Day 5

• What I did today

From the bright early hours of the day, until the late hours chilling at the hotel, this "travel day", as we all call it, has been relaxing and free of chaos...!

After a great, final night in New Zealand, we spent the rest of the night packing our bags. And first thing in the morning after we woke up and had breakfast, we headed to the airport for our 3rd flight of the trip... Here we come Sydney!!!

This flight wasn't as long as others, thank goodness, but it was still relaxing, just as I expected it to be... Talking with my friends, I got so lost in time that I didn't even notice that we were not too far off from Sydney! To be honest, ever since I was little, I've always wanted to see the Sydney Bridge and Sydney Opera House in person! Looking through the window of the airplane, here I was, staring at the two most famous Australian landmarks with amazement in my eyes! I couldn't believe it!

When we landed, and got through the airport, we took a coach bus to our hotel, where we were going to be staying for the next couple of days... We got settled in and once we got into our little groups, we left the hotel for a mini tour walk around the city. I have to say, the city of Sydney is definitely SOMETHING! It's not like any other city you might have seen in your lifetime... Even though it has some similarities in appearance to Chicago, the atmosphere of it is nothing close in comparison! The parks are so clean and green, well-kept in mind of nature, and the city side walks are full of friendly people, not trying to mess around with others, if you know what I mean... In other words, Sydney is a work of art! We walked pretty far from where we started, making it pretty much all the way to the other city. Or at least that's what it seemed like... We saw many monument-like sculptures, climbed/rode to the top of the Sydney Tower, and made it to the Sydney Harbor, where I saw some pretty sweeeeeet views of the Opera House and Bridge...

The view from the top of the Sydney Tower were simply magnificent! I've never seen anything like it, or maybe it was because I was in Sydney for he first time... It was kind of like looking through the windows on the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago, but here, you got a glimpse of the ENTIRE city! No words to describe it all... Completely breathless. I got some great mental snapshots of it all, as well as some postcards, of course... Did you know that the highest post box in the southern hemisphere is just up in the Sydney Tower! Pretty cool! We also went to the Rocks, which is a small part of the city near the Harbor where there are several markets and cafes where you can stop, rest, and buy some really cool things. I got a returning boomerang, which my friends and I bargained for a cheaper price (it was really hard, since they were kind of getting mad about it... But what could you do? I mean, the less the better, right?) and several original Aboriginal works of art... A couple necklaces and earrings here and there, too. And all for really cheap! It definitely was worth it. The Rocks was very relaxing and beautiful, which has a lot of history to it, too!

The day was so relaxing and full of leisure, and if it weren't for Alec, our tour guide, we probably wouldn't have a rest from our previous days of travel! The only bad part about today, was that it was raining, rather pouring, all throughout the day... That did not end well. Going back to the hotel, it was super cold outside, and half the group decided to take the train back to the hotel, while the other part of the group would walk back, sightseeing the city in brief moments. I, being a traveler and not taking the easy-way-out of problems, like rain, went with the walking group... Everything was fine, while quickly walking (we were trying to beat the others just for fun). Until, the whole group stopped. I was confused, I didn't know what we were doing, because as far as I knew, we were almost there... But I was wrong, oopsie. Apparently, Mr. Ewen, Mr. Schagrin, and Ms. Tomasello led us in the wrong direction, or took a wrong turn... More like the guy with the map (Mr. Ewen, ehmm... As much as I like him!). It was pretty funny! We had to ask some people which way to go, and once we figured everything out and we got back to the hotel, we were all soaked wet and cold. And guess what? We definitely didn't beat the other group... We took like an hour trying to get back! But an adventure is an adventure, only true travelers take risks like these! That's how I like to look at it. The rest of the night was laid-back... My friends and I ordered pizza to the hotel, played games, and watched Australian "Dancing with the Stars" (which was quite interesting, wink wink)... The day went by smoothly. And by the time it was lights out, we were all out of breath, tired, and ready for the upcoming day and what it had in store for us! Or at least I was!

• Journal of the Day

When we arrived in Sydney for the first time, I was actually quite surprised of how similar, yet, different, it was from Chicago! Sydney is a big city... Full of skyscrapers, both tall and small buildings, in which everything is outlined with many, many, many bright lights! It's also a very populated city, with people everywhere you look (very diverse), walking and driving down the streets, this way and that. However, it's not too busy or crowded, like Chicago is... And you may think of Sydney as a very big city, but you're wrong. Sydney is actually a really small city, a "cute little BIG town", nothing compared to what I thought it was like before coming here... It has cute little shops and cafes lining the streets from every side, reminding me of the one-way towns of New Zealand, but a bit bigger, as well as open areas in which people can have fun in and socialise! It also has street markets and outdoor malls, both of which we spent time in today! Both Chicago and Sydney are placed on water fronts, Sydney having the Ocean and Chicago having the Lake. Both cities look similar in some aspects of the appearance of it all. But for some reason, Chicago is bigger, packed, and windier, more than Sydney, and in the end, it seems more, simply, bland... Sydney is just a beautiful city, no matter what side you look at it from!

Yes, it has its "perks" and bad sides of town, just like any other city in the world, but it just seems like a friendlier and warmer sort of city...

Just like Chicago, Sydney has many tourist attractions, including aquariums, zoos, landmarks, and something that characterizes it for what it is, if you know what I mean. For example, Chicago is greatly known for the Sears Tower. On the other hand, Sydney can be characterized by either the Bridge or the Opera House. Whichever city, both can be recognized just by these famous attractions! Even tough Chicago and Sydney are on opposite ends of the world, the people in these two cities seem to have very similar cultures and lifestyles. Aside from being on the opposite sides of streets and roads, transportation in Sydney is the same, varying from buses, subways, cars, and trains. People walk around freely as well!

Seeing Sydney for the first time in my life was amazing!!! Not only was I excited, but also relieved, since I have finally made it here and everything is easy to comprehend and is self-explainable. Spending a little time in the city gave me a little insight on the city itself. The parks are much bigger and more clean and more green, which was one thing I was actually surprised about! Compared to Chicago, or any other cities I've been to, Sydney was probably one of the most clean-kept cities. There was no trash, not a lot of people, and the environment was quite relaxing and friendly... This city is completely beautiful and astonishing, and the atmosphere of it is completely unbelievable...

I fell in love with Sydney ever since the first second that I saw it 

and always will be!

Day 4

• What I did today & Journal of the Day 

Our 3rd day of the trip already! I can't believe it!

We had to wake up bright and early today, REALLY early! We ate breakfast and immediately started walking towards the nearest bus stop that would take us to the only Redwood Forest in New Zealand! It seemed like forever just to walk to that one bus stop! And when we did reach the bus stop, we stood there... for a really long time! Then, it turned out that our bus was a no-show, and had to walk another couple of blocks to get to another one, which ended up being closer to where we started in the first place! It was so frustrating! We ended up waiting for a long time too, and after almost an hour, and almost giving up, our bus finally showed up and we started heading towards the forest! We were going on a morning hike in the rain and wind... I was literally wet from head to toe, and if it weren't for my purple raincoat (thank you teachers), I probably would have not been in such a great mood. On the bright side, the sun was shining, and I was walking trails that took me to the deepest parts of the forest! It was so exciting! I saw ferns, with silver on the back, that I've never really seen in forests before, and big trees, bigger than me times 10, maybe even more! They were huge! It was so beautiful! I've never seen anything like it! At one moment, though, we thought we got lost and stood there for about 10 minutes, debating which way we should go back to get to the main road... As much as I love hiking, and love nature, and love rain, I was starting to get annoyed of the dampness and coldness... But, I still would have enjoyed getting lost! When we DID get back upon an agreed route, and a bunch of extra turns, twists, and trails, the other group wasn't back yet, which ended up in another lost hour or so... But we sang Disney songs A LOT which made us all high-spirited again! Yay! In the end, we all got back to the hotel, thank goodness, but soaked... It was STILL pouring outside.

Before I knew it, we were driving away from the Agrodome and heading towards Auckland, for LONGGG hours, where we were going to meet our Kiwi pen pals from Rangitoto College (which is a high school, actually). This has been one of the many big things I was looking forward to on the trip from the very beginning! Before the trip, I got in touch with my pen pal from New Zealand. Her name was Jess and about the same age as me, and ironically, she also liked to play tennis and take French! We were really good friends! And as we started to pull up closer and closer to the school, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of excitement, since I was finally going to meet her... It was drizzling outside so we quickly got out of the bus and ran to hide ourselves under a couple buildings before it began to pour, once AGAIN. But since some students were still in school and preparing for this event, we were sent to their library. When I got inside, I have to say it was a pretty cool library! Everything was so organised, and I noticed a lot of Maori culture books in the back, which was good since they have a lot of focus toward their backgrounds and where they've come from...

For the next couple of minutes, we were getting to know each other with Brigitte, learning about her school, herself, and the city in whole! Sooner or later, we started walking around the school, visiting the auditorium, some of the classrooms, as well as the hallways. Not too long after, the principal came to get us, inviting us to the building where we were going to have our ceremony. Right at the beginning, the kids from the other school greeted us with a Maori dance, their national song, and a welcoming speech... Right after them, we, prepared in the last minute, sang the Star Spangled Banner and Steven, being the "chief" of the group, thanked them for inviting us today for this day. Immediately, we all separated from our groups and began walking around, getting to know all of our Kiwi friends... They were so nice! At one point, Jess's best friends came up to me and told me that Jess was sick and wasn't able to come tonight. Right then and there, I got both sad and surprised... I was so looking forward to meeting her in person! But there wasn't anything I could do, except wish for her to get better as soon as possible. Unfortunately, everyone got to meet their pen pals except for me, but that's okay, because I know I will meet Jess again in person someday in the future, for sure! 

Eating specially-made Kiwi food, dancing to music, and getting to know each other, I became really good friends with a couple Kiwis, including Lisa, Charlotte, Brigitte, Jordan, Michael, and Nikita... We were friends as if we've known each other for a really long time! I got to know them really well, as well as their school, what they like to do for fun, sports, and many other things! I also learned the Haka, which is the traditional Maori dance (that the All Blacks rugby team does in order to scare their opponents before a match)... It was so hard, yet so interesting! Shortly after a great dance and face-off, Nikita, Michael, and Jordan took me for a tour around their campus outside, and since it was raining and there were so many trails, I didn't see where I was going and accidentally stuck my entire foot into mud. Everyone started laughing and it was definitely a moment that I, as well as my new friends, will remember this day for! To honestly say, these 3 hours, as short as they were, were probably one of the best 3 hours on this trip so far... I got to know so many new things, not only about one of the biggest high schools in the country, but also about some of the very unique and special people in it! It's definitely a day I will always remember, for million days to come! It was an experience that was not only incredible and an everlasting memory, but it was also an eye-opening experience that helped me view the world and its people in a different way... I hope to keep in touch with the Kiwi friends I made today, as well as Jess, for as long as I can... A friendship like these could last for decades! And I know I will see them all soon in the very near future, whether they will come to me, or I will come to them... Whichever it may  be, today was a thrill!
Today, as long, tiring, and exhausting as it has been, has turned out to be one of the greatest days of my life! 

As I get ready for tomorrow morning's flight to Sydney, I hope my amazing adventure will continue on at its absolute best!!! 

Day 3

• What I did today 

 
Our second day of the trip started off with a beautiful sunrise, reflecting across the lake, making it my very first snapshot of the day... Not too long after, we jumped onto a duck. Not literally, though... It was an old WWII boat, that was remodelled and refurbished in order for it to look like a "duck-y" sort-of-thing. We went around town on a tour, learning about not only the historical significance of certain things, but also the cultural significances, too. Apparently, all of the houses in these areas cost millions of dollars, which I think is a lot of money! It was a lot of fun, especially travelling across two of the biggest lakes... I think it's pretty cool how each of the lakes has a name, like Blue Lake or Green Lake (no matter how cheesy they may be), and how they have a love story behind it! That's pretty neat. Quacking at all the people in town while we were driving was pretty funny, seeing as they would either wave nicely back at you, or just stare at you with a blank face... I started laughing every time the tour guide turned on "Mission Impossible" when we were about to enter the water from ground! It was very entertaining in my opinion! But, it was a little chilly in the morning. However, I didn't have that ruin my day.

Just right before we were going to go to our next stop, we stopped by a little cafe on the road to Auckland and got lunch... I got two mini pizzas (with ham, cheese, peppers, and onions with spaghetti and tomato sauce underneath... who knew you could do that!), chips (or fries), and L&P (which is a Sprite-y sort of drink with a lemon-y after-taste)... It was simply spectacular and delicious!!!
After everyone got refreshed and into new clothes, we boarded the bus and started heading to the Agrodome. I was excited! Ever since I heard we were going here, I had a picture in my head of what it would look like, smell, and feel... Turns out, I was nearly there! I got the smell part right, which was just like sheep or other cattle you would find on a farm, and then the feeling of it, which I thought I was on some farm... But I completely imagined it totally different! I thought it would be bigger, like a stadium, with a lot of people; but that's okay, I enjoyed it the way it was better! The person, who was the host of the show, was really 
funny! He made jokes about pretty much anything relative to what he was doing at the moment, or even 
interacting with the audience and the people, more 
specifically! It was a really interesting show, I have to say... It gave a little tid-bit on all things New Zealand, especially when it comes to agriculture, farmland, and animals! Looking back at today, I have to say it was one of the funniest shows I've ever seen! Even a sheep liked me...!

Before I knew it, we were heading to Whakarewarewa, or Whaka for short, a geothermal village where some of the Maori people live today. Here, we got an inside-look at the life of the Maori and their culture. I learned that they use geothermal energy for pretty much anything that needs to be heated up or cooked. In order to cook their food, for whichever meal it may be, they use these wooden boxes that are built upon a geyser, into which they put their aluminium foil wrapped foods in. After a couple of hours, the food is ready. Their heat inside their houses is also created using geyser energy... I learned so much about their village, including how and when they use the geothermal energy, and in which ways it is useful. Even legends and myths are created and have been to told to generations of Maori people using geysers and their eruptions! The geysers are so unique and cool when they erupt, which is said to be about every 10 minutes or so.

Every little part of the Whaka village has an importance to their culture, and I found this part of the day the most interesting and enjoyable! Having a Maori tour guide also helped in getting information across, because not only did I learn how to say a few Maori words, but I also now know the full version of the name of the village and how to pronounce it, which is Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao... Quite long, isn't it? Surprisingly, a lot of the Maori words are long like this one, each one also having a shortened version. There's even a longer one! Going to Whakarewarewa was truly very inspiring and I learned a lot about the Maori culture, history, and lifestyle today!

After visiting the geothermal village, we went zorbing. Another popular thing to do in New Zealand! It's pretty much when you roll down a big, bumpy hill in a big ball filled with warm water... It's veryyyyy fun to do, enough said! To end our magnificent day, we went back to the hotel and enjoyed yet another Maori show, consisting of songs and dances, as well as a delicious Hangi dinner and dessert, which the Maori prepared for us. The Maori people showcased their traditional Maori dances and songs, inviting us to join in with them. Later in the show, they let us have a chance on-stage, girls dancing with the poi and the boys learning the Haka. I was one of the many girls lucky enough to go on-stage and try dancing with the poi. I have to admit, it may seem realllllllly easy, but it's sooooo hard! Not only do you have to have your arms firm and only your wrists moving, but you have to keep the poi in various constant motions and positions, all while singing and dancing around... It's so hard, but so much fun!!! I like it! And then there were the boys doing the Haka for the first time... Actually, most of them were really good, I have to say! I couldn't stop laughing at Mr.Barry's, especially Mr.Schagrin's, warrior faces... Wide eyes, tongue out, determined face... Definitely a good mix!!! Once again, there are so many motions and positions you have to know by heart, it's kind of ridiculous, but also very fun! No doubt about that! These two dances are a big part of the Maori culture and greatly emphasised to people around the world, especially in New Zealand! The Hangi dinner was very delicious! Amongst a big mix of many east and west styles of food, I tried the most famous "Kiwi" dessert, Pavlova! It was so good, I wanted more! Today was a day full of surprises, fully enriched in culture and very eye-opening!

• Journal of the Day 

Today was a day full of many, many, many culture shocks! Taking the Duck Tour in the morning, sparked a couple culture shocks before going to the Whaka village. I saw these really cute ducks, one with a white head, which I thought was really unique, just like a culture... When we DID reach Whakarewarewa, I was so surprised about how much Maori culture is hidden behind it! Many of the ancestors' kids live here now, all trying to make people aware of the Maori culture and lifestyles, as well as history. Having the village set on a big geothermal patch of geysers, gives the village many upsides. They use natural, geothermal energy in order to heat up their homes and cook their food, during spring, summer, fall, and winter! No matter what the weather is like, they always use these wooden boxes to cook their food (covered in aluminium foil), which are set on top of geysers. These geysers have also created history to their culture! They even have mud baths and public baths that are used for the Maori people to clean in, as well as cure or heal certain injuries. It's believed that these mud pools can also help one  stop from aging quickly... this I thought was interesting! As I've learned today and discovered, a lot of Maori culture, history, language, foods, dances, songs, and many other things, have been preserved in this village for a long time, and are meant to be for another long period of time. Family is also an important part. I also got to see their homes and churches... We had an inside-look into their village! Going to Whakarewarewa, I realised that every person has a different styl e adn way of doing things. Every culture, every heritage, and every family has unique traditions in their culture that need to be preserved... these cultures separate people from people, showing their individuality and who they really are on the inside. Their beliefs and lifestyle characteristics also shine through. This is the biggest culture shock I learned and saw today! It truly showed a different side of the Maori people, especially than of what I knew before coming here...

Day 1-2

• What I did today

Guess what?!
So the day has finally come...! Eep!

After a lot of preparation, I'm packed, ready, and super excited for this trip!!! We've left Grayslake North at around 3:15, jumped on a bus to O'Hare Airport, and boarded our very first plane of the trip... Well, two, officially! Right after landing in L.A., we quickly boarded our next plane to Auckland. My very first loooooong plane ride! It was about 15 hours! I slept, and slept, and slept... I was soooo tired! Next thing I knew, we crossed the International Dateline and lost a day, so it's officially June 8th right now... Again. And in a wink of an eye, we landed in New Zealand!!! Who knew I'd be here right now?

We finally landed in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand was nothing like I thought it would be... Right after going through customs and all the "busy" stuff, I stepped on New Zealand ground for the very first time. I was completely speechless! Even throughout the entire 3-hour bus ride! At that moment, I didn't care how long it was, it didn't even seem like it at all... I was completely captivated by the beauty of this country! The rolling green hills, the far-off dark mountains, the "green-ness" of everything... It was a complete different atmosphere than back home. There were a million cows and sheep everywhere I looked! It was absolutely stunning! No words could describe the beauty of the nature around us; even pictures didn't capture the entire moment! It was definitely a moment and scene I will always remember!

After taking it all in, we stopped for lunch in a small, yet cute, little town called "Hobbiton" (Matamata). There was a small statue of a Gollum in the heart of the city, and once in a while, I would come across something closely relative to things in the Lord of the Rings, since this movie was filmed in New Zealand. For lunch, I had this kabob sort-of-thing with fried/cooked meat (I'm pretty sure it was lamb) and some chips (otherwise known as fries or wedges). My first "Kiwi" dish was simply delicious!

Not too long after, we went luging... Yes, luging! It's pretty much where you ride full speed in a mini go-cart down a scenic trail full of sharp turns, twists, and drops, down a hillside... And once you were done, you would take a gondola back up to the top of the mountain. I went down twice, but it definitely wasn't enough! I kept screaming all the way down, because even though I felt like I was about crash the whole time (and only wearing a helmet), that didn't stop me! I always had a smile on my face!

So, in order to go full speed on the go-cart, you had to push the handles forward to go forward, and pull them towards you in order to slow down or stop. Seems easy, right? Well, I got it pat-down very quickly... however, on my second time down, I was so excited, getting closer to the end, going at full speed, that I completely forgot what I was doing... I pulled the handles towards me right in a middle of the mountain! I was stuck. I didn't know what to do, so I started "scooting" my cart while trying to go forward, and before I knew it, there was a line of about 6 people behind me, all crashing into each other, all because of me!!! It was embarrassing, yet the funniest thing that has happened to me on the trip... After a long time of "scooting" and "tugging" my cart to go forward, I made it down the hill, stood up, and smiled! It's the least I could've done...

Overall, I've never done something like this before in my life, and I definitely don't regret trying this in the first place...
We also went to the Mountain Jade Factory, where we got a chance to learn about how Jade is made (after retrieving it from the mountains in New Zealand) into really pretty shapes, that can be used for necklaces earring, and other decorations. We also got a chance to buy some of them, too. It's not everyday you can buy Jade! I thought it was pretty interesting...
After our long day so far, we finally reached Rotorua. The first thing that hit me, was the distinct smell of rotten eggs. It smelled absolutely horrible at first, but as the hours passed by, I quickly got used to it. After having dinner at Burger Fuel, which has the BEST burgers I've ever tasted, we went to Pak n' Save, which was a local grocery store located pretty much across the street from our hotel.
As soon as I got back to the hotel, I was "out of it" and soooo tired. I can't wait until tomorrow!

• Journal of the Day

When we first arrived in Auckland, I didn't know WHAT to think... Yes, New Zealand was pretty much on the opposite end of the world for me and seeing it, as well as being there, I couldn't believe I was actually here! However, because of the main language and how people act, I really didn't feel like I was far, far away from home. Rather, I just felt as if I was in some far, far away place from home in Illinois. But, as soon as I began to see all of the differences in this country, such as the atmosphere, I began to really feel like I was in New Zealand! My first impressions included seeing the enormous amount of farmland and nature. There were so many hills, a lot of open space, and everything that was green, was even greener! It was nothing compared to America, since it's all pretty much gone and covered with buildings and houses. And when you need a quite, nature-like place to relax, it's really hard to find one. Here, it was a different story... I felt connected with the world for some time, and I thought that this also made a small impact on the people here, too. One culture shock that I experienced on my first day here, is the enormous amount of cows and sheep that was everywhere. I learned that for every person living here, there's about 14 sheep, totalling in about 40 million sheep country-wide, which I think is a lot! Even though New Zealand is greatly known for sheep, I saw quite a lot more cows than sheep, which I thought was a little weird for a second.

Another culture shock that I experienced was that the people of New Zealand, often referred to "Kiwis", drive on the left side of the road, with the driver's seat also on the other side of the car. At first it didn't seem strange, but as we started crossing the streets and seeing the drivers on the other sides of the cars, it began to seem a little "out-of-place"... Finally, my third culture shock was the food and drinks. I expected them to carry similar brands of nutrition, or even make their food in a similar way, but I was wrong. They carried similar tastes in certain foods, like the L&P tasted like Sprite, but nothing close in name. And they even made their food differently, using different ingredients, like the mince pie, which was a pastry filled with a type of meat. This was definitely quite different, or at least I thought so. As this trip holds many more experiences and surprises, both in New Zealand and Australia, it's hard to say what I actually look forward to... Right now, while still in New Zealand, I can't wait until the Hangi dinner and meeting my Kiwi friends! It's going to be very exciting seeing a different aspects on culture, as well as learning about it and the country in general! One thing I can say, is that while I'm finally here, and STILL here, I will make the best of it!!!