So this and the next entry are papers I wrote as a part of the academic part of this experience, but I think offer an appropriate insight to this trip!
Pacific Challenge Pre Trip Expectations
I have been to New Zealand on the north island for two weeks in 2009, but have never been to Australia, although I have been fascinated with the country ever since I can remember. Therefore, my anticipated expectations for each area vary, as I know each country is rather distinguishable from one another as any Aussie or Kiwi will tell you. From University, I know a Kiwi and Aussie rather well from my time as a coxswain on the crew team. From traveling, I have met a number of Aussies, who I have always quite enjoyed! Most recently, again in 2009, I was trekking in Nepal, and ended up staying at the same lodges as a group of ten Aussies, from Sydney and Melbourne primarily, where we played Yucca endlessly and I look forward to playing again because I cannot remember all the rules. I am ecstatic having this chance to spend an extended amount of time in each country!
For New Zealand, I anticipate friendly people on the whole, with a great accent and a few words that I will be at a loss for. I expect many people to have a farming background, know people all over the country, if not related, and people generally taking more risks than in the States. I anticipate a more generally local focused and environmentally friendly approach to many things, particularly being an island-country (I remember McDonalds advertising its use of local beef). While talking with people, I will not be surprised by the wide ranging travels many people have taken. I am excited for soy flat whites and pies! As far as interactions with the Maori, I do not quite know what to expect as I have not met anyone of that descent before, although I have visited museums. Therefore, I anticipate limited personal interaction, although likely a more widespread way of learning information as the government has been more actively putting Maori histories on public spaces. I am excited for the Hangi on day four, as I heard it is rather tasty! Also, I am looking forward to cultural presentations, as they always fascinate me in how people maintain traditions in a changing world. It amazes me on how unique indigenous cultures are, particularly due to their environment, but on a broader scale, how similar many are to one another (satisfying the basic necessities of life).
In Australia, I expect, again, friendly people with an accent and vocabulary that I do not entirely share. Bryson’s book made me a little intimidated of interacting with Aborigines, although I constantly found myself sympathizing with the history presented. It’s tragic really what the white man put them through. Anyway, I anticipate feeling a bit awkward with indigenous and white Australians’ interactions, particularly if there is apparent prejudice. I wonder if there are relics, as there once were in the American south, of conspicuous separation and racism. I am interested to see how much Aboriginal culture is presented in tourist brochures, etc. I read a book on dreamlines, and would really like to go to a gallery seeing the native artwork, as I have seen a couple paintings in a professor’s home his wife picked out on various occasions in Australia. Beyond that, I believe that the people will be generally helpful and easy going. With the amount of sunshine the country gets, I would imagine it staying positive is easier. There are so many threats inherent to living in Australia that I will be weary of a local’s perception of risk. I am staying in Australia until the end of May and will be looking out for places I want to go back to or possibly live or work for a bit.
Post Trip Perceptions
My experiences in New Zealand and Australia during the Pacific Challenge unquestionably have been some of the best of my life, and certainly memorable due to the “extreme” nature of many of the activities we participated in; I knew I was adventurous, but I have a whole new perception of how outgoing I truly am. Also, I never considered myself as one to have a bucket list, but I feel like many things that I was able to do during this trip; for example, skydive, swim with dolphins, cave, scuba, and surf; would certainly be on many peoples’. I have always been considered as an easy going, positive person who enjoys trying new things and gets along with a wide range of people. This trip further solidified my confidence in those generalizations of my personality, and certainly at times tested them, although hardly since our group was lucky enough to have gotten along so well! I am thoroughly appreciative for the people in my group, the friendships rendered, and the memories everyone contributed to and would not be the same without any single Pacific Challenger; not to mention, the excellent leadership of Doug and Bree, and the balance between their leadership styles, while always being effective. However, this trip has also broadened the possibilities I see as viable options in my life. If I didn’t really have an idea for what I wanted to do with my future, I just found a whole new realm of possibilities in an adventure tourism career. I am already a rather active person and have always wanted to work doing something I enjoy, but why not make a hobby a career? It is certainly something to think about, although I am presently staying on my predetermined track of volunteering with the Peace Corps in French-speaking West Africa within the year. Yet, afterwards, who knows! I always figured I would go to graduate school, likely for international studies or policy, but maybe for recreation or tourism so I would be able to better rationalize my continued participation in such amazing experiences all the time.
As far as a comparison of my pre and post perceptions, I believe that I was on the proper track with my assumptions for each country; sure there is a whole new set of vocabulary that I am still quite oblivious to, but the individuals in each country were as welcoming and kind as I presumed they would be from previous interactions. New Zealand is such a small country, but it has surely geared itself towards tourism in a way in which I really didn’t quite conceptualize. It is very foreign friendly; there are flyers and brochures and readily available, “look right” signs painted on the sidewalks, and great signs with information about where you are visiting, as well as a clear attempt to give recognition to the indigenous Maori culture, even if it is a more recent attempt. It is incredible how well the government and private sectors are managing the high level interest, but I cannot help but wonder how the earthquake in Christchurch, as that, two, within the past year will affect the country’s economy, and more importantly, the people. In Queenstown when the earthquake occurred, I saw many people on the phone bawling due to a lack of communication or knowing already that they lost someone. I hope that news coverage about the recovery maintains of international interest because I know I will want to look into in the upcoming months. In Australia, I am grateful that I did not encounter the blatant racism, although the absence of Aborigines was certainly noticeable. I only saw two, and each time it was a single individual male playing a didgeridoo for money at a place of popular tourist interest (at Circular Quay in Sydney and at the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains). Nevertheless, conversations with white Australians regarding them, a clearly negative opinion were voiced. I still find it such a bizarre situation. Regardless, this trip was spectacular and I am so happy to have been able to participate and become part of the Pacific Challenge community.
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