overcrowded in the summer, lots of skiing, very expensive properties, and set within tall mountains on a lake. Many people I encountered there were looking for seasonal jobs at resorts.

While not as well known as the above places, I will be taking my final New Zealand holiday in one week. The day after classes end for the semester I am catching the ferry from Auckland to the nearby Coromandel Peninsula for a one-night, two-day tour. I will be staying one night, exploring Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach for spa-pool-digging, as well as the main town before boating back to Auckland to begin two weeks of final exam study. Stay tuned!