Student Bloggers

Leaving It All Behind:

On a chilly February morning I bid my parents goodbye and enter Denver International Airport. The sun has not even risen, and several long days of travel await. I opted to take holiday in Hawaii, some other Pacific Islands, and the Philippines on my way to Auckland for semester abroad; everything I need for nearly the next five months is meticulously packed into a backpack, check-in bag, and hand carry. My first travel day takes me to Honolulu for some surfing with a quick connection in San Francisco. All goes well and I am on the beach by early afternoon. Two nights of sun, sea, and sand keep me busy so I do not have time to think about the commitment I made to live nearly 7500 miles away from home for so long. 

Island Hopping - A Dream Come True:

Another early morning, but this time a warm and humid one. I head to Honolulu’s airport for the ultimate plane journey: the Island Hopper. This unique route begins in Honolulu and ends in Guam using the same plane, but makes five stops in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia along the way: Majuro, Kwajalein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Chuuk. Taking this flight has been a bucket list item for years, being an Air Transportation major in school. I get a first-hand glimpse at the remote mid-Pacific region, and get off the plane to briefly explore at most of the stops. Many of the friendly people who call these islands their home rely on this form of transportation for business, pleasure, mail, and medical emergencies. Tourists enjoying the quiet island life provide an invaluable boost to the local economy out here. Starting out this adventure with one of the most amazing travel experiences of my life sets a good tone for the semester; I have high hopes, and want to give my all to everything I do over the next several months. The sunset coincides with arriving into the remote U.S. territory of Guam, where I step outside to reflect on the Hopper before catching my final flight of the day onto Manila, Philippines. When I finally arrive in Manila I am barely awake and quite dehydrated, but also hit with a surreal feeling of being in Asia for the first time!

Manila’s Organized Chaos & Culture Shock:

Long travel days require sleep, something that had been lacking. I sleep in until noon in my cozy hotel bed, a nice upgrade from my Hawaiian hostel. A trip is taken to the eleventh-largest mall in the world, the SM Mall of Asia; culture shock is very real in places so vastly outside of one’s comfort zone; I just take everything in as it comes. The stifling heat combined with no traffic rules feels like another world entirely. I have just enough time to relax back at the hotel before heading to the airport AGAIN for a 9+ hour flight to Auckland.

Halfway Around the World…:

As the plane begins its descent into Auckland, the New Zealand coast comes into view for the first time. Along with it comes the realization of how far away I actually am. It is a scary thought, even for someone who has been to 25 countries. I also feel a sense of relief and excitement to finally arrive, ending my scenic 14,307 mile journey from Denver to Auckland! I am greeted by friendly Kiwis and a unique culture, and I settle into my flat for the semester. The next couple days will be spent shopping and unpacking before Arcadia’s orientation begins.

I have concrete plans to visit Australia on the mid-semester break and the San Francisco/Lake Tahoe area at the semester’s end on my way home, but I will be spontaneous when it comes to traveling within New Zealand; expect to read about some solo travel as I prepare for a post-graduation gap year. The next post will cover orientation, trips around the North Island where Auckland is (New Zealand has a North and South Island), and the process of settling in.