Submitted by Jennifer Schuler on the 2016 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Animal and Food Sciences…
Yesterday, my camera broke. Could there be a worse time for it to break than when I am halfway around the world in the most beautiful country on earth? We have fully scheduled days, and the stores in New Zealand close at 5 or 6pm. I had to act fast so I would not miss recording a single moment of my adventure. I was exhausted after being out on a field trip all day, but I had to leave for the mall right away. Everything is so spread out in New Zealand, but I had been studying the crumpled bus route map I got last week and I was ready to go to the mall to buy a new camera. No one wanted to come with me because everyone was tired and who wants to pay $10 for a bus ticket for no reason? I was on my own. It was scary traveling alone on public transportation in a foreign country. I don’t even think I’ve ever been on a public bus back home in the United States! The bus driver was very nice though, and stopped me when I tried to get off at the wrong stop. However, when it was time to transfer, I crossed the street and then couldn’t find the other bus stop. I wandered up and down the street a few times and started to panic. I was stranded in New Zealand and I had no idea where I was! Luckily, I found the bus stop further down the street and waited. I was relieved when the yellow bus finally pulled up, and the new driver again had to stop me from getting off at the wrong stop.
It was exciting to finally arrive at The Hub Hornby Mall, and I asked the assistance desk for directions to one of the camera stores. I walked in and asked for their cheapest camera, but they were out of stock. The salesperson also laughed when I showed him my broken camera – it makes a buzzing sound when I try to turn it on. Anyway, on to the next camera store. I looked at a directory this time, and saw a large section of the mall is still under construction. It was a sobering moment to realize that the destruction of the earthquakes several years ago have had such a prolonged effect.
I was more successful at the second store and soon I was ready for the ride home. Easier said than done. I went to the bus stop I got off at, but there were a million yellow buses riding by and I did not know which one to take. I asked a bus driver standing nearby and he told me to wait. Finally, he directed me to a bus that pulled up and I was on my way. Uh oh. I passed the bus stop where I was supposed to get off – I guess not all of the bus drivers are reliable. Luckily, the bus stopped suddenly to let a woman on and I got off and walked/ran a few minutes back to the correct stop. I waited, but the wrong coloured bus came and went. A girl got off of that bus, and must have realized I looked utterly confused because she asked if I needed help. I told her I was trying to figure out if I was in the right place and we determined I was. Then she said she would wait with me until my bus came and we started talking. Her name is Sukh and she is from Malaysia. She is 20 years old like me and has only been here 2 weeks herself! It was so nice of her to keep me company and it was exciting to meet someone totally random. Eventually, the purple bus pulled up and I settled down for the final stretch back to Lincoln University. When the bus finally rolled into the familiar town, I felt a sense of relief and then pride. I was surprised with myself for being independent enough to venture out alone in a foreign country. I had a few bumps along the road, but overall I got to where I was going, I bought a new camera and I talked to many people along the way! My confidence has grown –maybe my next step will be to solo travel around the world?